RWBY Volume 3 Episode 12 Reaction

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[@thesilverwingknight]

A (not so) fun fact about this episode: The rocket lockers were created purely for the scene where Pyrrah pushes Jaune into it here

[@frogganator3918]

How do reactors comments sections always make that entire scene hit worse every single time?

[@ghostchannel4766]

Pretty sure it was created for the scene where the rockets are on top of the Nevermore.

[@thesilverwingknight]

@ghostchannel4766 That's just a happy benefit really. CRWBY even admitted the reason for Cardin pushing Jaune in one during the bullying montage in Volume 1 was foreshadowing to show that he could survive inside, setting up for the scene this episode

[@phantomslay5612]

Nice…….Cool that they wrote in that entire gimmick just for a bad plot device in the third season. Did anyone consider how awkward it would be if one of those flying lockers ended up accidentally flattening some random passerby when arriving at the destination?

[@EricMarchel]

Not quite. While it is a beautiful and tragic plot point here they were introduced in volume 1 before teams were even made up. Cardin also uses them as a device for bullying Jaune and launching him off.

[@SecondhandScrewup]

Ken: “We’re gonna go into this and we’re gonna have high hopes…” Me: “See, that was your first mistake.”

[@MandalorOrdo]

If they manage to hold out till Volume 9 then it wasnt a mistake.

[@TheMhalpern]

I just love the unintentional irony from Ken these past couple episodes. I hope that continues through to Vol 9, especially for episode 5,

[@DefinitelyNotDefinitive2]

😂🤗

[@reggielacey2235]

@@MandalorOrdo it was

[@reggielacey2235]

@@TheMhalpern vol 4-9 sucks

[@noodlecat_]

Pyrrhas first words - 'I'm not quite sure , I was planning on letting the chips fall where they may . ' Pyrrhas last words -'Do you believe in destiny?'

[@jeffreysmith236]

For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all. Infinite in distance and unbound by death, I release your soul, and by my shoulder, protect thee.

[@grantlangkamp1909]

Yes​@@jeffreysmith236

[@theshugokisheir]

S is for the sadness that I know you're feeling. A is the anguish that you'll be incapable of healing. L is the loss of all your friends and happy places. E is for extinction for all your puny races M is for monstrous of the dangers yet to show. Her name is Salem and she is here to say Hello.

[@AzureIV]

Mommy Salami has entered the chat.

[@BuzryHaproMandalorianHunter]

Her monologue at the end always tears me up with fear.

[@VidadeumBronze]

M is for Mommy

[@christophervanoster]

I understood that reference

[@KitsyX]

But hello doesn't rhyme with come o_O or say... Or anything else there... Oh well... Not too bad, but the end needs a little work.

[@RyudenTamarashi]

Ken: Cynder... *distant shouting*: Only in her wildest DREAMS!

[@kenohki3492]

Followed by a maniacal laugh.

[@AlphaOmega08922]

24:22 When Pyrrha asks Cinder if she believes in destiny, it's actually a callback to her earlier coversation with Jaune, where she asks him the same thing. It was the conversation she had with Jaune right after Ozpin first approached her about becoming the new Fall Maiden, where she explains that she views destiny as a choice you make for yourself, rather than a predetermined fate you have no control over. Her asking Cinder thks question can be seen either as Pyrrha accepting her own death as the consequence of her own choices, or even as a final act of defiance towards Cinder.

[@AlphaOmega08922]

@@axxjazz. But again, that goes against how Pyrrha herself imagined the concept of destiny. She didn't believe in predetermined paths set by the universe, or "set-in-stone" futures. She believed "destiny" was a path you chose for yourself, and the rewards and consequences that arise as a result of your choices. And besides, Pyrrha had no reason to suspect that Ruby had any special powers, and even if she did, she didn't know Ruby was there, in the end. There was no reason for her to suspect that Ruby would witness her death, or that she would unlock her special abilities by doing so. It's fine to imagine that that was Pyrrha's "destiny" as a viewer, but it doesn't explain why Pyrrha herself would ask that question of Cinder. Even if the show is saying that her battle with Cinder changed the way she saw destiny, Ruby's powers still wouldn't factor into the situation at all.

[@DefinitelyNotDefinitive2]

Like to think of it as defiance

[@Great_Olaf5]

Cinder's response also says a lot. Jaune asked for more, what specifically she meant by destiny. Cinder just took it as read.

[@mrshadow4007]

An Excerpt from u/Shockz0rz "Do you believe in destiny?" We first heard this line from Pyrrha way back in V3C8--"Destiny", appropriately enough--when she was voicing her worries to Jaune about getting into the Maiden-O-Matic pod and having Amber's soul zapped into hers. We find out immediately thereafter that Pyrrha has kind of a strange definition of "destiny": She doesn't believe in any sort of predestined fate; rather, she believes your destiny is something you make for yourself, something you work towards your entire life. (I've had one person tell me that this is closer to the classical meaning of "destiny", as opposed to the modern meaning, where it's pretty much a synonym of "fate". Dunno if that's true, but it wouldn't surprise me.) And Pyrrha believes her destiny is to protect Remnant. Not any specific person or group; no, Pyrrha thinks big. She wants to protect the world. Initially she thought she'd do that by becoming a huntress; later, despite her misgivings, she thought she'd accomplish it by becoming the Fall Maiden. Cut to V3C12. Everything's gone to shit. Beacon is being overrun by Grimm, Cinder's put an arrow through Amber's heart and claimed the full power of the Fall Maiden, and Ozpin's just told Pyrrha and Jaune to GTFO before Cinder kills them both. And as the two of them run outside, they hear something that sounds distinctly like a homicidal Fall Maiden flying up an elevator shaft. Unpursued. And right at that moment, something clicks in Pyrrha's mind. This is it, she realizes. This is what I have to do. There's no rational reasoning behind it, no particular logic that tells her she will succeed where Ozpin failed. Just...faith. Faith that her destiny, her life goal of protecting Remnant, lies at the top of that tower. Jaune doesn't get it, of course. That kind of faith rarely makes sense from an outside perspective. She can't explain it; all she can do is break both their hearts with a first--and last--kiss. Then she shoves him into the rocket locker and sends him away for help, and Magnetos her way up to the top of the tower. The fight that follows, of course, is quite possibly the greatest of the entire show so far. We see Pyrrha, impossibly, hold her own against a fully empowered Fall Maiden. And for just a moment, we believe, and see her believe, that she might win, or at least last long enough for help to arrive--especially when we see that Ruby and Weiss are on their way. Then comes the arrow to the heel. We all know Pyrrha's based on Achilles; we know she's screwed now. Cinder walks over and starts gloating, but when Pyrrha looks up at her-- She hasn't given up. There's no despair, nor even the slightest hint of uncertainty in her face. She looks Cinder straight in the eye, defiant to the last, and asks her, "Do you believe in destiny?" She knows she's lost. She knows she's probably about to die. Yet that same unshakable faith remains: she doesn't know how, or why, but she knows that even if she dies here, she will not have died for nothing. Somehow, she will die fulfilling her destiny. Somehow, in death, she will save Remnant. I don't watch Red vs. Blue--something I intend to remedy as soon as I finish writing this--but a monologue from that show has been brought to my attention for the parallels it has with Pyrrha's situation here. "There are so many stories where some brave hero decides to give their life to save the day, and because of their sacrifice, the good guys win, the survivors all cheer, and everybody lives happily ever after. But the hero...never gets to see that ending. They'll never know if their sacrifice actually made a difference. They'll never know if the day was really saved. In the end, they just have to have faith... Ain't that a bitch." I don't know the context for that monologue--something about an AI sacrificing itself, I think?--but Pyrrha's situation and last words are a parallel and a counterpoint to this speech at the same time. Pyrrha not only has no way of knowing if her sacrifice will actually make a difference, she doesn't even know how it would. And yet the sentiments expressed in that speech probably never even cross her mind, because she had that faith. Even lying there, defeated and broken, she still believes with all her heart that this is the destiny she's been working towards her whole life. "Yes." Cinder's one-word reply is almost as meaningful despite its brevity. I wish I could start this off by pointing out that it looks like she's starting to cry as she says this, but sadly it's been pointed out to me that the "tears" are just reflections in her eyes, visible in many other close-ups. ANYWAY! Recall that Pyrrha's definition of "destiny" is pretty weird, almost the opposite of what it's usually taken to mean nowadays. The odds are pretty low that Cinder shares the same definition. In other words, what Cinder is saying here is the opposite of what Pyrrha meant. She's saying that her victory here at the tower was fate. That everything that happened here--Yang's framing, Pyrrha's accidental killing of Penny, the White Fang/Grimm attack, Cinder's claiming of the Fall Maiden's powers, the fall of Beacon--all of it was predestined, inevitable, unstoppable, and by extension so is her master's eventual victory over all of Remnant. In agreeing with Pyrrha, then, she's denying Pyrrha's unshakable faith. She's saying that everything Pyrrha has done to try and stop her has been pointless, that her suicidal blaze of glory has accomplished nothing. And immediately thereafter, she tries to prove the point by ending Pyrrha's life then and there. If only she'd listened to a quote from her creator. "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." -- Monty Oum, 2012 I'm sure you all will agree that the prescience of this quote is...a little unnerving, to say the least. But regardless of its relevance to Monty's own life and work, it's the theme that lies at the very core of this scene. Pyrrha, broken but defiant to the last, is dealt a mortal blow, then reduced to ashes upon the wind. And for a moment it looks as if Cinder was right, as if Pyrrha's faith in her destiny was misplaced, that she has died for nothing. But there to witness her death is little silver-eyed Ruby Rose, who unknowingly held within herself a power that Cinder, so confident in the inevitability of her victory, never could have expected or accounted for. If Pyrrha had never climbed that tower, perhaps Ruby would have unlocked her powers eventually. But it would have likely taken far longer--time that Salem and Cinder would use to capitalize upon their victory, perhaps even move upon the other kingdoms. But Pyrrha's sacrifice, at that moment, directly resulted in the Grimm dragon being removed from play, and in Ruby discovering that she is far more powerful than she could have ever imagined. And I suspect that Cinder did not get away unscathed, either. Pyrrha never got the chance to see her faith rewarded, to see that her death there paved the way to victory. But she didn't need to see. She already knew. www.reddit.com/r/RWBY/comments/460m25/v3c12_spoilers_do_you_believe_in_destiny_yes/

[@zombietaco4829]

They need a recommendation of Rwby Chibi in order to recover

[@kenkurogue101]

YES, now that they finished vol3 they can finally watch RWBY Chibi without spoilers 😊

[@Chokah]

Consider the prescription written.

[@DefinitelyNotDefinitive2]

Haha we heard that’s a good palate cleanser but we are gluttons for punishment so pushing on to season 4. Maybe we will try and mix in some RWBY chibi if we have time 😅

[@AwesomelyRandomful64]

The reason the woman at the end sounds familiar is because she was the narrator in the first episode talking about darkness returning and "no victory in strength". Also I love how Qrow subtly told Ruby exactly where to go knowing she'd go off on her own.

[@DireW0lf0]

She is also the voice of Cortana from Halo. And ironically Cortana from Windows!

[@DefinitelyNotDefinitive2]

😎👍🙂

[@valathor95]

Now, with great sadness, we welcome you to the FNDM.

[@antobono64]

I don't stay away from the fndm its super toxic

[@Connor-ONeill]

Like all fandoms, there's a good side and a bad side. It's just unfortunate that the FNDM's bad side is *bad.*

[@SaeWhat21]

Yeah stay out of the rwby fandom

[@RichardX1]

Is it any worse than the Rick & Morty fandom though?

[@antobono64]

@@RichardX1 I dunno I never watch rick and morty

[@pokeloon15]

Ken and Bethany. Allow me to introduce you to Salem. The Wicked Witch to Ozpin's wizard.

[@JetBlack2024]

Kinda wrong. She’s more like the plot device there for the time being. We all know who the main villain destined to be. The wicked witch was a impactful character. Salem is not

[@l0ki_lux947]

​@@JetBlack2024 stop being inconsiderate you know damn well they're not catch up with us delete this pls.

[@dessindenfer1253]

@@JetBlack2024 if your talking about cinder's than i don't agree , she's cinderella , the magic will fade and she wil go back to nothingness

[@graveyardshift2100]

​@@JetBlack2024 bruh, she is literally the Wicked Witch of the story. 🤦‍♀️

[@NameIsZ]

Omfg I'm dumb, how did I not put that together after all these years when I understood like 90% of all the other references?!

[@brodybenton-haskins9720]

Last episode Cinder says "she was right about you" and in beginning of the end she was talking to someone that seemed to be above her in rank so with this we can assume that it would be our mystery woman at the end

[@DefinitelyNotDefinitive2]

😯🧐

[@TheGreater-ScopeVillain]

Is she Cinder's boss? For now. But Cinder's _master?_ *Never.*

[@jamesdalessandro8728]

They actually list Salem in the credits. Well anyway, welcome to RWBY. This is where it actually begins. I was fooled by this cute and funny show about likable characters fighting monsters. I didn't realize it was all a setup to hurt my soul, over, and over, and over.

[@Elzzaw]

Interesting choice when no one has even heard her name by the time the credits roll lol.

[@Osma777]

oh there are still tons of cute bits, usually so that the pain hurts more :D. I'm looking at you (redacted). "It will be just like Beacon again!"

[@TheMhalpern]

​@@Osma777 you have to admit though that it was "strangely wholesome"

[@DefinitelyNotDefinitive2]

They do suck you in with super happy fun times and then drop the hammer on you 😱😭

[@TheMhalpern]

@@DefinitelyNotDefinitive2 yeah being children isn't a role they were going to have forever.

[@Andrew1990M]

So yeah… this is the show. I’m sure a hundred comments have told you already but the next thing to watch is the Ruby Character Short. The show is going to change its look and it’s tone from here on out but the heart is still there. Edit: Oh, important bit of info people miss for the next few volumes; Cinder destroyed the CCT. The tower that allows for cross-continent communication (5G). You can still make calls and broadcasts locally (Bluetooth).

[@TheMhalpern]

technically Kevin destroyed it

[@DefinitelyNotDefinitive2]

We thought destroying that tower at first was going to be her ultimate goal. Severely underestimated her goals 😱

[@Andrew1990M]

@@DefinitelyNotDefinitive2 Oh don't worry, it's much, much worse than that. But to get there, they need to make sure none of the Kingdoms can work together, so they used the Remnant equivalent of the Olympics to turn the world against Atlas then turned off the Internet so the mistrust could only fester. They've taken Vale off the board, and as Qrow conveniently let slip to Ruby this episode, Haven is next.

[@TheGreater-ScopeVillain]

​@@TheMhalpern Only because Cinder mentally ordered him to. As "RWBY: The Official Companion" states, Cinder canonically has the power to control Grimm through her magic. That's why she can speak with them and have them obey her commands.

[@randycoghe4809]

A few things to clarify before going into Volume 4. First, it's not explicitly clarified but there is a 6-8 month time jump between volumes. Second, a lot the FNDM loves to crucify the series from Volume 4 onwards, and as a longtime fan of the show it hurts to hear such things about it. So keep doing what you guys do and don't let others sway your honest judgment about the show. And third, be prepared to play connect the dots when discussing and theorizing about how you think things will happen. It'll seem like a lot to take in, but but answers are given to some really big questions later. Can't wait for the soundtrack, Remnant lore, and volume 4 trailer reactions. Love you guys and hyped to be going memory lane with you both.

[@randycoghe4809]

Oh, another point of context is that the CCT is down across Remnant. Communication between kingdoms is not good, so only local communication is possible. This was all a power play by the woman you saw at the end, namely Salem. She is every bad dream rolled together into a living, walking nightmare. And she now has Ruby in her cross hares. Her role to play in this is staggering, but it's up to you guys to try and figure out what it is. A shadow war has sparked, and with Pyrrha being killed off, no one is safe from its clutches.

[@Andrew1990M]

In my experience, people binging the show like this enjoy it much much more. It was the waiting that gave some of the fans time to build up these ridiculous expectations and head canons. Even I started to get a little frustrated at a certain 3 episode stretch in Volume 5.

[@zaaveme]

I feel like it’s mostly people who hate watch the show crucify it. But yeah I’ve learned to ignore all the hate

[@RisingRose]

@@Andrew1990M Yeah. I remember getting a little bored with v5 but overall still liking it, but by the end of the volume the FNDM's negativity began to catch up with me. This was a thing that kept happening on and on with V6-V8, and it wasnt until i stayed away from any RWBY-related community content for like a year and then watched V9 and rewatched the majority of the other volumes in one go that I realized just how much everyone elses negativity was clouding my judgement at the time, as well as how the gap between volumes led to ridiculous expectations. (That and how many people just hatewatch the show. I've seen the same channels for the past like 5 years or so post videos just shitting on the show relentlessly)

[@scooty4743]

@@Andrew1990M I mean if we’re being honest Volume 5 was not good… like at all, minus the fight at the end. The writing wasn’t good, and the pacing felt bad. Soundtrack is good though.

[@jaerys]

FWIW, Jaune probably wouldn't have been able to block Cinder's arrow even if he wasn't distracted while guarding Autumn. As demonstrated in her fight against Pyrrha, Cinder's semblance lets her manipulate her glass arrows to a fine enough degree to disassemble, flow past a shield, then reform.

[@DefinitelyNotDefinitive2]

That almost would’ve been worse. To hear her scream and stand guard just to see the arrow go around your shield 😱

[@kenkurogue101]

Now finally I can say, ever notice during the intro, when the kids are all falling in a ring, Pyrrha is the first one to fall away from the group and this breaks the circle.

[@TheMhalpern]

I like the Vol 8 intro...

[@AutumnWoodham]

The character at the end is Salem, voiced by Jen Taylor, who was the narrator for the first batch of World of Remnant as well as the beginning of the first episode of the series. She's based on the Wicked Witch from Wizard of Oz, and if you thought Roman and Cinder were bad, you haven't seen shit yet.

[@TheGreater-ScopeVillain]

Oh, I'm pretty sure that Cinder is arguably worse than Salem. Unlike Salem, Cinder has no love or compassion for others in her heart whatsoever, and Cinder's ultimate goal is more evil and on a much larger scale than Salem's. This shouldn't be surprising, however, since Cinder is the main villain of the series, not Salem.

[@AutumnWoodham]

@@TheGreater-ScopeVillain Those last bits aren't true.

[@frost_nightmare98]

After just finishing Season 9, I can't wait till you guys experience the story of each character and see their development. Its gonna be so cool to see you guys react to everything that unfolds.

[@DefinitelyNotDefinitive2]

😎👍😀

[@alexlim864]

48:05 For what it's worth, Garrett Hunter, Adam's VA, reportedly hated him, as well.

[@bsquaredbundles]

The desperation in Juan's voice right before he throw his phone gets me every time. Props to the voice actor.

[@AnonYmous-wr7xr]

Lady at the end is named Salem, she’s in the credits. The reason she sounds familiar is she narrates the opening episode from Volume 1. She’s also the voice actress for Cortana in Halo

[@schwazroda7882]

21:15 the pan to Ren and Nora always makes me tear up showing just how supportive they all are of one another when they’re all going through it 🥹

[@kyngtruccie8817]

Now you are officially apart of the RWBY Fandom. With a heavy heart we welcome you

[@DefinitelyNotDefinitive2]

😢🤗

[@marieporter9488]

Misery loves company, as they say! One of us! One of us!

[@joferro113]

She is Salem and is voiced by Jen Taylor who also voiced the intro to the first episode of vol.1

[@frogganator3918]

A fact that makes the opening monologue feel very dark and foreboding on rewatches. Not sure if they planned that or not but dang is it effective

[@jordanpeterson5140]

​@Frogganator pretty sure it was planned.

[@goddesssalem4842]

My queen

[@AlexanderAshcroft]

Destiny was extremely important to Achilles, as so Pyrrah whom she is based on. The idea and aspects of becoming who you are or always meant to be is what is the Crux of Pyrrahs character, She always wanted to be a Hero and do everything she could do to be one, But you know what happens to heroes.

[@MandalorOrdo]

18:24 Hearing the voice of Edward Elric calling someone pipsquek is funny 😂

[@antobono64]

I thought he was vic micogna

[@MandalorOrdo]

@@antobono64 yes it is Vic Micogna. I just singled out that specific role for obvious reasons.

[@frogganator3918]

What's even funnier is the kid, who's name I can't say yet for future spoilers, is voiced by Aaron Dismuke, Alphone's VA in the 2003 Full Metal Alchemist dub

[@antobono64]

@@frogganator3918 ohhhhh Edward from full metal alchemist My bad I never watched that show

[@vake1234]

info to vol.4: it has a trailer that you should watch before the series. the name is "RWBY Volume 4 Character Short "

[@LuminantLion]

That woman at the end is the narrator from the beginning of the series, from back in V1C1: Ruby Rose. The narration by her here is a continuation of that narration back then.

[@reverance_pavane]

Salem (her name is in the end credits) was the unnamed Narrator in the first episode. Her speech (which I adore) here at the end of this End of the Beginning episode, is a call back to this discussion/argument with Ozpin (who was the other voiceover in the series opening). Taking this into consideration, there definitely seems to be a history between the two. I wonder if we will find out more about this in the future. =9)

[@jamieswafford977]

This is usually where a lot of people stop watching, but I hope you guys decide to continue watching the show! Volume 4 is where it really starts to pickup and it gets a lot more interesting.

[@KitsyX]

I don't know... Volumes 4 and 5 kinda increase the scope of the world, but it slows down the pace of the overall story... It's like a soft reset... Compared to volumes 2 and 3 especially, 4 and 5 are like one volume spread out to two... Which is good in some ways, but I find it hard to describe that as picking up... Although I do kinda also see what you mean... I would argue that 4 and 5 are more getting back up to speed after having a car crash lol.

[@codex3259]

@@KitsyX well, after V3, worldbuilding was needed. that, and every character needed time to recuperate lol

[@DefinitelyNotDefinitive2]

We will be continuing. If we stop liking it we will stop but we have to know what happens to the RWBY team 🤔

[@butterflywarrioredits]

And we officially welcome you to the RWBY FNDM! Now we can all suffer together. The treatment would be to binge several episodes of RWBY Chibi before volume 4.

[@TheMhalpern]

I remember trying to prep myself by listening to Cold about a hundred times, my preparations only lasted a couple episodes, though now I can listen to that song all I want without needing the onion excuse

[@DefinitelyNotDefinitive2]

“We can all suffer together” 😂😭🤗

[@toamszkozak8822]

Cinder to Ozpin in the previous episode "She was right about you. Such ignorrance" And now you met her, The real boss

[@TheGreater-ScopeVillain]

But what you must remember, and what "she" fails to realise, is that Cinder is and always has been the *_main_* villain of the entire series, not "her".

[@VergilArcanis]

the intro songs all convey the darker message of the series. the more you look into the lyrics, the more apparent it becomes

[@zaaveme]

This is it. This is the one that broke all of us 😭

[@DefinitelyNotDefinitive2]

😢

[@wildeyoung3943]

So, two things to talk about now that you've finished V3, Pyrrha and Salem. Pyrrha is named after not only a shade of red but the alias assumed by Achilles in one of his stories. Pyrrha was an homage to Achilles which is why she was called the invincible girl and also shot in the Achilles tendon right before Cinder incinerated her. By the by it's hard to tell because it's not explicitly stated but Cinder's own semblance is to superheat things she touches, which is what she did to Pyrrha. Most of her other crazy powers come from the Fall maiden powers and dust weaved into her clothes. Now for Salem. No spoilers but that is the name of the character revealed at the end of the episode, she is called Salem in the credits and is voiced by Jen Taylor, the voice of Cortana from Halo. That also happens to be the exact same person who was the narrator from the first episode and if you play the narration from v1 e1 with the monologue from Salem in v3 e12 you get a full story of Salem talking to Ozpin, the sets of lines are connected. She's also been very slightly hinted at throughout the show. "The Queen has pawns" message from Qrow in episode one and a line from Cinder in v3 when they had the flashback during the tournament.

[@NuclearNoxi]

A triple meaning to Pyrhha's name. Her last name is Nikos- Victory. A Pyrhhic Victory is a win you had to sacrifice so much to get, is it really a win?

[@wildeyoung3943]

@@NuclearNoxi Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that. Yeah one of the reasons I love Pyrrha so much is the multi-layered homage.

[@TheGreater-ScopeVillain]

Cinder's Semblance not only allows her to superheat objects, but also manipulate them however she wants. That's how she can so expertly manipulate Dust, for example in her clothing. And especially as Cinder is canonically known throughout the world of Remnant as "The Black Queen" because of her terrifying speech to the world, the "Queen has pawns" message refers to Cinder, who is and always has been the main villain of RWBY.

[@magne7771]

"This feels so lighthearted!" Meanwhile, I'm just listening to the video opener thinking "Yeah, that's about the vibe I was expecting after last episode. You could almost _hear_ the hundred yard stare."

[@thatguyinamask9789]

I find it funny that you would relate Ruby to a puppy/dog, because originally she was supposed to be a wolf girl xD

[@nonya8562]

Anime 101 you do not share a loving kiss before a season finale boss fight. It's a fact to everyone who has seen enough characters and the result.

[@MrAllekzander]

They spent 2.75 seasons convincing you that it was a happy go lucky action comedy to set you up for the never ending trauma of its reality, lol.

[@nonya8562]

Season 1 - wholesome sunshine and rainbows. Season 2 - a guy is killed in the first episode Season 3 - lies, pain, dismemberment, OZPIN FIGHTING? (literally everyone) Alright this is happening everyone stay calm. STAY FUC$ING CALM!!!

[@josephcirrincone9596]

23:31 say hi to Salem the true big bad of RWBY and the queen of the Grimm

[@theeliax7374]

I am glad u two understand that Jaune is just a human and his reactions were so natural.

[@Xercodo34]

Not sure if someone has already covered these parts but here ya go: - Yes she does sound familiar, she was the voice talking alongside Ozpin when we saw Torchwick walking up in episode 1 - When Cinder confronts Ozpin at the attempted aura transfer she says "she was right about you, such arrogance". "She" was Salem. - Monty's signature is shaped in the birds in the first episode of volume 3 when Ruby was visiting her mom's grave, also the first time we see her dad Tai. - Monty's catchphrase "keep moving forward" is constantly referenced by the characters and in soundtrack lyrics, particularly in this volume when Qrow was talking to Yang and Ruby early on, so look for it further on - We get a really cool jump in graphics and art style from vol 4 onward - Make sure to watch the shorts prior to each volume

[@DefinitelyNotDefinitive2]

Some of it was covered but not all of it. Better safe than sorry so thanks for letting us know 🙂

[@jaerys]

The lady at the end is indeed a different character than Cinder. You have heard her voice a few times over the series, mostly as a narrator. If you consider that Ozpin is inspired by the Wizard of Oz, you can probably guess who she is draws inspiration from.

[@CB-eo6xo]

I hereby now officially welcome you as one of us now, since you've seen it all. The defeat and downfall of our heroes, the deaths of many beloved characters, the reveal of an even more dreadful enemy, and an uncertain future where it seems everything the world built is slowly falling apart.... but the survivors continue to carry on as they now begin the REAL adventure in volume 4. Also, if you want to, check out the next set of World of Remnant from volume 4 which consists of Vale, Mistral, Vacuo, and Atlas. Give those a try that will help you expand the lore of the main four kingdoms, their cultures, and their histories. Along with the volume 4 trailer. I also recommend RWBY Chibi (Season 1) to make you feel better after all volume 3 put us through.

[@TheGreater-ScopeVillain]

I'd say that, arguably, Cinder is the most dreadful and dangerous enemy in the entire series, which makes sense given that Cinder is the main villain of the entire series, not Salem.

[@Aquapanther154]

And here’s the 3rd “Welcome to RWBY” moment. Congratulations, your officially in the RWBY world. Get ready, it gets darker from here

[@mithroch]

"Do you believe in destiny?" is what Pyrrah asked Jaune a few episodes ago.

[@goldenpaladin]

And now the dnd adventure begins I say this because next season feels like a dnd campaign

[@BGTitanAvatar]

Ruby 3x01: Pyrrha! (Yelled with joy and glee) Ruby 3x12: Pyrrha! (Screamed with despair and pain) And thus the mysterious narrator from episode 1 finally reveals herself. The credits have her listed as Salem, voiced by Jen Taylor. Alright. So the prologue has officially concluded and it’s onto the main event. Looking forward to the Soundtrack reaction as always.

[@bastianurbach]

The "Do you believe in destiny?" is a callback to volume 3, episode 8 where she asks Jaune the same question. It may also be a callback to volume 1, episode 4 where she gives her own answer in her first line in the series: "I'm not quite sure. I was planning on letting the chips fall where they may".

[@schwazroda7882]

I love the way you explain reacting to Pyrrha’s death in the moment and how they don’t give you time to emotionally mourn the loss immediately. I think it was done so well because the hurt is there but the moment is still elevated with RWBY there. It’s more relatable. There’s not always time to immediately have an emotional response to drastic and horrible things that happen in life. Mourning isn’t always immediate. It takes time 😢

[@EvanHambrook-yi6zs]

The voice is familiar for 2 reasons. The first being that it is Jen Taylor, most famously the voice of Cortana from Halo among many other roles, and the second being that she was the narrator from the very first episode.

[@Hawk_of_Battle]

You have finally finished the prologue. Welcome to the real RWBY experience. Remember that next up is the Ruby Character short, as well as all the remaining World of Remnants, starting with the various kingdoms (Vale, Mistral, Atlas, Vacuo, the order is important). You may remember the "narrator", as the first narrator of the first 4 WoR's, as well as the very first episodes introduction scene. In retrospect, going back and listening to those monologues again, knowing she's now an actual character in the story puts a new spin on some of the things she says. The "narrator" is voiced by Jen Taylor, a well known voice actor, most notably from the Halo series. It was a big deal in volume 1 when she was the biggest named VA they had. You can imagine the surprise when it turns out she's back as a full time villain. Many people mistake her for Cinder at the end, but Cinder is voiced by Jessica Nigri, so if you know who Jen is you're not supposed to get confused and think that that's Cinder transformed or something. The twist is the narrator was a villain all along. You can also see her name in the credits, knowing who her VA is... In addition to all of that, certain conversations throughout the show also take on a new light; Volume 3, episode 3, Qrow; "I've been out there and I've seen the things *she's* made..." Cinder vol 3, episode 11; "She was right about you, such arrogance." We also hear Cinder talking to someone during the villain flashbacks in vol 3, episode 7; "...Yes, I will claim what is ours." The clues were there all along. "Do you believe in destiny?" Was something Pyrrha asked Jaune about a few episodes ago in episode 8, though notably Pyrrha's view of destiny is not most peoples view on the topic. At the time, she said she believes destiny is not a pre-determined fate, but something you work towards and make happen yourself. Her climbing the tower and risking a fight she knows she can't win, and then asking that of Cinder, knowing she's about to die is well... make of it what you will.

[@TheGreater-ScopeVillain]

Are you implying that Pyrrha did all this, sacrificed her life, in order to give Cinder, the main villain and her killer, the opportunity (or at least put the idea in her mind) to stop her campaign of hatred and destruction against the world before she completely envelops her own soul in darkness? Pyrrha was trying to save Cinder from herself?

[@ronaldsorenson3999]

Now that you have met the "Big Bad", next year for Halloween you can dress up as Her and Ozpin.

[@naeshaunedwards7731]

If I’m not mistaken, this episode came out on Valentine’s Day. Talk about things that couldn’t get worse

[@Silvist]

Yea there's a meme in the community about how Jaune could have stopped the arrow...but honestly if he got in the way of Cinder he would have just ended up a causality.

[@TheGreater-ScopeVillain]

Yeah, there's nothing that anyone could have done to stop Cinder. She just played everyone perfectly throughout the first 3 Volumes. When Ozpin led Pyrrha and Jaune into the vault, she was already watching them on the opposite roof *_with her bow already in hand_* because she knew that she had found her quarry at last. Even if Jaune had shouted a warning to Ozpin, there was no way Ozpin would've reacted fast enough to even register Cinder's presence, let alone move to do anything before Cinder killed Amber. Cinder had already won long before the Battle of Beacon even started, and she knew it.

[@marieporter9488]

​@@TheGreater-ScopeVillain Someone else in this comment section pointed out that Cinder's arrow went around Pyrrha's shield and could have gone around Jaune just as easily

[@TheGreater-ScopeVillain]

@@marieporter9488 That is true. That is something that Cinder can do using just her Semblance, even without magic.

[@kriscerosaurus]

And now y’all are truly one of us. Welcome to RWBY. Please invoice all therapy bills directly to Rooster Teeth.

[@AZDfox]

Lol, the real reason RT died

[@Erimgard13]

Divide, the song that plays during the credits, is a good insight into the identity of the mystery woman at the end

[@CaliDBan]

The voice is the narrator. Prepare yourself. She has arrived.

[@spadeas49]

Welcome to the family, buckle up, you're in for a hell of a ride. CRWBY has a nasty habit of hitting the right spots to draw tears, and the events you just witnessed will haunt you, like our protagonists, for a while yet. But fortunately, not all is pain and the good times will come, it will just take time to heal. As an absolute Weiss fan, I can't wait to see your reaction to her journey through Volume 4.

[@blakeismydaughter2902]

Volume 3 is the FNDM equivalent of getting jumped into a gang. You felt our pain, so welcome to the club 🥲. IMO volume 3 is a masterpiece that hits as peak fiction with every rewatch. Also the last evil lady is Salem, Cinder’s boss.

[@DefinitelyNotDefinitive2]

It was a great volume and had a roller coaster of emotions 🤩😱😭😂🤗

[@TheGreater-ScopeVillain]

Cinder's boss? For now. Cinder's _master?_ *Never.*

[@MinisterEvil]

24:05 The voice is familiar because she's Jen Taylor (Cinder is Jessica Nigri, so they're not the same person). You may know Jen Taylor as Cortana from Halo.

[@mrpowershield]

The voice of the final "witch" which is named Salem,is the original narrator in the first episode, i think that is why it feel familiar . Another thing, sadly Monty oum, creator of the series died between vol 3 and vol 4, and it was the voice of lie ren, the ninja guy

[@dreadpiraterexy1410]

The title of THIS episode is the End of the Beginning. This is the finale of the Beacon arc; every 3 volumes is roughly one season/arc, centered around one of the academies/kingdoms.

[@ArifPrime]

Mommy Salem has entered the chat Welcome to RWBY, the story just begin

[@derykjames620]

And now for the volume 3 soundtrack.

[@Dreznin]

Jaune got so much hate from a lot of people in the FNDM for running to Pyrrha, so I'm glad that Ken said what he did. Yes, Jaune failed as a guard, but his reaction to run to Pyrrha's side when he heard her screaming was the natural response when you hear someone you care about screaming. Regarding the talk about ideological difference for groups like Xavier's X-Men and Mageneto's Brotherhood, the White Fang really is the group to consider, even if Adam is a horrible person. In Volume 1 Chapter 2, the newscast mentions the White Fang as, "the once-peaceful organization," and when Blake meets Sun she talks about how the White Fang was once dedicated to bring peace between humans and faunus, but the original leader stepped down and the new leader brought about the more radical and violent nature of the current organization. The old White Fang had the idealism of the X-Men, while the new White Fang is like the Brotherhood in thinking that violence and fear is needed to get respect from humanity.

[@NSBWS]

Watching through volumes 1-3 after seeing 3 is crazy cause you see all of her death flags and her connections to Achilles and knowing what was happening and how it was going to end.

[@DefinitelyNotDefinitive2]

Yeah 😭

[@PsychoDiesel48]

OH BOY! The episode where EVERONE gets shot in the heart, and the CRWBY is to blame XD.

[@joshthomas-moore2656]

11:42 "Ruby, i don't feels so good." Don't judge someones going to do it.

[@XTheCrystalBeastGuyX]

I told you this is the volume where the song lyrics really do come into play. There was no happy ending for any protagonist in this volume. Characters will die, questions will be asked, and in Volume 4, the animation will increase along with the stakes.

[@bouboulroz]

Pyrrha Nikos. Nikos being a referrence to Nike, the goddess of victory. Pyrrhic victory: a victory that comes at a great cost, perhaps making the ordeal to win not worth it. Pyrrha's death was hinted since her very introduction.

[@SyxxPunk]

11:29 They, indeed, went there.

[@LukaBlight69]

And who are you the proud maid said that I must bow so low? Only a cast of a different spell, that's all the truth I know In a coat of gold or a coat of red A maiden still has blades And mine are long and strong, my dear As long and strong as yours And so she spoke and so she spoke That champion of Vale But now the rains weep o'er her halls with no one there to hear Yes, now the rains weep o're her halls and not a soul to hear

[@francescogiuntoli9704]

I love that Ken heard the final monologue and went "Cinder..." That's some nice foreshadowing for V4...

[@TheGreater-ScopeVillain]

Nice foreshadowing for the series as a whole, actually, since Cinder is the true main villain of RWBY and is likely to succeed in her plans to eventually overthrow Salem.

[@andrewlucaschism]

The woman at the end is the name narrator from the very first episode so all this time, this little fairy tale has been told...by the villain.

[@CertavusGrey5450]

Fun fact for those who missed/ didn’t know: the lady seen right before the end credits is voiced by Jen Taylor. She voices Cortana from the halo games. She was also the narrator for beginning of episode 1 of the first volume as well as the narrator for the world of remnant shorts which is probably why she sounded familiar. Another (very) minor note: it’s never explained on-screen how Ruby learned Cinder’s name, yet she was able to tell Qrow about her.

[@TheGreater-ScopeVillain]

Well, she first met Cinder, Emerald and Mercury in the premiere episode of Volume 2. To her, they were exchange students, and Ruby already expressed a willingness to be friends with them, which fit perfectly with Cinder's plans. And since by the premiere episode of Volume 3, Team RWBY knows Mercury and Emerald's names, it's most likely that Cinder arranged for her Team and Team RWBY to become "friends" offscreen, which was when she shared her name with Ruby.

[@grenadescarlett1949]

Its been an awsome 3 volumes to watch again with both of you, most people say the next volumes have bad writing and it goes down hill, but i hope you enjoy rwby none the less like I have

[@jameshopkins7275]

It’s funny your calling Mercury mean names because he does the voice for Spider-Man in the recent PlayStation games.

[@KingKP96]

A lot of people consider this to be the peak of RWBY before it took a sharp decline in some areas(I personally disagree and think V4 is solid, and even the volumes after that have their highs despite being pretty...eh~). I'm really excited to see what you guys personally think going forward though. Whether you have the same thoughts as the majority or the minority (or somewhere between) it'll be a fun journey regardless.

[@Dreznin]

Volume 6 is definitely where it finally hits its stride yet again - Volumes 4 and 5 were definitely the weakest ones we've had thus far even though I wouldn't call either one bad. Without getting into any spoilers, I'd say that the worst part of Volume 4 is that most of the action scenes get very floaty and it's obvious that the fight choreography declined, but you get a much denser story to make up for it. The only volume that I feel sort of drags is Volume 5 due to how exposition-heavy it is and there is some storyboarding towards the end of it that could have been better arranged, but among that same flawed final stretch we also get one of the most badass fights in the show up to that point.

[@TheMhalpern]

@@Dreznin the main issue with vol 5 is that most of it takes place in two sets, but Blake has a speech where she slightly deflects blame in front of one of them, also tea tray

[@kenohki3492]

Cinder's "WHAT!?" is pretty significant...the entire time she seems like she knows exactly what's going on. Nothing takes her by surprise, phases her at all. Except this. Listen to the opening narration from ep1 and the ending narration to this ep. It's one conversation.

[@theeliax7374]

Welp. U made it. RWBY's world has always been a dark and brutal one, we watch 2 and a half seasons throw the eyes of the innocence of youth. From now on we can see how truly is. RWBY is my favorite series and I am sure that you two also will love it.

[@brandonslaughter5002]

Now that they've finished this season, they might be able to start watching RWBY Chibi. If I'm not mistaken, they don't need S4 onward to watch that.

[@mauseratti226]

The voice is the narrator from EP 1 Also, you got Yang spot on!

[@TheSabataish]

The narrator this whole time, was just the bbeg

[@epic-o2215]

The name of the lady at the end is Salem, she has been narrating several parts of the show, including the background lore video you guys watched, which explains her familiarity to you. She is the "queen" in the message Ozpin received in one of the earlier seasons "queen has pawns" Cinder has also referenced her "employer" in previous interactions with other characters. That's right, Cinder is just a henchman, imagine that! you thought Cinder was in charge, but it was Salem! There is a lot the next seasons will reveal

[@TheGreater-ScopeVillain]

Cinder may not be the top one in charge (at least for now), but she is and always has been the main villain of the entire series, not Salem. Cinder is using Salem just as much as Salem is using her, if not more. And especially since Cinder is canonically known throughout the world of Remnant as "The Black Queen" after her terrifying speech to the world, the "Queen has pawns" message refers to Cinder.

[@onemuststand7353]

30:15 Adam is a bit closer to Cyclops imho than Magneto. Cyclops adopted Magneto's mutant supremacy ideology and operated on a much more vindictive and aggressive manner than Magneto once he turned away from Professor X's teachings. Not too dissimilar to how Adam is as you'll eventually find out in the future seasons.

[@Dreznin]

Yep, nailed it, and the original leader of the White Fang was more like Xavier to their successor being more like Magneto in ideology.

[@josephsmith754]

Congratulations u two u both have finished volume 3 the volume of pain sadness and death and u finally met the true villan salem and may I say ur both doing a amazing job with fhe reactions keep it up 😊

[@tommystegemann4274]

the volumes in RWBY are actually roughly themed after the 4 Seasons, in spring things start to become alive and get better (hope Blossoms), In summer the people thrive and everything goes as planed, in autumn things start to detiorate and die, and in winter everything goes bad.

[@gohanmoreno7]

The name from the white woman with red eyes is revelesd in the credits, her name is Salem, she represents the Wicked Witch from the West from the Wizard of Oz(pin). She sounds familiar because she was the narrator that was talking with Ozpin at the beginning of the first episode.

[@Chokah]

And now you get to the episode that makes me drink.

[@blaze2293]

Please be careful when looking at the comments I don’t want nothing to get spoiled for you guys. I can’t wait for you guys to see what comes next.

[@dataweaver]

Suggested watchlist before season 4: RWBY Chibi Vol 1; World of Remnant shorts; Season 4 preview.

[@shade4108]

Soo many questions and I could answer them all but at the cost of spoilers, a few would be answered next season

[@jasonwinterboer5232]

0:58 Yes, Bethany! I always compare this to Empire Strikes Back! You're so perceptive!!!

[@MarkITEXE]

The True Final Villain of RWBY HAS JUST BEEN REVEALED!!!

[@TMAC_burninator]

I don't recall if you noticed it, but at the start of this volume, when Nora has her breakdown at the food stall in episode 1, she mentions that she and Ren have no parents. It goes by quickly, but it is a bit of their backstory worth knowing.

[@SaintBigfoot]

If you look back at the opening, Pyrrha is riped away first as they’re falling. God the guy punch they hit when we all learned what that meant the first time.

[@SajuukCor]

First off, welcome to the RWBY FNDM. We serve cake, punch, and a box of tissues at the start of each volume. When this aired we all realized that no character is safe. NOT ONE. You mentioned the end narrator voice sounded familiar. It was the same voice at the start of Volume 1 speaking with Ozpin. Her name is Salem (voiced by Jen Taylor, who voiced Princess Peach, Cortana). She's the boss of Cinder and the one Cinder was talking to in the flashback after fighting Amber, the Fall Maiden. Salem isn't Ruby's mother, that's all I'm going to say about that :) You hit the nail on the head about the intro. All the volumes have small hints in the lyrics and visuals on what's going to happen. Each music track relates to something or someone, not to mention the music SLAPS. The end credits has Divide which is about Cinder/Salem, and it also has Cold which is about Monty Oum (We love and miss you, Monty). Qrow flying away at the end blew people's mind. You can go to the past trailers and volumes and notice certain birds in places... Your discussion about the characters and personas are on point. Can't wait to see you watch the Volume 4 trailers and episodes :D Small fun fact: Pyrrha was designed and destined to die from her inception.

[@juicebox3974]

Best part of my weekend is when you guys upload rwby! look forward to it every week