That's part of why I feel almost every villain scene with them alone can be cut. Focusing on the evil council, not Salem, only 1 is relevant to the volume. 1 shows up in passing in a scene I now feel could be cut since everything but the stinger can with Oscar. They do nothing and from the info we learn from Salem, it's mostly the same info we learn from Qrow or can find out with the protagonists. Now, I'm all for dramatic irony, it's one of my favorites for suspense writing, but I feel the suspense doesn't work as well here since they're so shrouded in mystery and mystery appears to be what they're going for. So better for us to keep the lens on RWBY and RNJR as a whole, with Qrow and little touches there leading to discoveries. Have us learn with them. I'd still keep Qrow and Raven's meeting and feel Qrow works for a spotlight role given how close he was to them and the information following him reveals. Regardless, he can introduce the relics and so on. I stick to my belief that you keep Cinder's fate shrouded for a bit since I do know people, myself included, would be antsy and Tyrian showing up to avenge her raises so many questions. Plus I think that's a place speculation is okay. I'd save Cinder reveal for near end with her training with Salem and the burning the image of Ruby and so on. It's irrelevant to this volume otherwise, but serves as a good show of what's to come. So yeah, my top thoughts so far is more selectiveness on scenes and greater pressure for Ruby, Weiss, Yang, and Blake. They missed a great opportunity to use The White Fang, especially with Weiss. I know how I'd do Whitley's betrayal too. I'd have him support Weiss in trying to change his mind on Faunus treatment then when she tries to Call The Old Man Out, he voices something else entirely that supports their dad and abandons her.
Improving as an author, one video at a time.@Prime: Now, as far as that exchange about Where Yang is going, I didn't mean that it's DEFINITELY an animation error or a deliberate attempt to mess with the viewers, I'm just saying that, given the huge number of animation errors that RWBY has, Yang seemingly heading towards Mistral when the shot is designed in a way that obscures the signpost isn't a clear sign that she's going after Ruby, more a case of mixed signals that muddy the waters.
I wouldn't go that route because of Weiss' arc. I'd have her stuck between the previous situation she was in, afraid to speak up to her father, and trying to appease her father. But at the same time, we've seen her identity evolved from there. So, up until this point, there is small hints of it, but she's not there yet to commit to that change. She needs a push. Who better to provide that push than family? Besides, it also makes Whitley a good shadow and not too sympathetic because the idea is to get sympathy on Weiss, the protagonist's, side. Also, what's the point of having him there otherwise? Unless the idea is to make him an ally who can play the inside man to Weiss' outside man.
That's fair. The actual animation side isn't my error of expertise, so I just can't say for certain. I will say though that if she winds up going to the bandits, I'd feel they screwed up animation wise. That said, honestly, I don't think they've the guts to portray Yang going down anything beyond the less "ideal" route. I see them playing it safe. I would have her flirt with the path far more closely before ultimately rejecting it for the same reason Qrow did.
edited 4th Feb '17 2:42:04 PM by Prime_of_Perfection
Improving as an author, one video at a time.
If Red Versus Blue is any indication, the writers definitely have the stomach for that sort of thing, the question is whether or not they actually will have Yang come close to or actually pull a Face–Heel Turn, even if only temporarily. Of all the main characters, she's definitely the most at risk for taking a darker path.
edited 4th Feb '17 2:54:09 PM by CaptainCapsase
I sadly don't trust Red vs. Blue as a show of them alone, especially since they aren't the sole writers of it. Judging based on RWBY alone, I just don't have the highest feelings for them as writers. I don't think they're bad either - I know bad writers, from personal interactions and works I've explored over the years - just not the greats. I'd put them around average right now.
Improving as an author, one video at a time.
I feel like I have gotten a fairly good sense of the mindset of the writers based on my good record at "I Knew It!" moments with this show compared to pretty much everything else I've watched, and my intuitive feeling is that Yang would be heading towards Raven because that's more in line with the "flags" I've picked up on in regards to what direction they're taking her character. Yang is almost definitely going to be "tempted" by the dark side, and might even fall, at least for a time.
As far as the caliber of the writers, I'd say above average, but very inconsistent in terms of quality.
edited 4th Feb '17 3:10:58 PM by CaptainCapsase
The inconsistent aspect is part of why I rank around average, though I can agree they're above most averages. I value consistency big time when it comes to creating stuff and I feel a solid understanding of story craft is key to that. They can tell a good story, hence why I watch. A good story is just a story that's worth hearing that the world wants to hear. I feel things get rocky with them with a good story well told. Their handling of story craft feels wonky at times when executing ideas and handling the more serial side of things. I find them better in a bubble more often than not.
With Yang, we shall see, but I'm fairly certain on this one. If I am wrong, I'll be pleased as I don't want to be right. I might criticize they could have done more to get to that point, especially with this season when she was vulnerable and instead just let her chill and take her time to recover, but that's another matter entirely.
Improving as an author, one video at a time.
I should note that the lyrics of "Armed and Ready" don't paint her current mindset as all that healthy, despite the apparent recovery. The outlet of her trauma has seemingly just shifted from depression to anger, which is fairly realistic and definitely believable, and it also sounds like she learned the wrong lessons from her experience; "don't take shit from anyone" rather than "look before you leep." Incidentally, that's the exact opposite of what Ruby took away from her own experience in volume 4, and while they could have shown it better, there's definitely a character arc there.
edited 4th Feb '17 3:36:57 PM by CaptainCapsase
alright, season done, final thoughts:
i am SO excited for the soundtrack to come out and for it to mess up my spotify recommendations by injecting a bunch of jpop into my playlists.
animation quality was great, though execution started weak. they hit their stride halfway through, so i'm pretty pumped about the future.
boss fight was underwhelming as a whole, though i appreciate how good crwby is at working death flags now. like i mentioned before, i had no doubts about the outcome of a fight that monty choreographed, but the execution kept me coming back for more
jaune's sword is also a sword!
regarding the council of evil, i think they were introduced this season to be recurring villains for several more seasons, if not for the entirety of the series. tbqh, i'm not entirely sure how you raise the stakes further after defeating the mother of grimm, so i suspect they'll be milking salem as a looming force for a couple years at the least, but each season will try to keep focus with what's essentially a Monster of the Week (like the nuckalavee)
with the whole epilogue spiel, i guess the theme for this volume was "why do you keep fighting?"
edited 4th Feb '17 6:05:48 PM by ch00beh
"Never let the truth get in the way of a good story." TwitterOh yeah, I forgot to comment on that! The sword was cool.
Improving as an author, one video at a time.watched the episode again and i'm much happier with it now that i'm not filled with the constant dread of ren/nora/qrow kicking it. ruby's moves in the fight were dopenasty.
edited 4th Feb '17 8:46:54 PM by ch00beh
"Never let the truth get in the way of a good story." Twitterhis dad gave it to him in the flashback and presumably he's kept it in his boot ever since.
"Never let the truth get in the way of a good story." Twitter
To further hammer in the the Final Fantasy 8 reference, they even cut to Qrow's weapon sitting in the corner, and it kind of looks like Squall's gunblade.
...
Ren's "For my father, mother, and for myself" would have been cool if they'd just had him do a monologue - it was cheesy but it was funny - then they ruined it by having him say the last part. Plus, his dramatic execution of the Grimm was kind of awkward. He's lucky the Nukalevee couldn't stretch it's neck.
...
Why did they obscure Lionheart? I can't tell if it's dude or a lady from that shot. And the moment we meet them next Volume we're going to know who it is, so obscuring them seemed pointless. For the last two volumes we had a "big character reveal" - Cinder, Adam, Jacques. Now they want to be all mysterious?
edited 5th Feb '17 4:03:16 AM by Soble
I'M MR. MEESEEKS, LOOK AT ME!The credits song, Armed and Ready, is here!
I watch my world ignite
But there’s no waking from this nightmare
The stage is always set
The place I can’t forget
The hidden eyes that I can feel there
My eyes are opened wide
I’m racing to her side
There’s nothing that I won’t do for her
But this is not a dream
My mind repeats the scene
I can’t forget it and it’s torture
That was before
But not anymore
I’ve left it behind
As much as I’ve lost
Once I’m across
I’ll fight
I’ve found the strength to grow so much more
A whisper to a roar
No more crying
It’s time for me to soar
I feel like I’m finally unbroken
I feel like I’m back from the dead
My strength back,
Recovered it’s glowing
Out of my way cause I’m armed and ready!
(Armed and Ready)
Ready!
(Armed and Ready!)
I’m Ready!
(Armed and Ready!)
Ready! Ready!
(Armed and Ready!)
Did not belong too well
My time a living hell
The night my enemy would conquer
But now I’ve been set free
Lived through the tragedy
You’ll wish you killed me now I’m stronger
I am the Golden One
Who burns just like the Sun
Next time we meet is your disaster
I’ll bring the punishment
This time won’t be lament
Revenge my happily ever after
My misery
My agony
Has taught me to fight
The pain I went through
Left me with a new born grasp
I live my life like every day’s the last
No living in the past
Best Day’s ever!
I’m never looking back!
I feel like I’m finally unbroken
I feel like I’m back from the dead
My strength back,
Recovered it’s glowing
Out of my way cause I’m armed and ready!
(Armed and Ready)
Ready!
(Armed and Ready!)
I’m Ready!
(Armed and Ready!)
Ready! Ready!
(Armed and Ready!)
Call me sweetheart and I’ll tear you apart
Just call me sir
Try to resist
Once you meet my new fist
Bye, Bye
Just look at the fire in my eyes
And bring my Strawberry Sunrise
It was you who began it
Now you’re saying goddammit
Next time there’s no compromise
I feel like I’m finally unbroken
And now I’m back from the dead
My strength back,
Recovered it’s glowing
Out of my way cause I’m armed and ready!
(Armed and Ready)
Ready!
(Armed and Ready!)
I’m Ready!
(Armed and Ready!)
Ready! Ready! Ready!!!
(Armed and Ready!)
edited 5th Feb '17 7:11:17 AM by shinigamiPeter
So, the finale.
- So the only thing Nuck has for himself was stretchy arms (admittedly, superstrong arms). IMO the fight was reasonable, and the damn thing was unnerving despite the windmill arms (or maybe because of it). It got rather tense, too, so props for that.
- Nora no, that's a bad time for pantyshots. Also, Jaune's sword is also a sword. Of course he'd use Ludwig's, the fucking scrub.
- I can't decipher the little scene between Qrow and Jaune, for that matter. Did he mistake him with Taiyang, perhaps?
- Huh. Well, having an actual airship does help in getting to Mistral in one volume. Speaking of the smoke Nucky left behind, I'm surprised nothing happened during his extended execution. I was fully expecting it to try and bite Ren's face off or something.
- That execution was brutal, though.
- Frankly I'm surprised that the pilot guy saw the kid of SDC president on the run and just went "aight, sure, gimme the lien".
- My first complaint would be that the whole Atlas subplot didn't amount to much, particularily Wheatley. Like, I suppose we have an insight into what's going on, Ironwood kinda losing it, Jacques being a dick and all that, but... eh.
- I presume that's an old White Fang flag? Definitely looks much better than the edgy one they're using now.
- Illia answers directly to Fox Bros. Sad to say nothing came out of "shall we tell Brother Adam" thing, unless Illia was meant for that.
- Man. Taiyang must be heavily depressed. I presume he didn't go with Yang due to some serious injury from years past. Yang's new do looks great. Oh hey, Captain cameo!
- Cinder seems to be getting over the whole "holding back" thing. She'll return, but not smug; she'll be angry. Extra insight on Emerald's semblance; can everyone in the room see Ruby's Illusion or is it just Cinder and herself?
- Merc continues to be silent. ;-;
- JNR threesome, yesssss
- I refuse to believe Yang's going after Ruby. Yes, all signs point to that, but that just... feels eh. Plus, it just sorta ignores Raven and the mystery around her.
- I'm displeased to see Leo Lionheart (really?) be a traitor. In hindsight, I guess it makes sense, but it's also proving Ironwood - who's been kinda unhinged lately - right. Plus, this doesn't seem to mesh with Salem's plan of dropping Haven next.
- Qrow's back to being operable (and drunk). Also, he knows about Ozpin's bodysurfing. Rather casual about it, too. Now, is this "override consciousness" a thing as well?
- Oh right, Oscar's full name is Oscar Pines, apparently. Of course. Salem's clique's names have also been revealed; Arthur Watts, Hazel Rainart and Tyrian Callows. You tell me what these might mean.
- Neo once again confirmed to return.
So... now we wait for Chibi 2, I presume?
What would that entail?
edited 5th Feb '17 9:34:29 AM by FergardStratoavis

So yeah, as far as the division of lines and screentime goes, Apparently this is the first season where someone had more lines than Ruby
; that someone being Blake. Second place is Weiss despite her being Out of Focus this volume, and third is Jaune, cementing him as the series's Deuteragonist.
edited 4th Feb '17 1:08:53 PM by CaptainCapsase