Why "Filler" is a Bad Criticism (RWBY Volume 9)

[@Blizzic]

My thoughts on AI generated art have changed slightly since I talked about it in this video, so I thought I'd address that in a little blog-type post: medium.com/@tannermceveety/some-updated-thoughts-on-ai-art-95445c391c7c

[@RyeBreadFF]

Thank you for making this. I’ve struggled a lot with both my sense of self and writing over last few years and your videos really have a refreshing voice behind them.

[@SeanMania213]

While I agree tge argument that v9 is filler is a bad faith criticism at worst and poorly thought out one at best it still doesn’t devalue the laundry list of genuine criticisms people have with this volume and the show as a whole. While I’ll never say RWBY was ever peak fiction there was a sauce there that I feel has been seldom felt for quite a while in the series. What I think people are referring to as filler is the feeling that the series has been meandering. A lot of character arcs feel poorly set up and a lot of pay offs feel poorly executed. Ironically enough the best thing about this season to me was the soundtrack and the fights. But even the fights are only really good from a choreography perspective. It doesn’t feel like the fights in this season say much about the characters with only one or two notable exceptions.

[@jeffreysmith236]

All feelings are NOT valid. All thoughts are NOT valid. Repressing them doesn't work, you must acknowledge them, but if they are detrimental to your growth and health, then you let them go. And move forward.

[@TJM990]

I've been saying how Ruby's entire fairy tale crashing down and realization that Summer wasn't the perfect idol she made her out to be was the key to her growth, glad to see someone say it.

[@romeda5156]

I think how they handle vol. 10 will determine whether vol. 9 is/isn’t filler. If the characters carry their experiences and the lessons they learned from vol. 9 to 10 then it wasn’t. If they forget everything (it’s roosterteeth so that’s very possible) then it was. At least that makes sense to me.

[@KazeShikamaru]

They do a lot of things but I doubt this.

[@avatarmufasa3628]

You could apply the same criticism to literally any piece of ongoing media. I think it unfair to judge them before the next season comes about.

[@Blizzic]

Hard disagree. Even disregarding the fact that character arcs that were set up in earlier volumes pay off in Volume 9, my whole point is that Volume 9 is valuable in and of itself as a piece of art, and that labeling it “filler” dismisses that in favor of it how it ties into the larger series

[@Andrius971]

@@Blizzic Regardless if its valuable in and of itself is irrelevant when its a part of a series. A beach episode might have artistic value as an episode. And still be filler in a series. The problem with V9 is that the character arcs that were set up, did not pay off in Volume 9, the end of the volume resets everything. Jaune comes back to his old self, Ruby comes back to her old self.

[@Blizzic]

@@Andrius971The point of the video is the opposite of what you’re saying, I don’t know what else to tell you

[@StridingJack425]

What would happen if the creators Say it’s was filler

[@PyroMaker3]

i think u completely misunderstand why people call this filler. the reason it's filler is because despite this being a character focused volume the characters do not change in any meaningful way and revert back to being themselves without facing any consequences. even jaune who turned old reverts back to being a teen. You might argue bumbleby happened but this couldve even been done in remnant it did not need to be in Ever after and speaking of ever after things happen in it without being brought up again or completely ignored. we dont learn anything new that needed to be told especially when remnant isnt a fully explored world yet. focusing an entire volume on an wntirely different world that just rips off wonderland doesnt accomplish anything that couldn't have been done in remnant. using the anime filler argument is irrelevant because thats not the only definition of filler. you can even do filler in stuff that is canon and waste your time doing absolutely nothing that doesnt accomplish much in the grand scheme of things

[@compareandcontrast9833]

No consequences? When did they bring Penny and Pyrrha back and how did they get the relics back from Salem? The message wasn't to change in the face of loss but how to accept it. They had that whole metaphor of their past selfs offering to make life easier for them or give them back things they lost like Yangs arm. Jaune was literally saving paper people named after his friends that couldn't last for years because he couldn't cope with failing again. Ruby and Jaune didn't need to change but do what Salem couldn't and move on.

[@PyroMaker3]

@@compareandcontrast9833 thats not what i said at all

[@compareandcontrast9833]

@@PyroMaker3 You didn't say the characters didn't change in any meaningful way because they didn't face any real consequences?

[@PyroMaker3]

@compareandcontrast9833 i said the characters didnt change in any meaningful way AND revert back without facing any consequences the criticism of the previous volume was that its all team rwbys fault that all this happened and this volume the characters dont face any consequences for it and just act like how they did previously they shouldn't be going "we follow ruby cuz she's always right" because she literally wasnt right at all. they shouldnt be "moving on" just like that they should address the issues at hand which they pussied out when jaune tried arguing with ruby. literally the entire reason the kingdom fell was because of them. they should just simply move on from that??? like you cannot be serious

[@compareandcontrast9833]

@PyroMaker3 Ruby literally got beat near death by the people she blamed herself for letting down. Then, she had a whole therapy session with a god of gods telling her she isn't perfect and doesn't have to be. That's not facing any consequences? Editing after you add that last paragraph. They did tell Ruby she was wrong, and most of her decisions wound up bitting her in the but. Even telling Ironwood the truth bit her.

[@TheSuccumbedSilence]

29:29 to 29:59 100% agree. Trying to convey a personal lesson learned to someone who hasn't gone through a similar experience is hard with just words, maybe next to impossible. But with stories you can place yourself in someone else's shoes. You'll think about the choices they made, the reasons why they were made and understand them as if they were your own. You can take time and really look at the situation and learn from it. Your video really helped me understand what I was trying to say and put it into words for me. Also the end credits music for vol 9 is a perfect representation of music doing the same thing, even without the lyrics.

[@duckiedale6550]

While I might agree that volume 9 isn’t filler your take is kinda stupid at times. For example, “plot and character are one and the same.” No they aren’t. As someone who’s been writing horror stories for most of my life I can confirm that’s not true. You can have a story without characters, but you can’t loose plot. It’s why you have bad books or movies being praised for their characters exclusively.

[@airi24]

The thing about characters is that even when there technically isn’t any, a character in a story can be as simple as a tree rustling in the wind. That’s why we call giving actions to inanimate objects “characterization”

[@arthurtitangenlpendragon]

​@airi3672 Nah. It is just you creating useless character or you under utilizing the character. Sorry. Sometimes, you suck.

[@GodzillaGachaGPT]

But it literally was filler. Ruby learned nothing, Bumblebee has no impact on the story, Jaune once again stole character development, and who gives a crap about where the Brother Gods came from?

[@victor2641]

Pretty sure ruby does from how others had described on other review

[@GodzillaGachaGPT]

@@victor2641 But why should we?

[@victor2641]

@@GodzillaGachaGPT what?

[@GodzillaGachaGPT]

@@victor2641 I mean, why should we as the audience care? There are a million other questions besides where the Brother Gods came from that RWBY should answer.

[@victor2641]

@@GodzillaGachaGPT cause many are focused on the characters and there journey , you and others may not but that dosen't really stop other people from doing so.

[@robinrising_]

Every argument for "Volume 9 is filler" boils down to "Volume 9 didn't give me what I want" and nothing can prove that wrong. The writers are shaking their heads at people who don't understand everything that has been set up for the larger narrative _just because_ it happened away from Remnant, or just because things were "reverted" on a surface level.

[@Savannah_Simpson]

It’s filler because they didn’t do anything that couldn’t have been done while also moving along the main plot on Remnant. Ruby, could have her little crisis, Jaune could actually have reacted and dealt with what to with Penny instead of just time skipping it away, Blake and Yang could have their little get together moment and Ruby could have found out from a different source about her mom’s final mission and Ravens involvement in it. This Volume exists for one reason and one reason only:They had their heart set on an Alice in Wonderland Volume. I say this as some who loved this Volume and would say there’s argument that it’s one of the best written seasons, but with so many characters, they don’t have the luxury to just ignore them for a full Volume.

[@robinrising_]

@@Savannah_Simpson Exactly how would they have incorporated the God that predates the Brothers, as well as the world and culture the Brothers grew up in, on Remnant? When nothing on Remnant could give them that info? Do you think those won't matter later?

[@Savannah_Simpson]

@@robinrising_onestly none of that was really needed. The Remnant creation story was fine as it was. There was no need to make it more complicated.

[@robinrising_]

@Savannah_Simpson how can you tell if it's actually unnecessary 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@jeffreysmith236]

​@@Savannah_Simpsonso you know where the story is going over the next several volumes? Really? How many stories that other people pay to read have you written? If Ruby kills herself in Remnant it would have been permanent, not therapy. And since a possible solution is persuading the Brothers to return to the tree and take Salem with them, this volume, my new favorite, is VITAL. Or maybe Vytal.

[@KazeShikamaru]

I'll never get people who call this filler. Someone legit called Salem's backstory filler.....LOL!

[@pedanticat9479]

That person is an idiot. Lost Fable is one of the most important episodes of the entire series (along with it being one of my favorite episodes).

[@exaltedfalcheon1793]

Her backstory happened wat before Vol 9...

[@janniegurl05]

I just want to know who is going to take care of the place now that the cat is gone. Also what’s gonna happen now that jabber walkers are just out and about more powerful than ever? Will Ne-Yo go around helping the people now that she’s staying there? Is Lewis gonna pop up in season 10? Why did he decide to write the story as his sister? I’m assuming it’s because Lewis Carroll is the author of Alice in wonderland but still i I feel like the show is always leaving me with more questions than answers. 😆

[@38.thachthaolehuynh20]

Hello, I'm from the future and I'm here to answer some of your questions. From RWBY Beyond, we know that Somewhat and Juniper are most likely take care of the place, also Lewis and Alyx was live in the time before the Great War. And this actually was answered in the show that Lewis's story is the story he wished happened. And about Neo and the Jabberwalker, we still not sure what gonna happen to them so we just can only geuss. Maybe you know all this already, but I'm just gonna leave this here for those who don't

[@riandylie7817]

You sir, have earned yourself a subscriber, this is amazing.

[@catraaa5261]

In my opinion it isn't really filter, kind of depends on the perspective...? Main lore wise, I can see why it's considered filler; considering the lack of development or even mention of Remnant as whole But if you look at it from the characters development perspective, this volume was a necessity. I think it's vital for us to FINALLY get some information and closure with the main characters of the show. We've been doing main Salem plot for years now, we can use a volume as a much-needed break.

[@dspace4514]

The best way to look at something and consider it filler is to pick the last 'canon' episode and the first 'canon' episode and see if anything changed, which, surprise, there are. Yes, I will admit that there were some unnecessary things in this Volume that may not play a bigger part in the future, but you can't just ignore the rest! Like Bumblebee being canon, Jaune and Ruby dealing with their negative emotions and Neo being taken out of the picture because she finally got her revenge. Even if I don't like the Volume 9, I'm not going to call it filler because plot related stuff happened.

[@juandiegojuarezadanaque3000]

keep in mind that the hobbit is a prequel

[@brandondodge6040]

Honestly, this was beautiful. I love how you were able to convey so much of what I've been feeling these past few months. Of how stories matter.

[@TheZanitor]

I will be the person, the issue with volume 9 is that it's a filler-like volume compared to other volumes of Rwby. Great video by the way (tend to get lost about praising the show instead of the point but overall good). Now I don't think volume 9 is bad (best-written volume so far). The issue concerning its filler status is the fact that the writers proclaim it's taking a break from the main story (which is what filler does) and that the plot of volume doesn't have much connection to the overall plot of Salem, the relics, and etc (they did try to do this in volume 9 but every time they do, they shoot down the idea). It adds little information about the ever-after connection to Remnant (such as that the gods were born there......and that's it), gives us breadcrumbs about Summer, and BumbleBee is official (yet some of the ideas don't tie down to Ever-after). Ruby and Jaune basically have circle development where they get depressed but by the end, they get over their depression and go back to their usual self in the way (without any consequences). The issue is that yes you do want to tie it down to the main story, goal, or objective of the characters to give a solid foundation on why this volume is important for the narrative standpoint of Rwby. Interestingly enough there are series where that basically have a bunch of filler content (for instance To Love Ru is basically filler in general without progressing the plot and Case Closed where they tackle different mysteries but hardly develop the main story). So for my final thought, why couldn't they connect it to the main story, and talked about how Ruby feels about Salem that they might just repeat the same mistake again in Vacuo adding to her depression?

[@jeffreysmith236]

Neither Ruby nor Jaune are they same as they were in volume 1 nor 8, so how they handle the difficulties they face in Vacuo will be different than before volume 9. I pity you if you cannot see that.

[@TheZanitor]

@@jeffreysmith236 Not really, yes they have they are not the same person as they were but the issue is that how the events of volume 9 will actually come to play in volume 10 and that's the issue. Ruby and Jaune go through circle development where they have a starting point of them being happy, getting depressed, a tipping point, and a resolution until it goes back to themselves as they were. Jaune returns back to how he was and acts how he was and Ruby's whole message was about your perfect as the way you are which basically means she went back as she was.

[@jeffreysmith236]

@@TheZanitor In previous volumes, and most of this one, Ruby held herself to the impossible standard of Pedestal Summer, a vision of perfection. And that vision is shattered. How is she identical to previous Ruby? And Jaune finally accepted that he can't save everybody either. How is he identical? Do you have any comprehension of character realignment after having core beliefs destroyed?

[@TheZanitor]

@@jeffreysmith236 The issue is that we don't know anything of Summer at all or what Ruby thinks about her mother (since Yang is the only one that talks about her). All we know about Summer is that her team broke up, she was a huntress, she had ruby and went on a mission that got her killed. Tell me what is the pedestal of Summer, what is her exploits or legacy that Ruby is trying to reach. Also Ruby message is pretty clear "You are perfect as the way you are". meaning that Ruby goes back herself before she was depressed. Jaune went through the same thing when Beacon fell with Pyrrha death except that he didn't escape to his own fantasy of being hero to people who didn't want him, but decided to train so he doesn't go through that again. The other issue is that he literally goes back to being young, being himself before he enter the everafter. Your last statement make hardly any sense since Ruby and Jaune are still heroes and will save people. Their core beliefs is basically being a huntress or huntsman or heroes so whats different about them. What do these experiences teach them or so that shook their core beliefs. That Summer lied, or that she died (since she been dead since the red trailer), that Jaune was escaping Reality to act as a hero.

[@jeffreysmith236]

@@TheZanitor and I make senseless statements is due to your lack of experience and understanding of having a foundation of your belief system shattered. Ruby obviously saw Summer as almost perfect, except for not being able to stop Salem by herself. And until you have your belief system shattered like that, or at least spend enough effort taking your system apart in order to make it your own, you can't.

[@unknown-iy2we]

Nobody called vol 9 character arcs filler. The problem is will the everafter and the concept of ascension come back later in the story. Sure they will mention the ever after, ruby's ascension, and jaune's time spent in the everafter, but will that play a part in beating salem? did they really need to exclude the rest of main plot from the volume? we could've cut back to winter and vacuo, then back to team rwby in the everafter. Will there even be another volume is the better question.

[@vazak11]

So many people have called V9 Filler, there's countless video essays by the usual grifted in RWDE, a perpetual parade of dipshits on Reddit and Twitter and tumblr constantly screeching "This was filler!" because a slip of paper reading "Hate RWBY" has long since replaced their brains.

[@yuukianimates3318]

Currently Volume 10 hasn't been greenlit yet

[@michaelflores9220]

I doubt they would talk much if at all of their experiences down there if the show was gonna continue (It ISN'T) but good video otherwise!

[@Yashieyama]

Funny thing is, if they claim vol9 as filler, then by their own logic, vol 4 is also filler.

[@jesseburrows2341]

Most rwby fans i know aknowledge that volume 4 is a filler volume so yeah your logic tracks.

[@pedanticat9479]

It boggles my mind how anyone could consider this volume as filler. This was a volume that served as a payoff to several things that had been set up prior such as Bumbelby becoming canon, Ruby finally snapping after withholding all of her negative emotions for years, and Neo learning to finally. In my mind, a thing is only filler if it doesn't contribute anything to either the character's or overall plot development. And you know what? Filler isn't inherently bad, it only really becomes a problem when there are more pressing matters that need to be explored. A perfect example I always use is Steven Universe. Now I'm one of those folks who actually do enjoy most of the filler episodes, but I would say its usage of filler episodes became a problem somewhere during season 3 or 4 in which there'd be these big things that should really be touched upon that we either had to wait forever (Bismuth not returning for like 50 episodes after her first debut) for or they were just never addressed (Lapis rocky relationship with Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl). Though going back to RWBY, volume 9 is easily the best volume of the entire series because of not just the payoff but the new status quo's being set. Like I fully expect to see a different kind of Ruby in volume 10, one who allows herself to be more vulnerable and be honest about how she feels.

[@olserknam]

It boggles my mind how anyone could think Ruby has been withholding her negative emotions for years. Not only is there no explicit indication of this in the show, not only are there plenty of scenes of Ruby EXPLICITLY showing negative emotions, but in general, I hate this theory because it devalues everything Ruby's done during V4-V8 as "'just being depressed and holding back her feelings". Her writing the letter reflecting on her experiences at the end of V4? Her speech to Oscar in V5 about her philosophy? Her staying strong and keeping her resolve in V6? None of that counts, she was just putting on a facade. I hate this narrative that frames Ruby's actions during that enormous time period as "unhealthy signs of depression" rather than inspiring acts of heroism. I don't consider V9 filler, but V9 is explicitly about Ruby's feelings after the fall of Atlas. It's a temporary conflict. You will not see a different kind of Ruby. She will act the exact same way she always has because the entire point is that her past self has already been good enough.

[@ProperNeko]

Despite I'm being blunt about the flaws of the show, it was a well thorough video about the importance of themes and development in Volume 9, as well as a detailed understanding of what is filler and what isn't. I still feel this is a good call to focus on the Ever After without cutting away to the events in Vacuo, as it takes a break by subverting the main environment of Renmant and pay more attention to the main cast of characters. While I'm still critical of how they handled the suicide allegory, pacing, the time given to characters and how the ending didn't allow for a lot of drastic changes to shake up the future narrative, there is no argument that many parts of the story do matter to the canon of the show. It's more of the case whether the future volumes expand on them, which is why I hope Ruby should really confront Raven on what happened to Summer. People could be questioning the nature of this volume being filler based on how they perceive it based on the hype they received from CRWBY. It's being considered as the best volume because of the themes around Ruby, the tree and other characters. For others, they could be let down because of what they hoped for the volume to introduce to twist the expectations of the show, including the solution to defeating Salem or Jaune returning to Renmant as an older person. Many of their hopes were not fulfilled, hence they are more likely to challenge this volume for being filler. I think it's more important on how the viewer enjoys the show rather than being told how to watch the show.

[@paulzan2246]

Ironically, the scene where Ruby comes to terms with not being enough, doesn’t feel like enough.

[@jeffreysmith236]

I disagree. I comprehend exactly what she went through.

[@tamtam-bx5ng]

Thank you for putting my feelings and non-formulated thoughts into words! It just realised that story (kinda) and just the overall feeling of the world and characters is what makes me love RWBY so much. I know very much that the plot has it´s weaknesses, the art can be clumsy and most of every other critique of the show out there is true, but I still love it somehow and now I can finally put my finger on it. Also true for some movies I somehow liked although they are objectivly bad. Great video, keep it up! ;)

[@fdsfsd-i1t]

So what you are saying is that you like the "Offing yourself is the answer" message that RWBY is giving us?

[@avatarmufasa3628]

Nice video essay. I really enjoyed the latest season. My partner and I just kept on watching, we couldnt stop. But I think the takeaway of being able to choose yourself is an important one, and i think this season did that quite well

[@EllipsisMark]

Great video. I really liked the plot vs theme framing, even if I don't think it applies to anything involving RWBY.

[@cyrus9424]

You pretty much said everything I was thinking about this volume and the discourse. Good review.

[@Xiao_Long-T77]

Same

[@nemasisdemarini8339]

Dude, I've gotta be honest, I wasn't expecting much from this video. I thought it was just going to be another video essay. Entertaining, yes, and thought provoking, but not much more than that. But this video nearly brought me tears. And coming from someone who has maybe cried over media ten times, in my 21 years of life, that means a lot. So, genuinely, keep going how you are. Because you're clearly doing something right.

[@Gameispain101]

Bro I all most cried at the end, love the video

[@5thar]

One of, if not your best video - Good job man❤

[@wrenneinzbern]

v9 was filler. don't know what else to tell you. Rwby defenders refuse to accept the shows many flaws and instead focus on irrelevant points such as what you call it.

[@jeffreysmith236]

You are correct, I refuse to be a miserable person and focus on anything that is deficient in my miserable opinion in the show provided to me by other people's hard work, instead I choose to love it and enjoy it. You do you.

[@jesseburrows2341]

honestly when ever i listen to the hardline defenders it sounds like pure cope to me

[@devalyn3025]

Yeah it's pretty much a cult at this point.

[@Zhaobowen]

Subscribed. You are the first KZbinr who I've seen give RWBY credit as a story. What an excellent video.

[@kairussell2156]

Thank you so much for making this!

[@dr.wolfstar1765]

Its bad critism because it doesnt fill in the gap betweem anything now that rwby is dead

[@fdsfsd-i1t]

RWBY is bad and V9 was filler.

[@a.t.trujillo9970]

I feel like volume nine isn't the worst volume I just feel like it needed more work to put into it because Ruby didn't really learn anything but at least it the fights were better than volume eight because dear Lord the fights in that volume where the literal worst but I feel like filler Is Not a Bad Thing filler laws are characters to interact with each other and do fun things that they probably could never do in the normal plot like you think of the legend of Avatar where there's filler but it develops are characters I don't care if you get the interacting with it they probably could never do if they were just fighting the Fire Nation which yeah that is cool but also we need to have moments for our characters to breathe and you know just be able to talk to each other like imagine if in volume Five when Weiss reunited with team Ranger there was like a little filler episode where Weiss go shopping to buy a new outfit that is better for combat because the dress that she wears was not made for combat and she should have change into something else once she got to Mistral like we could have had like a nice filler episode where Ruby Yang and Nora took my shopping for a new outfit because her dress is not good for combat and also makes sense why waste would want to no longer wear a dress her family told her to wear after all that went down with her no longer being the heiress of the city dust company with her father hitting her yeah you would think that was want to change out of that dress but we just never got that filler episode that would have been nice because of the fact that all we can ever do is the plot in RWBY I feel like Ruby volume nine has some really good moments I just feel like it wasn't done the best like we normally get enough introspection of Ruby and her thoughts and also the season just kind of sucks because they we're kind of romanticizing suicide with the whole ascending thing because Ruby pretty much wanted to end her life because of how depressed she was you're telling me that her suiciding is the thing that made her a good leader again yeah that sounds messed up my general thought the volume nine it's not perfect it's not the best but I had more fun with it than volume eight

[@kandycane2337]

This is such a good video, and such a good analysis of V9. Not to mention what you said about how we all have our own internal narratives, and trauma is the result of when the chaos around us doesn’t line up with that - that got me. I’m rarely this emotionally affected by a video essay, and it’s a testament to just how good you are at this. Great job.

[@Jockster109]

I have one caveat when it comes to AI art. That being that the algorithm based, unthinking "AIs" currently associated with AI art are kind of pointless and silly and without artistic merit, that does not mean actual art produced by an AI is an impossibility. It would just have to be a concious, thinking feeling AGI, rather than a collection of algorithms simply designed to emulate with no inner understanding or experience. Sorry I'm just trying to nip hate for digital beings in the bud in case they actually come about at some point lol. edit: but oh my god for real finally someone who makes rwby videos that are this positive i needed this so bad

[@samoconnor5567]

Honestly so glad you posted this. I gave up on RWBY a couple volumes ago, but went back because from you this sounded dope. and it was. binged it all this afternoon. and yeah had nothing to do with the overall rwby plot, but good, because i was sick of that. They finally gave us everything people have wanted for years and all they had to do was chuck out the thing theyve been binding themselves to.

[@kenmyyy]

waiting for spider verse

[@MattSayYay]

I really don’t get why people call Ruby’s arc filler. If it were filler, Ruby would be in the same mental state she was at the beginning. But she isn’t. You could make the argument that it shouldn’t have taken the whole volume for Ruby to be cured of her depression, like that isn’t something that requires it’s own arc. And you can also say that the resolution was not enough. But well executed or not, objectively speaking, it’s not filler. And no, this depression wasn’t just something the writers pulled out in V9, this was a recurring thing since V7, maybe even earlier. And that’s not even mentioning Jaune, or Blake and Yang. In short, criticize the volume all you want, but you can’t look at the characters from the start or middle of the volume to the end and say that they went through filler.

[@MisteRRYouTuby]

It’s okay. RWBY Volume 9 is filler. Accept it.

[@rileyduncan3927]

No it’s not.

[@MisteRRYouTuby]

@@rileyduncan3927 It is.

[@rileyduncan3927]

@@MisteRRYouTuby No it’s not.

[@MisteRRYouTuby]

@@rileyduncan3927 It is.

[@rileyduncan3927]

@@MisteRRYouTuby How?

[@macabrevoid]

Damn this video neeeds so much more love, really excellent dissection and I love how in depth you went. The beginning was a bit of a tangent, but still I think you did great job in this video essay. I agree a lot that this volume did a really good job in looking at the characters we've been following more deeply as the stakes and failures begin to mount for the team, especially for Ruby and Jaune who were the ones most affected by the losses in Volume 8. I recently got into RWBY via a friend and I went in with a very negative view of the show, so I was very surprised by how much I enjoyed it and when I finally came to volume 9, I was extremely satsifed with how they handled everything. There's definitely a lot to critique about the show and it's not perfect (nothing is and its great to think about your favorite shows critically), but seeing people write this volume off as filler really showed a lot of ignorance towards it and just following the crowd of people who hate the show and assuming the worst of it. I would know because I was a part of that crowd and saw the "RWBY sucks" videos and assumed people knew what they were talking about. So thank you for making this video, again it came out really well and I look forward to watching the rest of the stuff you've posted/will post!

[@afiqahmad389]

saw your video on into the spider-verse a while back. Wishing you success if you do make one for across the spider-verse. Cant wait.

[@P5S34]

I am pretty sure that anyone that calls V9 "filler" either don't value character progression as important or don't care about the characters at all.

[@dfgd2402]

Character progression? SOrry, did you watch it until the end? Because the "character progression" was undone during the last episode!

[@P5S34]

@@dfgd2402 Throughout V9, Ruby had been depressed for the losses and is because of her failures as well as not living up to her expectations that she didn't view herself as a hero. The finale showed that Ruby wasn't suppose to ascend into someone else, she had to learn that she didn't have to measure up to her mother, because like everyone else, Summer made mistakes. It is for that reason why she chose herself. Clearly, YOU didn't watch the same show because of your clouded judgement.

[@CrazyWeridoRH]

I am viewing Vol 9 in a new light thanks to you but I’ll still hold firm that most of it was a botched execution of said topics you pointed out in your video.

[@vazak11]

Love the concept pf this video so good! All "AI" users have a very die. I would argue that the Jaune flashback being a story book makes sense because so much of the meta of this volume is tied up in unreliable narrators.

[@joshuabushman7]

Shout out to the mfs who actually watch anime to tell me the ones that are actually worth watching

[@wombat4583]

What kind of shows/stories do you typically like? At the end of the day it's a medium and there is endless genres.

[@Jummugest]

When Blizzic uploads!!!

[@Jummugest]

Also that A.I rant was top notch

[@gatesong]

Wow, this was so good. I love fhis volume, and you've absolutely nailed why.

[@HenryGray-sy4pu]

Agree with everything said here! I'll definitely be checking out your other videos.

[@your_dar_ling]

One day I will write the essay about RWBY being a masterclass of diegetic storytelling and Volume 9 being the culmination of that.

[@MCMONIC]

Wish I know you did this

[@compareandcontrast9833]

Good video.

[@bluefacestan1826]

Tommrw always make me cry

[@joshuabushman7]

I like channel

[@Blizzic]

Thank!

[@caseyhart4999]

I know basically nothing about this series but to me filler has always been defined as anything not in the manga. From what I can tell this series does not have a manga? If so then it is impossible for it to have filler no matter how bad or pointless some things may seem. It is pretty crazy to me when people try to suggest that canon material of any series is filler just because they think it’s bad lol.

[@jesseburrows2341]

that isn't the issue rwby had a tendency to spend literal hours not moving the plot in any way. For instance, until volume 3 there was no main villain and the main character received a superpower in that same volume that can defeat the main villain and the monsters by just looking at them. but she never bothered to learn anything about it until three volumes later. the show just enjoyed wasting time.

[@caseyhart4999]

@@jesseburrows2341 yea to me it just sounds like a slow and kind of mediocre story at best. Like I said I know pretty much nothing about this series but without source material I can’t really call it filler myself.

[@jesseburrows2341]

@@caseyhart4999 people merely claim any time not spent moving the plot forward as filler. I know filler is a fairly common term in manga, but the term can be found in cinema as well. it was used to describe films that added pointless scenes to reach a marketing mandate for theatrical length making them filler scenes. I think this is the definition being used.

[@KakiT1]

As a character-focused writer who will always write what makes sense for the characters and makes them interesting over anything plot-related, I appreciate this video. I worry ppl r forgetting that "character(s) wander around and there is no fucking plot" is a genre. Like, it's a thing. Not like I needed a justification to write good characters instead of good plots, but what I do is an established thing already. People's ignorance and unwillingness to learn and leave their stagnation zone is disturbing to me. Also, I hate hate hate AI art and I honestly think if we have to choose between a) making it completely illegal or b) artists get no pay any more, we should pick a. Obviously this is real life and has nuance, but capitalism is stupid and will, in my opinion, take the whole hand if we give it a finger

[@jeffreysmith236]

Capitalism has existed for millennia, it adapts and evolves to local conditions and culture, and its opposite is soulless and murderous.

[@KakiT1]

@@jeffreysmith236 the knee-jerk reaction to anything anti-capitalist is tbh saddening, if not alarming.

[@jeffreysmith236]

@@KakiT1 capitalism will take the whole hand, and anything anti-capitalist takes the whole body and soul and puts it into a mass grave, so alarming is correct.

[@jesseburrows2341]

and thats how people get replaced by ai. ai doesn't question or bite the hand that feeds not to say those figures are benevolent but the more we struggle the faster it arrives

[@KakiT1]

@@jesseburrows2341 Are you saying that they are right to fuck us in the ass or is that your way of saying "Hooray for the revolution"?

[@EnbyNomad]

I really do not get why ppl call it filler. You can dislike the volume without it being filler. I didn't like volume 9, but no it was not filler. My main complaint comes from the fact this was clearly not in the plan from the early volumes and as such lacks the buildup that would've made volume 9 much better imo.

[@theycallmebad]

Except Miles and Kerry confirmed that they did talk about a setting such as the Ever After with Monty so the concept was there. I don't know how much they then elaborated on it together, but it was there.

[@EnbyNomad]

@@theycallmebad Even if it was it was never integrated. Imagine if the series opened when Summer reading part of the story to rwby and yang. Having characters and scenery reference it

[@Ammy-q4w]

@@EnbyNomad But, why reference to something that wouldn't be valid in the story until Volume9? We didn't even know about the existence of magic until Volume3, so what would be the point of even mentioning Ever After?

[@jeffreysmith236]

Miles and Kerry stated that they, with Monty, were most excited about producing volume 9 before they even started volume 1. And 9 is my new favorite, taking the place of 6.

[@jesseburrows2341]

@@jeffreysmith236 source?

[@timothyturner7213]

There was only one episode maybe two that had to do with story plot and that was Ruby being torn down by Neo and last episode. Rwby 9 is the worst of the series except two episodes. I still liked it but that doesn’t negate it is the worst of the series.