This review is a Repost from Reddit, but the work is still my own. Done to fulfill Beta-reader qualifications.
Good morning, RWBY Fans. We've reached the penultimate episode of Volume 7 and I'm personally too stunned for words. Lets take this one step at a time and see if we can break down Episode 12.
Edit: Sorry this took so long to publish. I'll cover why down in the Thoughts section.
Episode 12: With Friends Like These
Continuing on Volume 7's pattern of opening on a black screen, the episode opens with Ruby's frantic transmission to her friends. Inside Tyrian's transport, Robyn and Qrow are quick to look to Clover for an explanation. Clover starts to defend General Ironwood, then receives a wanted poster for RWBY, JNR, Oscar, and Qrow. Clover approaches Qrow and reveals the arrest warrant, causing Qrow and Robyn to slowly reach for their weapons. Tyrian, who's been smiling since the announcement, goads the group with a snide comment. Despite Robyn's vocal and violent reaction to Ironwood's intentions, Qrow still tries to deescalate the situation and suggests they talk to James once they all arrive at Atlas. Unfortunately, Tyrian's next barb pushes emotions to their breaking point, and a fight between the three "adults" erupts inside the cabin. Even as he fights, Qrow tries to appeal to Clover, but the AceOps leader has made up his mind. Tyrian uses the chaos to free himself and wastes no time slaying the pilots and just generally having fun. Tyrian drives the dropship into the ground. Clover is the only one to bail out successfully.
Back at the hospital, Winter stares at the newly-received wanted poster. Winter wonders what Weiss has done, showing that she has already absolved the General of blame. Penny is more concerned with Ironwood's plan to abandon Mantle, but Winter brushes off her worries by logically justifying the General's actions. The Relics must be kept from Salem if Remnant is to be saved. Penny focuses on the deaths of innocent civilians, and when Winter tries to dismiss her again, she asks Winter if she's even bothered by the General's plan. Winter downplays her personal feelings all too quickly, assuming a formal posture as she falls back on her military training.
Penny tells Winter that personal feelings should matter, but Winter argues that Ironwood is making tough decisions so that they don't have to. Switching gears from patronizing to rational, Winter plays the "needs of the many" card and says the General's trying to do good. Penny shakes off Winter and tells her that nothing about Ironwood's plan feels good. At least on that, the two women agree.
In Ironwood's office, Team RWBY and the remaining AceOps square off to fight. Only Marrow seems off-put by the idea of fighting, but other operatives are more than eager to throw down. Harriet questions Ruby's daring, asking if they really expect to take on the best Huntsmen in Atlas. Ruby replies that they were the best in Atlas, right up until they trained RWBY.
Even as the fight breaks out, the staging and cinematography are impressive. Crackling lines reminiscent of comic book paneling separate Ruby and Harriet's close-ups, and Ruby begins the fight by charging from her frame through Harriet's. Before Hare can react, Ruby's already past her and out the door. The speedster chases Ruby into the elevator lobby. Ruby makes one more attempt to convince Harriet not to play into Salem's hand, but Harriet is too far gone to care. She tells Little Red "I had you kids pegged from the start," and launches into a lightning-fast attack.
Yang enters the lobby next, beating Elm back with a staggering volley of punches. Unfortunately for Yang, Elm can be an immovable object when she chooses. Vine and Blake quickly enter the atrium where Yang and Elm are, swinging in like Spiderman and setting up a partner duel all at once. Vine promises not to harm either of the heroines if they come peacefully, but Elm quickly undermines that plea by accusing the two of betraying Ironwood. Blake shoots Elm's judgement right back at her, but Yang tells Blake to save her breath. Interestingly, it's Yang's insinuation that the AceOps are just "following orders now" that really sets Elm off.
Back in the office, Marrow contends with Weiss. Weiss' hit and run tactics and high agility remind me of the last time Weiss fought a chainsword wielder. Using ice dust to coat the floor and fire dust to rapidly melt it, Weiss both limits Marrow's mobility and throws up a quick fog cover. Next she uses an array of glyphs to throw ice projectiles at the dog faunus, giving her enough time to summon the Arma Gigas. I really enjoyed this tactical display, because I think above all else it shows Weiss has learned from her fight with Vernal at Haven. Weiss does rely on her Summons during this fight, but rather than try to whip out her trump card at the first sign of danger, Weiss wisely obscures herself and hits her opponent with ranged attacks from all directions before she makes herself vulnerable.
Marrow makes a jab at Schnees always getting what they want, but Weiss reveals the Arma Gigas and confidently replies that "this is my home, and I'm not giving it up without a fight." Not only does Weiss respond without malice, proving that the insult can't shake her, she also includes Mantle in her definition of Home. Weiss has long since made the decision to improve her kingdom, and that attitude is finally starting to make an impression on people.
We jump back to Qrow, who awakens amidst the wreckage of the downed Manta. Seeing Robyn laid out on the Tundra, Qrow quickly verifies that she's alive, if unconscious. Clover appears and offers to get Robyn to an Atlas hospital if Qrow gives himself up. Qrow calls him out for his manipulative tactic. Clover backpedals, trying to appeal to Qrow as a friend and say they don't have to fight, but Qrow knows that if there's one thing the gang consistently does, it's come to blows with authority figures.
Inside the wreck, Tyrian reveals that he's merely been feigning unconsciousness. With a sadistic joy, he dislocates his fingers and slips out of his restraints before quickly stepping into the fray outside. Tyrian quickly makes himself known and tries to further bait Qrow and Clover. Seeing his true enemy, Qrow rightfully shifts his priorities to Tyrian and charges. However, Clover repeatedly interferes with Qrow's attempts to subdue Tyrian, forcing him to accept a temporary truce with the scorpion faunus. The move might seem crazy at first, though Tyrian's comment about "putting the kid to bed" makes me think that Qrow saw incapacitating Clover as the only way to get an uninterrupted shot at Tyrian.
Cutting back to RWBY's fight with the AceOps, Ruby briefly rejoins Weiss, pitting the partners against AceOps' most opposite teammates. Harriet berates Marrow for going soft on Weiss, while Marrow tells Harriet that she's being excessively violent. Their brief argument gives Ruby the chance to bait Harriet away again, giving Weiss the speedster-free opportunity to focus down Marrow. Outside, Elm has a similar quarrel with Vine, telling him to not go soft on Blake and Yang, Vine counters that Elm sounds more like she's trying to convince herself than him. Blake and Yang wordlessly smile at each other before launching into their coordinated attack.
Blake and Yang wisely bypass Elm and direct their attention at her support. Using a combination of clever deceptions and a take-down straight out of the WWE, Vine is quickly taken out of the fight. His impact with the floor shatters both the tile and the expectations of the AceOps, who all stare in shock at the unthinkable; now they understand how much of a chance RWBY really has at beating them.
Back in the office, Weiss uses spiked terrain and air currents to threaten Marrow, holding the Arma Gigas in reserve until Marrow's pinned down. Marrow proves impressively agile, and freezes Weiss with his Semblance. However, we learned back in Volume 5 that Weiss doesn't need to move to command her Summons, and the Arma Gigas keeps the pressure up in her stead. Marrow then uses his Semblance on the Arma Gigas, but shift in focus frees Weiss from his control and lets her deliver the knockout. Two down, two to go. Ruby has similar luck against Harriet, and while she isn't able to completely subdue the speedster, she does creatively apply her Semblance as Harriet goes to handcuff her, turning to rose petals and capturing Harriet in her own restraints.
In the Atrium, the tide is turning. The shattered floor makes for poor footholds, and Elm finds her Semblance negated by Blake and Yang's positioning. Yang charges Elm as she's vulnerable, and Elm decides to do what any newb with a rocket launcher does and aim her explosives at her feet. In an impressive display of analysis, Yang judges the new threat and redirects her attack at the floor, using her Semblance to knock everything, stone and Huntress alike, into the air. Airborne and uprooted, Elm is subsequently vulnerable to an absolutely gorgeous double uppercut from Blake and Yang, laying the hammer-wielder out on her face.
Near the elevators, Harriet continues to put up a fight. Despite only having her legs free the speedster refuses to quit, which admittedly does speak to her own drive. Unfortunately for Harriet, no amount of drive can overcome coordinated teamwork. A quick ice wall turns Harriet's final charge into a self-knockout, finally putting the fanatical efforts of the AceOps to rest. With their opponents subdued, Team RWBY quickly tries to form a plan. Recognizing that the Staff of Creation is central to Ironwood's plan, the team decides to intercept the Winter Maiden and stop the General from using her. Blake and Yang offer to link up with JNR, and Ruby starts to comment on their lack of communications, but Pietro and Maria's arrival offers a reasonable workaround. No doubt Pietro's great mind will allow for some form of Scroll use in the coming episode.
The scene shifts to catch up with JNR, who are still looking for Oscar. Nora calls out to our favorite farm boy, and an Oscar-shaped figure appears nearby. Unfortunately, enough foreshadowing has been done to tell us that the unusually quiet Oscar is actually Neo in disguise. But before anything can come of her deception, a significantly more-battered Oscar appears and decks Neo, shattering her illusion and reclaiming the stolen Relic. JNR recognizes Neo, and square up to fight, but the scene ends before any combat breaks out.
When we rejoin Winter and Penny, they've managed to successfully load Fria into the Aura transfer machine. Winter looks on and says she hopes the process will be painless. Yeah, I've got some bad news for you, Winter. Penny pointedly questions Winter, throwing her "personal feelings" line back at her. Winter sighs and tells Penny that her personal feelings won't change the choices she has to make. Fria's sacrifice is necessary in the face of Salem and the risk of losing the relics. However, Winter does admit that processing one's personal feelings is an important way of confirming one is on the right path, and that the struggle between emotion and logic is a fundamentally human trait. It's a satisfying exchange between two characters I wish we go to see more of this Volume, and the discussion highlights the core theme of these last few episodes. All across the cast, we are learning how different characters react to contradictions between what is the "right" thing and what is the "best" thing.
A loud bang causes Fria to stir, and Cinder blasts her way into the hospital room with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. Cinder tells Penny to stand aside or be permanently destroyed, but the robot girl holds her ground, deploying her swords and reading herself for the fight ahead. We've known the Winter Maiden would be the fulcrum on which this Volume's climax hinged, and now it seems the fight for Fria's powers will be a core focus of the finale.
But enough of that! We've got a sword fight in the tundra to get back to. Qrow and Tyrian continue to coordinate, and it becomes clear that against two highly aggressive opponents, Clover can't hold out. Clover disarms Qrow, and only then does Tyrian let loose with his Semblance, viciously slashing at Clover in an attempt to break his Aura. With Qrow temporarily out of the picture, Clover actually manages to entangle Tyrian. However, a solid punch from Qrow knocks Clover to the ground and shatters his Aura once and for all. Qrow yells at his former partner, asking why he couldn't just disobey his orders. Clover tells Qrow that he trusts the General with his life, and he hoped he could've trusted Qrow too. Sometimes the necessary choices are the hardest to make.
It's then that Tyrian choses to strike, driving Qrow's sword into Clover's back. Three cuts precede the wide shot of the blow; first Tyrian's lunge, then Clover's face, and finally the falling blood. When the wide shot does appear, each fighter is cast in a stylized silhouette, similar to when Yang's arm was cut off. Whatever your feelings about the outcome itself, the cinematographic tricks used here make sure that the final result hits you like...well, like a sword in the gut.
Clover falls to the ground and quickly starts to bleed out. We know the ending before the fight's even done; it's over for Clover. Tyrian throws a final taunt at Qrow, who screams and lunges at the assassin, but all the fight has gone out of the scythe-wielder. Tyrian ducks out just as the authorities arrive, throwing Qrow's incriminating sword to the ground with a satisfying thunk. Rather than chase Tyrian, Qrow chooses to stay with Clover in his final moments. Again, Qrow is choosing the illogical but "right" choice.
Clover tells Qrow that someone had to take the fall, and Qrow vows to his dying friend that Ironwood will fall too. Clover doesn't immediately respond, instead looking out onto the rising sun. With his last breath, Clover chuckles and wishes Qrow "good luck" before the light fades from his eyes. The episode ends on Qrow's unrestrained, anguished scream.
Thoughts
This episode took me the longest to review because I had to let my thoughts sit and percolate. My immediate reaction to the episode was to repeatedly scream "what the hell" to an empty house and walk away from my computer. I know I always preface my predictions by saying I could be wrong, but Episode 12 completely threw me for a loop. That isn't in itself a bad thing, but it took me a while to process my feelings and work through my thoughts. Even looking back on the notes I took last Saturday my thoughts have changed drastically with time, as I think most people's feelings will.
Let's get the absolute good out of the way first. The fight scenes in this episode were absolutely stellar, offering both an immediate visual spectacle and a level of tactical foresight that rewarded those who paid closer attention. The scenes between RWBY and AceOps show this off marvelously, but I was even impressed by Qrow's fighting. I remember the days back in Volume 3 when technical limitations kept Harbinger in its sword form 99% of the time, and now we have Qrow wielding his scythe with great swirling motions and impressive blocks. One of RWBY's defining traits has always been the weird yet fantastical fight sequences, and this episode delivers that in spades.
Winter and Penny's scenes are also enjoyable. Like I said above, they serve to underline the theme of this Volume's final arc, and Winter's choice to acknowledge her feelings after the Schnee dinner promises the potential for character growth. Penny likewise learns a lot from Winter, and seems to be moving closer to understanding the human experience through Ironwood's lieutenant. Hopefully there are more opportunities for these two to interact in the future; they both contrast each other so well.
Neo's scene initially made me pretty upset, but stepping away for a while has let me see the bigger picture. I'm still upset that nothing came of Neo's disguise, and the show didn't address how Oscar was kidnapped or subsequently overpowered by Neo. Even now the scene feels a bit rushed. However, I think that when I look at the scene from the perspective of the Volume as a whole, I can recognize the exchange for what it is; a transition. Showing Oscar get kidnapped would have ruined last episode's cliffhanger, and there was so much foreshadowing about Neo's doppelganger abilities that viewers were going to suspect any mute character on screen. As such, pulling off a backstab or equivalent twist with Neo would likely have been more trouble than such a scene was worth. I do still have a problem with Oscar landing a huge haymaker on one of the nimblest combatants we've ever seen in this show, but the brevity of the scene helps minimize this frustration. It's clear a Neo vs JNR+O fight is coming next episode, so I can tolerate a less-than-ideal setup if the full fight is more thoughtful.
Now let's talk about Qrow, Tyrian, and Clover. Going into episode 12, I honestly expected the least trouble from the adult Hunters. I underestimated Tyrian as just a crazy assassin, and in doing so fell into the same trap Qrow and Clover did. What's more, I expected Clover to be the member of AceOps most open to stopping Ironwood, given his past side-glances at Qrow. However, Clover did already tell us he trusts the General with his life, and it makes sense the leader of AceOps would have a strong sense of loyalty to their commanding officer.
Clover's decision to fight Qrow, even when Tyrian reappears, was maddeningly frustrating when I first saw the episode. Repeat viewings have upheld those feelings, and I've realized that maybe that's the point. We, like Qrow, are frustrated that Clover can't see how Tyrian represents the obvious priority, or how Qrow was advocating for talking with Ironwood before Robyn kicked things off. Viewers might also be frustrated with Qrow's decision to punch Clover rather than secure the then-restrained Tyrian. Remember that right after the punch, Qrow directly voices his feelings, painting him as part-emotional and part-betrayed. We feel the same things Qrow feels, which sells us on the conflict between Qrow and Clover.
And then we have the mind behind it all; Tyrian "Madman" Callows. I've called the villains out on their arrogance so often that I'm kicking myself for underestimating Tyrian and his ability to manipulate people. He comes off as an insane, irredeemable psychopath who only loves Salem and killing, in that order. I've spent so much time watching Watts manipulate the citizens of Atlas that I didn't consider Tyrian might be just as good at playing people against each other. Every one of his lines and actions in this episode deliberately stokes the tension between our heroes, whether it's the snark that kicks off the fight in the airship or physically steadying Qrow and pushing him back into the fight with Clover. Notice that he didn't try to kill Clover himself or even use Semblance until Qrow was disarmed, showing that he was planning to frame the scythe-wielder since the fight began. Just like Ironwood, I underestimated Salem's agents, let my guard down, and was made to pay for it.
Putting everything aside, I want to talk about Clover's death. I have a strong personal opinion of death as a writing tool, and I tend to see it as an option that the author should only use if there is more to gain from a character's end than there is to gain from all their future interactions. Death must have a cost, and most often is the ultimate, final end for a character. It should not be used lightly.
With Clover's death, I feel regret for what could have been. We saw over an entire volume how Clover served as a positive influence to Qrow and to the rest of the heroes. At a time when Qrow was just starting to pull himself out of his depression and alcoholism, Clover was there to reward that openness with a friendship Qrow hadn't felt since Team STRQ imploded. Clover's personality and Semblance made for an interesting contrast to Qrow, and the two could've talked at length about the implications of Clover's "good luck" powers and how that reflected on his career. We'll never get those interactions now. Clover chose to stick to his orders, and his blind loyalty coupled with Tyrian's manipulation caused him to meet an untimely end. And I do mean untimely. With much of his potential unexplored, Clover's death resonates as especially tragic to viewers. He could have been so much more.
After digesting this episode doing all of my thinking, I can accept Clover's death as a tragedy. I can accept that both circumstances pushed Clover towards death, and that the Huntsmen chose his demise when he accepted Ironwood's orders blindly. I also accept the sadness I feel for Qrow, whose gamble at personal growth has now left him more broken and hurting than ever. He deserves so much better after all he's been through, and to see that slip away is almost a tragedy in itself.
I think it's important to remember that it's okay to feel sad and angry and frustrated and resentful in the face of death. Death isn't always fair, or right, or meaningful. Not everyone goes out saving the planet, and not all heroes get the death they deserve. Clover's death feels unfair, and it should. This is how Salem divides and destroys. She prays on fear, tearing through the lives of people like Clover; people who may be imperfect, but genuinely want to make the world a better place.
I think it's important to tell all those who are still upset that your feelings are valid. Death should hurt; it's the end, after all. However, I think that with time, and with thought, Clover's death will hurt a little less.
Predictions
After being so thoroughly flabbergasted, I'm really not sure what to expect from the coming finale. Instead of my usual bit, I'm going to look at the possible outcomes immediately before us and try to infer their consequences for the future story.
Qrow's decision to stay with Clover means that he'll likely be found by the Atlas authorities. Thanks to Tyrian's deception Qrow will likely be implicated in Clover's murder, and with no other witnesses our favorite Uncle will be hard pressed to prove his story. Qrow may very well be incarcerated for Clover's murder, moving the gang one step closer to mentor-less independence. This would continue Ruby's development from Volume 6, though I don't like the implications for Qrow. The poor guy deserves so much better.
We are also obviously getting some kind of confrontation between Neo and JNR next episode. Given that RWBY got a chance to show off this episode, I hope Jaune, Nora, and Ren get their own properly dedicated fight with Neo. That said, we run into a Tyrian situation where Neo is significantly outnumbered. Not only that, but Oscar managed to recapture the lamp, meaning that JNR just has to play defensively to win the fight. I don't think Neo can take all four Hunters-in-training at once, and it's possible that she might attempt to flee, either after stealing the Relic or to take advantage of the Maiden situation. Either way, Neo's looking at an uphill fight.
Speaking of uneven odds, Winter and Penny are now in the fight of their lives against arguably the most powerful individual fighter in the setting currently. I am slightly concerned at what the claustrophobic nature of Fria's hospital room means for the fight ahead, especially since all three combatants have high mobility, but I suppose the fight could break out into the hospital at large. With Ruby and Weiss on the way to the Maiden, it's possible that the heroes may be able to team up and
overcome Cinder. However, I really can't predict how this fight may turn out when so much is riding on it.
Let's break it down;
If Cinder somehow secures the Winter Maiden Mantle, she'll have unprecidented levels of power, dwarfing the entire rest of the cast. She'll likely be able to easily escape, and her theft of the Staff of Creation will drop Atlas onto Mantle, potentially destroying the entire kingdom. In this scenario, everyone loses.
If Winter secures the Maiden Mantle, she'll receive a power boost but will still be up against a deadline. She'll need to get to the Vault and use the Staff to lift Atlas higher into the sky. Cinder won't likely stand by and let that happen, so she'll need to be stopped by either Penny, Ironwood, or anyone that can get there in time. In this scenario, Ironwood enacts his plan, Salem wins a significant victory, and members of team RWBY may be separated depending on who's in Mantle and who's in Atlas at the time. Still not a great outcome.
Wild Card Time: Perhaps neither of the two prospective ladies get the Mantle. Whether this means the Mantle goes to Neo, or to Nora, or someone else, means that the plans of both parties are at least temporarily foiled. The new Maiden will have to be located, which will buy time for the heroes to intervene. This is probably the best outcome for the heroes that I can immediately foresee, but it's also the least predictable.
I don't mean to sound like a broken record, but I really am having a hard time predicting what comes next. What I will say is that I have been regularly and thoroughly impressed by Volume 7's team of writers, and that despite my uncertainty after this episode, I have full confidence that they will deliver a satisfying conclusion to the Volume.
Loose Threads
Here's where I put all the thoughts I couldn't fit in anywhere else.
When Qrow and Clover start to fight in the airship, you can hear Bad Luck Charm and the AceOps Theme audibly battling it out in the background. It's a cool little touch that shows the conflicting ideals of the scene.
Seriously, everyone on the animation/rigging team deserves a round of applause. Every character has great movement and good flow, and the fight choreography is consistently impressive.
The 2D animators also deserve some praise, both for Cinder's fire effects (which there are a lot of) and for Yang's slow-mo Semblance ignition. It's such a little thing that could easily be taken for granted, but is so important for improving this show's art style.
Is it just me, or does Vine never use his weapon once? I'm sure Tai would make a comment about over-relying on his Semblance, but I'm just bummed we didn't get to see it at all.
Weiss' adorable little gasp as she drops Marrow's feet. Why does Weiss get so many great little moments, and who can I pay to make sure she keeps having them?
Hats off to Qrow's new voice actor, Jason Liebrecht, for turning in an amazing performance. There's so much emotion on display, and he nails every high and low note. Well done, sir!
I don't usually include negatives here, but there were two things I wanted to address:
I hope Nora and Ren's conflict hasn't been dropped. The current crisis is urgent, but it also perfectly represents Ironwood's leadership style and fall from grace. Ren should be more sympathetic to the General's plan than his friends. Given that Blake and Yang's deception came back up a few episodes later, I can only hope that Nora and Ren's problems have only been temporarily shelved.
I really don't understand Qrow's anger at James in the final scene. Qrow says that he'll make James pay, but seems less angry at Tyrian, the guy directly responsible for Clover's death. Hopefully this is addressed the next time we see Qrow.
And that's going to do it for this week's episode review. I'm really starting to feel the strain of writing these weekly, but I want to have the finale review out right on time for Sunday consumption. I know this week's episode left everyone's emotionally shaken, but I respectfully ask that everyone direct their thoughts into community discussions rather than crafting angry letters to Miles and Kerry.
As always, thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this review, consider checking out my Masterpost [Here]. Until next time, be safe, be creative, and be excellent to each other.