Introduction -
What is RWBY without the blessings of the twin gods of fantastic animation, and Halo existentialism? It is a project that should have only survived until the next big thing to distract its creators. But RWBY has taken to life the way Frankenstein's Monster took it. Not very well.
RWBY can never escape the drama of its famed creators, which in any case gives the show a twist of lemon that zests up the story. Depending, of course, on which side of the fandom one asks. But that begs the question; how does RWBY stack up for someone who is not invested in the legend of its creation?
RWBY -
In a world of Humans, Monsters, and Magic there are four girls. Four well-armed, deadly little girls training to slay monsters known as 'Grimm,' to protect a civilization that is a 'Remnant' of something greater that was destroyed long ago.
Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long. Together they form the titular team 'RWBY,' and these are their adventures.
A punchy premise. Simple, yet solid enough to build a story upon. Complexity should only be a product of the story, not its selling point, and for the worse RWBY gets complex as the story progresses.
But for now, let's start with Chapter 1.
Chapter 1; Ruby Rose
While a mysterious couple debates the merits of a Simple Soul and its effect on a 'victory' of some sort, we are introduced to Remnant. More specifically, a city in the wider world of Remnant. A very modern city with modern criminals, wearing sharp suits and wielding guns.
A gang of these sharply dressed ne'er do wells attempt to rob a store for its 'Dust,' but their crime spree is halted by the show's Protagonist. A little girl in a red riding hood named Ruby Rose.
Shenanigans ensue, a rooftop chase leads to a rooftop duel, followed by a rooftop magic duel between a 'Huntress' and a Mysterious Female in a red dress. The fight ends with the Mysterious Female winning since she manages to escape.
Ruby Rose is a Huntress fangirl though, so she chalks it up as a lucky escape on the Mysterious Woman's part, and tries to get the Huntress's autograph.
Ruby gets interrogated instead. With cookies, compliments on her skills, a career talk, and an enrollment form into Beacon Academy. Where Ruby Rose gets a chance to follow in the footsteps of the very people she idolizes.
In the end, we learn that the criminal Ruby fought was Roman Torchwick, the Huntress Ruby first met was named Glynda Goodwitch, there was a civil rights thing for Faunus, and that Ruby could see Signal Academy from the airship she was riding to Beacon Academy.
Thus, the adventure begins.
Problems -
There are several problems from the start of this episode which could all be summarized with a general umbrella under which the show tries to hide from any criticism about its story pacing, and world-building. This singular, lampshade issue could incidentally be resolved with three words.
Keep. It. Simple.
RWBY's first episode suffers from complexity. The bad kind of Complexity. Now, while both good and bad Complexity makes people think, the good kind of Complexity makes you think about the facts of life.
Bad Complexity makes you rethink your life's choices.
There are a few points in this episode that illustrate my point on complexity, and I will talk a little about each below:
The Opening Narration -
The opening narration was wordy. Pretentiously so. But more importantly, it sets up a world of fantasy. A world that is a 'Remnant' of something that came before, a world where its inhabitants grapple with infinite darkness composed of fangs and claws using primal magic. Magic manifested in Dust, a material dug up from the earth of Remnant. The very flesh of the world aiding its inhabitants in the war against the darkness.
The narration sets up an adventure in a world that is highly fantastical. But the first scene of the episode involves men in modern suits, wielding modern weaponry. Followed by the minimal display of this vital material called Dust, and no sign of the darkness called Grimm.
Okie Dokie.
Huntresses -
A tiny girl in a red cloak pulls out a giant scythe and beats up grown men.
Roman; I sleep.
Older woman with a tiny stick.
Roman: wE gOT a HUnTrESS!
Granted, Glynda does pull off some impressive magic. But what identifies a Huntress from any other fighter with a giant scythe? A Cop pulls out a badge, wears a uniform, and identities himself as a Cop in action. How does Glynda identify herself as a Huntress to criminals like Roman?
The Faunus Rally -
Toward the end of the episode, a few minutes is dedicated to talking about the Faunus and their rally.
This is all I could tell you about them since nothing in the opening narration or the fight with Roman alludes to either the presence of Faunus or their place in the world of Remnant.
Taking each problem together -
Is nearly impossible because each point raised above is individually so distinct, there is no clear way to connect them into a coherent whole.
The opening narration sets up a high fantasy story about people fighting for their survival against vicious monsters.
The fight between Ruby and Roman, where a lone girl with powers battles modern criminals and stops robberies like a superhero comic.
Then there are the Faunus.
There are thus three distinct stories instead of a singular narrative focused around the girl named Ruby Rose, neither of which are properly developed. This is not surprising since there are only 12 or so minutes for the episode.
As a result, instead of an episode and an introduction to the story. I get three separate scenes written by different people. Solely united by the character of Ruby Rose, who is wholly inadequate for the task.
Ruby Rose -
A rose by any other name would be just as dull.
A character's complexity is something that should not be decided upon at the start of the story. Complexity, and a character in general, develops over the course of a narrative and is fully grown at the end. At this point in the show, all we really need to know about Ruby Rose is her goal as it would be the main reason the audience would follow Ruby's story. However, Ruby's goal is not to be a Huntress.
Sure, Ruby says she wants to be a Huntress to help people. But nothing we were shown through the episode indicates that she wants to be a Huntress. Ruby Rose doesn't do anything to become a Huntress. She fights Roman because of coincidence, her training has nothing to do with being a Huntsman since Huntsmen use Glyphs to fight. If Glynda was any indication. Ruby Rose may idolize the Huntsmen, but that doesn't show passion toward being a Huntsman in the first place.
A contrast to Ruby would be Izuku from My Hero Academia. Izuku wants to be a hero, so he studies up on the pro heroes in his area. His education is focused on becoming a professional hero once he graduates Middle School. More importantly, Izuku's values and his heart is set on walking the path of a hero, and when given the chance to save his bully's life? Izuku takes that chance and proves himself to have the heart of a hero.
Altogether, Ruby only becomes a Huntress by chance. While Deku was waiting for a chance to become a Hero. The latter is what makes a Protagonist's desire and goal interesting for the audience.
Conclusion -
Ruby Rose, both the episode and the character, are kinda dull.
The first episode has set up three distinct story set-ups without formatting them into a coherent narrative. The Protagonist also fails to bring the episode's three major plot elements together into an interesting story. This is especially egregious since a reasonable audience doesn't need a very big hook to get them interested in a story. The attention span of the audience of ANY show is equivalent to a shoal of Mackerel. We just need a picture of a hook that says 'Hook', and we'd be flapping on the end of a line.
In conclusion, Ruby Rose the episode is confusing, conflicting, and saddled with a very tepid Protagonist who is so bland Gordon Ramsay is waiting in the wings to tear your walk-in apart.
Better shows were canceled for less.