English Dub Review: Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation: “Missed Connections”

Overview: Roxy (Michelle Rojas), Elinalise and Talhand search for Paul (Jared Smith), Rudeus (Madeleine Morris, Ben Phillips) or any Greyrat they can find. Later, Ruijerd (Christopher Wehkamp) and Rudeus seek to save some captive children from a dangerous group of criminals. 

Our Take: Rudeus, Ruijerd and Eris missed so many connections with Roxy, Elinalise and Talhand that the titular episode shows their unique perspective in how they went about looking for the Greyrat family. Rudy and the gang have spent so much time together, traveling the demon continent, taking on adventurer guild jobs and fighting alongside together that you’ve seen each one of them have grown and developed not only individually but as a team. They have become a cog of a  well-oiled machine that operates excellently. Roxy and some of Paul’s old crew show just how much of a mixed bag they are with how differently they are from one another, not to mention how they operate, but are at the end of the day still a tight knit group. 

Elinalise’s extreme lust and confidence starkly sets herself apart from most characters with her deliciously deviant behavior thus far. But beyond being an enticing character, she also serves just how much Roxy is everything Elinalise is not, bringing her insecurities bubbling to the surface while reminding us later on, just how much of an adorkable down-to-earth otaku she is with how she wants a classical fantasy romance with a certain lewd little sorcerer. Talhand doesn’t get quite as much treatment, but seems to be more jaded but straightforward, defining himself as well. However, binding them all is their friendship with and/or desire to find the Greyrats, And especially with Elinalise and Talhand’s love-hate relationship with Paul, it allows for you to understand what makes them so trustworthy all the more so. Thankfully, it also doesn’t linger too long on the Roxy and her motley crew’s close calls with Rudy’s gang and overstay its welcome as it shifts gears and moves Dead End’s journey forward. 

As Ruijerd is smuggled, he and Rudeus are presented with a compelling struggle in an evil that is all too sadistic and damning to ignore and compromise on, as originally intended, in criminals brutally beating and murdering children. It forces Rudeus to once again come to terms with more horrific and violent bloodshed that has plagued him since the beginning of the series in a harsh complicit capacity as he gives the weight of that burden for Ruijerd to shoulder alone. This once again shows the compromises that Rudy will inevitably have to make regardless of everyone’s best intentions. Continuing the idea of close calls, it’s supremely brilliant to end with that concept in Ruijerd and Rudy having saved the beast children, only for their guardians to come looking for them mistaking Rudeus as an accomplice, and taking him hostage. While it will no doubt end as a harmless misunderstanding, it will make for a great segway for some new characters and possible lore.