REVIEW: ‘Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation’ Season 2 Episode 15 – “Afar”

While Rudeus’ (Yumi Uchiyama) life continues to come together for him, others are facing struggles. When those close to him feel the weight of danger and failure upon them, Rudeus is happy to lend a hand in Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Episode 15 “Afar.”

This week’s narrative opens with Rudeus receiving a surprise letter from Paul (Toshiyuki Morikawa, The Witch and the Beast). The letter congratulates Rudeus on entering the magic school and informs him that his little sisters are coming to stay with him. Paul’s party is heading for some dangerous territory, and bringing children along would be negligent at best. The letter says that the girls’ safe passage has been entrusted to an old friend of Rudeus.

How Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Episode 15 delivers Paul’s words through this letter is wonderfully executed. The way it’s written and Morikawa’s delivery of them capture the complexity of Paul’s relationship with his son. The differences they’ve had make it so both struggle with each other, but the genuine love still shines through. Paul’s words reflect the awkward space their relationship is perpetually in while still managing to express the honest affection and pride Paul has for Rudeus.

After Rudeus reads Paul’s letter, we see him inform Sylphettie (Ai Kayano) about his sisters’ impending arrival. Unsurprisingly, Sylphettie is more than happy to host Rudeus’ family. The kind elf has always showcased a big heart, and getting to extend it to her love’s family seems like an opportunity that would bring her genuine joy.

While the impending arrival of Rudeus’ family dominates Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Episode 15’s opening, it isn’t the core of the episode’s story. The primary focus of the tale turns toward Nanahoshi (Shion Wakayama, Lycoris Recoil) as she continues to search for a way back to our world. After two years of research, she has finally composed a magic circle she believes will summon objects from our world. If so, it would provide an important step to building the bridge she so desperately seeks for herself. However, when Rudeus imbues the circle with mana, it short circuits and tears it.

Nanhoshi immediately becomes sullen, slumping at her desk. She doesn’t even acknowledge Rudeus when he tells her he’s leaving for the day. As Rudeus begins descending the stairs outside her door, he hears her scream and objects smashing. He rushes back to see what is going on.

How Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Episode 15 presents Nanhoshi’s mental state to the viewer is a masterful moment of visual subtlety. While the young woman rages, ripping books and smashing jars, the way the animators at Studio Bind capture her facial expressions is layered and deep. While her anger is clear, there is no heat in her face or her body language. Rather, it is a rage born of despair.

Her face belies the truth of her scream. She looks like she will burst into tears rather than destroy a room. Nanahoshi is lashing out because it is easier to do that, to lose herself in destruction rather than face the sorrow that is rushing towards her.

But as Rudeus gets a hold of her, preventing her rampage from continuing, that despair claims her. The energy she wielded moments before dissipates, and she soon looks more akin to a corpse than a raging scientist. Fearful for his friend’s health, Rudeus carries her to the infirmary. Along the way, Rudeus runs into Zanoba (Satoshi Tsuruoka) who quickly offers his aid in getting Nanahoshi to the infirmary.

From the infirmary, the ailing young woman soon returns to Rudeus’ home for further rest. Sylphettie offers her what aid she can, but the despondent woman shows little signs of life. Since nothing seems to be reaching Nanahoshi directly, Rudeus decides on a different approach to aiding his friend.

Rudeus gathers some of his closest friends to try to solve the magical conundrum that is vexing Nanahoshi. If they can figure out what missing element is keeping her summoning circle from working, that would surely lift her out of her depression.

Thanks to a timely bit of insight garnered by Zanabo from the living doll that was “haunting” Rudeus’ house, the party is able to concoct a working theory. When they present it to Nanahoshi, Studi Bind manages to make her elation as poignant a moment as her rage earlier. As she realizes what the others have done, you can feel the life return to her. In mere moments she is scribbling again, coming up with a hypothesis.

After a brief montage showing the exuberant work of the team, Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Episode 15 sees the new, multi-layered summoning circle first trial application. The result, a plastic bottle materializes within the circle’s mana field. With this success, there is nothing left to do but celebrate. Nanahoshi treats her friends to a feast to thank them for all their work and support. The warmth of the moment is augmented greatly by how well the emotional journey to get here is delivered.

As Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Episode 15 closes, Rudeus and Sylphettie return home to find Rudeus’ sisters waiting outside their house. The reunion is made even brighter when Rudeus discovers that the old friend who brought his sisters safely to him is none other than Ruijerd (Daisuke Namikawa, NieR: Automata Ver. 1.1a). This reunion serves to wrap up the episode on a warm note.

Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Episode 15 comes together wonderfully to deliver an impactful tale of failure, frustration, and support. Nanahoshi’s struggles are handled with great skill as the story sees her through trials and tribulations, thanks to the support of her friends.

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Episode 15 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.