Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation: Season 2 – Review

Review

Our Rating: Positive (Watch This) – Recommended

Good If You Like

• Well-rounded characters who are just as charming as they are flawed.

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Highlights

Rudy’s Growth (And Erectile Dysfunction Arc)

While it isn’t hard to find Isekai or coming-of-age anime or shows, finding ones that really explore what it means to deal with your emotions is challenging. Many may touch on them and show the character have a panic attack or low period, but what “Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation” does is different. With Rudy, someone in their second life, it pushes him to surpass the arrested development of his former life.

Now, in some ways, you do get the generic coming-of-age story in which it seems everything builds up to the lead character having sex. But, to throw a complication into that, Rudy has an entire arc where he has erectile dysfunction. This isn’t used as a gag or just as a means to complicate his life but is a side effect of Rudy’s hurt.

In season 1, Rudy had what may have been his first time, counting his past life, with a girl named Eris, who abandoned him after they had sex. This left Rudy shaken and made getting close, never mind intimate, with someone challenging for him. So when it comes to his erectile dysfunction, we see the shame, we see the frustration when he thinks he could have the opportunity to be with someone, and it also leads to some bonding, like in the case of Rudy with Soldat or Sol.

With that relationship, Rudy finds a paternal figure who, yes, may not take the best method to help out Rudy, through introducing him to a sex worker, but considering where Sol and Rudy started in their relationship, to go from Sol hating Rudy to drinking and trying to help him with his ED is monumental. But that is the nature of “Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation.” It’s about Rudy learning what it means to be an adult, from winning over enemies, working on your personal issues, sometimes on your own, other times with help, and learning how to communicate with people rather than strictly process things in your head.

Heck, taking note of Rudy’s relationship with Sylphie, while she was under the guise of Fitz, you could even throw in sexuality and intimacy. Rudy was definitely questioning whether he liked men or if Fitz was an exception until he realized Sylphie was pulling a Superman/Clark Kent.

How It Juggles So Many Characters

Whether it is Rudy’s time with Counter Arrow, life at Ranoa University, or Sylphie’s time amongst nobility in Asura, at least a dozen or more characters are introduced this season. Some of them aren’t seen past the first cour, like the aforementioned Sol. Others, like Ruijerd from season 1, pop their head in for an episode or two but then are gone. “Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation” pushes the idea the world doesn’t revolve around Rudy and what he has going on, but these people have individual lives that may cross Rudy’s path, but there is no guarantee.

I would say “Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation” is perhaps one of the best with juggling so many characters, even though you may get frustrated with your favorite, like Ghislaine, not appearing or wondering what is going on with others solely mentioned by name, like Kirshirika. But, whether it is characters name-dropping or knowing they are associated with characters not seen in the flesh, you always get a sense of there being a big world out there and you are just following one person’s adventure.

Rudy Working On His Relationship With His Siblings & Father

“Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation” often pushes you to see and understand how Rudy was in his past life compared to his current one. An example of this is Rudy’s relationship with his family. In Rudy’s past life, it is pushed he was maybe only close with his brother, who would check up on him until it was clear Rudy gave up on life and was waiting to die without rushing towards the grim reaper’s scythe.

However, in this new life, Rudy tries to push more towards embracing his family. As shown in season 1, this comes with a great challenge because Paul wanted a certain type of son, a swordsman who could follow in his footsteps, but instead, Rudy was a gifted mage, similar to his mom. Yet, as pushed towards the end of this season, while similar to his mom, Zenith, who he adventures to find, he doesn’t know her.

There is this constant struggle with Rudy to be more connected, and we’re reminded of how much of a challenge that can be with family. It is one thing to be close to Sylphie, who Rudy is physically and emotionally attracted to, but what is the incentive for Rudy to be close to Paul, Zenith, or his little sisters?

Norn, for example, damn near hates Rudy, and when she joins him in the second cour, just being compared to him and hearing good things about him only furthers her hatred. Aisha, Rudy’s other sister, wants to be subservient and a maid to her brother. Yes, this is helpful, but even twisting the perspective of her wanting to support her family is a foreign concept to Rudy.

Yet, as part of Rudy’s aforementioned growth, he learns to take on all these dynamics with his blood relatives, just as he creates his chosen family, and it all allows for not only an entertaining season but also a push for you to reflect on the work you have, or haven’t done, with your own family.

Aisha, Nanahoshi, and Norn Getting To Be As Emotional As Rudy

While “Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation” does not operate as an ensemble show, this doesn’t mean Rudy hogs the spotlight. From his little sisters Aisha and Norn to a girl from our world who was transported like Rudy, Nanahoshi, others are allowed to have moments, or episodes, geared towards their own difficulties. For example, Nanahoshi is working on creating a magical circle to transport her home, and it is pushed the mass teleportation event is her doing.

Yet, despite the upheaval caused, she is no closer to getting to her world and thus has remained self-isolated in a tower within Ranoa University, trying to work out what is needed to escape this fantasy world. As for Norn and Aisha? Norn’s breakdown is mentioned in the past topic, but Aisha’s is different.

With Aisha being the daughter of a concubine, she pushes the idea that she tries to compensate by being useful. She doesn’t want to be seen, feel, or treated as less than, but besides making herself smaller, helpful, and not the nuisance that Norn is, you can see she doesn’t seem to understand her worth to the family. This leads to a moment, as Rudy tries to be nice and work with Norn, where Aisha questions if she is treated differently, not treated as Norn is, because Rudy doesn’t share a mother with Aisha.

It’s in that moment and one she has when she reunited with her mother Lilia towards the end of the season, which shows Rudy isn’t the only one struggling with their emotions and place in the world. It just took him two lifetimes to grow up, and everyone else is making the best of the one they are given.

The Handful of Action Scenes

Unlike season 1, season 2 of “Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation” isn’t as heavy on the action. The first cour of the season starts the wind down, and by the second cour, most of the focus is on Rudy’s emotional development. However, action sequences remain, and they remind you of how multi-faceted the show is. I’d even say you miss them after they happen, as the distance between them grows.

But, by not inundating us with battles every episode, they maintain their luster, and considering one of the final battles of the season, we’re reminded that our heroes are still very much human beings going against monsters whose self-preservation is questionable.

The Season Ends With Many Storyline Wrapped Up

A lot of shows leave cliffhangers to hype up the potential for the next season, but strangely, season 2 wraps up nearly every storyline. Yes, the storyline noted in the next topic, regarding Princess Ariel, is left to explore, but beyond that? While there might be a question regarding what is going on with that character or this one, like Eris, in terms of major stories, you aren’t left with notable plotholes.

The Tears

Overall, “Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation” is an emotional experience. Rudy is a character who, as noted throughout the recaps, is flawed but very much human. His struggles, triumphs, and sacrifices are detailed in such a way that pushes this into being worthy of the drama category. For topics like erectile dysfunction, issues with family members, and all that is noted above, aren’t handled lightly. I wouldn’t even say there is some sense of comic relief when addressing the topics. Instead, they really go into the wound and make it so that what happens isn’t just a challenge, an obstacle, something to justify what happens next. It is meant to be felt and sometimes hit a little too close to home.

On The Fence

Ariel’s Storyline Put On Hold – As Well As the Political Aspect Of The Show – Asura

While “Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation” does juggle its numerous characters well, at least in appearances or names being spoken by third parties, what it may not do to your liking is keep up with storylines. The main one being what’s going on in Asura.

In the last season, the head of the Greyrat-Notos family, Lord Sauros Boreas Greyrat, was beheaded, and that is never followed up on. It’s not even referenced, despite that being Paul’s father, Rudy’s grandpa, and Rudy’s cousin, Luke, being in an early part of the season. It is just a shocking moment that happened in the last season that seemingly isn’t addressed at all.

The same could be said for Asura in general. Yes, Ariel is technically in exile, but she does push the possibility of Sylphie and Rudy helping her to regain the throne. But, there is only a mention of this once, and while casually mentioned after, we see no movement towards this happening. Though, as said, everyone seems to have their own story and adventure on “Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation,” and we just so happen to follow Rudy’s closely.

There Remain Moments That Will Give You Pause – But It’s Part Of How The Show Stays Balanced

“Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation” has a lot of positive aspects of the show. It shows a young man go through so much emotionally, quality action scenes, and can get you teary-eyed. However, as with the first season, a slew of moments can give you pause. Rudy is still someone mentally beyond his 40s, whose interest is mainly in people who, in years, are either in their teens or twenties.

Alongside this, we have him buying a slave in a character named Juliette in episode 6, this being followed with groping and tormenting two girls until they are his subs, and he, the master, in episode 7, and Rudy becoming a victim of sorts himself. This happens in episode 23, after an incident happens in which, as Rudy is in a dark place, Roxy takes advantage of him.

All of this leads to notable comments online, but as with most controversies in “Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation,” it quickly dies down and becomes something noted but doesn’t define the show.

Background Information