Table of Contents - RWBY Volume 3

RWBY (Volume 3)

Written by Monty Oum, Kerry Shawcross, and Miles Luna
Produced under Rooster Teeth

RWBY, Volume 3. Quite possibly the most famous and infamous of all the show's content so far.

It was, depending on who you ask, either where the show peaked or where it tanked to its lowest depths. It achieves its position, wherever that may be, because by late 2014-early 2015, RWBY was a phenomenon. It was immensely popular, with an explosive and boisterous fanbase that, between the buildup of Volumes One’s and Two’s stories, the amazing fight choreographies, and the good music, had been caught hook, line, and sinker, and were now in for the long haul. Plenty of outsiders who had initially dismissed the show were now looking on in interest, wondering if maybe this little oddball series by those comedy gamers was any good.

Unfortunately, before the volume could be released, disaster struck. On January 22^nd, 2015, Monty—the series creator, owner, and lead writer—had a severe allergic reaction during a routine medical procedure, and fell into a coma. Everyone was scared, and despite hopes that he would pull through, he died on February 1^st. Donation funds were sent in en masse to help his family with the medical funds and tribute after sorrowful tribute were created once he was gone.

I don’t know much about Monty Oum. I had never watched any other work of his, and haven’t to this day. RWBY is his only project that I’ve seen, so for me, I had to wonder for a bit if I even had the right to grieve him. I did know that RWBY was his passion project, though, and something deeply personal for him, and that aside, what I’ve heard about him speaks that he was a genuinely kind and thoughtful person and a truly passionate, creative mind. The idea that he could be struck down while in the process of making his dream series a reality shook me deeply, as it did many people. The folders full of documents that I want to see published one day? My dream is to learn animation at college and make them happen myself.

Regardless, after the shock and waves of grief were passed, there were obviously questions about what would happen with Monty’s work, with Rooster Teeth announcing that RWBY would continue in his absence and in his loving memory. If I recall correctly, something akin to “Monty left behind enough material for 20 volumes” was said, though don’t quote me on that. Whether this was a good idea or not, everyone will have differing ideas on. I loved RWBY, at least at the time, and while I wanted it to continue, I also didn’t see a problem with letting the show die with its creator. I have only grown stronger in that opinion since.

There were obviously concerns, of course. Not just about whether there was an outline, a plan in place for the show’s future, but whether or not Rooster Teeth (who basically threw Monty at a scene whenever it required any intense action) would be capable of replicating the quality of his work. This is a lot more objective a concern, and I have to say that the end results swing wildly between “hideous” and “worthy successor”, so make of that what you will—I will be.

Nonetheless, RWBY Volume 3 happened, premiering October 24, 2015, after a year’s hiatus since Volume 2’s end on October 30, 2014. It continued the story and brought it to new dramatic heights…and greater flaws of writing than ever. You can watch the official trailer here.

More than any other volume, I expect this one to be the one that generates a lot of talk. Volume 3 left a lot of people in shock, and a fair few of them quite unhappy. You’ll see that one of them was quite significant, enough so to warrant a spork.

( Read more... )