RWBY, volume 3, has slowly transitioned from a lighthearted anime to a dark one. This is evident in Cinder’s plan to capture Amber’s (Fall’s) power that was carried out. Along with disqualifying Yang and securing White Fang as an ally to continue her plan. Episode 8 deals with the aftermath that team RWBY and JNPR face due to Yang’s actions. Episode 8 is dark but provides elements of hope as parts of Cinder’s plan are revealed. RWBY can be purchased here.
Both team RWBY and team JNPR are dealing with internal struggles. Team RWBY is informed that Yang is disqualified from the tournament due to her action, which sparks a trust issue among the group. This trust issue is between Blake and Yang as Blake has experienced someone’s change over time. Blake is implying that this someone is Adam, the leader of the White Fang, as he had changed slowly much like Yang. Blake and Yang rekindle their trust as Blake determines that Yang is not like Adam, yet there will always be a level of trust between the team going forward. Besides Team RWBY, Team JNPR is also dealing with internal problems. The nature of their problems is different as Pyrrha is struggling with assuming the role of becoming Fall or becoming a huntress. Jaune talks to her but only makes her choice harder as she has to choose between leading a normal life or becoming transformed to save the world. As a result of Jaune support she pushes him away not out of hatred but to avoid being hurt as she has chosen to absorb Amber’s power. As a result the trust between the two of them will never be the same.
After Yang and Team RWBY resolve their trust issues Qrow visits. Qrow foils Ironwood as he justifies what Yang did, as it was a battlefield, as the spectators do not know what it is like to be out fighting. Furthermore, Qrow encourages Yang to look toward the future by delivering a message from her mom. The message states that she will not always be there to save her, implying that Yang needs to become stronger. Before Qrow leaves he tells Yang that he has a lead to where her mom might be and that they can go to track her down. The message and the lead to her mom is major character development as it shows that Yang can recover from both physical and mental setbacks. This acts as an inspiration as she needs to become stronger in order to join Qrow in tracking down her mom. Thus this interaction is foreshadowing of events to come in the next few volumes of RWBY.
While Yang and Qrow are talking Ruby runs into Velvet. In speaking to Velvet she discovers that Coco had experienced a similar situation as Yang had. At first Ruby brushes this aside, but changes her opinion as she see Emerald at the stadium. In seeing Emerald she moves to a hallway to find that Mercury is okay. Ruby immediately figures out that Yang was set up. Furthermore, Mercury reveals that Pyrrha and Penny, who are opposites, are fighting one another implying one of them is going to be hurt. This confirms the second phase of Cinder’s plan as she is targeting the next in line to be the Fall maiden so that she can finish absorbing that power. Ruby, spotting Emerald and Mercury, provides slight hope as she now has figured out their plan and can attempt to stop it.
RWBY Volume 3 episode 8 continues the quality of animation, plot and themes that have been present in the anime since the start of Volume 3. The episode has only alluded to what will happen to Yang, Pyrrha and Ruby as they all engage in their own journeys due to Cinder’s plan.
