A Much Needed Talk
"This world's been around for a long time, long enough that people have created dozens of gods. But if you believe Ozpin, two of them are actually real."
Written by Miles Luna & Kerry Shawcross
Directed by Kerry Shawcross, Gray G. Haddock & Miles Luna
Directed by Kerry Shawcross, Gray G. Haddock & Miles Luna
"What is all of this? Ruby's being hunted, the schools are being attacked, all for what?! What is the point of all of this?! Will you just tell us what's going on?!"
— Jaune Arc
Qrow finally gives Team RNJR the lowdown on the fight between Salem and the Academy heads. Meanwhile, Blake finally has a heart-to-heart with her own father over her actions while part of the White Fang.
Tropes in this episode include:
- Blessed with Suck: Based on the information he's provided them it seems like Qrow's semblance is this. His power causes bad luck to anyone he spends significant time around and while useful against enemies it can also adversely affect his friends and family as well. It also doesn't help that he's unable to turn his power off meaning it will affect anyone whether he wants it to or not.
- Blood from the Mouth: To be more specific, purple blood is being coughed from Qrow's mouth. The same blood that was pouring out of Tyrian's tail.
- Conjunction Interruption: Blake interrupts Sun at least once like this, but this doesn't stop him from still trying to explain the situation after that.
- Creation Story: Qrow tells the story that Ozpin believes is fact; that the brother gods of light and darkness created Remnant, and after the dark god created the Grimm, they worked together to make mankind, left four relics behind, and left.
- Double-Meaning Title: The title refers both to the exposition dump that Qrow gives Team RNJR in order to get them, and subsequently the audience, up to speed on some of the major plot points that the older heroes already know and the talk that Blake has with her father where she expresses the regret she feels for joining the White Fang.
- False Flag Operation: Qrow lampshades how Salem tends to use this trope in an effort to divide mankind and sow distrust between the Kingdoms.
- I Can Explain: Unlike most situations, Sun can explain. He tried to tell Blake that he found something off about a White Fang member he saw in the marketplace. Sadly, Blake is too pissed off at him to listen.
- Internal Reveal: Team RNJR is told off-screen at the beginning of the episode the truth about the Maidens and that Pyrrha was attempting to become one at the end of the previous season.
- Lampshade Hanging: This happens a lot in this episode. Kali lampshades Sun's Motor Mouth nature, Ghira lampshades Blake's outfit not covering a lot of her body, Sun lampshades his Moment Killer status, and Qrow lampshades things don't look good for him.
- Major Injury Underreaction: Qrow's reaction to the purple blood was to tell Ruby "that's unfortunate".
- Moment Killer: Sun who crashes in as Blake and her father are getting reacquainted and he asks why she decided to leave Vale in the first place. Sun immediately lampshades this.
- Mr. Exposition: Qrow acts as this for Team RNJR, explaining to the group (and by extension, the audience) things like the story of how mankind was created, what the real purpose of the Maidens are, and explaining that his Semblance causes misfortune to befall anyone near him.
- Only a Flesh Wound: The end of this episode makes it clear that getting stung by Tyrian's tail was much more than a flesh wound as seen in the closing seconds.
"The White Fang is evil, I totally called it, and I'm bringing your daughter back!"
