No Safe Haven
"For my mother... for my father... For all those that you've slain... For myself."
Written by Miles Luna & Kerry Shawcross
Directed by Kerry Shawcross, Gray G. Haddock & Miles Luna
Directed by Kerry Shawcross, Gray G. Haddock & Miles Luna
"I won't let you kill yourself like this. After everything we've been through, I won't let it end. Not like this. We can do this."
— Nora Valkyrie
As Team RNJR fights the Nuckelavee, Ren relives his childhood trauma.
Tropes in this episode include:
- Accidental Pervert: During the fight, Ren accidentally looks up Nora's skirt, much to his embarrassment. Nora's wicked grin as she turns away reveals she's not as embarrassed as she's pretending to Ren.
- And This Is for...: When Ren finishes off Nuckelavee, his thoughts are for those he is avenging until he delivers the final blow and tells this Grimm the last one is for himself.
- Anti-Nihilist: Ruby is implied to have become one, as her letter to Yang is essentially a declaration that she will continue on and try to do good despite the evil and bad things that happen every day in the world of Remnant.
- Book Ends:
- The first and last lines of the Volume (discounting the Stinger) are delivered by Watts.
- The first and last episodes of the volume both feature team RNJR fighting a dangerous and unique Grimm using very similar tactics for the two Grimm — neutralising the limbs, followed by the body, which allows them to kill the main portion of the beast with a final blow.
- Cliffhanger: While Team RNJR has arrived at Haven and other members of Team RWBY are heading in that direction for their own reasons, Watts is already there conversing with Professor Lionheart, revealing the Haven headmaster to be the informant Salem mentions at the start of the volume.
- Get A Hold Of Yourself Man: Nora stops Ren from being reckless by slapping him and telling him after everything they've been through, she doesn't want it to end here.
- Holding Hands: Ren's feelings for Nora have always been hidden, but the first sign that something in his attitude has changed is when Team RNJR fly to Mistral after the Nuckelavee fight forces him to confront his past. He reaches out to hold Nora's hand, causing her to momentarily freeze in surprise as the music stops. She then relaxes and leans her head on his shoulder.
- The Mole: In the first episode of the volume, Salem instructs Watts to meet with their informant in Mistral on Cinder's behalf, as she's still recovering from her injuries. In the seventh episode, Ozpin convinces Oscar to tap into his memory of Haven Academy's office, including a tea set that Ozpin gave the headmaster as a gift of friendship. This episode reveals that the informant Watts is meeting with is Haven's headmaster, drinking tea using the tea set that symbolises Professor Lionheart's friendship with Ozpin.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Nora is usually extremely kind and supportive towards Ren. She's also very protective of him in battle, ususually rushing angrily in to strike anything that dares to hurt Ren. However, when the Nuckelavee sends Ren flying after Ren's repeated rage-filled charges fail to have any impact, Nora doesn't support him and doesn't seek to protect him. She drags him underneath a building and then slaps him across the face. He's so shocked by her behaviour that it brings him back to his senses.
- Off with His Head!: After Team RNJR pins down the Nuckelavee's arms and pulverises the horse head, Ren delivers the final blows by cutting off both arms, wounding the rider's stomach, and then decapitating him.
- The Reveal:
- The informant Watts was ordered to meet in the volume's first episode is revealed to be the Haven headmaster, Professor Leonardo Lionheart. The scene reveals them drinking tea using the tea set that Ozpin tells Oscar in the volume's seventh episode was a friendship gift to Haven's headmaster.
- Once Oscar finds Qrow in The Stinger, Qrow's serious response as he hands the Ozpin's cane to the boy makes it clear that, whatever the reason for Ozpin's soul ending up in Oscar's body, Qrow knew in advance that it would happen, and was carrying the cane as part of some pre-arranged agreement with Ozpin.
- Rubber Man: The Nuckelavee can stretch its arms out to attack from a much longer distance than it initially appears to be capable of reaching.
- Ship Tease: Between Ren and Nora, both during and after the battle with Nuckelavee. After team RNJR board two airships to Mistral, Ren is the one to make the first move by holding Nora's hand. They smile at each other and then Nora leans on his shoulder while he holds her hand.
- So Proud of You: Qrow manages to muster just enough strength to tell Ruby "Good job, kiddo" after Team RNJR successfully defeats the Nuckelavee without his help.
- The Stinger: Oscar meets up with Qrow and nervously says that he's supposed to tell Qrow that he wants his cane back. Qrow initially looks startled before nodding gravely. He hands Ozpin's cane to Oscar, looks the boy straight in the eye, and says "It's good to see you again, Oz". The scene ends with Oscar looking from the cane to Qrow with a shocked expression on his face.
- Unstoppable Rage: A deconstructed example. Lie Ren goes into a bout of this, fighting the Nuckelavee up close, in contrast to his companions' hit-and-run tactics. Given his fighting style relies upon the tactics they themselves have adopted for the fight, his companions are openly shocked by his behaviour. He gets beaten back with every single charge, loses his weapons and has his Aura destroyed. His rage only stops when Nora slaps his face, shocking him back into sanity. After that, he re-engages with his companions to bring the enemy down with strategy.
♫ Feel like I'm finally unbroken
Oh, now I'm back from the dead
My strength back and confidence growing
Out of my way
'Cause I'm armed and ready! ♫
Oh, now I'm back from the dead
My strength back and confidence growing
Out of my way
'Cause I'm armed and ready! ♫
