They went all out with this show. Every moment of Mushoku Tensei’s second pivotal turning point is an “edge of your seat” moment as it both lives up to and subverts its foreshadowing. Takeaway: There are no deaths in this place. After Rudeus’s death and Ruijerd’s call to Eris to become a full-fledged warrior, you’d expect at least one of these two characters to die—most likely Ruijerd, in an act of self-sacrifice typical for mentor characters who have fulfilled their narrative function. Although this episode was about how quickly life can be snatched away, Orsted’s whim subverted this inevitability. Mushoku Tensei’s world revolves around greater powers that are far beyond the protagonist’s grasp at this point in the story.
In addition to the “unwinnable boss fight,” Mushoku Tensei adds an extra layer of intrigue by linking Orsted to the Man-God and strongly inferring that, save for a few wild cards, everything in the universe is preordained. However, Orsted is well-versed in Paul Greyrat’s family, including the number of children he’s supposed to have.
He only directs his wrath at Rudeus, who is supposed to be a non-existent person. Orsted’s black-haired companion is believed to be from Japan, while the Man-God is well-versed in Orsted’s movements but can no longer see them. When it becomes clear that Rudeus isn’t the only anomaly in the world, the fantasy lore in this setting becomes more compelling.
With its fast-paced and stylized action sequences, this episode was a significant one for the animators as well. Orsted is shown to be an utterly powerful force in comparison. Ruijerd and Eris’ mock fight is depicted in great detail, with a heavy emphasis on the speed and weight of their strikes in particular. As a swordswoman, Eris’s development has been a recurring theme in this series, and the stark contrast between her and Orsted is made clear by displaying her progress upfront.
With the use of medium and long shots to depict Orsted from a distance while highlighting Ruijerd and Eris’s fearful expressions in the foreground, he comes across as a fearsome adversary before he even speaks his first word. When the Man-God explains later that their reaction is the result of a curse, it is immediately believable.
Other than Orsted’s departure, Eris’s dejected expression was the most memorable visual storytelling element. While Eris’s teleportation to the Demon continent hasn’t slowed her down, she’s shown no signs of letting that stop her thus far. The encounter with Orsted, on the other hand, clearly alters her emotionally.
Even though she isn’t the one who was nearly killed, she is more shocked than Rudeus by the realisation that she isn’t the “main character.” Now that she’s a “full-fledged warrior,” that’s no longer enough for her. Perhaps it will never suffice. This episode concludes with Eris’s emotional turning point, with Rudeus watching the aftermath with numbness.