Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation: Season 3 Episode 2 – Recap and Review

Rudy makes a brief appearance, as it becomes clear how much he is the key to Eris making any progress.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted on Hours Updated on

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.

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Episode 2 “How, Mad Dog” Recap and Details

Surely, She Is A Liar: Nina, Eris, Rudy, Badigadi

Nina really doesn’t like having a rival. Granted, we don’t see her train much or beat everyone else in her class to know she is one of the best. However, it is assumed based on how she is spoken to by her peers.

So, with that in mind, she continues to try to use the fact that her social status is stronger than Eris’, and thus tries to bully her. This time the topic is romance and sex, and with Eris having had sex with Rudy, and quite proud of it, Nina, a virgin, is devastated.

Rudy in Mushoku Tensei Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 Episode 2 © Crunchyroll

But, forever a hater, she decides to go out of her way to investigate not only if Rudy exists, but if he is all Eris builds him up to be. She discovers this through watching Rudy take down Badigadi in their match, showing what lengths she would go to finally get one over on Eris.

The Water God Training: Eris, Reida, Isolde, Nina, Gal

As noted in the season premiere, Gal has sent letters far and wide to help Eris train to take on the Dragon God Orsted. In this episode, the head of the Water God style, Reida Lia, arrives, with their apprentice, Water King Isolde Cluel. Due to Reida’s age, they decide not to spar with Eris as the others have done. Instead, Isolde does, and Isolde defeats Eris with ease.

Surprisingly though, when Nina takes on Isolde, she knocks her out. Not just down, or breaks her weapon, she knocks her out – cold. This leads to an agreement amongst the masters to have the girls train with one another, which doesn’t get as much, or any, pushback as expected.

You Know Love, But What About Friendship?: Eris, Nina, Isolde

So, the way it plays out, Eris beats Nina, Nina beats Isolde, and Isolde beats Eris. They are basically equal. But what tips the balance is that the culture of the Water God style is to communicate with rivals, give advice, and Isolde basically tells Eris she can’t beat her because her animosity reveals what she is going to do next. Now, Eris runs on anger and wanting to be worthy of Rudy, so not having that to fuel her leaves her questioning how she can get better?

As for Nina? Isolde doesn’t have any concrete advice for her. Leaving her a bit stuck, and in terms of her giving advice to Eris? All she is able to do is guide her to an area where monsters roam, so she can get her official coat of the Sword Saint level. Eris decides to go, since the coat is something Ghislaine has, and she wants one as well, and the girls, together, face a dozen or more monsters, all taking out a sizable amount.

But, from this does come Eris getting some breakthrough advice – from Nina of all people. She points out that Eris’ attitude softens when she thinks of Rudy, and presents him as key to lessening what Isolde described as her “animosity.” She ends up being right, and with thinking of Rudy while sparring with Isolde, Eris wins. Leaving her able to best both Nina and Isolde.

However, it is hard to say, despite spending time together and getting along, if she sees herself as friends with them, as Nina and Isolde see a friendship between each other.

New Characters in Episode 2

Reida (Yokoo Mari)

Reida (Yokoo Mari) in Mushoku Tensei Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 Episode 2 © Crunchyroll
  • Character Summary: Reida Lia is the head of the Water God style and is notably older than the others Gal has introduced to Eris thus far. She takes it in stride, but also recognizes there are more years behind her than in front.

Isolde (Hikasa Youko)

Isolde (Hikasa Youko) in Mushoku Tensei Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 Episode 2 © Crunchyroll
  • Character Summary: Isolde is Reida’s apprentice, a Water King at this point, who trains with Eris and Nina while at Gal’s training grounds.

Review and Commentary

Highlights

Eris Realizing Her Love For Rudy Can Not Only Drive Her But Relax Her [86/100]

Since Eris met Rudy, I think she has seen him as a rival and someone who set where the goal post was. Over time she did fall in love with him, but I think that drive to at least match him never went away, and has long been her fuel source. But, in the pursuit of bettering herself, to be worthy of Rudy, I don’t think she often thought about the after. What would it be like to be with Rudy when she is worthy, living in peace and happiness, where they can have sex as they did before.

I think Nina reminded her that there is something outside of this training and the fantasy that is Rudy. For, lest we forget, she has experienced what reality could be. Rudy was someone she adventured with, trained with, sometimes saved, and who is her first time. There are happy memories there, not just memories of him being so far ahead and her playing catch-up.

Having her realize that, and see how she talks about Rudy, and how thinking about him affects her, is sweet. Doesn’t lessen the blow of her leaving and how that affected him, but it does present a different take that makes it harder to damn her. It also presents the idea that, maybe, she won’t move the goal post if/when she becomes who she believes she needs to be.

Eris Making Friends [85/100]

Eris is the type where she has walls up, and unless you make an effort to get over said wall, you possibly may never see her kinder side. Because of this, most of the people she is closest to are those who taught her something. She can respect people who know something she doesn’t, once they prove it to be true. However, that doesn’t make it easy to gain friends when they know as much as you, if not less.

Which is why her getting closer to Nina and Isolde feels major. Never mind the fact she can now best both, but they are also girls, and for the most part, Eris has been surrounded by men, with the only exception being Ghislaine. But even with her, outside of her physical appearance, she operates in a masculine way.

So to be friends with someone like Nina, who can get flushed when talking about sex and boys, that’s different. The kind which may open up Eris to strengths beyond academics and combat, and maybe gain a respect for the social intelligences.

On The Fence

Hoping We Aren’t Rushing Through Eris’ Training And These Different Styles [77/100]

Ghislaine, Eris, Auber and Reida in Mushoku Tensei Jobless Reincarnation Season 3 Episode 2 © Crunchyroll

With Auber taking a step back, and the introduction of another sword style, I’m hoping we don’t rush through all of them and learn barely a thing. I mean, we only got, what, one line from Ghislaine in the last episode, to learn what makes the North God style special or different. In this episode, you could submit Isolde pushed the idea that Water God is a less aggressive style, or at least more collaborative.

However, as for feeling like each are distinct, and could be identifiable if you saw two characters fight, I don’t think we got anything close to that. And I’m worried that may remain an issue in, we may be introduced to practioners and names, but as viewers, unless someone tells you what style someone does, you are none the wiser.

Overall

Our Overall Rating [/100]

While the combat style aspect of the first few episodes is starting to seem underdeveloped, Eris’ growth is massively compensating for that. Add in flashy action sequences, her potentially making friends, and a brief Rudy appearance? Even if most of it is from a previous episode, you get a two-episode premiere that more than warms you up but could very well get you excited.

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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.