Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

[Ryllharu]

I don't think it felt dragged out. The whole situation would feel ridicilously plain if it were done even quicker.

They said their goodbyes to someone they traveled several years with.
The whole scenery had to sink in for them (and for us) as well, since it's not just a small area that got basically wiped from existence but a whole city and the surrounding villages.
I think the amount of time they gave these 2 things was adequate.

Minutes of reused footage set over music without dialogue is padding. No room for subjectivity on if it is or isn't. Same with the drawn-out goblet drop. I'm not complaining about the mood setting of them looking over the ruined landscape, because that is cleverly used to pad the episode length while evoking the somber finality of finding out there's no home to return to.

Like... why is it important for the people in the first place that Eris and the Fatso get together. The region is under fatso's control anyway, right? What does it matter if Eris is by his side or not. Do they think they get special treatment and help if Eris can somehow control his hand by being his concubine?
What kind of help are they looking for, who is looking for it? etc. etc. etc.
If the King gave it to him, I can only imagine that he wants it rebuilt - and if he can't make it prosper again, wouldn't fatso also be beheaded for failing?

It's because it is Eris. Eris' mom was hot. It's likely that Eris will also be quite stunning. If properly broken and not the furious warrior we know her to be, she'd be a suitable ornament for the fatso. He's a pervert for sure, like any Greyrat.

Eris' grandfather at least cared for and respected the kemonomimi servants he had, even if he was frequently using them for sex.

Since they were pointing out she'd be his concubine, and this isn't Imperial era China or Japan, it's not likely to be of any political advantage. The fatso wants an attractive sex slave. Nothing more, nothing less. He already has the veneer of legitimacy by getting her grandfather executed.

I was kind of assuming that Eris, Rudy, and Ghislaine were going to take back her estate. But it looks like Eris is running away to go train with her first swordmaster instead.

[Kraco]

Since they were pointing out she'd be his concubine, and this isn't Imperial era China or Japan, it's not likely to be of any political advantage.

Yeah, I'd say it could be of political disadvantage for Eris. It would mean more legitimacy for the scumbag because anything that was hers would be then be his. Maybe even more importantly, though, it would remove Eris from most political considerations, used/sponsored by any political adversaries of the scumbag, if not by Eris herself. Since it's a world of sword & sorcery, individuals can be superbly powerful. If Eris manages to get famously powerful, she will be a political force on her own. That would make her also a political joker (card), which could kick the scumbag in the ass later. However, if Eris would now be reduced into a role of concubine (sex slave), all such possibilities would be gone. All she would basically gain would be food and a roof over her head, for a high price.

[KrayZ33]

Minutes of reused footage set over music without dialogue is padding. No room for subjectivity on if it is or isn't. Same with the drawn-out goblet drop. I'm not complaining about the mood setting of them looking over the ruined landscape, because that is cleverly used to pad the episode length while evoking the somber finality of finding out there's no home to return to.

dunno, I skipped through the episode after reading your post and didn't even find all to many scenes you were talking about.
One was during the sex, the other was during his time when he revisited his destroyed home and some more when Ruijerd left(?). Either way, the reused scenes didn't feel like they were dragging it out at all, but rather enhancing the whole situation.
I found it to be sweet.

It's because it is Eris. Eris' mom was hot. It's likely that Eris will also be quite stunning. If properly broken and not the furious warrior we know her to be, she'd be a suitable ornament for the fatso. He's a pervert for sure, like any Greyrat.

Eris' grandfather at least cared for and respected the kemonomimi servants he had, even if he was frequently using them for sex.

Since they were pointing out she'd be his concubine, and this isn't Imperial era China or Japan, it's not likely to be of any political advantage. The fatso wants an attractive sex slave. Nothing more, nothing less. He already has the veneer of legitimacy by getting her grandfather executed.

I was kind of assuming that Eris, Rudy, and Ghislaine were going to take back her estate. But it looks like Eris is running away to go train with her first swordmaster instead.

But that doesn't explain anything and just adds to my problem with it. The old man-servant obviously thinks there is some kind of benefit for her and for her people, in fact, he thinks the people would benefit the most from this and he was willing to "sacrifice/use" Eris for this, as long as Eris decides to do it herself at least.
I'm wondering what this benefit could be? Where is this coming from? That's why I think this should've gotten a proper setup through some "out of Rudy's view" developments.


Anyway, due to skipping through the episode again I realized what Eris is saying in that letter and what she is wanting to do.
The scene where Rudy tried to dispel his own magic gave it a bit away I think. Seems like Rudy is ready to face Orsted again or at least keep on going, while Eris doesn't want it at all. It feels like Eris was trying to bind him down but seeing as that is not what he wants, she decided to do something with Ghislaine so that she remains worthy - probably, seeing how her last encounter ended without her doing anything while Rudy at least managed to score a hit, while having his lungs demolished no less?

edit: man, this episode gave me a bad aftertaste overall.. I really wished for Eris and Rudy to be a thing for much longer.

[Kraco]

It feels like Eris was trying to bind him down but seeing as that is not what he wants, she decided to do something with Ghislaine so that she remains worthy - probably, seeing how her last encounter ended without her doing anything while Rudy at least managed to score a hit, while having his lungs demolished no less?

I don't believe she's worried about binding him down. She just can't live with being weaker than Rudeus. She has always been a fighting oriented person. She was born into nobility, but was looking up to Ghislaine and scoffing at academics. She loves the sword. After the initial shock, she was enthralled by the long adventure, full of danger, through the demon lands and the human continent. She has got real talent, which she knows herself, yet the younger Rudeus still keeps beating her. Rudeus had the unfair advantage of not being affected by Orsted's fear curse, but it's not like Eris would know that. In her eyes Rudeus must have looked like an ultimate badass. This difference in power ought to be what Eris can't live with. She loves Rudeus, but doesn't want to stand next to him while being useless compared to him. A tragically wrong notion, but it's still something gnawing at her. We saw an earlier sign of it back in the demon continent harbour town, where Eris was sure she can defeat Rudeus, but due to his new ocular power, she got beaten.

[KrayZ33]

Ahhh... so maybe Eris wanted some kind of memeto to remind herself of Rudy and the decision was already made? That would work as well.

Oh man, gimme back my Eris!
It must suck so hard for Rudy, considering that he is alone now as a 14 year old boy in the middle of a desolate place.

[MFauli]

It must suck so hard for Rudy, considering that he is alone now as a 14 year old boy in the middle of a desolate place.

Until weeb-Rudy realizes: "OMG, I just had hot sex with a 15 yo, with not responsibilities! Now I can go look for Sylphie, the hot elf girl! I wonder what she looks like! And maybe I'll run into Roxy even!"

[KrayZ33]

Until weeb-Rudy realizes: "OMG, I just had hot sex with a 15 yo, with not responsibilities! Now I can go look for Sylphie, the hot elf girl! I wonder what she looks like! And maybe I'll run into Roxy even!"

Even if weeb-Rudy were like that, he has now tasted the forbidden fruit but lost it. So... even then, it must suck for him.

[MFauli]

Even if weeb-Rudy were like that, he has now tasted the forbidden fruit but lost it. So... even then, it must suck for him.

That's every man ever in the history of men that had a woman but then lost access to her :P