RWBY Volume 9 Episode 4 Reaction

[@beyo5]

In Vol2, Dr Oobleck caused the girls to reflect on their purpose as Huntresses, except for Ruby, who is assumed she is a Silver-Eyed Warrior. But now she has lost her sense of self and is in her "dark-night of the soul". This is such a phenomenal allegory for depression.

[@undeathghost5627]

This moment is the culmination of that conversation. Back then Dr Oobleck didn't ask Ruby because it was clear she already understood what a Huntress was. She already possessed all of the traits they train into their Huntress'. He was focused on bringing the other 3 who didn't understand really what they were becoming. This moment shows simultaenously how those three have taken that lesson and their lives since and shaped themselves around those ideals to become the Huntress' they are now. On the flip-side, we see that Ruby - who already knew all of that - has lost that spark. That her journey has been one of self-assurance. But now that everyone has gained that self-respect and self-assurance we see that Ruby is losing it. In the past when the others had doubts Ruby was always a beacon of hope and trust for them to fall back on. In the past when Ruby doubted herself she always fell back on three people: 1) Summer Rose - the mother that represents what being a huntress it to her... who she now believes has been turned into a monster and she already knew had failed to live up to those ideals. This was her outlet for "Self acknowledgement" through her heroic idealism of what Summer meant to her. 2) Qrow Branwen - the uncle (and father figure in many ways) that she does not know the fate of and over the course of the series has been an increasing point of frustration for Ruby. She has become the mentor for him rather than the other way around these days. Making him harder to look up to... especially when he may very well be dead - for all she knows. This was her "parental figure" to look up to. 3) Jaune Arc - The best friend who had many of the same struggles in growing up at beacon (and more). They both know the difficulty of leadership and trying to do the right thing. Normally when she doubts her ability to make a call Jaune is one of the first ones to turn to. And yet again, as far as Ruby knows... Jaune is dead. He certainly isn't available. None of the girls even know that Jaune fell either so they *aren't even trying* to look for him. Of all of the options we the audience know that Ruby really could use Jaune right now. Because he would understand self-doubt and self-loathing (which are a lot of what Ruby is feeling right now... feeling's she has never really had as far as we know) more than anyone else in this show. His whole arc (pun-intended) at Beacon was one of gaining confidence and learning to doubt himself and loathe himself less. He is the ideal person to help Ruby... now the only question remains. Why haven't we seen him yet and where will the girls find him? What has happened to him since falling? We know he has the weight of Penny's death on his hands... and that will likely be a point of conflict between Ruby. We can only wait and find out...

[@onlynikkelz]

@@undeathghost5627 for sure though I'd add I always saw it as the three viewed being a huntress as additions to themselves. they had their own wants and goals but only saw being a huntress as a means to an end. Ruby defined herself by being a huntress its who she is. And while all of them are feeling defeated from last season its only affected them partially as its their want and profession not their defining characteristic. Ruby however has lost her entire sense of self if she can't be the "hero in the books" as it was put who is she really?

[@heroicbob]

@@undeathghost5627 This is a really good explanation. I understood a lot of this subconsciously before, but you really crystallised the detail for me. I'd have to go back and watch again to be sure, but I feel like we were starting to get hints of Ruby starting to doubt herself in the previous season, and it really starts to come to the fore here.

[@luxnoria]

Ruby didn't know she was a silver eyed warrior then, that came at the end of season three, where the talk you speak of happened in season 2.

[@RussTheMaster]

I love this episode. Seeing the growth of every character from what they were. The voice acting is phenomenal. Also the quote from the caterpillar “This is how a King wines up a Prince” is a hint to how the EverAfter works.

[@RafaAnto]

non-native speaker here, I can't find anything on google on the "This is how a King wines up a Prince” quote, what does it mean and what's trying to convey here?

[@RussTheMaster]

@ I don’t know if you’re joking or not. The line that the caterpillar says just means that the King in the show became Prince without “dying” somehow

[@zaaveme]

@@RussTheMasteroh bc then you got king met herb and he ended becoming a prince right?

[@RussTheMaster]

@@zaaveme yes, if you watched the previous episode when team RWBY wanted to see the “Red King” they found out that he was the the “Red Prince” Also one of the guards said “If it hadn’t been for your kind, the king would still be here” so that means that Alex beat the King in the same game and later on the King became the Prince (with no memory of who he was or what happened in the past)

[@TMAC_burninator]

Weiss had the best speech in this episode in my opinion. I don't think it's just the loss of Penny weighing on Ruby. She's feeling like everything depends on her just like the younger version said, and she recognizes how she's failed.

[@othergrimm6592]

Absolutely. "I will not be defined by my name, because I will be the one TO define it" was perfection.

[@undeathghost5627]

@@othergrimm6592 I honestly love the opener to the climax. "I don't know who you think you are. But Let me tell you who *I* am" Like go off queen. We love a girl with self-respect and who knows what she was and what she has become. And why that journey was neccasary. Let "Heiress Weiss" know why you wouldn't even blink at the idea of going back to the beginning.

[@dragonsvideos6737]

Yup that’s the case

[@stancinatti8198]

I agree!

[@1vis]

I would like to announce too that when Weiss made the joke and Yang told her that she roasted the Cat, its a callback to that one time in Vol 2 after team RWBY fought Roman in his mecha-suit ans Weiss made a joke but Yang said that its wasn't very good but then Weiss responded that at least she was trying. Her personnality and overall character evolved just like her sense of humor; in my opinion of course

[@ramsde68]

After watching this episode I was reminded of the episode in volume 2 about mountain glenn. Professor Ooblek asked everyone on the team, why they wanted to be a huntress, what there purpose was being there. All of them struggled to answer it. The only one he didnt ask was Ruby. Ruby who was already so sure of who she was as a person and of who she wanted to be. The other girls needed to learn and discover their purpose over the years, but for Ruby, everything about their journey has only chipped away at the future she didnt question for so long.

[@Mc_Vomit]

I love the editing in the dream sequence. The rising music as Yang, Blake, and Wiess affirm their purpose to be huntresses, then jump cut to Ruby, no music, on her knees looking down and dejected. It's such a strong emotional gutpunch every time I see it.

[@jessc.994]

Another thing to remember is that none of the characters have had time to process the events that happened. Even though we don’t know how time works here, we can assume that they just fell- possibly yesterday. And before that, they hadn’t gotten any sleep in a long time. Plus getting beaten down with bad news constantly. It’s no wonder that Ruby is struggling, poor girl.

[@KurvaNedaSeSemNicDat]

Also everyone else reached their conclusion in the smoke answering their past selves and it strenghen their resolve. While Ruby got beaten down by words and then the process was interupted by the cat.

[@WingManFang1]

Weiss more than earned her best girl title a long while back, but her speech to the doppelgänger here really Sold just how perfect she is. I actually tear up a bit hearing the Granddaughter of a Hero and child of a villain bit, it’s just so powerful and accurate.

[@jasonl8681]

It's nice to see where WBY were and how far they've come. They've each dealt with their issues and traumas directly while Ruby hasn't. Red Like Roses pt 2 all the way back on the Vol 1 OST, gave hints that her baggage has been there from the start, unacknowledged and not properly dealt with. Props to Lindsay Jones for their performance as Ruby this volume in particular.

[@Selisu1]

I love the callback to Oobleck’s questions, but I’m always hit by the kick they throw to Ruby. Fight forever. Yeah. Against an immortal enemy. Yeah. That took your mother. Shit, that’s cold.

[@TheHunter]

*RWBY* talking with themselves is one of my favourite moments in the series, so cathartic for the others to affirm themselves stronger than before. They've all gone on their arcs whilst Ruby has not and it's about time even though I've always enjoyed Ruby as a character. Also I mentioned before about *Camp-Camp* being a more worthy reaction for you two instead of *Red vs Blue* (despite loving that more) after finishing RWBY (*V9 Epilogue Animatic* > *RWBY V9 Beyond* > *RWBY/Justice League Movies* and *RWBY Chibi*) and you mentioned putting it on a future poll as well! So I wanted to suggest some other *Rooster Teeth Projects* that I think are worth considering, especially since it's hard for there to be new fans with the company gone so it falls on others to spread some cool creative media not typically seen. *Nomad of Nowhere* (2018) - A very short but cute charming animated adventure featuring a curious silent Nomad attempting to avoid trouble! It’s only *12 Episodes*, each one around 10 minutes long making it approx *2 hours* in total and an easy one to binge! Sadly only got one season, I would have loved to see more! *Day 5* (2016) - This show has a pretty cool *apocalyptic premise based around sleeping*. I don't want to give anything else away but I *highly recommend* it! Season 1 has 6 episodes, approx 40 minutes each (so around 4 hours). Season 2 has 8 episodes, approx 45 minutes each (around 6 hours) so in total 10 hours. *Immersion* (2010) - I imagine you know *Mythbusters* right? Well this is that on a much smaller format/budget but for *Video Game Myths* in Real Life (like driving a car from an overhead perspective that you would typically have in a racing game or something like GTA) *Rooster Teeth Shorts Volume 1* (2009) - A collection of short comedic skits/sketches that may or may not have a narrative link. There's also Volume 2 and many other volumes/seasons afterwards but I would just stick with 1 and/or 2! Or maybe just a select few of others. *Ten Little Roosters* (2014) - A mini-series that is a dramatic comedic homage to classic murder mysteries although there is a lot of Rooster Teeth inside jokes so I’m not sure how fun it’d be but could be interesting for fresh eyes! There’s *8 Episodes*, all around 10 mins (so about *1 hour 20 minutes in total*). I’d recommend watching it all in one go. There are two sequel/spiritual successor series called ‘*Eleven Little Roosters*’ and ‘*Dead Little Roosters*’. *Million Dollars, But* (2015) - Basically a twist on ‘Would You Rather’ in an amusing video format. *A Simple Walk Into Mordor* (2012) - Two innocent RT staffers attempt to travel to Mount Doom, uh, New Zealand to destroy the one ring! It features Kerry Shawcross (showrunner of RWBY) *RT Animated Adventures* (2011) - Mini-Animated Shorts based on excerpts from Rooster Teeth Podcast(s). *On The Spot* (2014) - This is Rooster Teeth's official comedy improv game show which I think is a lot of fun, it takes a while to really hit its stride/groove so I'd say be patient as they were figuring stuff out or maybe watch select recommended episodes. *CRWBY: Behind the Episodes* (2017) - RWBY Behind the Scenes Stuff *Talk CRWBY To Me* (2020) - A more in-depth Behind the Scenes Stuff! There's also a show called *Gen:Lock* but it's somewhat controversial as the 2nd season took creative control away from Rooster Teeth and people were not happy with the decisions made. I've not seen it other than season 1 which I thought was interesting enough but not quite my cup of tea.

[@Ghost_R4cc00n]

6:12 it seems interesting that we never gotten the confirmation on what ever happen to Cecil after V3. As she was Penny’s partner during the Festival/Tournament Arc in the show. 12:46 he might have confirmed that the Red King turn a Red Prince. Which id very intriguing to hear about Also this Episode really shines as the moment of “Questioning on or what you are”. This sort of hurts for Ruby to struggle on what or who she must be out there. Seems to let you think on what is going on in this series in this Volume so far. But mostly on for Ruby’s story going on in her mind.

[@jeffreysmith236]

Ciel

[@Ghost_R4cc00n]

@ thanks as i kinda butcher name 😅

[@jeffreysmith236]

@@Ghost_R4cc00n her whole name is Ciel Soliel, pronounced See ell Soh lay, which is French for iirc sky blue (Ciel) and Sun (Soliel), so 3 characters named for the Sun, Ciel, Yang, and Sun Wukon.

[@BGTitanAvatar]

What I love about that whole last sequence is that it’s a callback to their conversation by the campfire in Volume 2 Episode 10. Back then, WBY were coming to terms with what it meant for them to be a Huntress, while Ruby was so sure of her path. Now everything’s flipped, and Ruby’s lost her way. I also just think it’s neat to hear these VAs get to voice the younger versions of the characters too. You can really hear it with Arryn and Barb, but they’ve all come such a long way.

[@antlan-87]

And this episode is ONE of the reasons this Volume is described as a trip.

[@squidmom3162]

I always find myself jamming out to this particular opening. I feel like the world would be so bland without Casey’s music

[@lhhOriginalGrey]

Them reaffirming who they are is phenomenal in showing their growth and then we see Ruby so unsure and my heart breaks

[@undeathghost5627]

The hard cut from the end of the three saying with unlimited confidence that "I am a Huntress" to the broken expression on Ruby's face breaks my heart every time. Ruby was the first person of our cast to claim that she is a huntress. She was the one who taught us the audience what being a huntress *was*. Now when directly asked what a Huntress is she can't even do more than stammer out a sound... Girl you know what a huntress is. Just cause your struggling doesn't mean that's changed.

[@dragonsvideos6737]

@@undeathghost5627it’s less of the definition and what it means to her that’s the problem. She knows what a huntress is but doesn’t know what it means for her to do it

[@Laura-vn5zi]

I love the parallels in this chapter to volume 2 where Oobleck asks Weiss, Blake, and Yang why they want to be huntresses but he doesn't ask Ruby because he saw that she was sure of who she was and what she wanted to be. WBY had the chance to heal and find themselves after Beacon, but Ruby, following Ozpin and Qrow's advice, always moved forward for the good of others, but was never able to focus on herself. 😭🥺 I was really looking forward to seeing your analysis of this scene, I can't wait for episode 5👀

[@roflnagi15]

it's awsome to see how blake and ruby totally changed inbetween thier first meeting and now, blake now saying huntresses are heros who protect others and ruby saying life isn't a fairy tale, exactly reversed from what they said in thier first meeting

[@1vis]

Its a reference from the moment where they first all sleep in the school before ignitiation day right ? When Ruby asked Blake what was the name of the book she was reading

[@roflnagi15]

@1vis exactly. Kind of ironic that they were talking about stories in books back then and now are in one

[@Osma777]

Claps for Weiss in this episode, that speech was f-ing amazing! "I am the granddaughter of a hero and the child of a villain..."

[@ShinyDiscoBomb]

"A citizen of a fallen kingdom, and an heir to nothing!"

[@arcadius2569]

Absolutely love everyone's speeches! "If there's something I'm missing, it's not because I've lost it. It's cos I haven't found it yet." Trust yourself to be the author of your own life and experience!

[@madhavmandava]

when you dont know what you are.....is the biggest challenge you have to find or not find....which confusing as it is....based on situation.....Yang. Blake & weise knew the answer....But Ruby.....kinda feels like a lot of people who are good in nature but pressure, Failure & loss makes us question even more.....man this is deep

[@annalisedonavan1758]

Volume 8 spans around a day so in a day there would have fallen apart. They’ve been given no time to process and every time she tried to process anything in volume eight something would come up.

[@shade4108]

Looking at rwby, we all have had moments like that, it's not an easy thing to get past but sometimes walking through hell is the path you needed to truly grow

[@heroicbob]

00:09:35 I really want to know how you guessed caterpillar. And by the time I finished typing that I remembered that the caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland appears while Alice is tiny so that's probably why. 00:14:00 Yang called for Blake before Ruby... Edit: If Little isn't your favourite character this season you can't be my friend :D

[@derykjames620]

Poor Ruby, having so many questions and burdens to carry at her age.

[@arcadius2569]

It can be easy to forget her age. I mean, 2 years difference in teenhood and young adult stages does mean a lot.

[@SaintBigfoot]

How helpful and kind that Cat is hmm? Such a swell fellow.

[@undeathghost5627]

He certainly is a Cat. Most. Curious.

[@MandalorOrdo]

A cat voiced by Robbie Daymond can only be helpfull.

[@valathor95]

Weiss’s speech is so good!

[@nightdevil6085]

I love yalls videos and this shows so much i hope volume 10 gets greenlit

[@spadeas49]

Yep, Weiss, Blake and Yang, all have be traumatise after the fall of Beacon, but had enough "alone" time to rediscovered themselves, grew, evolve and become what they are now. Ruby... didn't have that... like it is said, she had to be there for everyone, be the one to save the day and know what to do, but she didn't have time to process everything. The start of Volume 7, after the new look ect ect, it was almost like she was back to the Ruby in volume 1 to 3, but everything crumbled under her feet and shf is more down than before because she hasn't been healed before like the other... With this episode, you can see that this volume will be more focus on her and it will hurt, we all knew that this is something that needed to happen, but clearly didn't excepted to be as much hurt as her.

[@XOISHTAR]

Add in the often forgotten fact that Ruby is 2-3 years younger than her entire team (not to mention all the other students) and was made the leader. She hasn’t ever really faced anything to cause serious introspection until the events of the show… and ever since the Vitol Festival (even before the fall of Beacon) she has had all of the things she’s believed in either unravel, discovered to be false, turned evil, died, or just wasn’t enough. And now there’s no grown up to take the responsibility. It’s completely understandable that she’s broken from all the cracks she repressed in order to focus on leading… sometimes “later” comes before you’re ready.

[@pumpkinwarrior7138]

That’s why I really like the Yang Weiss dynamic I really love how they care for each other and it’s cool that other people can get to Yang when she’s going through her depression

[@jonathanrobinson198]

I always kinda wish the show proper dove more into the fact that being a Huntsman is not inherently a noble profession. The books go into it a little and Raven commented on it before. The bare minimum is killing monsters and outside of that they can align themselves to whatever or whoever they want. Ruby has always had the grand ambition to save the world in one shape or another but that’s not the norm. Raven protecting her tribe or a huntsman picking one kingdom is the norm which is why so many factions look at team RWBY and think they’re insane. Huntsmen were never trained with the mindset to defend the whole world from a big evil. It’s been taking arms to defend what THEY want against trouble.

[@undeathghost5627]

And this is perhaps Ozpin(ma)'s biggest failing. The academies were made to train huntsman and defend the relics by existing... but only his school tried to teach the heroism required for such an enormous scale task. And I use "tried" because when we see people like Cardin coming from that school it's clear that they do not succeed. Probably not even often. On the other hand... we also get people like team RWBY and JNPR. So... yes. They make a valiant effort.

[@ISAFMobius18]

I remember the Show Writer Kerry Shawcross stating how the whole reason they transported the girls to the fantasy land was to give them a chance to reflect and process all their emotions and trauma they've accumulated during their fights on Remnant. And having them there with Salem threating the world wouldnt give them that necessary pause to do so.

[@jeffreysmith236]

of course Ruby is having problems with the cat, Ruby is a dog person. She was originally a dog faunus before they gave up that idea.

[@WingManFang1]

🫡 Citing the Deep Lore Magics are we? Respect ✊

[@destroyerofnirn3537]

I'm so glad they abandoned that.

[@brandonmercer499]

Summary of this episode: Team RWBY has an existential conversation with themselves after tripping on acid

[@rachelmae8794]

🗣️🗣️ I don’t know who you think you are but let me tell you who I am 🗣️🗣️ god I love Weiss’ monologue in this ep so much. She gets a lot of comic relief moments this volume like throwing the rock and hitting herself with it but she also gets what is imo one of the most badass pieces of dialog in all of rwby

[@JJR93]

Ruby’s youthful doppelgänger seems callously cruel but naively so. Her youthful optimism being thrown back in her face. Ruby’s at the end of her rope.

[@dimlylit3086]

It's actually been a while since I've seen RWBY on my own time, so I'll probably go back and watch this series to catch up with you guys! Anyways, I'm pretty sure my last comments was on a Genshin Impact video, I said it was releasing to Xbox but I didn't watch because of spoilers. It is a surprisingly good game, I'm enjoying it! Now that that's outta the way, time for the obligatory Combat Gods 1 & 2 by Jhanzou reaction suggestion lol. Have a good rest of your day!

[@LordAerono]

Interesting how the cat pokes at Ruby about Salem and the relics, but then intervenes when she's being prodded by her vision to make a decision. That's an odd pair of choices. I wonder why the cat did that...

[@XOISHTAR]

Most curious

[@destroyerofnirn3537]

I LOVE WEISS

[@DavidRJones82]

React to squadron 42 gameplay!