Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation: Season 3 Episode 12 – Recap and Review

After spending many episodes wishing for tension or some type of long-term threat, we’re reminded of how much would be lost and how drastically the show would change if we got that wish.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted on Hours Updated on

[Unless Said Otherwise] Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.

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Episode 12 “An End and a Beginning” Recap and Details

Oldeus, as he is commonly nicknamed, has gone through hell and decides to give Rudy the highlights. A rat in the basement causes Roxy to get petrification sickness, and in his timeline, she dies. Sylphie, who finds it hard to deal with the sudden distance of Rudy’s grief, goes to join Ariel in Asura, and she dies in the civil war Ariel starts. Oh, and Eris dies too, trying to save Rudy, years down the line.

It’s also noted that Cliff dies, Nanahoshi dies, but there’s no word on what happens to the rest of Oldeus’ friends and family. However, what is made clear is that this is all Man-God’s doing, and Oldeus spent his lifetime seeking revenge, including getting powerful enough to do so, but failed. So he passes this warning to his younger self, in hopes of changing fate, and Rudy seems willing to listen.

Oldeus in Mushoku Tensei Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 Episode 12

Leading to the three things Oldeus makes an imperative to fix their timeline: Get advice from Nanahoshi, send a letter to Eris, and don’t antagonize Man-God. The advice from Nanahoshi isn’t really explicit, but it seemingly is to keep her from doing something drastic. The letter to Eris is so they don’t revert to their old ways of fighting all the time because Eris doesn’t know how to communicate, and can instead just love one another. Lastly, Oldeus makes clear that Rudy can’t beat Man-God and shouldn’t even try. So the idea is, humor him but don’t trust him.

After conveying a general plan of action for Rudy, Rudy makes sure Sylphie and Roxy are safe and handles the rat. But, as for what he will say in his letter, what advice can he ask for from Nanahoshi, that will have to wait till the next episode.

Other Noteworthy Information

  • After Oldeus dies, he is burned and placed near Paul’s grave. No one but Rudy learns he came to visit.

Collected Quote(s)

  • People who talk about trust easily are exactly the ones who deceive others – Oldeus
  • By the time I got strong, I’d already lost everyone I wanted to protect — Oldeus

Review and Commentary

Highlights

How It Is All Talk, Yet Not Boring [87/100]

Beyond the sparks that were flying as Oldeus was reckoning with his mistakes and failures, there was also this sense of what the show has largely been avoiding. We may clamor for a real threat to all that Rudy has built, but this episode really pushed the question of whether we want to see those storylines?

Paul’s death was emotional and transformational, and at this point, things have cooled down. We also had the dreary storyline of Rudy having erectile dysfunction. So imagine Roxy dying while pregnant. Sylphie going off to an unwinnable war? Heck, Nanahoshi has already shown that being in this world for so long is making her lose it, and now she is perpetually sick, so does anyone really want to see her take her own life?

Oldeus in Mushoku Tensei Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 Episode 12

I think sometimes it is easy to want drama, action, tension, and some sort of threat, but if there is one thing the first half of this season has done well, it is to remind us why people like Rudy want to play it safe. Yes, remain strong, agile, and knowledgeable, in case a threat comes, but do not seek trouble. Because all it would take is a rat nibbling on food that Roxy would later take a bite of to kill her. It doesn’t have to be King Atofe, a spell gone wrong, or even Man-God directly.

For at the end of the day, Rudy truly lives a beautiful life that is like a house of cards, and while it appears stable, Oldeus, all through dialogue, with us getting no visuals of anyone getting sick or dying, makes it clear that it can change in an instant. No different than the mass teleportation event.

Wondering How The Changes Rudy Is Tasked With Implementing Will Play Out [84/100]

Perhaps the best thing Oldeus left for Rudy, and viewers, is some sort of direction the show could take and some sense of anticipation. The biggest question involves Man-God showing up and asking why Rudy didn’t go into the basement or cast spells before going down there. Following that is: Can Rudy keep Nanahoshi from harming herself by seeking her advice?

Then, when Eris gets the letter, how will she react – never mind Roxy and Sylphie when they not only learn about Eris, but meet her? Eris seems like the type who would want to fight for Rudy, and since Roxy is a mage and Sylphie surely isn’t ready for Eris coming at her head-on, how can Rudy calm everything down?

Sylphie and Roxy in Mushoku Tensei Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 Episode 12

So many questions can now be asked, and it isn’t stuff that could happen, like King Atofe coming back, but situations Rudy has to address if he wants to avoid the worst-case scenario happening to him, his family, or his friends.

Overall

Our Overall Rating [85/100]

This episode acted as a reminder of the storytelling strengths of the show. For the majority of it, we were given the worst-case scenario, and it was engaging, got wheels turning about the show’s future, and also helped us switch gears. Why wish for a real threat when you value everything Rudy has worked so hard for, and knowing how dark this show can get when Rudy is in mourning?

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Amari is the founder and head writer of Wherever-I-Look.com and has been reviewing media since 2010. He approaches each production with hope, rooting for every story to succeed, and believes criticism should come from unmet potential, while praise is reserved for work that meets or exceeds expectations.