#if this is the end of rwby then i can't be too upset. man what a sendoff

[hiraganasakura]

I'm ill over the extended RWBY V9 epilogue.. I'M ILL [POSITIVE]

[reashot]

Sorry it take this long, but Anon requested to see Christmas themed Lancaster and by God they're going to get one:

Under the Mistletoe 💏

To celebrate Christmas. Both team RWBY and JNPR decide to have a get-together and for the venue they decides to have it in JNPR dorm room.

Yang: Let's start this party with a Yang!

Everyone: Yang!

Pyrrha: Wow Yang! How do you get all this stuffs for the Christmas party?

Yang: Well. Let's just say it's a donation from an anonymous donor...

Cuts into Junior's club.

A gruesome scene unfolds inside of a nightclub. Bodies of suit wearing mooks littered the dance floor and their Boss, Junior can be seen sitting in the counter nursing his wounds by pouring himself a stiff one.

Goon: Boss... Why the heck do that blonde beast came here and stole our stuffs?

Junior: Shut up...

Back in JNPR dorm room.

Yang: Anyway... How about a drink? Non alcoholic of course.

Pyrrha: I'll take two. Thank you.

While bringing two drinks across the room Pyrrha passes many of the friends she made in Beacon.

Nora: Ren-ren let's dance!

Ren: Sure Nora.

Weiss: So, Blake... How is it like being a Faunus?

Blake: How is it like being me?

Weiss: Look! I'm trying to strike a conversation, okay? And it's hard when you know I said something to you that can't be taken back.

Blake: I know that Weiss. Baby step, okay.

Weiss: Baby step.

Ruby: Jaune did you watch _syberSamurai last stream? 😁

Jaune: I did, Ruby. Man she almost lost the match 4-1 but in the last minutes she turned it around and ended up winning against impossible odd.

Ruby: Ikr. She's so awesome. 😆

Pyrrha: Hmm. What are you two talking about?

Jaune: Oh. Pyrrha. We're just talking about video games. That's all.

Pyrrha: ... I see. Oh and Jaune I brought a drink for you.

Jaune: Oh thank you Pyrrha... *Walked just few centi away to be perfectly below the mistletoe*

Yang: Ah! Both Vomit Boy and P-Money are under the mistletoe so according to the rule they must kiss.

Pyrrha: Wow. Do you want to kiss me Jaune?

Jaune: Is that even a question? Of course.

Both Jaune and Pyrrha kiss to the cheers and approval of everyone watching. Everyone except for Ruby who sees it differently.

Ruby:

Yang: Woohoo! 30 second kiss. That's your longest one to date. And don't think I didn't see you slipping your tongue there Pyrrha. You horny fox. You.

Ruby: Give me a drink Yang!!! 😫

Yang: Eh, sure. *pours one out for her little sister*

Ruby: Another! 😠

Yang: K. *pours another*

Ruby: More! 😡

Yang: Ruby this is Non-Alcoholic. You can't get drunk from this.

Ruby: Maybe I just like to drink! You ever think about that? 🤬

Yang: Rubs... If you are upset about something you can tell me all about it. I'm your big sister after all.

Ruby: I don't want to talk about it... 😢

Yang: It's about Jaune kissing Pyrrha isn't it?

Ruby: Why don't he like me? I also want to kiss him using my tongue too. 😭

Yang: Oh Ruby... Tell you what go up to him right now and I'll help you out.

Ruby: How? 😞

Yang: Look just trust your sister, okay.

Ruby: He-hey Jaune... How's it hanging. 😟

Jaune: What is it Ruby. Do you want to talk more about other stuffs?

Ruby: Uh... Uhm... Eh... I mean. I want to... 😵

Unbeknownst to the two of them. A mistletoe silently glides above them and landing perfectly above the two dorks's head. The mistletoe is being guided by Yang by using a long stick. No doubt she prepares them beforehand for some sort of prank.

Yang: Oh no, a mistletoe somehow got above Jaune and Ruby. How did that happened? Tee-hee. Anyway you know the rules and so do I.

Ruby: C-can I kiss you too Jaune?

Jaune: R-Ruby I...

Pyrrha: Go for it Jaune.

Nora: Yeah! Go for it!

Blake: (Oh Brothers they're going to do it. Finally.)

Jaune: Okay here goes...

Ruby: 😚

Jaune : There Ruby, how do you like it?

Ruby: 😶

Jaune: Ruby?

Ruby suddenly tackles Jaune to his bed. And proceeds to mount him. The suddennes took everyone by surprise.

Jaune: Ruby what's gotten into you?

Ruby: 🥵🥵🥵 Everyone! Please evacuate to a safe six miles radius. Or else will I not be responsible for what will happen next 🥵🥵🥵

Jaune: Eep!

Yang: Ah hell nah! I'm still way too hot and sexy to be an aunt.

[gatheringkeepsakes]

I think a lot of this is just a result of media illiteracy these days. People want things spoon fed to them. I can't count the number of times I've seen people compare this show against something like My Hero Academia which reintroduces it's titular characters and their abilities to the audience every few episodes.

Viewers these days don't like subtext. They want to be told exactly what's going to happen and when something defies expectations without loud enough warnings, they get upset. RWBY does set up for its tone shifts regularly, it's just subtle in its approach that those victim to the "sometimes the curtains are just blue" mentality refuse to pick up on. Or just don't know how to.

From the start, we are given ample hooks into something more going on. Silver eyes, Ozpin as the man behind the curtain with many secrets, Cinder being a bigger bad we're waiting to reappear for the entire volume, it being pretty clear she's not the head of this plan either once she does get reintroduced, etc.

RWBY has a structure that it's followed consistently since the start. Each arc is three volumes; the first two establish the main setting and conflict for that specific region, and the third flips the story on its head.

Beacon starts with the introduction to Vale, the world, our heroes, and their daily lives. Then the tone shifts in V3 with many mysteries being uncovered and the big bad being revealed. But there are still mysteries to be uncovered. Like what Salem's motive is, how she knows Ozpin, and why she's talking to him as if he didn't just die under a scorched pile of rubble.

Mistral arc is the aftermath of tragedy, the travelling to and saving of Haven, and the reintroduction of Oz through Oscar. We get vague reasons for how Oz reincarnates, and even when he tells his story to RNJR, there are constant reminders from characters like Yang implying he's not giving the whole truth. That the audience shouldn't completely trust him. Then in v6, we get that tone shift from The Lost Fable.

Atlas is the same. Two volumes to try and save the kingdom, a third where we find out even more lore about the story - the world, the gods, AND our first concrete look into the mystery of Summer Rose's disappearance.

I agree that the marketing for this show has not been good and is still pretty awful if we're being honest. It doesn't help that Certain Videos on YouTube have literal millions of views talking about how awful the show is despite rarely knowing what they're actually talking about, it keeps a lot of people away just by word of mouth. Rooster Teeth as a company does not foster the best tone for its fanbase in general either, but I'm not going to get too deep into that.

The issue despite these things is that people engage with RWBY as if it's some big corporate IP when it's essentially an indie webcomic that just managed to get animated. I'd also argue that while the original descriptions for RWBY being an attempt at trying to make their own shounen, that is more of a demographic target than one specific genre. I've seen folks compare this show to long running fantasy novels from the 80s where they often start with low stakes school settings, then through trials, tragedies, and escalation, end up raising the stakes to fighting gods and then some. I'd also argue it follows a lot more of the subverted magical girl tropes as a subgenre than anything. Madoka Magica is a great example, same with things like Revolutionary Girl Utena.

As for not doing a good enough job to show it's a subversion... 6 out of the 8 main characters being girls in a "shounen" demographic series, is in and of itself our first clue towards this. Of the 2-3 male characters within the main eight, all three of them (Jaune, Ren, and eventually Oscar) have allusions to genderbends of female characters.

And on the topic of gender, there is absolutely an edge of misogyny to a lot of the unjust criticisms this show does get. Many of the people that focus so hard on criticizing team RWBY's actions are those obsessed with characters like Jaune, Adam, or Ironwood. But it's not just the more RWDE sides of the fandom that are victim to this. In retaliation to that subgroup of the fandom, many fans over-obsess on the female characters, often denying any viability to the male characters we do have. For example, the sheer amount of discourse towards Jaune getting any screen time in V9 as if he also has not been part of the cast since episode 1 & 2. Or those that infantize Oscar, treat him like nothing but an Ozpin meatsuit (which has been debunked in show MULTIPLE TIMES) or spend hours of their time arguing that that he could never have so much as a friendship with a character like Ruby, let alone something more (once again despite clear tropey and textual evidence to the contrary).

RWBY suffers from the same thing Steven Universe did. Another magical girl-esque show from 2013 that challenged the status quo of the expected genre, and as a result became a breeding ground for the most unnecessary - and in my opinion - unwarranted discourse imaginable. People, no matter what side of the fandom they're on, want this show to be something it isn't and refuse to meet the text where it is because they don't know how to. Or because they simply don't want to. And to view it as anything other than the reality they've convinced themselves it is makes them feel incredibly unsafe.

And as someone that's been watching since the first trailer aired, it genuinely breaks my heart. I do largely blame this fandoms inability to be normal towards fiction as one of the reasons it is struggling to get greenlit nowadays. Why would anyone who hasn't watched the show already in the 10 years they've had the chance to, be convinced to hop on now when this is the environment its fandom fosters.

I've had this thought swirling in the back of my head for a while, but it's finally congealed enough that I think I can make a coherent pitch, which is: I think RWBY's problems with the more vitriolic part of its fanbase partially stems from the fact that RWBY is a deconstruction that doesn't advertise it's a deconstruction.

RWBY's status as a deconstruction is pretty textbook. It takes apart standard fantasy, shounen, and anime tropes in order to analyze them and their deeper meaning and then reassembles them in new and interesting ways for the plot/characters/series. Thing is, it never says that outright in promotional material, which can lead to later outrage in fans.

See, unless their way of discovering new shows is to close their eyes and stab their finger at random, most people tend to choose series to watch/read based on expectations. Maybe a friend said they'll like it because it has [insert thing], maybe they read the summary and were intrigued, maybe they thought the poster/cover art was cool, whatever. These small pieces of information are generally enough for people to make a snap-judgment of the style and genre of the series, which they can then gauge against their personal tastes and decide whether or not they want to try.

Most of the time, this works just fine. Well-written deconstructions also generally give the viewers some warning/buildup before they take a hard swerve. See Madoka Magica: the magical girl paradigm is shaded by the possibility of death as soon as we're introduced to it, then there's an onscreen death with blood, and then a few episodes later we eventually realize the Faustian bargain of it all. Even innocent viewers who stumbled into watching it, unaware of the show's reputation, would go "Oh, wait, this is not going in the direction magical girl shows usually go" by a third of the way through.

The thing is, with RWBY, this does not happen unless you're paying a lot of attention and/or looking for it. And neither the cover art nor the summary nor, I believe, the fanbase gives a lot of warning about the swerves ahead.

In fact, RWBY initially bills itself as a pretty standard shounen anime. The main protagonist is hinted to have Special Powers and gets into the Magic Monster-Hunting School in the first episode, and the first two-and-a-half seasons are taken up by her and her friends' superhero-esque slice-of-life shenanigans as they thwart robberies and terrorist attacks and gear up for a tournament arc against the looming background of a larger conspiracy.

Then in the last half of the third season the villains' entire Rube Goldberg machine of a scheme snaps into completion and the plot twists so hard the entire genre takes a hard right. If you're used to character analysis and common anime tropes, this is not completely a surprise -up until this point, RWBY's character arcs and plot have been subtly traveling in non-traditional directions that hint of greater flexibility in genre treatment ahead- but if you're not... well.

Thing is, people watching RWBY up until this point have signed up for pretty standard shounen and they've been getting it, but the third season's ending smashes that all to bits. From then on out in RWBY, it's like they ordered fries and suddenly got a hamburger. It might be delicious; but it's not what they asked for, what they wanted, or what they paid for, and they are, justifiably, displeased.

So when the reasonable people either adjusted their expectations or sighed, shook their heads, and clicked back out (perhaps with a grumble and a scowl), the unreasonable people dug their heels in and began insisting that everybody was Getting The Show/Character Wrong and that CRWBY is ruining it, because the fact that RWBY's method of deconstruction is to put standard tropes in a blender and then arrange what's left in deceptive patterns means that said unreasonable viewers can scan the bare surface and argue that all the stereotypical stuff is clearly still under there, somewhere.

So they're continually trying to drag RWBY back to the tracks of a typical shounen anime series (it's closest relative), which creates a dissonance between the show they're watching and the show they think they're watching. They're trying to turn the hamburger back into fries, basically, except that doesn't work and just frustrates everyone involved, because you're trying to make RWBY into something that it's not. Hence, this attitude probably starting/fueling some of the more contentious statements in the fandom, i.e.:

"Ironwood was right the whole time" (in most action movies and shounen anime, allied military leaders are trustworthy beyond reproach)

"Adam's character was wasted" (we all know how much shounen loves their powerful warrior antiheroes)

"Ruby and the others are in the wrong about [insert thing]/or for doing [insert thing], and this is bad writing!" (shounen protagonists don't usually make more than One Very Big Mistake over the course of their entire careers, which is usually fixed/overcome/redeemed via an appropriately rigorous training arc)

And to be clear, there's nothing wrong with shounen tropes or shounen anime. They're wonderful storytelling devices in their own way and their own time: but if you want standard by-the-book shounen without any new and interesting concoctions, then RWBY is definitely not the show for you. And most people don't find that out until it's too late.

[nexyra]

RWBY's Love Language - Part 2

Hello friend ! I'm back at it with a second part and whatever character I can think of ! (Among which best boy Oscar because he deserves it, and also more adults)

Let's go !

***

Oscar Pine

So ! While I love Oscar with my whole heart, honestly guessing his Love Language is no easy feat. One thing for sure : touch isn't is thing even if it's how everyone else chose to communicate their love.

I saw a post a while back detailing how Oscar is always putting his hands up as a barrier when he's scared or uncomfortable and that makes me cry a little instead but it's true TT. Anyway...

In the latest volumes we've got quite a bit of comforting Oscar-talks but I have to wonder how much of that is due to Ozpin's influence really. As a result I've decided to settle on... Acts of Service or Quality Time ! This is based on a few details : when people are upset with him in one shape or form, Oscar was always very eager to prove himself useful, give some aspect of concrete help (such as cooking a Casserole, ringing any bell ?). Plus I imagine that's the exact brand of help his Aunt would have needed most on a farm. Added to that, he always seems fairly happy to be included, be with the others no matter what's going on. Training ? Yay ! A movie with Jaune & Weiss ? Smiling puppy look. Fancy party ? Shenanigans together ! So yea, I love seeing my boy loved and hugged but please everyone settle for the loving he's most comfortable with <3

“She made a choice! A choice to put others before herself! So do I.”

“Oh, uh, yeah. I thought you guys would appreciate a hot meal after... spending all day looking for me, apparently.”

“No, it's okay. These past few days, I've been scared of the same things you were. I don't know how much longer I'm going to be... me. But I did some thinking, and I do know that I want to do everything I can to help with whatever time I have left.”

- - - - - - - - - -

Ozpin

For our favorite immortal wizard aka not quite dead Headmaster... I think the answer is rather obvious. When you're so careful with your words, but also so fiercely devoted to humanity, Words of Affirmation is a must. Ozpin constantly does his best to calm, to reassure. He's good at controlling the conversation and getting people where he wants... Except he more often than not use it to make them think and help them reach an healing ore motivating conclusion. This man is so insisten on giving and cultivating hope, so painfully aware of just how much words can change... There's no doubt in my mind that it's through these very same words that he tries to fight the darkness in others' mind, even when they don't want to let themselves be persuaded. And with some help from the farmboi, Ozpin is gaining in honesty and earnestness. And that can only help in giving comfort.

But to be honest... If you offer him a hug I doubt he'd refuse, and he definitely deserves one. Also therapy. For Oscar too. Everyone in therapy 2k21.

“Ruby. I've made more mistakes than any man, woman, and child on this planet. But at this moment I would not consider your appointment to leader to be one of them. Do you?”

“It's not every day that friends are able to come together like this. Time has a way of testing our bonds, but it's nights like these that can help keep them stronger than ever. Nights like these are ones we'll never forget.”

“Don't worry, Mr. Arc. Your journey is far from over, and the same might be said for all of you. Unlocking your Semblance isn't the end. It can still grow and evolve. Providing you are willing to put in the work, who knows what could happen?”

- - - - - - - - - -

Emerald Sustrai

Now here I'm gonna go ahead and say that the way Emerald has been taught to express her love and the way SHE would rather preffered to be loved most likely do not align. At the side of someone like Cinder, and even Mercury who isn't exactly the most emotionally vulnerable person; the only brand of love that gets an easy pass is Acts of Service, and that's probably what Emerald is the most used to. I can go on a mission with you. I can help. We go right back to the "I can be useful" mentality and I'm not sure she's been shown any other way honestly. Let's be real though : if someone offered a hug or some gentle words ? She'd probably pout & fuss but I hardly doubt she'd object.

“I don't care about Salem! But I owe Cinder everything. You want to fight her that bad? Be my guest.”

“I just... Cinder was the only family I ever had. She cared about me, taught me things... But without her here, I don't know if what we're doing--”

“I've been working on my Semblance. I can help. I won't tell anybody.”

- - - - - - - - - -

Pyrrha Nikos

What's with everyone and dedicating their whole love toward just helping their teammates anyway they can ?! Stop ! But any way, you guessed it. I'm pretty sure one of Pyrrha's top way of showing love is Acts of Service, and nothing means quite as much to her as Quality Time. For someone who's been put on a pedestal and has a hard time relating to people; both touch and words can be a bit awkward. But if they're wrapped up neatly in a training session or semblance explanations ? Well that's already a more familiar area. Pyrrha gives her whole to her friends and those she cares about. And in exchange, if anyone can simply... be there and spend time with her... May it be at the ball or simply sitting in the courtyard... I'm sure our girl would be delighted.

“Jaune, you know if you ever need help, you can just ask.”

“I'm constantly surrounded by love and praise; but when you're placed on a pedestal like that for so long, you become separated from the people that put you there in the first place. But thanks to you, I've made friendships that will last a lifetime.”

“I'll do it. If you believe this will help humanity, then I will become your Fall Maiden.”

- - - - - - - - - -

Qrow Branwen

If I say Gift Giving for the corvid, is someone gonna hit me ? Come on it's fun ! Okay, more seriously... I think this kind of love conversation is kind of a necessity for Qrow. With a semblance such as Bad Luck, making everything complicated... Qrow tries to keep his distance from those he cares about. And since he's an emotionally repressed (but caring) asshole on top of it... Well that kinda narrows down his option. You know what DOESN'T put anyone at risk but can still bring smiles on their face ? GIFTS. Shiny things, souvenirs from his missions all over the world to give to 2 smol nieces. Sounds safe right ? That said, as any good emotionally unavailable character in this show, I gotta say Qrow probably has a thing for helping out and making himself useful in relation to Oz, Tai or the rest of the inner circle. So you know what that means *whisper* Acts of Service.

That said ! When it comes to receiving some love back... Qrow probably likes everything he doesn't allow himself to have. Soft touches, loving & comforting words, spending time with a friend without his semblance making everything complicated... We know that's all he wants.

“You idiot. I know you didn't do this.”

“Look, pal, I'm not sure who you are, but you need to leave my niece alone.”

“No one wanted me... I was cursed... I gave my life to you because you gave me a place in this world... I thought I was finally doing some good...”

- - - - - - - - - -

Clover Ebi

And among our newbies (and gone too soon) friends we have Clover ! Clover was a very good contrast to our dusty old crow but also a great help. Kind-hearted, perceptive and honest; he knew just how to put Qrow's self-loathing in his place and push him to give himself some credit. He always had a nice word or a joke for everyone, and visibly the rock of the Ace Ops : an expert a keeping the moral up and the mood companiable. Evidently, Words of Affirmation was his expertise. Had things gone differently, I'm sure we'd have had time for many more earnest and helpful conversations with this teal-eyed fisherman.

“It's a good thing they had someone to look up to and get them through it. Not everyone is so lucky.”

“I meant deflect a compliment. Those kids wouldn't be where they are without you. You've had more of an effect on them than you realize.”

“We don't have to fight, friend.”

- - - - - - - - - -

Winter Schnee

And today in the "emotionally unavailable" category we have... Winter Schnee ! TALK ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS PEOPLE ! Just - I would say look at Ruby but even she doesn't talk about her bad vibes... Nor does any of the "Words of Affirmation" peeps. Honestly what's wrong with y'all people ? Anyway Winter cares so much. Is it hidden behind professionalism and a stern *big sister* demeanour ? Sure. But it doesn't negate just how much she loves her closed ones. She's fiercely loyal, and even if she doesn't let her personal feelings get in the way of her duty and doing what needs to be done, no one is allowed to say she doesn't care. Countrary to Weiss, Winter doesn't seem as good nor as aware of the love that exists in simply *being* with people. Rather, she's dutiful and ready to help any way she can when given the chance. You guessed it, yet another Acts of Service kind of love... Maybe I'm doing this wrong XD. I'm on the fence about Words of Affirmation as well. Despite her standoffish looks, Winter has always been very open & reassuring during her discussions with Penny. But she's more stern when it comes to Weiss so I dunno x)

“I don't recall asking about your ranking, I'm asking how you've been. Are you eating properly? Have you taken up any hobbies? Are you making new friends?”

“You've grown up a bit, haven't you? You're not the little girl clinging to the family name anymore.”

“You can't just buy trust like everything else! You have to earn it!”

And that's it for Part 2 ! I might do some other characters if people suggest some but I don't have a pressing need to right now. I have many ideas of songs to apply to various characters however so that's prob what my next posts will consist of (or fun templates)

If anyone has tips to create RWBY gifs or links to download the eps in good quality I'll take it ! Good day everyone !

[kitkatopinions]

I'm confused, why was Winter not allowed to have the maiden powers last season finale? Is it because she was on Ironwood's side? Did the writers made Penny human so she can pass the maidens power to Winter because she's fighting against the evil man Ironwood? Also what the hell was that kind of fight with Winter and Ironwood? Shouldn't this be hard on Winter because she worked with Ironwood for years or even see him as a father figure she never had? She just looked at him like he was the worst person to ever walk on the face of the Earth and didn't even blink an eye to reflect an attack on him--she shed a tear for her sister who planted those seeds of doubt in her in the first place because we can't have team RWBY in the wrong and face consequences of their actions or have others have different opinions/values/views from them because...Reasons?

...Sorry for the rant, I'm just so upset how they handled Ironwood and how RWBY and friends just don't face the troubles they created.

I have a theory that they had Penny become a Maiden because they wanted to subvert expectations and knew people had been guessing “Winter is or will be the Winter maiden” since we were introduced to both her and the maidens in the same season. But then they didn’t know what to do with Maiden Penny, she was OP, they had no clue how to factor her into the group permanently, fans were already clamoring for Nuts and Dolts, maybe they regretted bringing her back at all, and they realized they should’ve made Winter be the Winter Maiden from the start. And I think everything else - giving Penny the virus, making her human, having her go head to head with Cinder again, having her reject Jaune’s healing and decide to die - was just the only way they could think to kill her properly and still pretend her story mattered in the end. But there was another problem, which was them making Ironwood evil (since they didn’t include his semblance,) and making Winter go along with it. Winter had been the one to suggest martial law even before everything went to shit. She had a much bigger tendency to mask her feelings and act cold than he did (which they villainized him for.) They wrote Winter to react to James shooting someone only minimally and not saying anything about it, fully supporting his other choices we were also supposed to see as evil. But they can’t have Winter rewarded for working with someone they turned into a villain. They can’t have someone Ironwood works with becoming more powerful, and making the mains look worse. So how could they fix that and make her the Maiden?

Why, by making her a poor sad girl with big doe eyes who only ever did bad things because she’d been manipulated by Ironwood and hadn’t made her own choices, of course! She’d only gone along with what James said because she couldn’t tell him no and was just scared and had to break away from the person who controlled her. But once she realizes James has gone off the deep end, suddenly she decides all the choices she’s stood behind and was fine with or even had suggested herself were totally wrong and the only way forward for her... is having the exact same viewpoints and opinions of the rest of Team RWBY and co. And she can’t muster any real care towards Ironwood, because she disagrees with him. Why would you be nice to someone or regret how things went when leaving someone who disagrees with you? That’s how things have been with Team RWBY lately, after all. And who cares if that goes against and cheapens Winter’s entire character before that point? I think they really just wanted it to seem like it wasn’t Ironwood’s suggestion. Maybe they realized that Ironwood did way more to stop Salem than the heroes and just didn’t want it to seem like all his ideas were actually pretty good in V7 (other than, you know, shooting Oscar) at least compared to the mains.

I think Winter was so badly handled in the last couple eps of V8. I said that if they had Winter fight Ironwood without showing much hesitance or regret, it’d tip me over into disliking her again, and I was right. She had some really strong moments this season, but some really weak, bad ones too.

[misstrashchan]

The Man With Two Souls, Pt. 2

Okay, so this ended up being a fucking long part 2 to my previous meta post. There was a lot I wanted to get down, and if it doesn't make sense or you don't agree with it, that's fine, I'd just be happy if you read it. Now I can rest until the finale comes and beats me up.

So, there's a few more Salem and Adam parallels to start off with like

(8) Having the same reaction to hearing someone mention Blake and Oz and the possibility of them getting the upper hand against them

(9) Chronologically after this happens (we see Adam destroy the throne room in Volume 6 episode 2, but we see him lose his mask at the end of the Adam trailer) deciding to go after Blake on his own while Salem creates the winged Beringel grimm and plans to go to Atlas herself, presumably to go after Oscar/Ozpin so he doesn't get in the way of her plans (as well as Ruby since she clearly needs her as well)

"If you want something done right, you do it yourself" - Volume 6 Chapter 13

(10) Adam and Salem telling Blake and Oz about how they're going to destroy them and those around them

"The ability to derive strength from hope is undoubtedly mankind's greatest attribute. Which is why I will focus all of my effort to snuff it out. How does it feel? Knowing that all your time and effort has been for nothing. That your guardians have failed you. That everything you've built will be torn down before your very eyes."

"So you send your guardians, your huntsman and huntresses. And when they fail and you turn to your smaller soul, know that you send her to the same pitiful demise. This is the beginning of the end, Ozpin. And I can't wait to watch you burn." - Salem, Volume 3 Chapter 12

"What you want is impossible! But I understand. Because all I want is you, Blake. And as I set out and deliver the justice mankind so greatly deserves, I will make it my mission to destroy everything you love. Starting with her." - Adam, Volume 3 Chapter 11

(11) Salem and Adam's perception of Oz and Blake affecting their perspective of themselves... and the audience.

Okay, this one's honestly kind of weird. For so, so long there were a lot of people who bought into the idea that Ozpin was secretly evil or somehow worse than Salem, or that he'd done something terrible and unforgivable to Salem. I fully admit, I was one of those people. I mean, I didn't think he was evil, but the way Salem talked to him at the end of volume 3, listening to the song Divide, I thought, he must have done something bad to Salem, right? How could she hate him so much otherwise?

And the worst thing he did... was leave her. When he couldn't go along with being a genocidal dictator of the whole world alongside Salem, and didn't want their children to be a part of that either.

And as for Adam, he tells Blake that she hurt him more than anybody because she left him.

"All sorts of people hurt me in all sorts of different ways. But no one hurt me quite like you, Blake. You didn't leave scars. You just left me alone." - Adam, Volume 6 Chapter 12

And Salem would also have been hurt from Ozma trying to leave her. Especially when you think about her backstory, how she was kept isolated in a tower, and instead of finding freedom in the outside world, found it in Ozma. And then he died, and she was alone again. And then the Gods destroyed humanity, and Salem is left alone one again for god knows how long.

"Once again, Salem was alone." - Volume 6 Chapter 3

And weirdly, similar to Ozpin there were people who bought into Adam's false perception of Blake too. That Blake is somehow the one who hurt Adam more than he hurt her (which is, completely insane).

And Salem and Adam want Oz and Blake to feel that way. To be paralyzed with self hatred and doubt, to be stuck in the past, and feel as if everything is their fault. That Salem and Adam are their responsibility, at first to save them, and then to stop them.

You see it with Adam's gaslighting, trying to paint her as an unfaithful coward. And I mean, just listen to the song Divide. The whole song is Salem trying to make out Ozpin to be the villain, that she's killing people but the real murderer is him for trying to give people hope, even if it was hope based on a desperate lie.

"It was you who ended their lives! Made them to dig their own graves! With your dark, sick, cruel design, convinced them their world could be saved." - Divide

And there were a lot of people convinced by Salem's song Divide that Ozpin was far worse than he really was, to the point it was surprising that he hadn't wronged Salem in some way like most people were expecting.

And Adam tries to make Blake believe that she's a coward, that she's selfish and weak, that running away from her problems is all she knows how to do.

And for a long while, Blake believed he was right. That she was toxic to the people around her, that she made things worse for them. And there were some people in the fandom who thought that she really was this toxic person.

It's actually kind of scary, but Salem and Adam managed to manipulate not only Blake and Oz's perception of themselves, but also the audience as well in how they saw them.

I don't doubt for a moment this is going to extend to Oscar as well if she meets him, that she'll likely try to convince him that he's just Ozpin and that he, Oscar, doesn't matter, and he'll fail and make the same mistakes as their past lives. Which undoubtedly parts of the fandom are going to take Salem's false perception of Oscar to heart as well and believe her.

Which brings me to move on from Blake's parallels with her first "soul" and Ozpin, to her second "soul" and Oscar.

Now Blake alluding to the Man with Two Souls is metaphorical, while in Oscar's case it's very literal, and it's no coincidence she's the one who first introduces us to the concept to us with the book she's reading during the Shining Beacon.

"...It's about a man with two souls. Each fighting for control over his body"

(It's important to note that the conflict between the two souls is not one of Good vs Evil)

Blake's conflict of her two metaphorical souls fighting for control, is the false perception Adam had of Blake and who she used to be with him, her past that she can't escape, and the struggle for her smaller, more honest soul, trying to define herself and decide who she wants to be. And for Oscar, he's struggling to define himself and decide who he wants to be, because of the merge with Ozpin, and that his past will become Oscar's too.

Both of them want to do the right thing and rise to their challenges, but it seems like such an impossible task to them that they're afraid to meet it.

"I'm... scared. I'm more scared than I've ever been. Than I ever thought was possible. I always knew I wanted to be more than a farmhand. But this? Who would ask for this?" - Oscar, Volume 5 Chapter 5

"I joined the Academy because I knew that Huntsman and Huntresses were regarded as the most noble warriors in the world. Always fighting for good. But I never really thought past that. When I leave the Academy what will I... How can I undo so many years of hate?" - Blake, Volume 2, Chapter 10

But the person who sees Blake's "other soul" the person she's truly capable of being, who she really is, even when she can't herself, is Yang.

"I'm sure you'll figure something out. You're not one to back down from a challenge Blake." - Yang, Volume 2 Chapter 10

And the one who sees Oscar and who he's capable of being even when he can't himself, is Ruby.

"Hey Oscar? I know this isn't going to be easy. But the fact that you're trying says a lot about you. You're braver than you think." - Ruby, Volume 5 Chapter 5

Blake and Oscar are also the first people we see Yang and Ruby open up to about their past trauma. The difference between the two being that in the Burning the Candle scene Yang is more willing to be vulnerable around Blake, to let her guard down and open up to her about her abandonment issues and how they've affected her.

Because as a more emotionally mature character she understands she needs to do that in order to properly relate to Blake so she can offer her support. She gets frustrated however when Blake still refuses her support, and so she has to give her a push to accept it.

Ruby, however, isn't as emotionally mature as Yang, and doesn't find it easy to let down her guard and talk about her emotions. Her mentality being described as "I don't have time for my emotions, I've got to make sure everybody else is okay" - RWBY Rewind: Ruby Rose Rewinds With Us

She feels like she constantly needs to be a pillar of strength and support for everyone around her as a leader. She has a hard time opening up about her own feelings and being vulnerable around others. For her, it seems much more natural to internalize those feelings rather than face them head on. As a leader, she feels she isn't supposed to show fear or doubt. If she admits how she's hurting or how scared she is, she'd be afraid of those around her losing faith.

Ironically, it's Ozpin's words of advice to her that enforce this mentality

"But if you aren't constantly performing at your best, what reason do you give others to follow you?"

So even though only a minute ago Oscar saw that Ruby was clearly upset over something (being reminded of Penny's death)

Ruby then goes on to act like nothing's wrong when she then attempts to reassure Oscar. And it feels like a performance, and though Ruby genuinely does want to reassure him, it comes across as insincere to him. He's frustrated because Ruby isn't being honest about how she's feeling, and is only concerned with his feelings.

So in the Dojo scene we have Oscar start to push Ruby past that flawed mentality that Ozpin enforced, to be more honest about how she's feeling, to talk about how the Fall of Beacon and the loss of Phyrra and Penny affected her, how she's afraid of Salem killing people she cares about, and that she'd kill anyone regardless.

And with both Ruby and Yang opening up about their past experiences they can relate to Blake and Oscar's own fears, doubts and insecurities. Blake's need for answers and Oscar's fear of the fight with Salem, and Yang's need for answers and Ruby's fear of the fight with Salem.

"I told you! I'm not telling you to stop! I haven't. To this day I still want to know what happened to my mother and why she left me. But I will never let that search control me. We're going to find the answers we're looking for Blake. But if we destroy ourselves in the process what good are we?" - Yang, Volume 2 Chapter 6

"I am scared! But not just for me. What happened at Beacon shows that Salem doesn't care if you're standing against her or not. She'll kill anybody. And that, scares me most of all. Phyrra... Penny... I'd be lying if I said it didn't hurt. That I didn't think about them every day since I lost them. That I didn't wish I had spent more time with them. If it had been me instead, I know they would have kept fighting too. No matter how dangerous it was. So that's what I choose to do. To keep moving forward." - Ruby, Volume 5 Chapter 5

And by demonstrating their own resolve, as well as their belief in the kind of people Blake and Oscar are capable of being that inspires them to be that person.

"I'm. Not. Running."

"You. Will." - Blake and Adam, Volume 3 Chapter 11

"She made a choice. To put others before herself. And so do I."

"Then you've chosen death." - Oscar and Hazel, Volume 5 Chapter 12

There's also Blake expressing her doubt in Yang during volume 3 after she attacked Mecury, causing Yang to question her own judgement.

She compares it to how Adam used to attack people, and of course she knows Yang wouldn't do something like that without good reason, but she can't but feel like the situation is very familiar. And Blake knows Yang isn't Adam, and makes it clear that she's decided to trust Yang.

"I want to trust you. I will trust you." - Volume 3 Chapter 8

But despite that, Blake's words do still weigh on her mind even when she's alone, where Qrow comes to talk to her about what happened and reassure her, and then they end up talking about her mum.

And then with Ruby in volume 7, Oscar expresses his doubt in Ruby in her decision to lie and hide the truth from Ironwood, comparing it to how Ozpin did the same to them, which, similar to Yang, causes Ruby to question her own judgement. And obviously he knows Ruby isn't Ozpin, that she probably had a good reason for lying. But again, the situation just feels so familiar.

But ultimately he decides to put his trust in Ruby, even before Ironwood.

"I do believe in you. But not only you." - Volume 7 Chapter 7

And by episode 9 they're both on the same page in deciding to choose the truth over fear. (if only James could have stayed on that page too)

Similarly to Yang, we see Ruby alone in episode 4 of volume 7, and you can tell Oscar's words are still weighing on her mind, as Qrow comes over to talk to her and she asks him if she is like Ozpin, and he reassures her that she's not, and then they end up talking about her mother.

Okay, so I'm going to go out on a limb here, and you can call me out on my bullshit if you like, but I'm making a prediction (like, 12 hours from the finale, but hey, it might happen later in the series for all I know)

If we're going full in on the parallels here, remember how Yang lost an arm trying to protect Blake from Adam, and afterwards Blake ends up leaving Yang like Raven, believing she'd be better off without her?

And how Salem is on her way to Atlas after hearing Ozpin had reincarnated, the foreshadowing for Ruby losing an eye and them bringing up her trauma around Summer in Chapter 11?

On top of her wanting Ruby alive?

I'm gonna guess Ruby loses an eye trying to protect Oscar, and then afterwards either Oscar or Ruby tries to sacrifice and give themselves up to Salem, except it ends up being a hollow sacrifice like Summer's

"I didn't have a choice I did what I had to do I made a sacrifice but forced a bigger sacrifice on you!" - Red like Roses Part 2

Because Salem would end up taking both of them either way. I actually can't imagine a scenario where she doesn't, because she needs both of them. But one of them has a worse fate, a "bigger sacrifice" in store for them when they reach Evernight (which I'm still thinking is Ruby)

[gelatomesomeironqrow]

Thoughts on V7 Ch11 that I can process right now.

James motherf***ing Ironwood. I knew he didn't have alot of aura but he really has the drive and will to keep fighting. I suspect he doesn't have a semblance which makes him even more badass to me. That fight, the way both of them were counting their bullets and not having any more ammo with them. Watts and James have a history and dare I suspect they used to date?

The way Watts said this;

I don't think he was talking about his jealousy over Pietro. I think, if they didn't date, Watts had some one sided feelings for James and like who wouldn't, look at the man. But damn, that line strikes me as the kind someone says to a person that broke their heart, intentional or not.

It makes, Watts going to Salem for the sole reason to attack Atlas, his home, more sense to me. Watts knows how much James cares for Atlas. He knows that by attacking Atlas, he is essentially attacking James. Even in V3, his role was to hack Atlas security. James' line about loyalty being everything, and carrying Watts' suitcase around after dropping him in lava. Perhaps he also still cared for Watts, not romantically, but like those feelings don't just go away after you break up with someone.

Their fight was amazing and beautiful, and James... my poor baby hurt himself and even Watts seemed surprised. Also to note, Watts didn't seem like he was trying to kill James, especially not at the end.

Moving on;

Tyrian. My man. What was that fight? Lmao, I couldn't stop laughing, a normal person doesnt break into hysterical laughter when their aura breaks. But man am I glad you are still alive.

Cinder. Man, she irks me. Purposefully triggering James like that. James was hurting already from Watts, now his PTSD (which I worried would come into play) has led him into a spiral. He is right about everything he said. Team RWBY, they are right to voice their fears and complaints. But James' decision is ultimately correct. They don't have the time to save everyone in Mantle. Their defenses are down. They still have enemies in Atlas with more on the way. They can't afford to waste anymore time. Is it fair? No. But it is the best plan they have right now.

Ruby telling Salem the truth in spite, when she couldn't/wouldn't tell James everything right away. James was right to be angry and upset about that. He gave them so many chances to trust him, and (granted they had had adults in the past who they trusted, betray them) but James was the most trustworthy and yet no one would trust him.

I'm looking forward to RWBY vs the Ace Ops next episode though. Marrow is going to switch sides, he was the only one who seemed to side with RWBY.

Summer. Her mission remains a mystery. Was she acting on Oz's orders or not? Why would she have faced Salem alone?

I felt for Ruby there, which like her not being able to use her silver eyes this volume is interesting to me.

Clover, Qrow, Robyn. The way they were sitting in that truck. Robyn and Qrow sitting together with Clover across from them. If that didn't highlight the divide I don't know what did. Clover will side with James, Clover is all about loyalty and I believe his loyalty lies with James. He wouldn't be James' right hand man if he wasn't loyal. Qrow will side with Ruby because family. Robyn will side with the people of Mantle even if she knows deep down that this is the best solution.

I hope Qrow hightails it to Atlas to speak with James. He remains the only person who could get through to the man.

I'm lowkey upset that we didn't get to see Neo taking Oscar but like it's ironic that that fight is left to our imagination.

Jaune has a bit of a PTSD too. This is the second time he couldnt get through to someone via scroll and the second time one of the members of his team has gone missing.

The next two episodes are going to be intense and I'm still worried for James' safety.