Ren Faces His Demon RWBY Volume 4 Chapter 12: No Safe Haven

[@JJR93]

The (mostly) piano rendition of "Home" and medley of other themes while Ruby writes her letter always makes me cry somehow.

[@JJR93]

No dialogue, but the way Nora looks at him like "really!?" And he softly smiles back: "really."

[@MinisterEvil]

6:56 "he really hit them with the... oh oh whaaaa?" I thought you were going to say "with the goodness."

[@MinisterEvil]

10:51 Also remember Nora has this side. You won't see it again for awhile, but it's there.

[@LITMasonEdits]

they get the closest to the monty oum spice in the atlas arc. thats when they really start COOKING with fight scenes

[@G128_cz]

ngl I am SO SAD for Jaune in the end of the episode Jaune just stares at his sword and shield (as those are the ones with Pyrrahs armor in It) most likely than not thinking about her and Ren then also putting his fathers knife beside It (which is what his gun blades are made after btw, a cool little detail) just kinda gets me each time, the season 3 trauma is real

[@daltondoestheirbest]

The building Nora tackles Ren under to save him isn't just any building it's the exact same one Ren ran under to save Nora when they were kids. It's a true circle and makes the whole situation carry that much more meaning. 😢

[@madd.Rosé]

I'll always love Nora's leap of faith from the roof. It shows just how much trust she had in Ren not only in taking out the Nuckalavee, but how much she trusts him with her life. Edit: I'd have to say it's my favorite Volume 5 moment, tops.

[@mythrunegaming7654]

YES!!! This was my fav episode of the whole season.

[@ReggieWolf]

@mythrunegaming7654 yea this episode was packed with so much! There was action and emotional moments, and that end credit scene put a nice bow on this gift of a season.

[@JJR93]

As an old time RWBY fan, I have to tell you, when this first aired we all thought Nora had bought it in that scene where it all went black for a second. Then they broke the tension with the upskirt joke, hehe.

[@JJR93]

Oh yeah and we all definitely thought Qrow had quietly died during the battle. CRWBY bastards! hahaha.

[@ReggieWolf]

Bruh, if they would've killed either of them off so soon wouldve been crazy af especially after last season

[@MinisterEvil]

5:32 If you notice the expression Jaune is making, he's still salty at Qrow about the talk they had earlier, now he's taking out his frustration at Qrow even though none of it is Qrow's fault. Remember he has that tendency. Yes, it's a tendency.

[@jeffreysmith236]

And we learn what was interfering with Nora's attempt to move into romance with Ren. He still thought of her as that little girl he rescued. Nora had to backhand him out of it.

[@Pollux167]

And thus one of my favourite fights has come to pass finally. The Nuckelavee is one of the better designed grimm we will see (and also i have a theory that its related to the horsemen of the apocalypse specifically death given its trophy hunting and general age at least.) Volume 5 happens in what is a relatively short time frame compared to 4 with exceptions to blakes story, while hers was interspersed during vol 4 and 5 it all happens not too long after end of 3 just to let you know

[@TequilaSunrise-zd7li]

Reggie. I have to express my gratitude for your fast tracking this episode as a reaction for your supporters. This was the most delightful surprise after peeking in today. I had a death in the family today and this was something that took me away from that loss. I once posted reactions too and for personal and copyright reasons I've taken them all down. I often got so destroyed by episodes I often paused my reactions mid stream in those moments that stood still. When Pyrrha died, it took me a month to continue my reaction. In this particular episode of volume 4, episode 12, I paused the stream when Ren was pinned to the wall by the Nucklevee (that is the name of the creature inspired by Scandinavian folklore and, from what I understand, was the very first thing Monty Oum drew prior to RWBY even before the four main girls). When Ren was pinned and Nora was flung by Ruby to protect her partner, I was almost certain Nora had met her end. I paused my stream, looked into the camera, and freaked out presuming my favorite character just sacrificed herself. It took me three weeks before I would even watch the remainder much like it took me weeks to watch the Pyrrha fight at the end of Volume 3 (and only after a friend gave me a vial I wear around my neck with gold glitter my friend called Pyrrha dust). I had to stop this reaction again when the music changed when Ruby went looking for Uncle Qrow. I had the same reaction as you, Reggie, and was certain he was gone. It took me another week to finish that reaction. It took almost five weeks for one reaction. I'm glad I did because the scene with Ren and Nora on the airship filled my eyes with tears of joy. The final scene of Ruby's letter writing to Yang is so powerful. Stylized, blended piano versions of songs important to each of the girls are amalgamated into an inspiring medley of musical masterpiece. It's the best magical creation of music CRWBY has ever produced, in my opinion, and was vitally concluded with Ruby's correction "for those we haven't lost yet". Ren's knife bestowed upon him by his father became the design of the bottom handles of his guns. Much like Ren started off his soul mate's creation of her hammer with the wooden hammer he found in episode 10, he holds in his hands a testament to his love for his father. The post credits scene of Volume 4 is my favorite of all the volumes. Back when this volume happened, you might remember the scene in the bedroom where Nora leaned her head on Jaune's left shoulder. Someone photoshpped a scene when Pyrrha leaned on Jaune's right shoulder from volume 2. Nora on the left, Pyrrha on the right, and Ren on the bed behind them. Miles Luna, the voice of jaune and one of the CRWBY writers, made comments online loving this particular fan creation and loved them for it. Its still my wallpaper on my computer to this day. I loved the final fight and while the sequence on the train in volume 2 where Yang fights Neo, Weiss fights the chainsaw man, and Blake fights Torchwick will always be my favorite fight in RWBY, this was number two. After all the years since the loss of Monty, its become clear he may never be replaced or supplanted as the supreme animator of combat in RWBY or elsewhere. Monty wrote on his personal blog back in 2012 that "I believe that the human spirit is indomitable. If you endeavor to achieve, it will happen given enough resolve. It may not be immediate, and often your greater dreams is something you will not achieve within your own lifetime. The effort you put forth to anything transcends yourself, for there is no futility even in death." More than a decade later, Monty Oum can't be replaced. Your friend, Celly

[@ReggieWolf]

@@TequilaSunrise-zd7li im glad that in such an emotional and mentally heavy day for you, I'm glad that i could offer some help and escape, and I'm sorry for your loss. When i started RWBY i didnt know how emotionally invested i could become to these characters, but after the events of volume 3 i fear and know that if any of many of these characters died im gonna be messed up at this point. I have been off amd on with so many anime and series lately but this one i just have to keep going to see what's next, and it's gotten me to even go back and start rewatching to see these 4 volumes in a different light. As long as RWBY stays in the hands that monty selected, the vision he created and the team he built for that vision will live on until they give us the dramatic and beautiful ending that the show deserves

[@heidibailly2835]

I'm sorry for your loss. Glad that you can find a moment of reprieve here.

[@lorenzoteague8445]

I give you my prayers to you & your family at this difficult time. 🥲🙏🏿 This series has become a sense of hope & understanding in many of our lives..... It's a comfort we all share with you now. And I've seen your comments here and elsewhere. Your love of RWBY is deep & wonderful!! Something else we share. Good luck & "Keep moving forward." 🫡🌹❄️🖤🔥

[@likelyvampirical]

I’ve always loved the soft piano cover of ‘Boop’ during the scene with Ren and Nora.

[@Aquapanther154]

One thing you should know about Grimm is that not only the older they are, the stronger, but YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL with Grimm that are based off of Fairy Tales, or I guess Grimm Tales The Nuckleeve is literally just a small taste of the Grimm to come

[@MinisterEvil]

3:00 Filler Arc suggestions, since you say you're doing them after Volume 6: Weiss vs Mitsuru Death Battle Ruby: Ice Queendom. It only has spoilers for up to the first part of Volume 2; otherwise, it's completely independent. There's a character short for Adam and if I'm not mistaken, one for Ilia.

[@ReggieWolf]

Thank you. It should be a diverse filler arc, i appreciate the suggestions. (Screenshoted)

[@kingsleysh8070]

​@ReggieWolf if you decide to do death battles there's also the one with Tifa and yang

[@MinisterEvil]

@@kingsleysh8070 He already did Tifa and Yang

[@josephkovarna1959]

Just making sure you know for certain, Volume 5 has three shorts before Chapter 1

[@ReggieWolf]

Roger that ill be sure to watch all three before i start

[@josephkovarna1959]

@@ReggieWolf🫡

[@madd.Rosé]

This means 2025 is gonna start with RWBY Volume 5 on Day 2. Let's go!!!! ♥️ 🤍 🖤 💛 💛 🩷 ♥️ 💚 🐦‍⬛ 🐒 🔥 🦂

[@shanemiller6114]

So this episode is the first to show off Jaune's expanded toolkit. Obviously he was never going to stick with a sword and shield in a gunmetal world. He'll get more and more tools as the series progresses. The shot of JNR in the letter sequence always hits me in the gut. From this point, Team JNPR will always be framed with an empty place, room for one more person. In every shot featuring Jaune, Ren, and Nora, there will be an empty space where Pyrrha should be. Yang's direction was kept intentionally vague for now. You'll figure it what she's thinking as volume 5 goes on. I feel the need to mention that Volume 5 has THREE character shorts, and each of them is beneath to understand the multiple storylines. They are, in order, Weiss, Blake and Yang.

[@JJR93]

The post-credits scene is also an Easter Egg for us "Oldtaku" because it's a mini-cast reunion for fans of the original Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) English dub...here we have the voice talents behind Alfonse Elric (Aaron Dismuke) and Edward Elric (Vic Mignogna), but with the roles reversed a little with Qrow's pipsqueak comment....since it was always Edward who was sensitive about people making comments about his short stature. In the later FMAB reboot, Alfonse is voiced by Maxey Whitehead because Aaron had recorded Alfonse as an adolescent in 2003(or '02?) before his voice truly changed. I don't know if people even watch FMA '03 anymore, most people jump straight to Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood because it is more faithful to the manga and was created after the manga had finished, unlike FMA 2003. But it has a special place in the hearts of many older anime fans, and BOTH versions are worth watching in full.

[@ReggieWolf]

I watched OG FMA twice, once as a kid, and then i went back to kind of compare the two. Also, it's really cool to have a reunion like that and flip the script for the dynamic of FMA characters to Oscar/Ozpin and Qrow. The dialogue between them should be interesting

[@DangerousCastles]

Hope you had a merry Christmas Reggie wolf, and thank you for another awesome rwby Thursday

[@pyronova6218]

I always like your thoughts at the end of episodes. They tend to line up with my own theories and expectations when I was watching for the first time. Also I won't say when it happens, but you will get another taste of the "Monty Oum spice" in the future. He had the choreography for a specific fight planned out in advance.

[@LITMasonEdits]

the song at the end is from yang's pov

[@DmcFan1214]

I can't wait to see you're thoughts Bumbleby ship their arc is amazing as well as Rennora ship their Arcs are amazing

[@madd.Rosé]

Overall, I'd say Ren and Nora's backstory was my favorite chapter in this Volume. Not a lot of action when it comes to fight scenes, but a good amount to help further the story and I was here for it.

[@bluecheese7447]

Congrats on finishing another Volume!! What do you rank them so far if you can?? Volume 5 is very exposition heavy, but the information given is probably the most important of the series. Just make sure you can pick up on details. The payoff is absolutely worth it.

[@lorenzoteague8445]

Reggie, hope your Christmas was epic and New Year's is a blast!! 😎👍🏿 It's so damn good to see you appreciate this Volume the way I did when I first watched it!! Volumes 4 - 6 are great storytelling in my opinion. As you go thru Volumes 5 & 6, you'll see what I mean..... This volume was a good setup. I really don't have much to add here. Just that as in real life, you may see where you're going but the road there will not as smooth or easy as you might think. "It's not the destination, it's the journey." Til next time, Happy Holidays, everyone!!! STAY GOLDEN!! 😄🙏🏿🌹❄️🖤🔥

[@jessc.994]

Meet the Nuckelavee. A Grimm based off of a demon from Scottish folklore.

[@heidibailly2835]

For the filler arc, definitely RWBY fairytales. Also i can't remember, have you watched the world if remnant stuff?

[@ReggieWolf]

Ive watched some world of remnant stuff but i dont think ive seen it all

[@heidibailly2835]

@ReggieWolf gotcha, I think after volume 6 there shouldn't be any spoilers in WoR. Someone correct me if I'm wrong though.

[@AaronSketchesStuff]

Sir, if I may ask, where exactly do you watch RWBY? I've been looking for two years straight, and I've been unable to watch any of the volumes.

[@ReggieWolf]

I started on the official rooster teeth website, but now I'm part of the straw hat crew

[@AaronSketchesStuff]

Is the straw hat crew a website?

[@AaronSketchesStuff]

Because the Roosterteeth website doesn't work now. It's shut down.

[@dontbanmerage416]

​@AaronSketchesStuffno hes saying hes pirating. Like the straw hat crew

[@AaronSketchesStuff]

... Man I'm dense AF...

[@madd.Rosé]

💚 Renora is too good for this world, ISTG 🩷