English Dub Review: Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation: “Emergency Family Meeting”

Overview: Rudeus (Madeleine Morris, Ben Phillips) and Zenith (Bryn Apprill) reel from the revelation of Paul (Jared Smith) and Lilia’s (Dani Chambers) affair while the young Greyrat and his relationship with Sylph (Emily Neves) continues to evolve. 

Our Take: Paul is really shaping up to be a great father, he was able to learn from his mistakes previously and be much more patient and caring to Rudeus in the process. Too bad the same can’t be said about him as a husband. And just when I was singing the man’s praises he goes and does something like this. Cheating on his beautiful wife, Zenith, with beloved family member/maid, Lilia, and worse getting her pregnant. You know what though? This troubling development in the Greyrat household is much appreciated.

Zenith sure as hell doesn’t share the same sentiment and why would she? No, it’s not that I find Paul’s disgustingly pathetic treachery attractive, cool or anything of the sort. However, one aspect about Mushoku Tensei that is becoming painfully clear, at least in Paul and Lilia’s case, is how it shows the characters for who they are, warts and all. Their sexual lusts, weaknesses as well as their vulnerabilities. It’s this matter of fact attitude that gives the show and it’s characters an earnest quality. This is further catapulted by the discomfort of the emergency family meeting scene, of that of which the episode is named after. Zenith’s body language, Bryn Apprill’s heart wrenching performance as she tries to make sense of everything and figure out what to do, not to mention the dimly lit atmosphere, all of this culminates into nothing but tense nerves all around. Of course, only to be massaged away by Rudeus as he convinces his mother to let Lilia stay at the house. This is a far cry already from the deadbeat who wouldn’t attend his relative’s funeral as he continuously shows promise. 

After putting out that forest fire of an issue, it is then when we learn about Roxy’s whereabouts and what she has been up to since leaving the Rudeus and his folks. This is a nice and organic way to segment and learn not only about her current status but also more about the types of combat that are a part of the world, like the various sword styles and magic ranks. Lastly, this episode of Jobless Reincarnation also deals with the Rudeus and Sylph’s dependent relationship as Rudeus is sent off to work a job, leaving home in the process and Sylph to fend for herself. While the next episode will deal with the fallout of that decision, it does, however, bring me to my final point. The quick growth period in which the series has taken in developing Rudeus is a breath of fresh air as it wastes no time giving him new obstacles that further his independence and maturity. “Emergency Family Meeting” shows the struggles of the Rudeus’s family by focusing on the people that make it up and the hurdles they face to deliver another standout entry in the series.