Quick Summary • Best Moment • Setup • Delivery • Other Posts
Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 21 – Quick Summary
In Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 21, “Magic Circle to the Sixth Stratum,” Rudy had just rescued Roxy. She didn’t recognize him at first, because he’d grown so much since she had last seen him. But he recovered, and they retreated to the city to give Roxy time to recover. Then came the next hard part: re-starting the search for Zenith. Will they find her on the next level? The one after that? Is she still alive for them to find? Will they be able to find her before it’s too late – and before they exhaust the book’s maps of the dungeon?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 21
Even deep in the dungeon, Rudy’s thoughts went to Sylphie. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
At first, I was like, “Rudy, did you really have to channel your inner dog by sniffing Roxy so obviously when you hugged her?” And I was like, “Well, it is Rudy, and he hasn’t seen his goddess for a long time, so I had to expect some residual behaviors to remain.”
See, the problem with trauma of any kind is that it leaves scars. Despite what popular culture tries to say, one never fully recovers from trauma. One learns to bear it and, ideally, ameliorate its worst effects.
As proof that Rudy is doing better than the Brief Inhalation Event (BIE) suggests, allow me to present my favorite quote. Rudy was trying to deal with Roxy initially not recognizing him. It helped that she (05:27) “just didn’t connect cute little Rudy to how you look now.” More than just comforting him, though, her words also made him realize something else.
“Come to think of it,” Rudy thought (05:47), “Sylphie said she got a shock when I did that to her, too. I’d better apologize when I get back.”
Yes, Rudy still initiated the BIE. But Rudy also cares about Sylphie enough to want to be considerate of her. That’s growth!
Favorite Moment from Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 21
Roxy wanted to show her appreciation, but her shyness took the exuberance out of it! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: Mounting Concern and Trepidation
I’ve managed to avoid most spoilers, so I’m speaking of an anime-only viewer when I say the title for the next episode, Parents, scares me to death. This season has spent a ton of time building up the stakes for Rudy. This show doesn’t pull its punches, either.
Add that to the delightful father/son interplay in this episode, especially Paul’s reaction to Rudy asking if Paul had gotten better (13:45), and, man, I’m worried for everyone’s safety. I’m pretty sure Rudy will make it through, and probably Roxy. But you know what? I don’t even want to say that. I have no idea what’s about to happen.
Oh, yeah – this is what trepidation feels like.
Yes, I laughed. But I also cringed. I felt like this episode was a trip to Red Flag City. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
My favorite moment in this episode had a lot of competition. I could have gone with a humorous moment like Paul explaining why he now preferred two swords (19:57) to how well the party fought together (12:30), there were a lot of examples of good technique and emotional impact.
I’m going with a moment that featured Roxy. I had forgotten how petite she was. I guess she was only tall compared to the old Rudy. Be that as it may, I wanted to choose a Roxy moment because this episode was really all about her, and how quickly she’s falling in love with Rudy.
It helped that at first, she didn’t recognize him. From her perspective, he must have looked like he’d just stepped out of her dreams. He perfectly matched the fantasy she shared with Elinalise back in season 1 episode 13 (09:02). That was a good start.
Delivery: Roxy Tries to Deal with her Feelings
What I think was even more intriguing was how you could see her feelings take root through this episode. She grew more and more impressed with how well he supported the party. She couldn’t help but be impressed that when she gave him advice about a particular enemy, he took her advice to heart and immediately changed his tactics (12:21). Throughout the episode, she’d look at Rudy and look away when he caught her. Rudy thought she was disappointed in him or something, which is exactly something Rudy would think.
My favorite moment came at the end. Rudy had remembered that the chamber that should lead to the sixth stratum reminded him of the labyrinth that he and Elinalise had used. Working with Geese, Rudy solved the mystery and revealed the real portal to the next level. Everyone in the party cheered for him and slapped him on the back. Hard, in most cases! Everyone except Roxy.
Apparently, adventurers are strong folk! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
She timidly stepped up behind him to join in on the gesture. But when Rudy looked at her, she blushed and froze. Or maybe the blush was already in place. She blushed a lot in this episode. She finally stepped up to him and, instead of slapping him, just kind of laid her hand on his back (21:50).
It was just such a Roxy thing to do! She’s always been a little apart from whatever group she’s in. She’s not anti-social, but she’s borderline asocial. Still, she wants to do her part, and she wanted to join in the celebration. She just did so under her terms. I think Rudy appreciated the gesture!
What did you think of Roxy’s reaction to seeing Rudy after he saved her? What were your favorite moments? Feel free to let me know in the comments!
Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 21: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: Mushoku Tensei Season 2 – Episode 21 Discussion
- The Otaku Author: Mushoku Tensei II: Jobless Reincarnation (Episode 21) – Magic Circle to the Sixth Stratum
- RABUJOI: Mushoku Tensei II – 21 – Two Swords
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 13: My Dream Home
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 14: Wedding Reception
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 15: Afar
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 16: Norn and Aisha
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 17: My Older Brother’s Feelings
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 18: Turning Point 3
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 19: Desert Journey
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 20: Into the Labyrinth
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 21: Magic Circle to the Sixth Stratum
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 22: Parents
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 23: Let’s Go Home
- Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 Episode 24: Succession
I really appreciate that they expanded on Roxy’s labyrinth struggles this episode. Last week, it seemed like the anime was to continue that unfortunate trend of stripping the heroines from their agency (like with Sylphie in beastgirls kidnapping episode), but they did it justice this time.
Also, it took me reading reviews/watching reactions to realise that when interacting with Roxy, Rudy more or less reverts to being his 5 year old self. And while as a kid it’s endearing, all that big puppy energy coming from a dashing saviour from your dreams is almost guaranteed to be misunderstood as a different kind of affection. Poor Roxy…
Interesting point about Roxy’s agency. I haven’t read the other material, so I don’t have a point of comparison. I might have to change that!
Also, interesting point about Rudy. He did seem to regress. Psychological association is a powerful thing!
Poor Roxy indeed. It’s like he walked right out of her dreams — and I’m pretty sure she didn’t envision her dream man wearing a Rudy skin!
According to the Man-God Rudy is going to regret this trip. I’m wondering who dies.
Well, if you saw episode 22, you know!
That said, I wonder if Rudy will regret it — or will the Man-God? There’s something going on with him that I just don’t understand, at least not yet.
I wanted to smack Rudy at the start of the episode, for being such an idiot. Here Roxy is, working to help Rudy’s family, which she’s been doing for the last several years straight since the mass teleportation incident, and he thinks, “She doesn’t remember me!” That was one of his stupider moments, not realizing she just didn’t immediately recognize him is all, and also one of his most selfish, where he made it all about him and his feeling, to the point he has a mini-panic attack and throws up.
The moment of Rudy’s emotional stumble was such a call-back to his past self with all of his insecurities. That’s why I particularly liked him realizing that he needed to apologize to Sylphy for doing the same thing. That’s on his growth path. The old Rudy would not have even considered that!
Yep, it was immature. But not as immature as it could have been!