Volume 3, episode 12, redefines the anime series The 3rd volume of RBWY has become darker and with each dark turn the students and teachers at Beacon have been able to adjust to the new threat. In doing so they have been able to postpone and slow down the threat of their enemies. This is not the case in the season finale of RWBY. The students and teachers at Beacon are overwhelmed by the creatures of Grimm and Cinder. Due to the circumstance of this attack Team RWBY and Team JNPR are permanently affected as the 3rd volume comes to an end.
The season finale of RWBY pulls no punches as it changes the landscape of the RBWY universe. With each episode the show has progressively matured and the season finale follows suit. In particular, the character Pyrrha chooses to fight against Cinder in attempt to regain Amber’s (Falls) powers that were promised to her. As the fighting goes on, Cinder begins to get the advantage of Pyrrha, eventually killing her. This is monumental as this is the first death that any of the students have experienced. To further compound Pyrrha’s death, which was witnessed by Ruby, whose goal was to save her. As a result Ruby’s power awakens causing everything to be bathed in a white light, which freezes the Dragon Grimm creature and forces Cinder to retreat. Yet, despite Ruby having this power, she has failed to save Pyrrha and has to live with that result for the rest of her life. This situation for Ruby ends any innocence that she has left. Outside of the Pyrrha and Ruby situation Yang and Blake are also subjected to consequences that have a maturing effect on them. These consequences come directly from their fight with Adam. Yang and Blake are losing, but Adam is only targeting Yang to make Blake suffer for leaving him. This results in Adam cutting Yang’s arm off, with Blake being able to do nothing about it. As a result Adam is engaging in mind games with Blake by attempting to destroy everything she likes. The two of them escape but are emotionally and physically harmed. As Blake is emotionally damaged due to being powerless to stop Adam and is feeling guilty about Yang losing her arm. Yang is depressed as she has lost her arm, which will limit her movements and impact her fighting style. This results in Yang not wanting to be a Huntress anymore while Blake is choosing to run away as she does not want to deal with the situations that have occurred. The three issues that Ruby, Yang, and Blake are having lead to the disbandment of Team RWBY.
The season final of RWBY, Volume 3, confirms that this anime has transitioned from being light hearted to becoming a complex dark anime. This has occurred primarily through events and circumstances that the main characters have experienced and the sacrifices they have made due to those experiences. As the show matures it creates a realistic dynamic, as these characters have to deal with problems that do not have an easy answer or an answer at all. This brings a breath of fresh air as both Team RWBY and Team JNPR have suffered losses yet they have to adjust, as the enemy has to be stopped and life goes on. RWBY, Volume 3, ends the era of joyful learning and ushers in a time where students must decide if they are ready to take on the responsibilities of maintaining peace as Huntsmen and Huntresses.
You can purchase RWBY Volume 3 here.
