English Dub Review: Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation: “Master”

Overview: Rudeus (Ben Phillips, Madeleine Morris) faces his final trial as a student of Roxy’s (Michelle Rojas) as she prepares to depart from his family. 

Our Take: One aspect of Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation that is becoming more clear is how this series isn’t concerned with that of extensive training development evident by Rudeus’s quick magic development. But I’m more than fine with that though. If it instead offers a compelling coming of age story for, ironically, a 34-year-old trapped in a five-year-old with some cool fantasy lore, great characters and beautifully animated scenes in its place, I’ll gladly take it. Even better if it varies on an arc by arc basis and alternate between both elements to give a true buffet of content. 

Granted, this is only the second episode and perhaps too early to tell, but “Master” seems to move it in just that direction. As Rudeus laid in a sea of junk food wrappers and video games while *ahem* pleasuring himself, not to mention missing his parent’s or relative’s funeral, all I could think was how much of a pathetic disgusting slob he was. And honestly, part of that is still true. However, a good step in the right direction though was when he attempted to save those school kids. The show takes even more steps as it transitions into doing a complete 180 when the pain Rudeus endured reveals itself and how he’s bettering himself. 

The horrific nature of abuse that Rudeus was reduced to, as an overweight shut-in, being as awful as it is allows one to understand Rudeus’s previous self-isolated state. The utterly graphic and degrading torture that he was forced to suffer through serves as a compelling catalyst for his PTSD and his reframe from wanting to step outside the boundaries of his own home. Better yet, while cherishing the time he spends with family and the love and consideration they give him, Rudeus is able to realize the juxtaposition of how he was looked upon previously making that scene ever more heartwarming. When Roxy gets him to venture out away from the comforts of his home, his anxiety is not unlike a plight a child would go through. He’s a child now so obviously Roxy and his parents are known the wiser to what he’s going through. Even with that, the potency of her lesson remains universally impactful nonetheless. I love that aspect and how the similar alignment mirrors that of his newfound development cycle or “growing up,” if you will. Roxy finally being able to get Rudeus out of his shell, acts as the cementing glue of their relationship and is only further held together by how he realizes how she’s no different from him. I couldn’t help but stop and appreciate the poetic nature of it all. Had this episode not occurred or been executed as well as it was, I would’ve said their relationship was ill-developed. But it did and taking into account how Rudeus helped Roxy find her confidence, the friendship of these kindred spirits positively radiates. However, with that being said, I would still like to see more of Roxy and her chemistry with Rudeus somewhere down the line to further evolve into something even better and more relatable. 

Jobless Reincarnation steps it up a notch from its debut episode and focuses on Rudeus’s experiences versus that of his old life, the lessons being taught to him that will play a pivotal role in his development and how those will shape the man that he will eventually turn into. Should it keep up this wonderful character driven momentum, Mushoku Tensei will undoubtedly make for an ever-evolving, heartfelt and enjoyable experience.