Ruby Rose vs. Herself (Video Essay)

[@Gungelion]

Who does Ruby need to be? Ruby Rose. Who does Ruby's Team need her to be? Ruby Rose. Who does the word need Ruby to be? Ruby Rose. Who does Ruby Rose want to be?.................. Herself.

[@Z0MB1ESLAYER115]

Very good essay. Ruby had gone through a lot, and shes still only two years younger than everyone else but she always done her best and has a very ambitious, yet naïve goal, of saving everyone. She just had to get a little lost in order to find herself. Also its great how when she emerges from her ascension she has her emblem thing again, she has her mother's promise

[@rileyduncan3927]

Her “New” emblem is literally the same one, the Ever After gave it back to her after her Ascension.

[@Z0MB1ESLAYER115]

@@rileyduncan3927 yeah, like I said she has it again

[@matt0044]

Great work. Too many RWBY video essays get mired in what they hate, especially for clout and profit. This one got what Ruby's character arc is about, especially when it comes to how a lot of it involves self-acceptance. I hope you do well with future videos about the series.

[@roxanne_louise7397]

RWBY gets so much hate because of production issues and people feeling like the creators did not go with Monty's original vision, but it is such a fantastic show. Everything is thought out, everything is connected. RWBY is phenomenally written, the characters have such incredible depth and I think that, were it not for the production issues, people would be able to recognize this show for the masterpiece it is.

[@miln25]

Glad to see more people talking about Ruby and her journey so far!

[@angerblob9151]

I related to ruby way to much in this volume been a hard 2 years of constant failure. I’ve tried to fic things and my attempts to to do have lead to pain and failure not just for myself but for others people who are precious to me. I’m afraid to try anymore but I can’t not and It’s put me at a breaking point. Therapy suicide attempts dark thoughts. I have genuinely had the thought and said the words I wish I was someone else someone who could do what I want to do. This volume while a strange departure was something I needed I felt it a lot.

[@TJM990]

I think too she went into everything like it was a fantasy and wanting to be like her "Super" Mom. She was the only one excited about getting her Huntress License and doing the actual job. In the Tree, she learns Summer lied to go play Hero, failed, wound up in the Ever After, and probably caved to her own internal deconstruction the same way she was. For the one Ruby always held as Icon of "enough", this "perfect" Hero, fully getting now that Summer wasn't changes this perspective that she wasn't it. It makes her words ring out differently, as Summer would've loved Ruby for being imperfect like herself, everyone would. If it's enough to not be perfect, as no one is, then that means Ruby was always enough and she just needed to see it. It renews her confidence and by choosing to continue moving despite how much the fantasy has shattered, where her mother failed, it is a testament of her strength. The "Red like Roses" trilogy was always between Ruby and Summer, with "Guide my way" being her waking up to it all, her reclamation of her life and her mother's promise (physically symbolized by her Badge), and choosing to guide herself now. "I'll be who you were and I'll be even more", herself.

[@h_4victory293]

That was amazing! I don't think anyone could have put it all together better than the way you did here. That was an awesome job, and thank you for that incredible summary!

[@Knight6831]

What makes things worse is Ruby was holding herself and Summer Rose to standards of the heroes in the books that got read to her as a kid which are impossible to live up to

[@ThePastAnalysis]

Great video! I liked V9 before, but this video has made me enjoy it even more. Thank you ^^

[@jeffreysmith236]

What is Ruby Rose? A friend, a guide, a protector, adorable.

[@seanmager1168]

Also Ruby Rose is, Beautiful. Brave. Selfless. a Vanguard. Compassionate and Passionate. Courageous. a Shield. And a TRUE HERO.

[@Neekazan]

I keep hoping to find a content creator who, when talking about Ruby's breakdown and final resolve, would bring up Ozpin's advice to her that to have her team's respect, she should act responsibly (that's not exactly what he said, but close). Ruby, being young and immature, takes it to heart, but misunderstands it to mean that everyone and everything relies on her, and never reciprocated because that would mean she isn't doing her job right. This way of thinking is bound to lead to the scene where she lashes out at everyone, because of course, the leader of a team is still a part of the team and needs the same support she gives them. They tried several times to reach out to her to give that support. Each time those efforts were brushed off by her or some outside interference brushed it aside. This isn't blaming Ozpin for what happened. The advice he gave her was right. At the time he gave it, she wasn't acting like a leader, but a class clown.

[@mauriceisaac3646]

The problem is there hasn't been much of a distinction between who Ruby Rose is vs. who she's been trying to be. We're supposed to believe she's "enough," which they haven't exactly defined, just because some magic blacksmith tells her so, despite all the mounting evidence to the contrary? That's somehow enough to erase all her grief and doubt in herself that she reasonably had after failing to save Atlas and the Relics and losing Penny again? It just felt cheap. She never really reflects on what went wrong and is just given more undeserved self-affirmation. Even with her renewed confidence, they're still at a huge disadvantage when it comes to stopping Salem. They're at the same basic place they were at the end of Volume 8 and have gained nothing that could possibly help them from their time in the Ever After. Hope can only get them so far when they don't have anything tangible to back it up.

[@thomasraines1396]

I really wanted her and the rest to have a moment of realization like Captain Walker from “Spec Ops: The Line”.

[@robinquartz884]

They didn't define what Ruby being "enough" is because you can't define that. There is no definitive way to define what is enough because it can varies from person to person. What you see as being enough is different from what I see it as. Ruby is enough because she is giving it her all and doing the best she can. What more is there to ask for? The Tree didn't "erase all her grief and doubt in herself" either. She simply accepted that she will fail and not everyone can be saved but that doesn't mean she is a failure. That's the first step to healing. Also, she literally reflects on nothing but her failures for the entire volume. Episode 8 was even Neo forcing her to beat herself up via those failures and regrets. They left the Ever After with newfound confidence, as you said, but that can go a long way. Sure, they don't have anything to defeat the unkillable threat but they have the power to continue searching until they find a way to stop her. And, from a viewer standpoint, we know that Salem isn't as undefeatable as she seems as the Brothers are just creations from the Ever After. So, it's possible for Salem to go to the Tree and finally break the curse as the Tree is above the Brothers.

[@mauriceisaac3646]

@@robinquartz884 I don't see what "enough" could be, other than being able to defeat Salem and save the world, since that is their main goal. In which case, we have little reason to believe she is enough, given her most recent failure. Just because you "do your best", it doesn't guarantee success, given what may be considered "your best". She didn't really reflect on her failures. She acknowledged them, and felt bad about them, but there's no point where she actually realizes what she did wrong or how to improve from them, since she's basically told she did nothing wrong. Are we to believe that she's now gonna focus on saving who she can rather than saving everyone, like Ironwood did? Or is she just gonna double down and believe she can save everyone? We don't know because she's never implied to have learned from her failures. You misinterpreted what I meant when I said "Hope can only get them so far". That means that it, alone, won't get them as far as they'd like. What does the Brothers coming from the Ever After have to do with Salem? We can already assume they're more powerful than her, so that doesn't change anything. We don't even know if they intend to bring Salem to the Ever After, if they even could, let alone if that's guaranteed to fix her.

[@robinquartz884]

@@mauriceisaac3646 This whole story is a group of kids who signed up to be heroes from fairytales getting thrown into an impossible war that will kill everyone unless they find a way to stop it. For them to be given a deus ex machina would be a bad writing choice, would go against the very message of the show, and would do a diseservice to Ruby's character and what she's going through. That said, wishing they had left the Ever After with more than they did is totally fair and valid. You are correct that I was wrong. She didn't reflect on her failures in a way we saw, which basically means it didn't happen in the story until proven otherwise. However, she didn't do anything wrong. Things in Atlas were too complex to be so black and white. She acted with good intentions and did what she thought would help every life on Remnant. Things may not have worked out and it may have backfired on her, but that doesn't make it the "wrong choice." It was just a choice. And a choice we haven't had the chance to see her learn from because she wasn't in a state of mind to learn from her past choices until the end of volume 9. Hope is the fuel that can get them as far as they can possibly get. That's literally all they could want because that's all that's possible. The show's entire message is that, "the human spirit is indomitable. If you endeavor to achieve, it will happen given enough resolve." The brothers placed a curse on Salem. The Tree is more powerful than brothers. Therefore, the tree could most likely remove the curse on Salem if she ascends, returns her broken heart, and becomes something new. All that would take is convincing Salem that it would get her to what she wants, which, I assume, is to finally die. Not the best or most likely solution, but it IS a possible solution, and that's exciting for the viewers. It's also not a guaranteed solution, but nothing is ever truly guaranteed. So while they didn't get a deus ex machina to solve their problems, they have that option if the story wants to go that direction.

[@mauriceisaac3646]

@@robinquartz884 I wouldn't put it past the writers to eventually introduce a deus ex machina that helps them easily defeat Salem, given their track record of making things up as they go along. Ruby and her team have indeed made wrong choices. Yes, things in Atlas weren't black and white, but that's definitely how team RWBY saw it, as well as the writers. She made the decision to keep important information about Salem and the Lamp from a trusted ally, you know, the very same thing they berated Ozpin for doing? They touch on that a couple times, but it never goes anywhere. They never consider that lying to him was a bad decision nor that if Ozpin was justified for when he did it, they just continue to believe they were in the right. Blake and Yang made the risky decision to leak top secret information to a criminal, which only helped Ironwood lose his trust in them. When faced with the imminent threat of Salem coming to Atlas, they thought the best thing to do was to stay and fight, when their priority should've been protecting as many people as possible as well as the relics. They should’ve known that letting her attack would only lead to more destruction and bloodshed. What they should’ve done is try to come up with a plan to deal with the remaining Mantle citizens instead of insisting they leave everyone at risk. Instead, they paint Ironwood as a bad guy just because he didn't want to do things their way. Having good intentions isn't enough to justify foolish actions or poor results. I don't see how bringing Salem to the Ever After is an idea viewers can be invested in since it's never discussed as a possible option. Salem is barely brought up at all in the season, so they're no closer to figuring out a way to beat her than they were before, especially since they lost the Staff of Creation.

[@shakytailstudiosshakytails2239]

Excellent video, you tied everything together so elegantly, I loved your examples and insights and everything! Also, incredibly grateful you acknowledged that the others did try but Ruby was unwilling/unable to communicate her needs & that it was easier to try and help Jaune because his issues were being screamed in their faces. One thing I will disagree on, ironically, is the "Victory is in a simple soul" line as said line is tied to Ozpin's idea of heroism and martyrdom that was crushing Ruby. Both Salem & Oz are the opening narrators & I feel both are meant to very much be flawed characters whose ideas are not 100% right.

[@lordssenthe3st493]

I don’t necessarily have an issue with her struggle, it’s the FIVE MINUTES it took for her to go from literally offing herself to fighting at maximum effectiveness that makes no sense. Not to mention, if Ruby isn’t trying to emulate her mother anymore, then who IS Ruby? If she alone is ‘enough’ then why is Atlas a pile of rubble? What even is the definition of ‘enough’ when nobody in vol 9 got any boost in power or experience, sans maybe Jaune (who spent most of his time playing make-believe hero)? Her being ‘enough’ doesn’t erase the fact that Salem can literally teleport entire (and potentially infinite) armies directly into Vacuo at any time with the staff. ‘YoUrE EnOuGh’ until you’ve got millions of monsters ripping through your windows, floorboards, walls and roof while you haven’t prepared in the slightest.

[@jeffreysmith236]

So it should've lasted 5 chapters due to your lack of imagination? I understand that she took the time to check the burdens of many of the owners of the displayed weapons. After so many, she would realize that there was no one else with burdens that she would prefer over her own. Try reading more to understand other people's struggles so that you can appreciate your own. Ruby's struggle was real and shown effectively.

[@lordssenthe3st493]

@@jeffreysmith236 Are you blind? Did you actually read anything I said? I’m not saying we need 5 more episodes of Ruby moping, I’m saying that the starting point of her healing process after she literally offed herself is WAY TOO far ahead where it should be. The tree didn’t change the core of her character, so considering she was just at the lowest point in her life (having a ptsd attack/ freezing during combat, being mentally and physically tortured, offing herself) she should have at LEAST been fighting a bit hesitantly or in a more uncontrolled manner, which could then tie in to her teammates realizing that she NEEDS their support as much as they need her leadership.

[@jeffreysmith236]

@@lordssenthe3st493 and how could she fight hesitantly when she didn't have her weapon? When she got it back it was too late.

[@lordssenthe3st493]

@@jeffreysmith236 …okay, I think I’m a little confused. I’m talking about Ruby after her revival, but I’m not entirely sure what you’re trying to reference with your poor explanation and nonsensical response.

[@staying_silent]

Dear people in this comment section saying that Ruby isn't enough or this arc was rushed, please shut up. I've spent years thinking that I'm useless, a waste of space, that I make things worse for everyone around me just by existing. I didn't want to die, I just genuinely believed that the people I love would be better off if I did, and now I'm stuck with scars for the rest of my life proving that I tried. When I finally got a therapist, we realised it all came down to me not feeling good enough. And my therapist looked at me and asked, so sincerely, "What is enough?" It didn't magically make me better, but it did make me stop and think. And that's all it takes to start turning things around. If Ruby had chosen anyone but herself, that would've been the show saying that your best is never good enough, that you'll never do anything right, that the world would be better off without you. Ruby has failed before, many times, but so has everyone else. No one is "enough" to save the world. But Ruby Rose is the only one who'll never stop trying, and that is what makes her enough.

[@Roughcoarsegetseverywhere]

…so what you’re saying is that it still took you time to come to terms with your issues?

[@staying_silent]

@@Roughcoarsegetseverywhere If you're about to say Ruby "got over it" too quickly, don't bother. We got ten minutes of her after ascension, we haven't seen enough to know what her mental state's like

[@Roughcoarsegetseverywhere]

@@staying_silent Fair enough. I’m just hoping Vol 10 (if it comes out) doesn’t botch her development.

[@mauriceisaac3646]

While I'm sorry you went through that, you shouldn't be taking people's criticisms as a personal attack against you. The fact is that Ruby's mistakes have led to serious consequences for others, but she's basically told she did nothing wrong and doesn't have to improve herself in any way. She can't be expected to learn from her mistakes and become a better hero if she's always being coddled.

[@staying_silent]

@@mauriceisaac3646 I was trying to use anecdotes so people would actually listen to my point, but since that clearly failed I'll just state it plainly. Ruby's biggest "mistake" is being optimistic. All of her plans only failed because of unpredictable circumstances. The one thing I'll concede she's at fault for is lying to Ironwood, an action that the majority of her team *supported.* And again, there's no way she could have predicted almost anything that happened during the attack on Atlas. You're asking for perfection and that's just not feasible. I'm willing to listen. If you can think of something that happened that's purely Ruby's fault, I'm all ears.

[@azatheeverchosen7615]

I saw someone below do this weird essay to address basically all commenters, so I'm just gonna go ahead and do the same. Soooo~ Dear all those who look at us "filthy RWBY critics" and see people who refuse to sYmpAThiZe, interpret the characters in the worst possible light, and just plain don't understand Ruby's character arc and maybe also lack a bit of "media literacy" (God I hate that one. Hate hate hate. Fuck this "media literacy" *bullshit* ) Maybe, just maybe.... if there are so many who share our views and opinions of the show. Maybe, there isn't a horrific outbreak of sociopaths who lack empathy and don't understand depression and just plain hate the show. Maybe..... we have a point~ Maybe.... Our views are not so outlandish and dare I say common and acceptable. Maybe.... you are being closeminded, and ought to do as you accuse us of and put yourself into another's shoes, maybe walk a mile in 'em. Show some sympathy for people not you, or those you favour. But let's be real, now. You won't, will you? No.... of course you won't.

[@giovannidiaz4633]

THANK YOU! Someone who actually knows and cares about ruby,I knew there was some flaws but what every human doesent? She finally rise up with renewed confidence and such and I agree she has been through so much and she needs this

[@tbrem257]

Ehhh, I've never assumed this show was that deep. You can tell they're trying but the internal struggle especially in this most recent volume seems forced.

[@kristiangardner9124]

as someone who is working through most if not all of the same problems that are covered in this video, I can assure you that it's not forced.

[@CrimsonXE]

Its repeatedly shown that it is deep and in particular this scenario came out of one of the writers own issues with self-worth and imposter syndrome in particular.

[@lordssenthe3st493]

@@kristiangardner9124 pretty sure that god literally appearing from nowhere and giving you a five minute pep talk for you to then return to being fine is kinda forced.

[@kristiangardner9124]

@Thatonedude i mean, that is what the tree is for, although i could see the solution as being kind of forced, but the problem has definitely been simmering for at least the previous season or 2. Plus, I think "fine" is an under statement. She is definitely in a better mind state than before.

[@CrimsonXE]

@@lordssenthe3st493 Um no the Blacksmith had been a thing since episode 4 in terms of the volume; and in a bigger view wouldn't have been known outside of the Ever After per the Brothers wanting to be seen as THE gods. The Blacksmith basically did and was what Ruby needed: Listened without judgement and is an outside party. They're literally a cosmic counselor. I see little "forcing", considering there wasn't a huge amount to it; unless one wants a full episode of Ruby sitting on a couch going through every thing that's happened. Between the counseling of the Blacksmith and the running into Somewhat to directly see the good that Ruby has caused is enough.

[@tonywalker3541]

Ruby choosing to be herself would definitely have been a powerful and inspiring moment for her character... if she'd been doing anything but be herself up until that point. As it is, it feels less like character development and more like a copout. Especially since Ruby and co have been an absolute cavalcade of screw-ups. She may have good intentions, but that does nothing to justify or excuse the terrible things she and her friends have done. They lied to Ironwood, bullied Ozpin/Oscar, destroyed Atlas, caused and/or failed to stop multiple grimm attacks, helped Penny off herself, lost the relics to Salem, nearly got Qrow killed, endangered countless civilians, and so many other failures. And these kids are supposed to be the heroes? Her friends and family barely try to help her deal with her trauma. Heck, they don't even attempt to prevent her from drinking the tea and ascending. And aside from Ruby and maybe Jaune, no one seems to consider the consequences of their past actions except in passing. And this is supposed to be a good thing? Because a magical vision of her mom "loves her the way she is"? I call shenanigans. Ruby, as she is now, doesn't need to be herself, she needs to actually reexamine herself and her actions. As it stands, I think it would have been much more profound and interesting if Ruby HAD chosen to become someone else.

[@futurestories2380]

Ruby becoming someone else isn’t really development. It's just swoping different caricatures. Had Ruby been down there going through her thoughts and coming back with a different world view and being fed up with her team for there lack of support and attacking them. That would be development. That's what I thought was going to happen considering her grin in the intro. Maybe after offing one of her teammates and the remaining team has to try and bring her memories back and show that they are her friends.

[@olserknam]

That's a lot of words to say "I don't care about Ruby's character and will go out of my way to view everything she does in the worst possible light". They had all the reason to distrust a military general, but even then, Ruby eventually told him the truth (and suffered for that). There's absolutely nothing wrong with being upset with a guy who was going to have you spend your entire life fighting an endless war for him without your knowledge (and even then, they forgave him for that). They prevented Ironwood from abandoning the entirety of Remnant. They fought and stopped Grimm countless times. Ruby did her best to support Penny while she still could and would've never let her kill herself if she was there. Ruby also comforted Qrow during his depression in V6 repeatedly. They saved a ton of people from Atlas and Mantle and let the world know about Salem. Yes, these kids are supposed to be the heroes. I think the one who should reexamine something is you. Specifically, why are you still watching a show where you clearly don't give a shit about the main characters, refuse to sympathize with them, only see the worst in their actions and actively wish the protagonist was a completely different person?

[@tonywalker3541]

@@olserknam I'm saying this as a former fan of RWBY. The show had, and honestly still has a lot of potential. But it constantly feels like that potential is being wasted.

[@atnicole461]

@@tonywalker3541 I know how you feel. Its feels like a lot of things about the show are not being used to their greatest potential. But purposefully taking moments of the show out of context doesn't help anyone.

[@marcusclark1339]

it was the weakest, it basically affirms offing oneself as the right answer cause "it worked out in the end" and not by a personal growth or realization in something but just reset, no visual change or change in how she fights nothing really occurred and that's the crux of the matter, nothing gained and Neo got off scott free