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Episode 13 “The Diary” Recap and Details
- Director(s): Ryō Ishimaru, Mizuki Sakuma, Ruvu Ōshima, Ryōsuke Shibuya
- Writer(s): Ryōsuke Shibuya
- Public Release Date (Crunchyroll): September 20, 2026
- Check out more of our “Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation” coverage.
- Images © of Crunchyroll
Everything Oldeus told us about in episode 12 is played out, with additional details to let us know what happened to those he didn’t mention. We see the worst of it with Roxy’s death, Sylphie’s death, Nanahoshi’s, Cliff’s, and Eris. But also Aisha, Zanoba, and Lucy. Ghislaine and Elinalise both abandon Rudy, as his grief turns him into someone difficult to be around, and as noted, Man-God laughs in Rudy’s face about all of it.
But there is a need to question how much Man-God can really be blamed. Roxy’s death? Definitely. But Rudy is the one who decided to push Sylphie away, drink, and turn to sex workers. Cliff’s death? Well, with this episode rushing through the story Oldeus told, it isn’t clear why Cliff had to die or who killed him specifically. We only know that being unable to escape, with a potential cure for Roxy, as originally planned, was a factor.
As for Aisha, Lucy, and Zanoba? Well, there are two things that may have led to their death: Rudy killing someone while trying to get a cure for Roxy, and then him burning down part of Asura when he discovered Sylphie’s crucified body. Eris? Well, in Rudy’s pursuit of information about Man-God, to get revenge, he went anywhere and everywhere, and was even willing to go one-on-many with King Atofe and Eris; she stopped what otherwise would have been a death blow to Rudy.
It’s all a draining experience that, thankfully, shouldn’t go beyond this episode.
Review and Commentary
Highlights
Getting Visuals To The Story [86/100]
Oldeus’ timeline was laid out in the last episode, and that felt like enough. Seeing things like Nanahoshi hang herself really pushed his story from something felt to something burned into our memories. It really had you take note of the pain Oldeus was in, and how much of it was karma or self-inflicted.
The reminder of how low Rudy will go when he is hurt, like pursuing sex workers, drinking excessively, and even physically abusing the women in his life, reminds you that Rudy’s likability is circumstantial. When he is happy, it becomes easier to give him a pass. His acts are playful, mischievous, or those of a person who is mentally in his 50s taking advantage of the liberties that come with youth, power, and being considered fairly attractive.
However, as shown by how he acted after Roxy died, and especially after Sylphie died, the real Rudy isn’t necessarily redeemable. Him cheating on Sylphie can’t be justified. Never reconciling with Eris, avoiding a long-overdue conversation with her, and even fighting her – one time tying her up and beating her – can’t be forgiven.
But maybe that is why we needed to see Rudy suffer like this? We needed to be reminded that the character we fell in love with isn’t truly a good person; he is just someone who got his way. This episode was meant to force us to reckon with that so that we know Rudy is only a handful of moments from becoming something worse than what he was in his past life. For with having the power he lacked previously, instead of imploding and rotting away in his room, he can now take his anger out on the world. Ultimately leading to the destruction of not only his life, but those like Aisha and Zanoba who tried to love him despite his self-destructive ways.
The Need To Question: What Can Rudy Realistically Change? [84/100]
With seeing the story beyond what Oldeus had the time for, the question of what can Rudy do becomes bigger. Yes, he can prevent Roxy’s death, but the King of Asura is still dying, and Ariel is likely to run to Asura to try to get the throne – what can Rudy do about that and Sylphie not dying in the rebellion? How can he keep Nanahoshi from killing herself?
Some things feel fated in a way where it seems Rudy may suffer a loss no matter what he does, but what the writers will pick and choose as things that can’t be avoided and what can be changed is hard to say.
Overall
Our Overall Rating [85/100]
This episode felt like a hard reset. It made me appreciate how light and easy things have been, for I don’t want to see nearly every character, with very few exceptions, dying. Never mind, while I acknowledge Rudy’s likability is circumstantial, it doesn’t mean I want him to be at his worst. What makes Jobless Reincarnation enjoyable, and able to have multiple seasons, is the ability to make creative ways to excuse Rudy, praise him, and note there is more to him than his perverted nature.
By stripping a lot of that back, we were shown a side of him that was devastating and left you without hope, and I’d like to think it’s better to be bored with a happy Rudy than distraught as Rudy destroys everything that caused you to fall in love with the show.
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