Depression and withdrawal are complex subjects that are tackled head-on by Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, and the anime just addressed Rudy’s cycle of grief and isolation. In his past life, Rudy was an unemployed shut-in after a traumatic bullying incident. Rudy’s resulting isolation causes him to push away his support system, believing they can’t understand his grief, and this cycle is broken when his sister, Norn, does something he couldn’t in Jobless Reincarnation.

In Season 2, episode #17 of the Jobless Reincarnation anime, Norn is notably absent from class after critical hazing incidents and inevitable comparisons to her brother.

This leads her to shut herself away in her dorm, with Rudy sensing a parallel between this and how he handled his grief. The healing commences when he stands by and empathizes with Norn. Still, in many ways, Norn deserves credit for waking up, taking a step, and ending this heartbreaking cycle of Jobless Reincarnation.

Norn Accomplishes What Rudy Couldn’t in Jobless Reincarnation

The Greyrat Siblings Stop a Grief Cycle From Becoming a Family Curse

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation sees Norn’s triumph over isolation as an opportunity to break the cycle of Rudy’s grief from his past life, as shown in Season 2, episode #17. After Norn and Aisha come to the university to be safe with Rudy, Norn requests to live in the dorms in the previous episode. While Aisha bucks at the idea, Rudy supports it as an opportunity to get out of her family’s shadow and make some friends. However, this backfires at first when she comes to campus.

In the episode “My Older Brother’s Feelings”, Norn’s isolation is caused by students comparing her to Rudy, one of Mushoku Tensei’s most powerful mages. They couldn’t have known better, but Norn doesn’t see it this way, as she previously also lived under the same roof as her genius sister, Aisha. This, along with her lifelong fear of Rudy after seeing how he once lashed out at their father, Paul, made it challenging for her to accept Rudy. But seeing him empathize with her, sitting silently and not running away, she shuts down her cycle of isolation in Jobless Reincarnation.

Rudy Realizes What His Brother Experienced in His Past Life

Mutual Understanding Was the Key All Along

Rudy’s family in his past life was supportive, especially after what he went through, but his brother’s platitudes rang on deaf ears, with Rudy’s past self not trusting a word. However, the brother hadn’t done anything wrong; he just gave up too soon, and Rudy wouldn’t let that cycle repeat itself in Jobless Reincarnation. After all, it was after this conversation that Rudy’s brother got him kicked out, which led to his death and a new lease on life to kickstart the hit isekai anime series. For the healing to begin, Norn must do this on her terms.

As Rudy sits with Norn at the edge of her bed, the two reflect on their experiences. Fans are shaken when Rudy approaches the door, hearing his former self’s voice shouting, “Go away,” but he sits with her to apologize. Norn looks at her past fear of him and the school’s unfair obsession with him. When the two apologize, she sees Paul in Rudy’s contrite face. Norn realizes he won’t leave her behind or hurt her, and when the two reconcile, it’s a beautiful sight when she’s at school, happily greeting Rudy at the end of Jobless Reincarnation episode #17.