Highlights
- Season 2 Part 2 of Mushoku Tensei ends on a bittersweet note, focusing on Rudeus finding peace after his father’s death.
- Controversy surrounds the portrayal of polygamous relationships in the series, with critics calling for more nuance.
- Rudeus faces new challenges as he embraces fatherhood and reconciles with his past in preparation for Season 3.
Concluding with a melodramatic finale that brought its second season to a definitive end, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 left viewers with much to ponder regarding the future of the series and Rudeus’ journey. After the action-packed second half of this cour which covered the Labyrinth Arc, the last episode was structured almost like an epilogue to tie up loose ends.
Unlike the end of the first season of Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, which featured a turning point in Rudeus’ life, Season 2 Part 2 had more of a bittersweet resolution, as the series’ protagonist finally gained some peace and stability after many hardships. With this in mind, here is a deep dive into the meaning behind the ending of Season 2 Part 2, and what it signifies for the future of Studio Bind’s anime adaptation of Rifujin na Magonote’s light novel series.
This section contains major spoilers for Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 part 2.
The Aftermath Of The Labyrinth Expedition
In the wake of a hard-fought battle against the hydra in the Teleportation Labyrinth, Rudeus was left despondent at the death of his father, Paul Greyrat, who was brutally killed by the beast while attempting to save his son. To make matters worse, this devastating loss was followed by the revelation that Rudeus’ mother, Zenith, had no recollection of who she was, making the entire expedition appear to have been in vain.
Depressed by the loss of one parent while struggling to hold out hope for the recovery of another, Rudeus was comforted in his grief by Roxy, who had developed romantic feelings towards him during their journey. Although he had been oblivious to her advances during their time in the Teleportation Labyrinth, Rudeus fully gave in to his earlier sentiments for her, which helped him weather one of the most difficult periods in his life.
Unfortunately, Rudeus was already a married man and a soon-to-be father, which left him in a complicated position with respect to how he would break the news to his wife and sisters. However, after speaking with Elinalise and looking back on his own unusual family structure, he finally gained the clarity needed to muster enough courage to propose to Roxy, following in his father’s footsteps to make her his second wife.
The Issue With This Narrative Choice
This aspect of the Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation light novels has previously been criticized for its portrayal of a polygamous relationship. Rifujin na Magonote has been no stranger to controversy for his work on the series, particularly with its excessive sexual content, lackluster treatment of topics such as slavery, as well as Rudeus’ many deplorable actions towards the women in his life.
While the jury may be out on how this specific plot point is received in the anime, the backlash seen during earlier installments of Studio Bind’s adaptation should be enough for them to realize that more nuance is needed in the depiction of such controversial themes and situations, regardless of how they were portrayed in the source material.
A Tense Homecoming
Upon returning home, Rudeus had the harrowing task of recounting his exploits in the Teleportation Labyrinth, as well as conveying the news of Paul’s death to Norn and Aisha, his younger sisters. At first, Norn struggled to accept Paul’s death, since she had spent the majority of her life with him, after her family was separated in the Teleport Incident.
Eventually, upon seeing the arm that Rudeus had lost, and hearing about the difficulties his traveling party had faced, she began to come to terms with her grief. The same could not be said about Rudeus declaring his intention to marry Roxy, as Norn was vehemently opposed to the idea.
Norn immediately told him off for being unfaithful at a time when a pregnant Sylphiette had been constantly worrying about his safety, and she also moved to reprimand Roxy for her part in taking advantage of Rudeus at his lowest point. Fortunately, Sylphiette intervened and soothed Norn’s anger while simultaneously making an effort to accept what Roxy had done for her husband in a time of difficulty, taking note of the high amount of respect she had for her, as Rudeus’ childhood magic tutor.
Norn may have said all that, but I welcome you. Let’s support Rudy together.
Accepting Rudeus’ questionable moral fiber, she explained that it was not entirely unexpected for him to have strayed from his commitment as a husband, given the kind of person he was. In the end, Sylphiette’s mature handling of this intense situation helped defuse it before things escalated, although Rudeus’ journey towards self-improvement took a step back with this turn of events.
New Beginnings For A Family Reunited
In the days that followed, Sylphiette gave birth to a baby girl, Lucy Greyrat, and upon holding her in his arms for the very first time, Rudeus was forced to come to terms with the new responsibilities he would now have to shoulder as a father. This was illuminated when he went to visit his own father’s grave and ruminated on his past mistakes, his lack of maturity despite remembering his past life, as well as his earlier refusal to acknowledge Paul as his father, which was completely altered by his death.
In his grief, Rudeus realized how much Paul had changed his life, and finally accepted that he was his son. He also affirmed his devotion to his family, vowing to protect them just as Paul had done for him. Closing out on an optimistic note, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 ended with a series of shorts featuring major characters from this cour, alongside older ones such as Ruijerd and Badigadi, as well as a brief flash of someone resembling Eris.
A lot of things have come to an end. I also made more big mistakes. But it’s not the end. I still have to live in this world.
Finally, the scene shifted back to Rudeus and his new joint family stepping out of their home to watch the stars at night, as Rudeus reflected on everything that had happened and all that was yet to come. Around the time the finale premiered, Season 3 of the anime was officially confirmed to be in production — albeit without an official release date — indicating that it might not be too long before Rudeus’ story resumes on-screen.
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