RWBY Volume Three
Prepare for some thrill because RWBY volume 3 is about to get heavy.
Volume 3 of RWBY is the first genuinely dark chapter you will encounter in the entire series. It starts a little shakily as your typical combat story's "tournament arc."
The Tournament arc in RWBY is utterly useless. It's worthless because the writers' main plot is plainly more important to them than any advantage the tournament could provide, even if it would enhance the show.
We already know that Cinder, Mercury, and Emerald are plotting to disrupt the tournament and that they are actually messing with it. I'm not opposed to a tournament narrative being interrupted, but there's so much time spent on the villain's plot that there's little time left for the tournament.
The Story
(Spoiler alert)
The third season of RWBY is a season of transition. On a visual level, the series appears better than ever before, with more complex character models and surroundings than ever before. The cinematography and direction are both better than in previous seasons.
The Vytal tournament begins in volume 3, with hunting teams from all across the world battling for national honor. You'd think that fighting in front of thousands of people on arbitrary terrain would be terrifying, but given the genuine risks that team RWBY has faced thus far, it's almost like a walk in the park for them.
This is the first volume following Monty Oum's death, but fans who were worried that the battle sequences would suffer the most after his death will be relieved to learn that they've been faithfully continued. They're still as inventive, furious, and evenly dispersed among the characters as they've always been. However, if you pay close attention, you'll notice a new tiny shift in focus, with more intimate shots and pauses to view the characters' responses as the fights continue.
RWBY Volume 3 is undoubtedly a sucker punch to the series and fan base. It begins with smiles and joy but abruptly alters the game with devastating tale twists, emotional character development, and status quo alterations. There are psychiatric breakdowns, torture, and dismemberment in the second half of the season. Of course, the deaths of (at least) two significant supporting characters are the darkest moments.
New Characters
Weiss Schnee's older sister Winter, an appropriately chilly yet kind military person, and Qrow Ruby’s Uncle, a rinker but an admirable father figure, make their season debuts.
Winter & Qrow attempt to give each other a hard time, but it soon becomes clear that they are both members of the inner circle of Professor Ozpin, which is connected to the broader narrative. Ozpin is on the lookout for a champion who can help them stop Cinder Fall's organization from tearing the Remnant apart.
Ozpin's squad is revealed to be the guardians of four season-based elementals, whose abilities are passed on to chosen heroes. Cinder, who drained half of her powers and desired the rest, mortally harmed the host of Autumn powers in this case. Pyrrha Nikos is chosen as the new successor by Ozpin, leaving the poor girl, who had been a pillar of confidence, trembling nervously.
Yang Xiao Long takes a lot of the heat after being falsely accused of crippling bad guy Mercury Black during their fight. She spends the remainder of the season in a depressed mood, further exacerbated by what happens to her by the end of the volume.
The Animation Grows On You
I'd argue that RWBY's animation is an acquired taste in general. I was first taken aback by the 3D animation in Volume 1, but I've grown to appreciate and accept it.
With each new release, the show continues to improve in every way. The soundtrack is excellent throughout, particularly the mournful piano interpretation of the main theme at the volume's most emotional moments, of which there are many.
Character Development
Ruby is undoubtedly an entertaining protagonist, but I've had reservations about her lack of development in the past. In some aspects, she's the least developed member of Team RWBY, which isn't ideal for a protagonist. However, Volume 3 provides many opportunities for character development, something I am pretty grateful for.
Weiss has some of the most significant developments. With the arrival of her older sister, Winter, we have a better idea of what her family life is like. Her father cancels her credit cards to force her to call him, implying she comes from an overbearing, chilly family. She also has issues with her resemblance, particularly when it comes to summoning things.
Blake's history with the White Fang is exposed in greater detail, and it is darker than we thought. She is proven to have some trust issues, but she attempts to put them behind her and offer more faith to her team.
Of course, JNPR has developed too, primarily with Jaune and Pyrrha. I wish Ren and Nora were given more depth; as much as I enjoy them, they seem to be filler characters. They're cute, but they need more screen time.
Summing Up
Unlike volume two, however, the climax had dramatic stakes and finally attempted to grow Ruby by questioning her naive and self-destructive sense of duty, and even managed to offer us Pyrrha's single best character arc. If volume two was the best in animation and visual storytelling, volume three stole the show with its ending and (some of) the characters.
The season finale is one of the most heartbreaking things I've ever seen. It reminded me of how much I adore these characters, as well as the ingenuity and effort that goes into making this series. I must admit that the ending bothers me. RWBY appears to have difficulties concluding a story. The third season is more about trying to explain certain things at an inopportune time.
If you've avoided RWBY because you don't like some of the tropes that come with anime, this third volume of RWBY may be the most fantastic way to get into the show due to the way it's written.
Stay tuned for more on the subsequent volumes!
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RWBY Volume Three Official Trailer
