RWBY review: Field Trip (spoilers)

[DaWaffledude]

RWBY, I'm not angry. I'm just disappointed in you.

 

[Izanagi009_v1legacy]

Well RWBY is pretty much Anime tropes and cliches: The Anime, so it's not surprising it would do this.

Even still, it is depressing that Volume 2 has yet to do anything narratively interesting at all. Sure there's the odd revelation here and there, but nothing that really sparks immediate interest or engagement. I'm hoping that there'll be something more near the end of the series, but with only 4 episodes left, it seems unlikely.

Tropes and Cliches are not as big an issue as I once thought. Almost all media uses them in one way or another. The issue is payoff; how they use the tropes to make a story and how well executed it is.

Break down even the greatest shows and they will seem simple and tropey; execution makes the difference.

The problem is that the execution for RWBY is horrible. Seriously, why, what is the point of adding a dog. Pets and their relation to charcters can be used to indicate a number of personality traits but here, it's just for cheap cute gags

seriously, rewatching Zwei's intro, my reaction to the whole thing and how Blake, Weiss and Ruby reacted could be summed up as follows

It was just so overwhelmingly cutesy and stupid that I smacked my head in the desk hoping for it to disapper from my head (it didn't).

Also why the reaction to professor Oobeck? We haven't seen many incompetence from him or anything other than invested in equality and zips around really fast. We are given no reason to share RWBY's reactions and thus no reason to be amazed when Oobeck turns out to be inevitably capable in fighting.

 

[Willinium]

Honestly. . . I actually liked this episode. If I had to say then I would have to say that the scene at the beginning with General Ironwood , Glinda, and Ozpin was it. I liked seeing these veterans having a difference of opinions and not just standing back. I am hesitant about Zwei, I feel that he is rather unnecessary to the show but *shrugs* we'll see. As for who they're shadowing, was rather hoping that it would've been Professor Port instead of Professor Oobleck.Can't wait for next weeks episode o arrive.

 

[Great-C]

Well RWBY is pretty much Anime tropes and cliches: The Anime, so it's not surprising it would do this.

Even still, it is depressing that Volume 2 has yet to do anything narratively interesting at all. Sure there's the odd revelation here and there, but nothing that really sparks immediate interest or engagement. I'm hoping that there'll be something more near the end of the series, but with only 4 episodes left, it seems unlikely.

Tropes and Cliches are not as big an issue as I once thought. Almost all media uses them in one way or another. The issue is payoff; how they use the tropes to make a story and how well executed it is.

Break down even the greatest shows and they will seem simple and tropey; execution makes the difference.

The problem is that the execution for RWBY is horrible. Seriously, why, what is the point of adding a dog. Pets and their relation to charcters can be used to indicate a number of personality traits but here, it's just for cheap cute gags

seriously, rewatching Zwei's intro, my reaction to the whole thing and how Blake, Weiss and Ruby reacted could be summed up as follows

It was just so overwhelmingly cutesy and stupid that I smacked my head in the desk hoping for it to disapper from my head (it didn't).

Also why the reaction to professor Oobeck? We haven't seen many incompetence from him or anything other than invested in equality and zips around really fast. We are given no reason to share RWBY's reactions and thus no reason to be amazed when Oobeck turns out to be inevitably capable in fighting.

Oh definitely. Execution is vital in any good TV show, but still the foundation of the RWBY is that it's one big tribute to Anime. They feel like they NEED to add lots of Anime tropes, which although seems fun in thoery, it doesn't really fit with the pacing or comic timing, and the whole thing just falls flat.

The whole thing is just fan service, which is beautifully illustrated by this Eddsworld short.

 

[DirectorK]

I am constantly perplexed by the frustration people express towards this internet show. I do understand that it isn't for everyone, but it isn't really worth these elaborate displays of anger or criticism. Just...let it go?

For my two cents, this was the weakest episode so far, but it's just going to be what it is. I'm not dissatisfied; I'll just wait for the next one and the inevitable fight scene.

Easy, right?

I stick with it because RWBY has a great concept that is just begging to be exploited but M & K's writing along with Monty's uncaring direction prevent it from ever doing so. And at this point I don't think it ever will unless some miracle happens.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Sorry to keep harping on this same point, but fucking Zwei? Just naming the Corgi Zwei shows that the people writing this crap know fucking nothing.

If you think that naming the corgi Zwei is a reference to Cowboy Bebop, well, they managed to fuck it up. Zwei is german for two. Ein is german for One. HOWEVER. Was Ein in Cowboy Bebop actually a reference to the german number for one?

NO!

Ein was a data dog, super intelligent. Ein is an abbreviation of Einstein, not Ein (1)!

 

[LawAndChaos]

Sorry to keep harping on this same point, but fucking Zwei? Just naming the Corgi Zwei shows that the people writing this crap know fucking nothing.

If you think that naming the corgi Zwei is a reference to Cowboy Bebop, well, they managed to fuck it up. Zwei is german for two. Ein is german for One. HOWEVER. Was Ein in Cowboy Bebop actually a reference to the german number for one?

NO!

Ein was a data dog, super intelligent. Ein is an abbreviation of Einstein, not Ein (1)!

Hey, they could've made a name that sounds like the number and a scientist, why not Zwoidberg?

Ok, but seriously...

Ahem, now I am not TOO familiar with Cowboy Bebop, as I kind of moved away from anime for a time (and still keep it at arm's length, only letting it hug me when it decides to hug me with stuff like Kill La Kill), but that's interesting to know.

It's seems that the RWBY team just pulled a "Cowboy Bebop at his computer" huh?

Everything's becoming more clear to me.

When Oum said he gave his crew "anime homework," he really meant it. It's basically, whatever anime they're watching at the time influences the episode. And Monty has said before that he wanted an anime that doesn't run through the usual tropes. It turns out when you give people "anime homework" that (SURPRISINGLY) anime is what you get back. Crazy, right?

I'm still bitter over the fact everything is going into anti-spirals.

I...I need to vent a few thoughts about the trailers for a second. There is just the overload of thoughts in my head about this show pouring out.

Notice how the lyrics in From Shadows completely spoil that Blake is a faunus?

Notice how the lyrics in Mirror Mirror reflect NOTHING about Weiss' actual character?

Notice how Yang was barely present in the whole of volume 1?

Notice how volume 1 AND volume 2 both are going through the motions? Like, the team's got a formula for the "main plot."

Step 1) Introductory villain scene

Step 2) Vague evil actions happen

Which means we're headed in the last few episodes of the volume to step 3) Protagonist VS Antagonist confrontation
Holy shit step 3. They're headed to where the ENEMY BASE IS. I think I might just have called the next batch of episodes you guys. Now, lemme narrow things down so my prediction isn't coming true by being vague as hell. It's gonna be the team and the teach, duking it out with...hmm...lessee, the four girls, plus the teacher...

And there's Cinderender, Emerldin, ShotgunNikes, Toadlick, and assuming she gets a chance, Neo. So that makes five antagonists for the team and the teacher to fight.

Step 4 is applying slice of life and "jokes" (directly to the forehead) when the crew is feeling whimsical.

Taking bets on plot predictions folks! Place ya bets, I got 2 jars of dust and a Sharklaunching Warhammer ON THE TABLE!

 

[Izanagi009_v1legacy]

Sorry to keep harping on this same point, but fucking Zwei? Just naming the Corgi Zwei shows that the people writing this crap know fucking nothing.

If you think that naming the corgi Zwei is a reference to Cowboy Bebop, well, they managed to fuck it up. Zwei is german for two. Ein is german for One. HOWEVER. Was Ein in Cowboy Bebop actually a reference to the german number for one?

NO!

Ein was a data dog, super intelligent. Ein is an abbreviation of Einstein, not Ein (1)!

I certainly could argue that it works on both levels with the number being a minor reference due to Einstein's German birth but yeah, it's stupid.

Seriously, rule one of anime: do not directly copy it or else you get bloody crap. Most animes that are considered the best are either the ones that play their tropes, execute them really well, or comment on them. Just watching a whole tone of anime is only going to give you the tropes used and not any of the subtext on how it works.

It would be like me watching all of the greatest Sci-fi works out there: Blade runner, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Metropolis, Ghost in the Shell (I will defend this movie to the death), Brazil/Zero Theorem, and the original Planet of the Apes, taking scenes directly out of them and mashing them together with no idea on why the scenes work or even have impact. It would just result in a 20 car pile up of themes, narratives, and even characters. The whole thing would be a bloody mess and yet somehow, I think it would be better than what RWBY is now

 

[Izanagi009_v1legacy]

Sorry to keep harping on this same point, but fucking Zwei? Just naming the Corgi Zwei shows that the people writing this crap know fucking nothing.

If you think that naming the corgi Zwei is a reference to Cowboy Bebop, well, they managed to fuck it up. Zwei is german for two. Ein is german for One. HOWEVER. Was Ein in Cowboy Bebop actually a reference to the german number for one?

NO!

Ein was a data dog, super intelligent. Ein is an abbreviation of Einstein, not Ein (1)!

Hey, they could've made a name that sounds like the number and a scientist, why not Zwoidberg?

Ok, but seriously...

Ahem, now I am not TOO familiar with Cowboy Bebop, as I kind of moved away from anime for a time (and still keep it at arm's length, only letting it hug me when it decides to hug me with stuff like Kill La Kill), but that's interesting to know.

It's seems that the RWBY team just pulled a "Cowboy Bebop at his computer" huh?

Everything's becoming more clear to me.

When Oum said he gave his crew "anime homework," he really meant it. It's basically, whatever anime they're watching at the time influences the episode. And Monty has said before that he wanted an anime that doesn't run through the usual tropes. It turns out when you give people "anime homework" that (SURPRISINGLY) anime is what you get back. Crazy, right?

I'm still bitter over the fact everything is going into anti-spirals.

I...I need to vent a few thoughts about the trailers for a second. There is just the overload of thoughts in my head about this show pouring out.

Notice how the lyrics in From Shadows completely spoil that Blake is a faunus?

Notice how the lyrics in Mirror Mirror reflect NOTHING about Weiss' actual character?

Notice how Yang was barely present in the whole of volume 1?

Notice how volume 1 AND volume 2 both are going through the motions? Like, the team's got a formula for the "main plot."

Step 1) Introductory villain scene

Step 2) Vague evil actions happen

Which means we're headed in the last few episodes of the volume to step 3) Protagonist VS Antagonist confrontation
Holy shit step 3. They're headed to where the ENEMY BASE IS. I think I might just have called the next batch of episodes you guys. Now, lemme narrow things down so my prediction isn't coming true by being vague as hell. It's gonna be the team and the teach, duking it out with...hmm...lessee, the four girls, plus the teacher...

And there's Cinderender, Emerldin, ShotgunNikes, Toadlick, and assuming she gets a chance, Neo. So that makes five antagonists for the team and the teacher to fight.

Step 4 is applying slice of life and "jokes" (directly to the forehead) when the crew is feeling whimsical.

Taking bets on plot predictions folks! Place ya bets, I got 2 jars of dust and a Sharklaunching Warhammer ON THE TABLE!

I will place 5 Murakumo units on unsatisfactory fight scene and poor resolution on the conflict with the bad guys just running away.

Seriously, it happened last volume, it will happen this volume