Mushoku Tensei 2x24: "Succession" // Reaction and Discussion
Added 2024-07-01 23:00:16 +0000 UTC
Comments
I enjoy hearing your takes on most of the issues at hand in Mushoku Tensei. Also, understanding why characters make decisions, isn't the same as agreeing with the decisions made by characters. I'd like to break down some motivations and give a little context to some misunderstood aspects of this episode. Some people assume that because Roxy told Rudy that she took advantage of him, that the motivation and action were solely because of her selfish desires. Ulterior motives were present, yes, but the main purpose of sex was to pull Rudy out of a death spiral. He hadn't eaten in a week and barely drank enough to stay alive. The whole group got together and talked about how they would save Rudy from this. Elinalise expressed how she had rescued many adventures from grief using sex. If you talked to a psychologist, they'd be first to tell you that sex is often used for and is quite successful at helping people who are grieving. Rudy wasn't lying, Roxy saved him. I don't disagree with the argument that there might've been another, better way to pull Rudy out of it. This world is a medieval setting, and the characters believe psychological issues to be curses. The only thing they could think of to save him was sex, which did succeed, even if it was morally wrong. Next, I understand the initial anger about having the discussion with the whole family present. Rudy has only ever experienced this type of situation once, during his childhood, when Lilia let the entire family know at the dinner table that she was pregnant. Zenith, then had the discussion about Lilia with everyone still in the room. This included Rudy, who was 5 or 6 at the time, while Norn and Aisha are 11 or 12. I don't recall too many people being as angry with Zenith or Lilia for talking about this with Rudy present. They even allowed him to influence the decisions made. Adding a person into the household was a discussion for the whole family. Now onto another issue, you and many others have hard internalized Rudy's thoughts on his "promise" to Sylphy. He didn't say what most think he did, and even Rudy thinks he promised something that he didn't. The dialogue in the episode was S-"If, um, I can't manage to have kids, you could always get a concubine." R-"I'll do no such thing. What I want isn't children, it's the fruit of love with someone I cherish. I love you, Sylphy." His promise, in Sylphy's eyes is not that he would only love her and that he'd stay faithful. It was that he wouldn't take a concubine to have kids and that he only wants the fruit of love with someone he cherishes. Him taking another "wife", especially Roxy, isn't at odds with that statement from Sylphy's perspective. Internally, Rudy turns this conversation into a stay faithful promise. At the time, he didn't even think he could love someone else. This does mean he broke a promise to himself and he should feel bad for that, but that doesn't actually involve Sylphy in the same way Rudy or most watchers believe. Lastly, we saw plenty more of Sylphy's perspective than anyone noticed. First some context. Sylphy's main worry was that someone better than her would come along, and Rudy would leave her for the better option. With that, when Rudy says he'd like to invite Roxy into "our" home as his "second" wife we see her jaw drop a bit. She was surprised/relieved that he wanted to add Roxy to their home, not leave or replace her for Roxy. Next, he describes how he was in a death spiral and that Roxy saved him from it. Roxy was surprised that he realized this. Remember, she tried to make him blame her for everything by saying she did it for her own selfish gain, rather than tell him the more nuanced reason. You then see Sylphy's eyes widen. This internalizes to Sylphy that Roxy saved Rudy when she couldn't be there for him. When Sylphy stops Roxy from walking off she mentions that her jealousy is gone now that she knows the "Only mage he looks up too" is just another girl like her, not a perfect being Sylphy could never come close to. Sylphy also mentions that if she was in Roxy's place, she would've done the same thing Roxy did. Even if it meant hurting Rudy's wife, Sylphy would have prioritized saving his life over all else. And finally she says she welcomes Roxy and that they should support Rudy together. This relates back to how Roxy saved Rudy when Sylphy couldn't be there. Now she's welcoming Roxy to help take care of Rudy's well-being, to cover for any shortcomings there might be. Whether it's physical safety, emotional connection, sexual needs, or any other support. I'd be happy if any of my explanations gave you a new perspective.
Paul
2024-07-28 20:05:33 +0000 UTCYou guys always blew me away with how fascinating your discussions and actually your views on different subjects of the story in an episode and as a whole are. Your guesses too. Insanely accurate or very close to the right choice. The things you said about Norn's words and then Sylphie's ones were so good. Guessing what will be the conflict in S3, Man-God's role and words and... All were amazing. Watching this season with you guys was an absolute blast that I'll never forget. So looking forward to S3 with you guys. Appreciate it and wish you the best as always.
Roxy
2024-07-03 16:40:23 +0000 UTCI don't think Man-God has ever talked to Rudy's old body on purpose. In like the first encounter with him, Rudy questions why he is in that body and Man-God just says something like that that is the body Rudy views himself as. Man-God was just trying to talk to the kid, but Rudy made it a conversation between the old body and him.
Nossso
2024-07-02 11:00:11 +0000 UTC
