RWBY Ice Queendom 1x04 "Ice Queendom" - reaction & review
Added 2022-07-26 11:25:06 +0000 UTCHey everyone!! Here it is - my reaction to the ep 4 of RWBY ICE QUEENDOM!!!! WHOA, we are hitting the ground running here....like I thought I skipeed an ep or something haha. Ruby's snowboarding gear is EVERYTHING and omg, General Weiss is quite a sight to behold as well! Seeing inside Weiss' mind was fascinating and tragic all at the same time. Oh yeah, and nightmare Jacques is way scarier than any Grimm!!!! :O Can't wait to see where this is all going!
Great eps! Enjoy! ~ MH
Comments
My bad, I didn't explain it right! I was referring to the shadow people being reminiscent of the anime he mentioned, and how that anime has characters in a relationship who resemble Weiss and Ruby. We're all entitled to our own ships, I say!!! You know what I always say, whatever sprinkles your donuts!!!
Melissa Moore
2022-07-28 15:51:29 +0000 UTCI don’t think the shadow people have any implications for White Rose, I am pretty sure he was talking about the way they were being used like a reference to another anime that those particular shippers would like. Now I can’t speak for that crowd: Personally, I’ve never seen Ruby and Weiss as more than a really good and well developed friendship. Also judging solely from what I’ve read or seen quoted, it seems that both of their VAs have other personal wishes for the characters’ directions as well. Now I admit I personally DO have ships I like for each of them in the main series, but not with each other. But you know, I don’t want to be the guy who opens up a can of shipping arguments in here (those can get really ugly), so I’ll leave it at that. That’s how I feel about it.
Tyler Stobbe
2022-07-28 15:47:13 +0000 UTCJohn - I agree about the AoT and 1984 references! Also, didn't realize the shadow people were also a nod to another series! And even that they have White Rose implications!!!
Melissa Moore
2022-07-28 14:33:41 +0000 UTCTyler - yay Tuesdays!! Exactly, they aren't that close yet. And excellent point that Weiss has no other experience but what she's been taught. The portals are awesome right! OOHHHH, that's such a great note about the fact that the Faunus have Grimm structure here. The salute def makes more sense in dream logic. I got total AoT vibes too, and Akame ga Kill is one that pops up in the suggestions a lot! I can also see the 1984 references. Such a good point about Weiss not knowing how Crescent Rose works! Aww makes total sense that Klein would be capable of anything to Weiss. LOL it was totally worth getting sprayed with bug spray! >:D And yeah, I doubt Weiss has a close relationship with any of them yet; closest would probably be Ruby. Yay shadow people! And yeah, makes sense that they'd just be mewing because she barely knows them at this point. Also good call that they're probably placeholders! The outfit fits for sure, and oof, the Nightmare Grimm just found an all you can eat buffet sadly! Ohhh good call about her mentioning the girl in black / Blake. It's gonna turn things upside down now that she actually knows someone who's a Faunus instead of just making her decisions based on what she's been taught. Ugh, Jacques in the dream is just so telling of how she feels about his presence in her life. Oof, the "dummies can't become Schnees" thing is sad and telling as well. Makes sense that Winter is the standard but her words have gotten a bit twisted. Yes, Weiss seemed to react to Ruby saying she'd be gone from her life! It does make sense that Weiss would be the most powerful person in her world from her perspective. I can't believe they left me hanging, yet I can! Also, thanks for the reminder about Yang, yay!!!!!!!!!
Melissa Moore
2022-07-28 14:32:41 +0000 UTCHahaha I figured cause of the eyes it was someone in Weiss' family but couldn't tell who!
Melissa Moore
2022-07-28 14:22:23 +0000 UTCUntil Weiss addressed him directly I had no idea what the heck was up with that blue bat..... ;-)
John J Ronald
2022-07-27 23:43:28 +0000 UTCThe use of the "Shadow People" is, I agree, a nod to OG RWBY but it also reminded me of the use of shadow silhouettes in a much older anime franchise, namely Revolutionary Girl Utena....in that franchise they also function like a dramatic Greek Chorus....in the English dub always starting their lines "Have you heard? Have you heard?"...it's an iconic anime series, especially the Utena movie which is even MORE surreal than the original series...and also features a lesbian romance arc that #WhiteRose shippers would swoon for. Utena, like Weiss, is a master swordswoman, wielding a rapier, like Weiss.
John J Ronald
2022-07-27 23:41:11 +0000 UTCYeah, the 1984 references are pretty on the nose...."Big Brother" = "Big Nicholas"....not exactly subtle.
John J Ronald
2022-07-27 23:36:54 +0000 UTCYeah, I definitely picked up on the AoT vibes during Ruby's reconnaissance mission. Half expected a Titan to come crashing through one of the walls...or see someone whip by using ODM gear. Technically Jacques's first appearance is at the very end of Volume 3, during Salem's closing voice-over monologue, though he's more a still painting (like Tai in the background for Ch.1, V.4 when Ruby is at Summer's memorial marker)...though I think they do animate him blinking once or twice.
John J Ronald
2022-07-27 23:34:52 +0000 UTCGlad I'm not the only one who was confused! I know, we're really just starting out in our friendships as well as breaking down Weiss' barriers. Good call that Yang is more antagonistic to Weiss in a way here too. Also a good point that she has to hold back because of the real enemy being the nightmare Grimm. Awww I love that quote!!! And yes, I think you're right that Ruby's presence is healing in this land of Weiss' emotional struggles!!!
Melissa Moore
2022-07-27 18:26:32 +0000 UTCHahaha I hadn't thought of the outfit that way but it's so fun!!! And omg, if they decided to play if up with Lindsay doing an accent! Oof, that's insightful about why the fun is placed that way...could be either....!
Melissa Moore
2022-07-27 18:23:34 +0000 UTCHi Spadeas! :) Oh that's a good call about the opening only containing things from the first 3 eps. I didn't realize that! Lol I'm glad I'm not the only one who was confused! Yes, Weiss is amazing and has so much complexity that we could talk about all day right?? And glad you liked my observations, I think you're very right in yours about Ruby too! She represents pulling away from Jacques. Even the snowboarding persona represents freedom, like you said! :( It's so sad. But we know Weiss does eventually come to know that freedom!!! Hehehe I think this ep was a fun one for WhiteRose shippers!!!! ^_^
Melissa Moore
2022-07-27 18:17:59 +0000 UTCThat's such a good point that Whitley may be a bat here, but he still has an interest in helping Weiss! Yeah, good point - I would have thought Ruby would be in the sillies jail, not the tower! But I think that does show Weiss' true feelings about Ruby. Yeah I figured the "commoner" was Ruby too! That's cool that someone was able to share what was on the poster, that right there shows that Weiss thinks Ruby is a skilled fighter! Lol this is definitely playing up to some WhiteRose vibes! Oh I know, it's sad to see them take a step backwards!!! The conflict </3 Also good point Spadeas, that either way there's a link!!
Melissa Moore
2022-07-27 18:14:53 +0000 UTCLOL!!!!! I was dying over Bat Whitley :P
Melissa Moore
2022-07-27 13:52:34 +0000 UTCLol Whitley 😆
Manny
2022-07-27 10:53:22 +0000 UTCFirst, I’m pretty sure Tuesday is going to be my favorite day of the week for a while since we have both RvB and RWBY on it now! 😎 You do need to remember: this is shortly after the end of what we refer to as Volume 1. Not a whole lot of time has passed since Weiss met the others. So her relationships are forgING, they aren’t forged yet, and that’s going to create complications. It’s also imperative to remember that Weiss has probably only been subjected to one way of thinking, one ideal, up to this point in her life, so some of the things revealed in the dream are extremely derogatory and offensive when you examine them. But it’s not really her fault: she’s never been given a different point of view. Also, the Nightmare fed on Weiss for far longer than Jaune: Jaune manifested after one night of having his Aura unlocked. Weiss’ Nightmare has been feeding on her for at least a month. It’s quite interesting how Ruby is manipulating the coins and Shion’s Aura. It seems that she’s creating doors, so when you see her create the first door it leads nowhere - but when she creates a second door elsewhere and asks it to lead back to the train tracks, it has become a portal. Looking closely at the train attack, the White Fang all have Grimm characteristics and skeletal structure out their back. This is super telling. Weiss doesn’t view the Faunus any different from the Grimm. They’re both just harbingers of destruction for her (see above comment about being influenced by your surroundings.) The whole “Big Nicholas” salute makes perfect sense, but it also feels a little silly. I suppose in a dream, that’s par for the course. The set design for this looks really awesome btw, before we get into how messed up it is. It seems to me to have two anime influences: one you know for sure (Attack on Titan), and the other reminds me of a key structure location throughout Akame ga kill! - Which I recommend you put on your list for several reasons, but that’s not today’s focus. The AoT reference is there’s three walls in the city, the outer is the industrial area, the second wall is the main city and citizenry, and the center is the SDC “palace,” I guess you’d call it? Someone said the industry part of the episode reminded them of a book called “1984.” I don’t know the details, but having Jacques propaganda everywhere and him “encouraging” the masses is slightly unsettling. Notice when Ruby tries to fight with Snowboard Crescent Rose, it shoots backwards. Ruby gets a little miffed by this. Think about the implications: Weiss has been Ruby’s teammate for a once AND SHE NEVER EVEN HAS BOTHERED TO LEARN HOW HER WEAPON WORKS. “Citizens of the Empire must follow the true path.” - this might be a clue to what Weiss’ goal is in this dream, but what does it mean exactly? Klein is everywhere. The inference being presented , and we know that they have a good relationship in canon proper, is that Klein is capable of anything and everything and always gets the job done. So he’s actually going to be in charge of everything here. Quick timeout: First, pshhh - there’s your bug spray. :P Bit seriously though - I find it interesting that only Ruby went in to the dream. Shion told them it’s not time yet. Although we know Ruby has had by far the most effect on Weiss, has she really developed much with the others yet? Her relationship with Blake and Yang even in canon is not usually a story point. Sometimes, but they developed far more slowly. I’m pretty sure that nod to the Shadow People was intentional. Now, Shion DID say Ruby had replaced a character in Weiss’ dream so it was easier for her to move around and collect recon. So when we see 3/4 JNPR characters in the Sillies’ jail - that’s a clear indication to me that those are placeholders for the real characters and they’ll be called on at some point because good grief, is this dream intricate. The reason they’re mewing? Simple. Weiss hasn’t bothered to get to know them very well. She’s been completely self centered as her Volume 1 self this entire time. I should point out nobody was a huge fan of Weiss in V1, she grows on you AS you uncover her backstory. Whitley as a bat snaking around, offering to help her sister while needling her endlessly? Yeah, that… seems about right. He does like to drive her batty. (Had to.) Weiss’ outfit kind of reflects her ideal self. She wants to be in charge, she wants to live up to the family name, and she doesn’t want to be considered a disappointment. The Nightmare must just be FEASTING on her insecurities in this aspect. Also her costume also seems to have been influenced by a similar character design in Akame ga kill!, which I mentioned before. No spoilers of course, but people who’ve seen the show know who I mean immediately. I should point out that Jacques is everywhere, and even when she’s in her private quarters, he looks over her. He casts a huge shadow on her, and while he didn’t make an appearance until V4, having that knowledge makes it clear she’s being heavily influenced by his expectations of her and the resentment she’s holding in towards him. “Dummies can’t become Schnees.” - this is probably Weiss’ biggest fear which is why it’s so prevalent in the dream. During Weiss’ table conversation she mentions that there’s a girl in black clothing that’s leading the Faunus and Weiss can’t get her off her mind. Blake’s reveal has clearly thrown Weiss’ entire ideal system into chaos ever since she revealed she was a Faunus. Apparently, there’s not a single one in the Empire. If Blake ends up replacing her placeholder in this world, well… that’s going to be super interesting when those two cross paths… When Weiss comes to accost Ruby, she pulls out the rule book. Winter’s words from her training are in there but they also get twisted. We know how much Winter means to Weiss, though. She is THE standard for her and she’ll respond to anything her big sister tells her. There is a brief flash of recognition and pain after Ruby says “I’ll snap you out of this and then I’ll never talk to you again!” Weiss is still in there somewhere, but the nightmare is tearing her between her desire to be perfect and her desire to be accepted by others. She’s obviously not in control of herself. This being Weiss’ dream, it’s no wonder she takes out Ruby as easily as she does. She believes she is the most powerful person and in this domain, she is. She’s in complete command of everything, but we also know she’s not. When Ruby puts out the decoy, Weiss sliced right through it with intent to kill. And immediately cuts off her escape route after she uses it. Ruby is strong, but Weiss won’t be saved without help. Ruby needed to buy enough time to use the last coin to escape. But Weiss didn’t give it to her, and I guess we have to wait to find out what happens next! Phew, that’s a lot, but there’s just so much to unpack in this chapter and it shows you just how complex Weiss’ mind is. It should be noted, they did say this was where the story was going to deviate to all original content, so I think we’re all done with the quasi recapping. Just as well, there’s a lot to explore here, and I gotta wonder what else is going on in my favorite character’s head! Guess we’ll find out! PS: Will also DM this, but Thursday 7/28 is Yang’s birthday!
Tyler Stobbe
2022-07-27 05:04:29 +0000 UTCI was a little confused when the episode started but after Ruby stumbled on the surreal road sign I figured we must already be in Weiss's dream-scape. Yeah, this is going to be a difficult road ahead for all of Team RWBY because this is so early on in their working relationship.....they haven't even been through the events of Volume 2 yet that strengthened their bonds. And we all remember that Weiss's theme song Mirror Mirror is all about her loneliness and isolation....and that Ruby & Weiss clashed through most of Volume 1 with the exception of a few key moments. Even Yang is more aggressive against Weiss in this retelling, accusing her of being phony/two-faced with the rest of the team....a tension I don't think was quite as pronounced in RWBY Prime but a theme that IS common in a LOT of Japanese anime generally, so I'm not surprised to see it be a bone of contention here. Ruby is on Weiss's (mental) territory and at a disadvantage....she probably has to hold back from actually hurting the Ice Queen of this Dreamscape lest it weaken her against the Nightmare Grimm which is ultimately the real enemy they must all seek and destroy so they can bring Weiss back to reality and show her that her Team does genuinely care about her and accepts her flaws and is willing to help her work on them....in stark contrast to her father! (from RWBY7): "So these are the little friends you threw everything away for." "Not Friends; ....Family." Ice Queendom's conflicts are all going to be deep metaphors for Weiss's emotional struggles and RWBY's presence is basically hands on group therapy....
John J Ronald
2022-07-27 00:28:07 +0000 UTCLike the new outfit for Ruby Rose.....I like to joke she's gone "full Canadian".....and yes, Crescent Rose is now also a snowboard. It's still also a gun but pointing the "wrong" direction (maybe Weiss thinks Crescent Rose would be improved by putting the gun on the other end?)...or maybe it represents her feeling Ruby might "backstab" (back shoot?) her? I dunno. I think it would be funny when Lindsay Jones gets around to dubbing this episode if they let her voice the "decoys" and give them an exaggerated Canadian accent for fun, to distinguish them from actual Ruby...."I'm sooorrryy!" and "I don't even care, Hoser!" (it would be silly but hilarious...at least to me.)
John J Ronald
2022-07-27 00:13:29 +0000 UTCIt seemed to me that it was clear that Jacques was talking about Ruby, he is talking about a commoner and a possible thief, since there is the image of Ruby at this moment and Weiss has just said his name, all seemed to flow naturally. Anyway, I interpreted it like that and thought to myself, that Ruby being an element pushing Weiss to disobey her father was also a beautiful thing, especially because like you, I want WhiteRose to win 😉. But hey, even if it's Yang, it seems logical that she remains sister with Ruby in this dream and therefore the link is still there ^^
Spadeas
2022-07-26 15:52:31 +0000 UTCHi Hime :) I admit I was disappointed with the opening, not musically, but visually, it just takes images from the first 3 episodes only, so nothing new or made especially for the opening. I was as confused as you, I even watched the end of episode 3 to check that there was nothing new that would make the connection but no, we jump directly into the dream. I could also write an essay on the meaning of Weiss's dream, you know how much I adore her and feel close to her character-wise, so of course I would have a lot to say, but you have already said it yourself a lot, the fact of being under constant surveillance by Jacques, Willow being only a shadow always a glass in hand, Withley infiltrating everywhere and watching for the opportunity to bring down the reputation of Weiss, Winter being the moral compass of Weiss or even Klein being at the most important post of all the kingdom (directs the factory, the guard, the prison...). All that, we know it only too well with the evolution of Weiss through the original series. But it's also interesting to see how she sees Ruby. Jacques reproaches Weiss for going out on the sly to talk to her in her dream, which means that she is the element that pushes her to rebel against her father, the one who will free her. As for the image she has of Ruby, the fact that she snowboards, as if she let life carry her, freely and without constraint, is another good example. Ruby represents freedom for her, a freedom that she cannot afford to have and that must be put behind bars, as long as Jacques watches. It's both sad, but gives a light of hope, a soft and warm silvery light, which will melt the heart of our ice queen. Well in the end, I still did a mini essay and once again left my romanticism for a Ruby/Weiss couple ^^'.
Spadeas
2022-07-26 15:38:44 +0000 UTCI love how Whitley is a bat, something that is always watching. But I find it also nice to see his true colors on the fact that he warns Weiss of dangers. Even if he acts like a brat while doing so. Winter is a book of knowledge for Weiss to get advice and judgements from. What's very interesting is that they mention Ruby going to the "Tower" not the Sillies Jail. Which also seems to insure that Weiss doesn't see Ruby as just some silly girl. Yes she is seen as such. But treated differently. Weiss most likely didn't see Ruby as a "mew" version since she isn't surprised that Ruby speaks normally. But Weiss wants her taken back to some sort of personalized prison. Dream Jacque mentions that Weiss snuck out to talk to someone who is a commoner. This could be Ruby. If it is Yang then that's fine. But I feel they mentioned that while the screens showed Ruby for a reason. Also those wanted posters were up really fast. Someone in the Fandom zoomed in on one and it states to capture Ruby immediately. And that she is a skilled fighter despite her appearance. I got to say the WhiteRose shipper in me is loving the Ruby and Weiss dynamic being played with again. When Ruby says to Weiss after she saves her that she will never talk to her again. Weiss' expression breaks, into surprise and hurt. I love that. Breaks my heart to see them back at this point in the relationship though. 💔
Kayleigh McRae
2022-07-26 14:29:34 +0000 UTC
