RWBY - 8x14 The Final Word - Group Reaction

[@tvftw1]

"You chose nothing. This was a *gift* " Fucks me up every time

[@percussionfellow6168]

28:45 The past 17 or so episodes take place over like, two days. She didn't have the chance too, nobody did. That's why Ruby's freakout was so understandable earlier. Salem showed up to Atlas, and within 48 hours or so, it fell. Those are the stakes.

[@TheGreater-ScopeVillain]

When Cinder declared: *_"And that's checkmate"_* to Ironwood, before turning her back and flying away, she wasn't even worried about Ironwood shooting at her because she knew that she had already won and completely broken Ironwood, and Ironwood knew that too -- that moment finally caused Ironwood to give up. Ironwood never fully realised until that moment that Cinder was the one he had truly been playing against in this game, from the moment that she broke into his office and placed her signature glass Black Queen piece on his desk.

[@Merilirem]

I mean I would quit too if I lost a chess match to fucking Cinder.

[@TheGreater-ScopeVillain]

@@Merilirem Ohhh, don’t feel too badly. Cinder Fall is probably the best chess player in the universe, what with her masterfully manipulating everyone on all sides in multiple different Volumes. If you had to lose to anyone, it makes the most sense that it would be against Cinder.

[@destroyerofnirn3537]

​@The Greater-Scope Villain bro she was catching Ls since vol3

[@Charathlie]

Re: Harriet. Remember she's based off the Tortoise and the Hare. So yeah, she didn't stop to think about it cuz that's the moral of the story.

[@JustNardo]

Also with characters like Harriet, I never get peoples issues with it. Characters like her are super realistic because have any of you LIVED in our world? Remember half the population protesting vaccines and masks? Remember half the population hating and subjugating women, minorities, LGBTQ+? What did George Carlin use to say? Think about how dumb the average person is and realize half the population is dumber than that lol. Not every character in every show should make the right decision every time. That's just bad writing. There's a difference between a character making bad choices (that fir their character) and a character being badly written. People should learn the difference. It's ok to have characters that you hate, that's kind of the point.

[@daysand123]

@@JustNardo now harriet has to live with the fact that her decisions resulted in Vine being the unassuming goat we never expected. Going forward that can go really well with Winter just now being more Human and being within Weiss's territory and seemingly losing her sister which by her own words she "should have got in touch with ages ago".

[@zephon6745]

If Harriet is the Hare then who is the tortoise?

[@daysand123]

@@zephon6745 Tortuga as mentioned in episode 7 briefly

[@zephon6745]

@@daysand123 Thank you Dayneplaylogic.

[@skyrogue1977]

Cinder’s ability to lie and dispose of anything is unmatched, she should be a Politician.

[@TheGreater-ScopeVillain]

Well, Cinder *_IS_* planning to become the supreme ruler of the world(s), sooooo...

[@GenZealous]

“Just because you’re more valuable to me than a pawn, doesn’t make you a player” “And that’s checkmate” Nice turnaround at the end there.

[@DaOnlySpace]

This has been a fucking rideeee from the beginning till the end ....you guys made me rewatch essentially every episode and I loved it the whole way through

[@wilmerventura7886]

And thus Atlas becomes Atlantis Cool fact if you take the N the T and the I from Atlantis you get Atlas and if you put those letters together you get “Tin” which is the Tin man of Ironwood and the literal meaning of Atlantis is “the isle of Atlas” It’s crazy to me that the story of Atlantis and the story of The Wizard of OZ, Two seemingly unrelated stories separated by centuries could be linked not only as a pun of sorts but make narrative sense, “Legends stories scattered through time” indeed

[@kaxewdisco3594]

Is it confirmed that this was the intention from the start? I feel like this was one of those cool coincidences that just work perfectly well. If it was actually planned then, damn. I dunno if it was Monty's idea or someone else but that's genius.

[@wilmerventura7886]

@@kaxewdisco3594 From the Volume 8 ch 14 commentary • Miles: A pre-season 1 idea was when the bad guys get everything they need from Atlas, they will walk past Ironwood and will not give him the time of day. • Kerry: we have the broad strokes of the story…., a lot of this has been around forever, this idea of Atlas falling • Kerry: “and now the city of Atlas is under water……get it?” • Miles: “that was another one of those old get it’s???” • Miles: (jokingly) “we think we’re clever” • Eddy: (jokingly) “hey remember when all of that was gonna happen in 1 volume” • Kerry “I mean, Eddy we used to think, for the longest time this Arc was going to be season 3 in our heads” When asked if he had recently watched the Wizard of Oz and that’s why he chose to have them in Rwby, Monty said No, that he has had these ideas for a long time, that it wasn’t as simple as him watching the movie one day and deciding to make an anime Ironwood and Atlas have an Intrinsic relationship, they are far too thematically and narratively tied for it not to be deliberate

[@MonsterZeroLITE]

@@wilmerventura7886 please stop acting like M&K are secretly geniuses and planned everything, let alone even 50% of the series, the entire time

[@kaxewdisco3594]

@@wilmerventura7886 Thanks for the transcription and source man! I do still think the "tin" part was a coincidence, but it's nice to know there's confirmation that Atlas was called that way from the start because of Atlantis. Also hilarious to see that back before S1 they thought this arc would've been S3 LMAO

[@wilmerventura7886]

@@MonsterZeroLITE I’m just appreciating a cool thing they did who said they where geniuses? don’t project your hatred of others on to me Miles, Kerry, and Monty planned out the series’s larger events and story not every single detail is planned nor did I say it was and clearly the writers don’t think they’re smart either if you bothered to read what Miles said I don’t understand the hatred people have for them, yes their writing isn’t good cool 👍

[@jonathanrobinson198]

32:17 It’s actually stated that things and harsh weather conditions dramatically reduce grimm. Upper atmosphere would’ve reduced how many could actually reach them while still allowing people to use dust. We know of no grimm that goes near orbit.

[@Hannah4765]

I love how all the episode titles this volume have been one word aside from the finale The Final Word. Because the last word said in the finale was Cinder saying "Checkmate" which is a perfect one word title for this episode.

[@sqxbarto9229]

Also the last word in the song "Alive" ;)

[@DrknssRules1]

When people ask why Jaune is my favorite character, this right here. He went from season one where he was an idiot stuck to a tree who could barely hold a sword, to soaring around using his shield like a glider and body checking Cinder. Dude fought his heart out to the best he could and even after tried with everything he had to protect Weiss during their retreat. Jaune has miles of heart.

[@batsignal3469]

Remember the story talked about "The girl that fell from the world". Also Cinder saying "Checkmate" is a callback of her hacking Beacon in season two having the black queen in the screens!

[@TheGreater-ScopeVillain]

Indeed, and also a callback to Cinder playing Ironwood in Volume 7. When Cinder declared: *_"And that's checkmate"_* to Ironwood, before turning her back and flying away, she wasn't even worried about Ironwood shooting at her because she knew that she had already won and completely broken Ironwood, and Ironwood knew that too -- that moment finally caused Ironwood to give up. Ironwood never fully realised until that moment that Cinder was the one he had truly been playing against in this game, from the moment that she broke into his office and placed her signature glass Black Queen piece on his desk.

[@stumilesyt]

@@TheGreater-ScopeVillain Great shout! With that perspective, it's also a rebuttal from Cinder to Salem's earlier line "This game is not yours to win Cinder, it's mine. Just because you are more important to me than a pawn does not make you a player"...

[@Lucifer_Crowe]

The finale always has every voice from the Volume in chronological order. Flynt and Neon didn't appear here Flynt and Meg still got credited. OK Goodnight is Casey's Band :P

[@theantknight6132]

"...in a single day and night of misfortune, the island of Atlantis disappeared into the depths of the sea." -Plato, 360 B.C. Atlantis (Ancient Greek: 'Atλavtis vñoos’ - “island of Atlas")

[@ReveredDead]

Bro...this whole time I've watched RWBY I never once connected the fall of Atlantis with the destruction and fall of Atlas until your comment. Atlantis was literally named after the greek God Atlas. I love how RT took that legendary greek mythology and added this fictional spin to it.

[@Connor-ONeill]

Look at Qrow's face, now times it by ten. That will be Tai when he's told that both of his children are "dead". OOF.

[@AshSmashReacts]

28:50 Marketta, that's the very thing Harriet was trying to avoid. She didn't want to accept the possibility that she was in the wrong, that everything she had done had been for nothing. She wanted to believe she was doing something right. She was afraid of facing that answer and wanted to avoid it. The best way to avoid the answer is to avoid the question. And the best way to do that is to distract yourself from thinking. She was desperately trying everything she could to keep herself from thinking so she didn't have to face the possibility that she was on the wrong side. It wasn't a desire, it was a necessity.

[@mardigrasqueen1339]

Also adding this tidbit. When Penny sees Winter in her white zone Winter is in the last outfit Penny ever saw her in

[@penguin32700]

Man, seeing just how much Winter was able to fight off Cinder once she got the winter maiden powers, makes me wonder what it would have been like had Pyrrha gained the fall maiden powers before fighting Cinder.

[@LukaBlight69]

"Checkmate" The biggest "FU" Cinder could have said to him given the chess piece she left in his office; on top of the intro showing him on a chess board. In the end she literally had the "Final Word" Also Atlas is now the drowned city of Atlantis.

[@AgentofChaos315]

Cinder: Figures a Schnee would let her friends die for her Also Cinder: [Betrays and tries to kill 2 of her allies]

[@profesorpomelo3626]

18:34 *"And that's checkmate."* All this time, they got us fooled: *Cinder was the actual protagonist of this volume.* ... Too many Thanos vibes.

[@TheGreater-ScopeVillain]

Indeed, this truly was Cinder's Volume more than anyone else's, from the first word to the final word. And you can bet that Cinder's going to keep this momentum going into future Volumes.

[@blueblade6174]

So there's a little confusion with Ironwood's goal. Let me explain - There is an altitude that the Grimm cannot survive to reach, and Atlas has an artificial climate that would help them survive it. Technically Ironwood's plan would work. But the issue is the morality of abandoning the rest of the world as well as the bigger picture of unifying as many people as possible. The roadblock in Ironwood's plan was that he needed the staff in order to raise the city's altitude, but the staff is sealed and he needs the Winter Maiden to access it, hence why he's very tunnel visioned on capturing Penny even at the expense of Mantle.

[@CrimsonXE]

I love endings that leave people drained from the emotional ride involved xD There's also a trailer and clip for v9 from RTX 2022 if wanting to dive into that in the future. An element I really love is how Salem legit straight up doesn't even acknowledge Ironwood's presence. There's just something really hitting to having the man who sold his soul to the devil, so to speak, in fear of the big bad; being completely irrelevant to her. Not to mention hopefully shattering his hero complex

[@SaintBigfoot]

*God* The scene with Penny and Jaune hurts me, I hate it so much I wish it hadn’t happen but I need to see what happens next

[@andrewhart5279]

I can’t believe you guys are finally caught up! It’s been a pleasure watching you react to RWBY and watching you fall in love with the show. As for more RWBY stuff to react to, there is a teaser for volume 9 as well as a 4 minute preview clip that were both released the other day, both of which can be found on the RoosterTeeth Animation KZbin Channel. As Volume 9 isn’t premiering until early 2023 you could also check out the soundtracks for each volume in the meantime! Or if you guys want something short and funny you could check out RWBY Chibi. A show of silly skits featuring your favourite RWBY characters written and animated by the same team as the main show! (There are three seasons, each consisting of around 16-24 three minute episodes) Whatever you decide to watch next, I’m here for it!

[@jonjohns8145]

Hey guys .. You don't have to quit reacting to RWBY until Volume 9 comes out. There is the New RWBY: Ice Queendom Anime which just started AND You still have RWBY Chibi which is a VERY fun Series. I hope you consider adding them to the Friday RWBY reactions until Volume 9 comes out.

[@dragon2218]

Episode 11: And nothing can go wrong~ Episodes 13 & 14: Oh no, it all went wrong! And thus, Atlas became Atlantis Team RWBY, Jaune and Neo ended up in Madagascar 😂😂 Ruby: Where, are we? Yang: San Diego. *IF* Ironwood's plan HAD worked to lift Atlas up higher into the atmosphere, Salem would have created Grimm to bring it down while playing the long game cause at some point, Atlas isn't going to be able to survive for long and come back down

[@ThoraxetheImpaile100]

YES!!! THANK YOU!!! You're the only other person I've seen in any comment section that acknowledged the flaw in Ironwood's plan. Raising Atlas to escape the Grimm would have worked in the short term, not the long term and even if they weren't a problem, the supplies in the city wouldn't have lasted forever. I bet you anything that the people would've run out well before Salem managed to get up there basically leaving the Staff defenseless. The only way I could see Ironwood's plan serving any kind of purpose is if he took his plans for Amity and applying it to Atlas. That way, not only do you keep the Staff away from Salem (if only for a while longer) but you're able to reestablish global communications.

[@ILikeCHEEZ9]

1:27 MARKETA!🤣 She always sneaks these in under the radar

[@daysand123]

Ironwood really is one of my favorite characters and its because he's tragic. He may as well be the anti villain because even when he turns you can agree to an extent. But the combination of his semblance influencing his actions to be more and more desperate turns what was a good man into a desperate tyrant still believing he knows what's best for his people. The final shot where he doesn't even try to shoot Cinder and just gives up honestly hurts cause its that realization that he's lost no matter what after sacrificing everything and turning everyone against him. I dont condone what he's done. But unlike Lionheart, he DOES deserve to be remembered for the man he was cause he was legit till the very end, even if it made him a bad guy.

[@ISAFMobius18]

Final Fun Facts Fact 1: The description of the episode alludes to the opening song. Fact 2: This is the only chapter in Volume 8 that does not have a single word as its title. Ironically it is named "The Final Word". The episode title may be referring to the word “Checkmate”, since it is the final word stated in the episode. Fact 3: This is the third episode to have a content warning, first and second being "Ultimatum" and "Worthy". While "Ultimatum" and "Worthy" have a photosensitive warning, "The Final Word" has a warning for distressing themes related to death and especially suicide. Additionally, the episode description had the National Suicide Prevention hotline number. Fact 4: They decided to show Salem reforming at the beginning of the episode to hint at her return, but make it brief enough that the fight scenes that occur immediately after would overshadow it and make the audience forget about it until she appears at the end of the episode. Fact 5: Weiss picking up and using Gambol Shroud was done to sell the desperation of the situation, as her resources were depleted so she was picking up and throwing whatever she could at Cinder. Fact 6: Assistant Lead Editor Jackie Kuenstler laid out the scene where Penny gives Winter the Maiden Powers in the animatics stage, and after making very few teaks it was decided that nothing else about this scene could be changed for any reason, and that if something needed to change the rest of the episode would be tweaked so that this scene could stay exactly as it was. After that point it remained unaltered for the rest of production. Fact 7: Crocea Mors' blade being shattered wasn't originally planned, but Eddy Rivas decided to add it while writing for this episode. He did this without consulting anyone, and no one challenged it because it felt right. Fact 8: Cinder originally had an extra line where she mocked Jaune one more time before leaving. It was cut because they thought Cinder being silent would be much cooler. Fact 9: Winter charging towards the Grimm in Vacuo was originally placed right before the end credits. However, it was moved back so that the last voice heard in the Volume would be Cinder when she tells Ironwood, "And that's checkmate." Fact 10: The scene where Salem and Cinder walk by right past Ironwood without acknowledging his presence was a pre-Volume 1 idea. Fact 11: The final scene of the episode shows Crescent Rose in the exact position it was at the end of the Volume 8 Opening. Fact 12: In one of the scenes when the city of Atlas is being flooded, the Glass Unicorn from "Midnight" can be seen heavily damaged and having lost its logo following the Grimm attack on Atlas.

[@DarthCaedus7]

The journey is complete for now! Thank you guys!

[@zdiegi5493]

32:10 Ahem, that's not correct, Marketa! Atlas hasn't been lifted higher yet, so the Grimm being able to attack it doesn't prove that Ironwood was wrong in assuming they couldn't fly high enough. The entire point of Ironwood wanting Penny to open the Vault was that he needed to access the Staff to make Atlas float higher than it was at the moment. And it's been established that Grimm don't survive over a certain altitude (just like dust doesn't work over a certain altitude), so the plan would certainly have worked in principle if he'd actually gotten to use the Staff to lift Atlas higher up. And I have to say that I originally agreed with Ironwood because I was like: "Yeah, if preventing Salem from ever getting all 4 relics together costs us 1 city, that's worth it. Is it callous and harsh? Yes! But at the end of the day I'm a strong defender of the argument of the good of the many over the good of a few." However, after thinking about it I came to realize that his plan is way worse than it seems at first sight (and that I can't really support it anymore) for two major reasons: 1. It's way more moraly questionable than it seems at first sight Atlas is a strong military power and by fleeing here Ironwood makes it easier for Salem to attack and destroy other kingdoms. So by fleeing, Ironwood isn't just sacrifiging Mantle but potentially the entire world (Especially if he doesn't decide to send help for the other kingdoms back down from Atlas). 2. It's - in all likelihood - only a stalling tactic. We've sen that Salem is able to create new Grimm so it stands to reason she would be able to make Grimm that can survive at Atlase's altitude eventually. And if not, she'll likely just find another way to bring her people/Grimm up there. This also makes point 1 way worse as it's now not "You sacrifice a a bunch of people to save the world" but "You sacrifice a buch of people to stall the end of the world". TL;DR Ironwood's assertion of the Grimm not surviving over a certain altitude wasn't wrong and the show didn't disprove this theory at any point. Meaning that his plan would have worked (for a time) if he'd gotten to cary it out. However, this doesn't mean that his plan was perfect or even good. Because it's short sighted and would probably have killed a lot of people to no real avail in the long run.

[@Frost7486]

I'm not saying he was right, but Ironwood never did manage to get his plan of "raising Atlas" to fruition. He wanted to raise it as high into the atmosphere as possible, and there, grimm can't survive, and the artificial climate of the city would keep the people and food and stuff unharmed. (it was not tested or anything, but it was the theory and his hope at that point) I do love what they did this Volume with the chapter titles being only one word except this last one, and "The Last Word" of this chapter being "Checkmate". *cheff kiss* Anyway, really happy to have been on this journey with you guys, and just gotta say that REALLY looking forward to when the new Volume comes out. ^^ Also, I gotta say it... now that you guys ahve finished the show... is the reaction for the soundtracks something that we may look forward too as well????? 😏 Would love to hear your thoughts on some of the songs particularly.

[@KdeeBUBBLES444]

Harriet could have been written with more clarity, but i think what they were going for is that she feels ashamed/weak that she cared about Clover when it's been hammered into all of them that they're not supposed to care about each other as it affects the mission and to prioritize the job, so she's overcorrecting and punishing herself/others because of her own internal conflict. Harriet hearing that both Elm and Vine are experiencing similar feelings and have also caught friendship-itis is what snaps her out of it because she no longer has to feel alone in her "guilt" that she's failing at her job by caring about these people. It's nice to hear that other people care about you, but it's also sobering to realize that you don't need to be overcorrecting your behaviour because you're not the only one making a "mistake" (sort of the "oh thank god i didn't do the homework either" scenario)

[@DanFDTR]

I love what the title of this episode means. If you notice every episode except this one is a one word title. But the title The Final Word refers to the final word spoken in the episode which was said by Cinder. Checkmate. Also you mentioned OK Goodnight during the credits. I'm not sure if you looked it up by now or not but that's actually Casey Lee Williams band that had one song in this season during the Cinder flashback. All the other songs she sings on in the whole show are by her dad Jeff Williams with either him, her or both singing.

[@Koda89]

The ascension of Winter is one of my favorite parts of RWBY. Penny's death hurts so much, but it is also important to remember it was the first time she truly got to choose for herself under full autonomy.

[@paradox_4094]

Ice Queendom is heading in a pretty good direction and you guys should check it out! It has an all star staff of voice actors from other anime and it will diverge into its own story.

[@rwrsluster]

Except it doesn't even come close to the original series

[@Ethan-nl2wg]

@@rwrsluster I mean that’s debatable, I will say the first 3 episodes were pretty lackluster besides some cool animation at times, however the original story that they are doing is definitely compelling and solid so far

[@rwrsluster]

@@Ethan-nl2wg yeah I guess it *could* get better in the future. We'll see.

[@iconicaf123]

The guy in the middle is creepily smiling whilst all that happens...

[@avril.m.l]

When I saw the water I finally realized Atlas = Atlantis which means island of Atlas, and it's an underwater city. 😁

[@ShnNar1000x]

A few things: Cinder clearly has her own ambitions and intends to eventually turn on Salem. The fact that she says the same thing to Salem - "without you I am nothing" -that she said to the "evil stepmother" is obviously indicative of her real feelings towards Salem. It's not clear to me that Cinder understands that Salem wants to destroy the world -Salem's keeping up the ruse with Cinder that she intends to "make a better world" suggests that Cinder still doesn't know. Jaune could not get the Winter Maiden power because it can only go to "young women." I think that Ironwood is definitely dead - he could not have survived everything that happened and probably gave up when he lost everything. Harriet did what she did out of a desire for revenge for the death of Clover and her belief that following orders was the best way to honor his memory. Also, she clearly loved him (maybe as a friend) and her own pain had her projecting her anger and hurt outward. A final point about Ironwood - his strategy could have worked but at the cost of the sacrifice of Mantle. This could have worked in the short term but it would have fed enormous distrust between him and the rest of the world. Finally, I don't know if you've noticed the meaning of the title - the "final word" was "checkmate."

[@tired3444]

This is really proof Jaune truly loves Pyrrha, he finishes what she started. Now I can't wait to see which member of JNPR gets to kill Penny the next time she comes back to life.

[@vsimp2956]

They still don't understand irondoowd's plan... He never got to push Atlas to a higher altitude, that's what he wanted the staff for, and that's why he needed Penny to open the vault. If he did get the stuff, Atlas WOULD be safe. The two relics would be out of Salem's reach possibly forever, but at the very least for a very long time. And while of course I don't think he was doing the right thing, it's so unfair to judge him or call him incompetent when you aren't even competent enough to watch the show with your eyes open, and understand what he was trying to do. Y'all have no right to call someone bad at their job.

[@danceklife9998]

YO WHEN WINTER GOT THE MAIDEN POWERS AND OPENED HER EYES THAT GAVE ME GOOSEBUMPS HOLY SHET

[@elizabethgray1497]

So the reason that Ruby could not use her Semblance well her and Blake were falling, is because it was damaged from Neo, and then broken by the Flame beam that cinder shot at her before knocking her and neo off. just so you have clarification!

[@Bman2024]

Yeah this is by far my favorite volume finale. It's so crazy and emotional. You guys always have the best reactions. You guys should def react to the soundtracks and the volume 9 teaser trailer. Also I was so pleasantly surprised when you guys mentioned my girl Amy Lee. That made my day. 🙏🙏

[@tommygunn704]

People say Cinder’s question was a waste but it allowed her to secure 2 relics in the end

[@zephon6745]

Maybe Qrow and Tai will see if Raven's portal can find Yang. It will lead to some awkward conversations with Raven and Qrow

[@jordisoto975]

Would you look at that, Marketa shouted me out at 23:53. I appreciate it 😂

[@mermidion7552]

"Yggdrasil..? Thats Dragon Quest!". xD

[@TheGreater-ScopeVillain]

Marketa is right, Cinder is using Salem, just as much as Salem is using her. They both fully intend to betray the other in the end, but the fact remains that, for now, both Cinder and Salem still _need_ each other. Salem needs Cinder due to Cinder's status as the Maiden vessel and "the key to [their] victory", and to make up the huge gap in strength that appeared in her faction since the betrayal/death of a good portion of them (partially by Cinder's own design). And Cinder needs Salem to help her obtain the power that she desires (both the powers of the Maidens _and_ the Relics); Salem's resources and power will help Cinder immensely in her quest until Cinder gains enough power to betray and overthrow Salem. Both Cinder and Salem are willing to work with each other for now. The question, however, whose usefulness will run out first, and who will be the first to strike when it does?

[@danceklife9998]

At the end the end credits it’s so thoughtful because it’s penny’s song😭😭

[@AshSmashReacts]

10:32 Isn't that a reused scream? I'm pretty sure that was the same scream she used in the Volume 7 finale when Cinder through a flaming sword and Penny and it exploded in her face.

[@fe723]

Yall should try RWBY Ice Queendom aswell. It would be such an experience seeing RWBY in a different style.

[@sonicboomkj]

Awesome reaction. Luv the discussion. Yes, I'm watching Ice Queendom.

[@tommygunn704]

When you think you’re about to wake up to a RWBY reaction but then you remember they finished last week 😆😆😆

[@brandondodge6040]

For the record, Ironwood is dead. Crushed and broken beneath the weight of Atlas. Both literally and metaphorically.

[@maxmatthews3443]

I don't think he dead.

[@jasond1497]

I’m so glad I finished the show right now so I can watch y’all reaction.

[@justinstanford9124]

Every time I watch this episode it just…💔💔🥺🥺. I love Penny and loathe Cinder… and I love y’all for sharing in this experience with us masses. I want vengeance and retribution!!! Lol

[@TheGreater-ScopeVillain]

I love Cinder so much! I can't wait to see her go on a complete warpath in the future as her plans continue to build behind Salem's back. I fully expect Cinder to gain the powers of all the Maidens eventually, which means that Winter, Raven and whoever the Summer Maiden turns out to be are all still in grave danger. Because if there's anyone on Remnant who wants vengeance and retribution, it's Cinder Fall.

[@kkTeaz]

@@TheGreater-ScopeVillain "and I refuse to starve."

[@MegaDuke4life]

I am wondering if yall checking out the Vol 9 Trailer and Clip or Ice Queendom Also a couple neat tidbits -This episode is called the final word because the true title is the final word of the episode which is Checkmate -Atlas + Tin (Ironwood) = Atlantis which is a clever play on words to the now drowned advanced civilization

[@TheGreater-ScopeVillain]

Indeed, this truly was Cinder's Volume more than anyone else's, from the first word to the final word. And you can bet that Cinder's going to keep this momentum going into future Volumes.

[@LuminantLion]

Ok Goodnight is the band Casey Lee Williams is the vocalist of and they did the song that played when Cinder fought Rhodes(the dude who taught her how to fight)

[@PheonixFire]

I love the fact that Salem doesn't acknowledge Ironwood's existence at the end. He was never a threat to her.

[@J4j4yd3r]

Holy shit double drop, thanks a bunch!

[@stealthyj1292]

they did it. they made it. congrats u guys and i love Rana'a reaction. very priceless

[@ch4r_]

for being as prominant of a villain and character from v2, (arguably v1) cinder finally really made this volume HERS. getting a backstory to a character so many years after being introduced was satisfying. you can really see her start to learn and become even more of both a manipulator and general villain to the story. which is really saying something considering her impact in v3. she was great and jessica nigri really shined throughout. while yeah she has her fuckups (lying to salem about what happened is really gonna bite her in the ass and also killing the smartest guy they had on their side) she really shined.

[@ZonathaN_611]

You guys should definitely go back and listen to the song that plays during the end credits. I was already plenty emotional when I watched this the first time, and when I noticed the song was about Penny it broke me all over again

[@neolunaticus]

And now, you're all caught up. At least you don't have to wait over a year hiatus for the next one.

[@DaichiTheBrawler]

So we not talking about how truly terrified Ironwood was when Salem hologram showed up? It was all downhil after that

[@SaintBigfoot]

You guys need to watch the Vol 9 trailer and the clip they put out cause it is confusing as shit and I love it

[@NekoDelGato]

Hope you all look up the end credits song, it’s a beautiful tribute to Penny!

[@TheGreater-ScopeVillain]

Indeed. And then there's the first several lines, especially the very first one: *_"Darkness like MIDNIGHT,"_* a chilling reference to Penny's two-time killer, Cinder Fall.

[@SpeedyCat19]

Oooh, now you can watch RWBY Ice Queendom!

[@danceklife9998]

Wait stop I just noticed that Weiss is holding Blake’s weapon too awww wow

[@RectPropagation]

Double Drop! :) I think this is my first time re-watching this volume (aside from the reactions at the time it came out). An interesting thing about Cinder's lies to Salem is that she made sure to make it look like she was putting what Salem wanted before her own wants. "I couldn't get the maiden power without putting the relics at risk." Salem has her own ambitions but she needs to stay in Salem's good graces for now. I do remember an argument over whether Salem could tell Cinder was lying. Either way, Salem got what she wanted.

[@avril.m.l]

Remember guys only women can inherit the Maiden's powers. If the Maiden thinks of a man the powers will go to a random woman. So in that moment the only options were Weiss and Winter.

[@goat1408]

watching y'all the day V9 comes out :)

[@Thatskeybladelover]

Kingdom Hearts!!! I knew someone was going to say that😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@effortlessfury]

30:45 I think the key realization to have about Ironwood is that he never really did question his decisions. He often felt conflicted, but he always stuck to his guns, and that's a dangerous way to be. Anyway, it's been quite the ride with y'all! You might want to consider watching Ice Queendom as it's mostly an original story set during their time at Beacon (perhaps wait for the English dub if you want to maintain the same voice cast). There's RWBY Chibi if you want a shorts-based comedic series based on their time at Beacon. I think my highest recommendation is the soundtracks, though. There's a lot the songs do to add additional depth to the characters and the narrative and most of the songs in the show are twice as long on the OST, so that's twice the awesome music to listen to.

[@bopqw1055]

i dont think he never questioned his decisions a lot of them he reasoned out he just never had a better one put before him.

[@wilmerventura7886]

@@bopqw1055 that’s probably where Ozpin comes in, he was the only one James listened to and even then by the time we see them in volume 2, tension start boiling over

[@bopqw1055]

@@wilmerventura7886 from james actions in vol 7 he listened to too many people. all of them complaining and none of them gave him ideas that could work soundly off. every time a conversation could of happened he would give his logic or counter argument and no one would counter that beside the one time and thats when winter talked about marshal law showing he didn't ant to take extreme actions.

[@daysand123]

Arryn Zech. The voice of Blake, plays a main character in the Girls Frontline Dub. Its very cheaply made but I encourage all support because the overall story its based on deserves to be told to those not willing or into mobile games.

[@lcbonastre2418]

Please Please Trilogy The Hobbit Extended Edition Of The Adventures Of Bilbo Baggin: (1) An Unexpected Journey Extended Edition (2) The Desolation Of Smaug Extended Edition (3) The Battle Five Armie Extended Edition

[@Qorvid20]

For a while a lot of people thought Qroe made good luck, but I don't think that's what it is, I think he just figured out how to not make bad luck. He's always talked about his semblance being uncontrollable, but now he's controlling it.

[@MewDenise]

My favorite volume next to 3 has come to an end

[@avril.m.l]

Even though we are still waiting for Vol 9.There are a few things you can watch/enjoy. There is a season 9 teaser that came out during RTX. It's on their app. Other RWBY things to watch RWBY: Chibi, RWBY Fairy Tales which animates fairy tales in Remant (it was great), the Anime which has an original twist, and RWBY soundtrack of course.

[@torlandobx9671]

2023 is gonna be wild.

[@ashly9910]

They are all caught up now!!! :)

[@sku242]

have they mentioned queendom ? or the new trailers ? chibi ? anything lol i expected them to bring it up by the finale but i guess not

[@SauceyRedHN]

I have now rewatched the show yet again, I must be on 10 or more rewatches based on how many reactions to it I've watched. Volume 9 coming soon and I AM H Y P E D!

[@elementFortune]

I hope for more RWBY Friday content 🙏🏻

[@Samgreen90]

(At 11:53) *AGAIN?!* This is the 3rd time we had to watch Penny die!

[@nocta66]

Thank you for the ride guys ! I hope you react to the trailer for volume 9 and otherwis... See you next year ha ha ^^

[@CursedHatter]

speaking of stupid winter is like 2 feet from cinder but instead goes for jaune and weiss who are like 30 ft away to save them instead of attacking cinder rip

[@Bayleaf6399]

And thus.... Atlas became Atlantis

[@Anu32148]

Guys dont forget about the anime RWBY Queendom!! Also I would understand if you guys want to take a break because this has been a VERY long journey!!

[@KdeeBUBBLES444]

really hope you guys are doing the soundtracks, i would absolutely pay for Patreon if it means an unedited reaction to those. It's also important to note that at some point in V8 Ironwood stopped caring about the citizens in Atlas and was only focused on the relics and keeping them away from Salem. I think that's why at times his actions/choices might not make sense to you because you think saving the people is still his goal, when saving the relics is what he views as salvation. This finale i actually have mixed feelings about, i think the execution is great and its an awesome finale on paper but i was a little disappointed about the way it sets up V9. I think having the whole team fall removes all the stakes because you're no longer worried if Yang is alive or dead. Maybe my feelings are just heightened because i don't like the previews for V9 At All, and im lamenting over the direction the story could have gone in (definitely not helped by the fact that ive had such a long time between volumes to set up expectations for myself..). It's a very complicated feeling because there are aspects of the finale i really like that don't necessarily fit with how i would have liked the finale to have gone. Eg. I think Jaune having to mercy kill Penny is extremely interesting and i like the potential for his character and future conflict with Ruby, but it doesn't necessarily align with my wishing that (out of team RWBY) only Yang fell. ((side note i wish they had made it less obvious that they turned Penny into a real girl for the express purpose of killing her off))

[@MinecraftNinja217]

Everyone when they see this episode with jaune killing penny thinks he is going to get the power but everyone forgets that the power can only be transferred to young women

[@animated_jojjo1434]

r u guys gonna watch ice queendom?

[@danielnolt3518]

I really liked this final episode! And i cant wait for the Soundtrack reactions ;)

[@Kriae]

Still waiting for the Westworld S4 reactions

[@rwrsluster]

You didn't understand the "altitude plan".

[@decodelifehacker3446]

32:11 - 32:38 ironwood plan was to use the relic to basically put the city just below Kármán Line where space starts and sky ends. dust doesn't work in space and I'm not sure but I believe grimm can't function that high either only magic works that high hence why the staff is needed and they couldn't use gravity dust. now even assuming that a grimm *can* live in that height the question becomes if it even can get up there because like normal birds they need to flap harder as the air thins so it's quite possible that ironwood was right that if they got to the right high no Grimm could of reach them(let's ignore salem's gravity fucking whale cause it the only Grimm to do that). another justification to assume that Ironwood plan would have worked for two reasons the first being that ironwood would probably know since he lives in that world and they have aircrafts and the live in the kingdom that study grimm the most. The second is the simple notion that in the 2 seasons this ark happen no one ever said it would not work long before he turned evil. if we believe ironwood right the only reason the Grimm river and the whale could of reach atlas was that they couldn't raise it the needed distance

[@TheToxic35]

Why am I only just realizing that Atlas is based on Atlantis.

[@oklin2376]

Now you guys can start red vs blue