Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 Episode 02: Favorites

Quick Summary • Best Moment • Setup • Delivery • Other Posts

Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 Episode 02 – Quick Summary

In Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 episode 02, “Howl, Mad Dog,” Eris continues to not make friends. Nina wanted to put her in her place and made a joke about Eris being a virgin. Unfortunately for Nina, that plan backfired. So she hatched a new plan: prove Rudeus was a wimp and bring him back to the sword school as her personal slave. Can Nina even reach the school where Rudy is studying? If she does, what chance does she have of subjugating him? And why does she care so much?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.

Favorite Quote from Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 Episode 02

Another swing and a miss for Nina. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Nina learned something when Eris destroyed her in combat: Eris was, for the time being, out of Nina’s reach. But Nina’s a competitor. She didn’t want to lose. So she fashioned another attack.

Knowing that she herself intended to dedicate herself to learning the sword, and seeing how Eris was on an even more advanced track, Nina drew a conclusion. It was wrong. It was probably closer to an assumption than anything based on data. But she saw a chance to insult Eris and make it stick, so she took it.

As Erin strode back from practice, Nina pounced. She said there was no way Eris could ever find a man, and she should just get used to the idea that she would be a virgin for the rest of her life.

Eris just chuckled and said (01:07), “Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not a virgin!”

Thus continued Nina’s unbroken string of defeats.

Favorite Moment from Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 Episode 02

Eris listened to her new friends. It seems to have helped! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Setup: Nina’s Plan Didn’t Quite Work Out

I’d forgotten all about Badigadi. It was great seeing him again! He brings a vigor to the screen that appeals to me. I went back to check the episode that this one referenced as a flashback (Jobless Reincarnation II Episode 8), and if you go to Crunchyroll and look around 13:56, you can actually see Nina laying face down after Badigadi defeated everyone waiting to right Rudy. I love cool details like that!

I also liked this episode’s arc. Eris started as furious and indomitable. She ended it with my favorite. It bordered on Winning With the Power of Friendship, but in true Jobless Reincarnation style, it was a lot more nuanced than that – and a lot more fun to watch.

Not saying there’s anything wrong with friendship themes. Just that I really liked what the approach the writer, Rifujin na Magonote, took. An approach that ended in my favorite moment.

They reacted instinctively to Eris merely entering the room. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream. 

In this episode, we met Isolte Cruel, apprentice to the Water God Reida Reia. She could read Eris’s moves because let’s face it. Eris attacks and attacks and attacks with the subtlety of a thunderstorm. Really powerful and dangerous – unless you get out of her way. Which is what Isolte Cruel did.

Of course, that frustrated Eris to no end.

By this time, Nina had come back from her expedition to attack and capture Rudeus. That ended with her staring slack-jawed at Rudy after he took down Badigadi with one shot. “He beat the Demon King with one strike?” she muttered, shocked (06:18). “Eris is trying to stand on equal footing with him?”

Delivery: Eris Levels Up

That insight into Eris’s lofty goals changed Nina’s opinion of the situation. She decided to join Isolte Cruel to train with Eris. After all, Eris could not defeat Isolte but Nina could; Nina could not defeat Eris, but Eris could defeat her. The three of them reached a stalemate.

Isolte’s water technique included adherents getting together to compare notes, so they did. The amazing thing here was that Eris agreed! I think Nina was as shocked as I wasn.

Isolte readily explained how she beat Eris and suggested Eris just hide her anger and intent. Eris couldn’t get her head around how.

Nina suggested she take a bath, get a good night’s sleep, and think about Rudeus. Eris asked why. “You seem a whole lot less murderous when you’re talking about him, so give it a try,” Nina suggested (19:33). 

Nina wasn’t wrong. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream. 

Guess what happened when Eris next sparred with Isolte? The latter tried to get a read on Eris’s movements, but Eris thought about Rudy, gave Isolte a beautiful smile, and slashed right through her defenses (20:38). Before she knew it, Isolte was on the floor, staring at the ceiling in shock.

Amazing what happens when you open yourself to constructive criticism, isn’t it?

What did you think of Nina’s trip to Rudy’s school? What were your favorite moments? Feel free to share in the comments!

Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 Episode 02: Other Posts

Other Anime Sites

• Reddit: Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 • Mushoku Tensei III: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu – Episode 2 discussion
• Anime Evo: Mushoku Tensei S3 – 01-02 [First Look]
• DoubleSama: Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 Episodes 1 & 2 Review

This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)

• Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 Episode 01: Burn Bright, Mad Dog
• Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 Episode 02: Howl, Mad Dog
• Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 Episode 03: Life Back at Home
• Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 Episode 04: A King-Class Water Mage
• Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 Episode 05: Celebration
• Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 Episode 06: Another Domestic Disaster?