Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation: Season 3 Episode 14 [Mid-Season Finale] – Recap and Review

As the first cour of season 3 comes to an end, we see Rudy kick into a new gear to not only protect but build upon everything established so far, that could be so easily lost.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted on

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.

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Episode 14 “Resolve” Details

Recap

With Oldeus’ diary read from start to finish, Rudy now has second-hand PTSD. But you can also look at it as a wake-up call. He may have been appreciative of his family before, but now he realizes it isn’t just in the big moments he must show his gratitude, but in the small ones as well, especially for those like Aisha who wouldn’t abandon him no matter what.

But addressing Oldeus’ three action items might be tough. Asking Nanahoshi for advice isn’t hard, but asking her about what? Not trusting Man-God can be easy, especially after he appears and doesn’t lie about his intentions, but how to appease someone who knows almost every line of fate and has the ability to bend them? Never mind, who knows fate is at its weakest whenever someone Rudy loves is pregnant?

It is perhaps this reason why Rudy wants to make a deal with Man-God, even if he is a trickster. So, with the push that Orsted could defeat Man-God and Rudy’s family line is linked to him, the idea is: If Rudy kills Orsted, then there is no need for Man-God to pursue Rudy and his family. But whether or not Rudy will try to kill Man-God or treat the scenario as the enemy of my enemy is my friend, we’ll have to wait until cour 2 to find out.

What we do know for sure is Rudy does accomplish the third action item in trying to reconcile with Eris. Note, this was perhaps the hardest one, for it meant talking to Roxy and Sylphie about it, never mind navigating his own feelings and giving Eris more grace than he has ever mustered. However, while Sylphie is hesitant, Roxy believes Eris should be given a chance to explain herself and talk to her and Sylphie.

So with that, a letter is sent, and unfortunately for Rudy, Eris still can’t read. Isolde has to read it, and this is done in front of Nina and others. Leading to the reveal of Eris making Rudy feel abandoned, him having two wives, and Eris having to process that publicly. Which, with Eris being like Rudy and not finding ease in expressing herself, this is embarrassing. But with Rudy mentioning he would still accept her feelings and he is heading to fight Orsted, that is all Eris needs to hear.

Thus leading to the first cour to end with Rudy and Eris both heading to battle Orsted, and the second cour setting up a potentially explosive reunion.

Other Noteworthy Information

  • Roxy suspects she might be pregnant, but doesn’t reveal that yet.
  • We should note that, as much as many give Rudy the business for being older than Sylphie and Eris, and for his feelings and relationships with them, Roxy has known Rudy since he was notably young and fell for him. I have her down as in her 40s when she first met Rudy, so she was older than his past self and reincarnated state combined.

Review and Commentary

How Will Rudy Handle Elinalise?

Elinalise is Sylphie’s grandmother, the partner of one of Rudy’s closest friends,  and someone he and his father were adventurers with. That is a deep relationship with a web of connections that should hold them together. However, in the bad ending timeline, Cliff’s death ended things.

With that in mind, there is a need to ask how Rudy may handle Elinalise going forward? Will he try to foster a stronger connection? Heck, will he even bring up why there is a shift? He avoids telling Sylphie and Roxy the complete truth regarding why he has been feeling blue and wants to reconcile with Eris, so what will he say to Elinalise?

I mean, let’s not downplay that she is borderline like his big sister. They may not talk often, but I do feel like there was a time when, if he’d open up to anyone, it would be her. So, will he honor their past and try to solidify it for their future, or focus on Zanoba and Aisha, and the relationships he knows that, even at his worst, they wouldn’t abandon him?

Highlights

Rudy Already Making Corrections [83/100]

One thing we’ll always appreciate about Rudy is that he tries to avoid making the same mistakes twice. “Tries” being the key word for yes, his relationship with Paul became strained just like his relationship with his parents did in the past life. However, he did make multiple attempts, even if it was towards the end of Paul’s life, to reconcile or at least love him to the capacity they both were willing.

So with this latest, almost redo that Rudy has been presented with, it’s wonderful to see him alter himself in significant ways. Mind you, not in him doing more grand gestures, like buying Aisha something, knowing she will always be by his side, or making Zanoba a grand figurine. No, instead he combs Zenith’s hair, compliments Lilia, plays with Lucie, and isn’t just observing and happy about what he has, but an active participant.

Because before, it seemed the idea was to protect it so that it remains as it is. Now, it seems the idea isn’t just growth in terms of more kids, but growth in terms of strength, bonds, and Rudy allowing himself to be vulnerable more than he is comfortable with. So part of that growth can mean Roxy’s strength and Sylphie’s strength being added to what can protect the family, vs. it all being on Rudy alone.

Roxy Looking Out For Sylphie’s Heart [85/100]

One of the reasons we bring up Roxy being the eldest of the three above is because it shows her place within this relationship. She knows she will likely outlive Rudy, and maybe a whole generation of the family – she has accepted that burden. With that, she has found a way to not only love Rudy’s siblings, mom, and the other people in his life, but also Sylphie as well. Now, this isn’t to say she is romantically into Sylphie and this is a polyamorous relationship of that sort; this is very much a harem. But I do think she loves Sylphie like a sister.

Which is why she recognizes that Sylphie, who sees Rudy as her childhood sweetheart, often puts Rudy’s feelings before her own. Whether it is taking on a second wife, now a potential third, Sylphie recognizing Rudy’s capability for love and lust means there could always be another woman. That can often make it seem like Sylphie is willing to adjust for Rudy if it means his happiness and them staying together.

So with Roxy recentering Sylphie’s feelings and needs, it was a nice reminder that someone in Rudy’s world recognizes Sylphie needs to be happy too. That she, like Rudy, might be very capable of hiding what she fears, is insecure about, or that is eating at her, if that means keeping the peace. Which shows, even if this is Roxy’s first marriage, that her age and maturity have made her necessary for this all to work.

The Enemy Of My Enemy Is My Friend? [83.5/100]

Admittedly, I’ve seen videos and read bits and pieces of what happens in the manga, beyond where the anime is at. So, some theories are informed, but I also recognize that, with a good amount of the movies and shows I watch being adaptations, getting a 1:1 transfer from the page to the small screen isn’t guaranteed. Also, like with how we write recaps now, every little detail isn’t given, just the overarching “This is what happened.”

With that in mind, I’m curious and excited for Orsted and Rudy to come face to face, especially with how much Man-God paints the picture that those two are key to his destruction. Can Rudy convince the man who damn near killed him before to become allies – even if of the uneasy variety? Never mind, with Eris thrown into the mix, will this become a battle where things start on sight?

The first cour didn’t have many notable battles, outside of King Atofe, so for the second to begin with Orsted, potentially, feels major and worth getting excited about.

How Eris Handles The News [84/100]

One of the most beautiful things about Eris growing up in the community the Sword God cultivated for her is that it led to her having friends. Yes, Nina might be a rival, and sometimes is a bit harsh with Eris, like her telling Eris rumors about what Rudy has been doing with other women, but Eris needs that. She doesn’t operate well with people who are afraid or who kneel to her.

Then with Isolde, you have to appreciate that someone cared about how Eris felt, especially with Rudy being a highly sensitive topic. I mean, the character whose eyes usually look closed had them wide open and was speaking passionately about Rudy disrespecting Eris. And through all that, I think because other people were there, feeling something for her, it made it easier for Eris to process her own emotions and self-regulate. Making it so she could focus on the main points of Rudy contacting her first, letting her know how he feels, how he has become married since they last saw each other, that he still will accept her affections, and that he may need her.

A lot of the focus for Eris has been about being physically ready to be Rudy’s equal, but I would submit she has not given enough credit to how she has also prepped mentally and emotionally to be a good partner as well.

Overall

Our Overall Rating [83/100]

Consider the first cour of season 3 a recap of everything Rudy worked for over the first two seasons. He became powerful, loved, built a family, and by the end of this cour, he was reminded how delicate this perfect life he had was. Never mind that, just as he put so much work into building it, he had to do just as much to maintain it. Otherwise, faster than it was built, he could quickly destroy it.

Which is what will make cour 2 interesting, as we see him raise the stakes on what he will do, face new challenges, and simultaneously find himself not only reuniting with Eris, but also trying to figure out a way to have her join his family. Something that, with Eris not having a calm and easygoing personality like Roxy or Sylphie, is going to be as fun to watch as Rudy taking on Orsted.  

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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.