"It's 2 a.m. I'm speechless, but that was truly fantastic, there's tears, Thankyou CRWBY"

My immediate thoughts there and yeah wow that... I don't think I've enjoyed a finale as much as this one in a long time and I'm just so excited for what we could possibly be getting next. I don't think we'll be getting a new volume this year and I think the next volume will be just a little bit shorter, I think it's going to be something really different and I'm ecstatic with the people who are going to be involved and it really brought the Atlas story to a good end.

“Sometimes it's worth it all to risk the fall, and fight for every life... and as we end our 8th journey, subtlety befell the start of all, apart from this now the final word. In the end the final word fell... and thus it was, checkmate.”

I definitely appreciate the touch at the start of this episode with the content warning people and viewers of themes of death to come this episode much like Volume 3 had something somewhat similar back in the day. I've seen a few people mad at this episode for obvious reasons because they... you know, hurt people that we care about but with this warning it gave me a good reminder of.. if you been watching the show and you made it through volume three I don't think you have a valid reason to be mad at what this episode did and if you are please correct me below, because I think I think vol 3 show that the show is willing to play with emotions and hurt us, so now they do it again here, it shouldn't be surprising. You can still be sad but people shouldn't get mad over the show especially is creators for that in my opinion, just wanted to say.

I would have put money on the end credit scene of this volume being Salem rising from the literal ashes of Atlas or now Atlantis I suppose, was shocked by the little collateral the falling city created but the ensuing water made up for that devastation. But instead we get it as our very first scene but I love that, I love the juxtaposition of playing with.. what at least I would have expected. Then to only hear Salem's blood curdling scream and she came back along with Cinders arm playing up as another sign and was a nice touch throughout the episode.

I really enjoyed the opening portion of the fights between Ironwood and Winter. I thought they were slow, comprehensible enough yet satisfying and really emotional. Some great dialogue in there between those two just really great stuff from both Elizabeth, Jason and the Animation/Choreography team. Winter did split her sword in the previous episode and you did see it again here so I thought that was a little bit of a quirky oversight by I literally forgot it every time I re-watched it, it's not a big deal but thought I'd mention it.

Transition now into more fighting in the Central Location with Cinder and Penny as they did last episode with a nice save next from Weiss and her Lancer. I really appreciated the small scene with Jaune and Nora, kind of getting the priorities straight and talking about how the evacuation is their duty, and their goal to get done. Furthermore later in the episode when Jaune tells Nora to go through to bring more Huntsman through the portal, again was a nice way to kind of get Nora out of the picture so we can have more time with the more relevant characters in a situation but it felt quite natural, though I was theorizing that Nora and Penny has some potential development there... which could have led to Nora getting the Maiden-Powers powers. I suppose all that was simply meant to be mirroring Nora and Penny's struggles in this volume rather than foreshadowing something to come and that's something I felt this volume didn't do particularly well is that it didn't build up or foreshadow a lot of events that came in this episode/Finale in particular, but their all still based on much older foreshadowing from previous volumes like Weiss, Jaune vs Cinder from v5, like Ruby and Neo or even Vine with his Aura Extension comment. All of these were satisfying but it just would have been nice to have a bit more relevant foreshadowing to go off from.

I love the Weiss and Penny moments as I typically always do. Penny of course assumes that just Cinder wants the Maiden-Power which she would have interpreted from how she was acting back in Episode 5 but also we know Cinder has a different approach to things and clearly wants everything including the Relics as she further/later states. I like that she continued her actions knocking the two out of the air as you probably would in a real Life-Situation, you wouldn't let your opponents converse and strategize so I always appreciate touches like that in the show. The end bit here Blake realizing that cinder is the bigger threat in the situation with both the Maiden and the Relics around which also ties into Blake being the one telling Penny last episode to steer clear and stay safe while I'm sure Blake wants to fight Neo, either she realizes that Ruby can handle this herself or simply knows that there are bigger fish to fry at the moments with Cinder in the grand scheme of things.

Of all the fights I predicted that we get this episode.. the one I was most surprised about was Qrow and Harriet and that's also why I'm not that shocked that this wasn't really much of a fight. It was more of the moment and all credit to CRWBY they animated a lot of fighting this episode and I have no problem that they cut down on this one. I loved the tease from episode 4 and even from the intro about Qrow and Harriet, their connections to Clover and I appreciated his moment despite it not being super predictable going into it. She just wants to continue her duty for Ironwood, for Clover but it's not until we see Elm and Vine re-enter the fold that she kind of comes to reason and they also come to reason as well about how much they actually do care for everyone else in the Ace-Ops. The next moment here I really like to because it's quite open to interpretations, you question if the bomb stops because of some sense of good luck or was it stopped on account of Qrow’s Semblence either way I think it's good for Qrow’s development that at least his bad luck didn't make this worse. Jumping forward and we have Vine’s little comment from last vol kind of come full circle here where he sacrifices himself to save everyone… I'm really interested to see what this means for Elm, Harriet.

Neat little focused section here on Ruby and Neo, they're fighting included a very easily-to-be-missed teardrop from Ruby, obviously due to what happened to Yang. The fight here is short and sweet but again with some just nice scythe choreography all while Neo still looks like a badass before a nice save from Weiss which to be critical I would have liked the line to have been delivered a little bit differently [personal preference i suppose]. Regardless Cinder sticks her nose in and Weiss with the sacrifice here before her Aura finally breaks so now we're on edge for her for the rest of the episode before Neo then just backs in and continues her assault against Ruby, luckily landing on the low platform but losing Crescent Rose is a hell of a statement from the show. She stands up there with the staff, not caring about any of this and just having a simple and focused goal of revenge. The only dialogue we get between Neo and Ruby this episode is Ruby simply asking was all this worth it whatever you wanted and I like that as a good tease for what i hope is a lot more dissension between these two next volume but Ruby obviously uses that as a distraction, managed to get the upper hand before Cinder again just being everywhere in this episode taking all the advantages she can. Betraying Neo which I wasn't expecting, I was definitely thinking that Neo would be the one to betray but again we're trying to re-establish Cinder as this competent character. Threatens both Neo and Ruby including an interesting line saying that you shouldn't have even been born all while Blake and Penny try coming for the save but again it's Cinder to have the upper hand cut the line of the Shroud and we lose two more to the Void.

Poetic moment next as Weiss wields Gambol against Cinder, a beautiful way for the show to show here, Weiss is upset but c’mon she needs to keep fighting we can’t just have all our characters say what they're thinking especially at a time like this. Then Cinder mocks her being the last one left and how poetic that is for an Atlesian particularly a Schnee tying back to there Volume 5 encounter before Jaune and Penny jump in recalling both there previous encounters with our Fall-Maiden, much like Adam acknowledging Blakes scar i would loved Weiss maybe holding her side her as a call back to her impalement but, i can't have everything i guess. Fyi I loved the line-up moment with the three against Cinder, ahrghh music was so good in that moment two.

...And then my favourite character died for a second time, look I'm very grateful that we got Penny back at all and while it somewhat undermines the Creation thing from 2 episodes ago considering how that whole thing was conceived and wrapped up in one episode a think in hindsight, that now makes more sense. That this has happened again... Penny is my favourite character and I'm sad but I'm just so happy that we got more of her to even begin with, I appreciate that in this moment it was quick, Cinder didn't waste time, Weiss immediately tried to stop her, Jaune also immediately tried to save her; it didn't feel cheap, it didn't feel like the characters weren’t reacting. I think it was executed really well and while this Jaune and Penny dynamic was new, it has been foreshadowed in the past few episodes with Jaune’s semblance being Key against the virus, so I guess with more thought it actually is appropriate. Penny’s poetic moment of... just end me, like in Episode-11, let the power go to Winter as it was always meant to. Stop Cinder, save Weiss, it'll be ok. Jaune believing in Weiss. that she can give us time, that belief that his semblance can save her… but ultimately he's not given the choice and he has to now kill Penny. At first I wasn't sure what she was suggesting and my mind immediately went ‘wait Jaune can't get the power... can he?’ but regardless I loved it and it's so sad now that Jaune, Pyrrha, Penny that whole thing from Volume-3 is kind of, now wrapped up and Jaune is all that's left. His emotion, pain alerting Cinder further adds to their relations and fights going forward. We also see Gambol-Shroud finally fall into the Void as Weiss now lays vulnerable.

Undeniably one of my favourite parts of volume 7 was Penny and Winters dynamic and seeing it end here. It was just beautiful. I loved it. I can't give much more commentary than that. But I will say Elizabeth Maxwell as Winter is just the best and I will never ever ever ever argue anyone on that fact. Her last confrontation with Ironwood was just great, calling back to Weiss and Winters speech outside Fria’s room back last volume about Destiny and making it your own and that regardless of anything, this was Penny's last gift and no authority or power can excuse that.

Cinder breaking Crocea-Mors is really interesting and a great little addition into their story going forward and I'm really curious as to what role that's going to play and what next stage does Jaune's weapon have but nevertheless Winter steps up and we have ourselves yet another Maiden fight and this one was incredible. Winter as the Winter-Maiden as much as it makes my eyes roll just looks and seems so perfect and I'm not even mad. I am a sucker admittedly for Jaune and Weiss stuff for seeing them try to escape together was cute and Cinder wasn't going to let that happen after everything that's transpired. I loved Jaune’s save, calling back to the Hard-Light Shields that is used throughout the volume but again she’s learned so she continue, uses her explosive abilities and Jaune’s Aura breaks and sends Weiss the last of the 4 Into the Void and I love winter and Jaune kind of, being the two characters that loved Weiss the most over the series being the two here most distraught when she's gone.

I'm curious how much this means for the story going forward but having Winter be the one to swear vengeance against Cinder is interesting and I'm curious to see if that resolves itself because a lot of people could probably have that same attitude towards Cinder. But finally probably one of my favourite parts of this finale was I love that Jaune is going to be apart of whatever comes next, I love the character who was the main character of RWBY before Team RWBY as a whole were in-a-sense in the early volumes finally hopefully gets to come back to that relevance once again and along with Neo as well who's become kind of the fan-favourite-insert so whatever is going to happen next I’m thrilled that these 6 are going to be the focus, I really appreciate that from a long-term storytelling perspective. All while seeing Nora on the other side knowing she couldn't go back, she couldn't send help through which is just heartbreaking and seeing Winter to come out clear the storm, clear the Grimm and just... it was just, it, I'm sorry but I did I love, i loved this whole finale, there’s a little bit more but we'll get there.

I don't mind either way with Salem, she may be unaware of the truth or she simply doesn't care, at the end of the day the Relic’s are the end goal’ that is what will end the world, that is what will finally give her peace. Sure she wanted Ruby alive; sure she wants the Maiden-Powers, at the end of the day as long as she has the Relic’s that's what's important here and I like that Cinder kind of weaved her way around of the truth and again whether Salem was aware of that and it didn't matter. I appreciate in the end Ironwood still alive, he finally got to see Salem but in the end it was too late. I’d be very interested in if Ironwood survived and came back towards the end of the series to redeem himself, I'm just saying if anyone could survive this, it would be him. I especially liked that Cinder’s creation was to kill essentially kill Watts as i predicted, which I just loved that makes so much sense it's quite poetic here’s characters always having beef since Volume-4 and early and after what he said earlier in this volume... She's smart, she's playing along, checkmate.

And that's that for volume 8. I loved the credit song, I love that it's a Penny song. I haven't quite gone through the lyrics yet but I recognise the score and that warms my heart. This volume as a whole is definitely up there with the top three especially under such harsh conditions the world put them in this year. I predict the next Volume will be an Alice-in-Wonderland-esk volume that we probably won't get to till 2022 but we also get the Fairytales of Remnant show this year hopefully and I'll probably be a bit shorter, maybe 8 to 10 episodes. I'll just be about them finding each other and escaping and I love that it's going to be team Ruby with Jaune and Neo, where she can fill that FNDM Predicted Cheshire-Cat inspiration roll and I imagine that our characters will experience people from the dead perhaps, likely just visions but... I imagine that Blake and Yang will be haunted by Adam, we might finally get to see Weiss’s Grandfather, or Jacque, we might get Jaune and Pyrrha, Neo with Roman. We might get Ruby and Penny maybe Summer... but I love the volume, I love the episode and I love what I think is going to come next. Thank you for reading. Sorry & much Appreciated.

"I don't think I've ever been more mad that an episode ended... what the hell, next week please...."

So that was my initial thought immediately in the aftermath, It's going to be a long and trying week ahead most surely. This episode didn't exactly end on a cliff hanger but it created so many loose threads that it felt more like a whole cliff coming crumbling down and the pieces are just going to take 7 days to land but all we can do is sit... and wait.

"The best laid plans... come to those who deserve it, but those who are worthy will reap their rewards, sometimes there is no time for such plans and one must face the sacrifices their own instincts create. Some grow cold and stand to action even if time was on their side... And others have there plans fall on the words of those who planned."

Well damn... I suppose we'll start at the beginning and then we'll "get there"; Always love a "good-old-callback" particularly to vomit-boy so that was a neat start to the episode. Jaune and Nora holding down the evacuation was a nice choice since there the two that can best traverse the area through there gliding and flying upgrades from last season, Nora especially whose "harry potter-esk" flying almost felt like a throwaway gag in Volume 7 so its pleasant to see that used here. While it allows our new Green Team to stick together, basically cause there the only two who are willing to trust Emerald so that was a nice touch and keeps Renora apart to further Nora's narrative aswell, everyone felt right were they should be imo. Throughout most of this episode I felt unsure of were Nora was during all the fighter but it is mentioned by Jaune earlier here that the utmost priority was helping the civilians with the evacuation and she has been quite forward with her willingness to help Mantle in the past so with that, it didn't bother me as much as it did at first. The rock gag was kinda dumb but it makes sense and any excuse for the character to feel/act like huntsmen is very welcomed from me. Curious if Ironwood bothered to revoke their licenses, but I suppose it doesn't matter, given either one; it was never worth the time/priority and two, even if they were you'd still listen to Jaune in this context surely.

Back in the "Central Location" we get a nice and simple little visual, confirming Penny is still the Winter Maiden, yes that should've been obvious but it was a nice touch with it being the very first thing we see of her, plus her little meat-people footsies. And just sticking to that topic, love the details of Penny replacing most of her lost mechanical abilities through her maiden powers, one of the reason I always though if Penny ever came back she'd make a good maiden because her fighting style would lend themselves to those abilities very nicely were I feel like so much, of say Ruby's character would be lost without her fighting style, which while it was hard to see with so much happening she had some beautiful scythe work. Some moments next seeing other characters like the Huntresses assisting and some nice re-affirming of everyone's ones intentions, which I personally always appreciate.

Yay Vacuo... well It was a "Risk" afterall...

Brothers Christ Cinder that shook me the hell up damn... all those poor people gone... that's gunna hurt even more later. While Penny further deals with her new way-of-thinking, being told to stay behind by Blake even though she now's she can match Cinder, but she also needs to keep the relic safe...

Nice bit of call back to Volume 5 with Cinder and Watts disagreeing on grudges but Cinder also growing a touch, trying to make up for past failings but... This being the Last Question has me unsure... if Cinder wins this then ok, but otherwise then seems a bit underwhelming... but of course this could lead the Cinder breaking her final straw with Salem... cause she ain't gunna be happy to hear she might have to wait another 100 years... + Jinn's displeasure knowing she's now against the "Old man and Little Red" was a nice little detail (I feel like all these sentences are starting to end the same xD).

Seeing these flashbacks almost questions if we needed to see them last episode in the first place but I suppose that wouldve left alot unexplained at the time. Cinder again trying to learn, lets Watts finish what he started... which again Cinder, damn girl that was dark... but Neo was cute so I'm ok but that line to Watts was ominous as heck, not that he noticed... the question is... Is he "Worthy" or deserving. The music throughout this btw was beautiful an therefore upsetting as hell, especially since that was reused as the credits score and then this man then goes on to eat a blooded apple... dude, c'mon now, your better then this, also seeing all the same workers in Central command just like in Episodes 3 and 6... harsh (xD).

Poetic line from Robyn here about the Kingdoms before Watts pilots a suicide drone at the Ace-Ops and co to stir up more trouble and re-introduce the bomb into play, taking Marrows Semblance out of the equation.

While Harriet continues the Bombing run, confessing her feelings about Clover and while Vine assures her he would be doing the same as her, but that doesn't make it right in doing so... Robyn makes the save before Qrow literally fly's through the cockpit at Harriet as the two brawl and looking back at the intro; and just how antagonistic she's been in the volume, and confrontation in Episode 4, and the relation both have to Clover, not to mention if anyone could fight a Speedster it'd be the guy that trained one himself. This fights makes a ton of sense in hindsight and I'm really looking forward to its conclusion, hope its a good one.

I'm not gunna lie, I'm kinda mad Jacque was taking out like that, not mad at CRWBY or that Weiss didn't have a role in it, or even that Ironwood did it cause they've built those two up together since volume 4 but... I dunno... I never hated Jacque "that much" so I'm a little sad I guess... Glad to see his Gun-gun seemingly acts kinda like Penny's Lasers but with a more explosive touch, just cool to see that tech on someone other then just her.

Ohh Winter of all places to wait... we'll I was more anticipating Qrow v Ironwood, that fight would be built on upon a hallow Clover, so Winter does make more sense to be his foil... I'm just not so certain Winter will win as much as was certain Qrow would have... also ironic, that same Oscar pose and the same place he said he wouldn't end up like Lionheart... so sad... c'mon Vacuo , c'mon Theodore.

Like I said earlier, some beautiful choreography this Episode it really was, just that there was alot of stuff happening all at once so its a touch hard to keep track of but still some gorgeous moves in there...

...Cinder releveling in her own cunning, taunting the Relics use... but not for her own ego but as a distraction... for Neo to get her revenge... but of course the fight we all wanted in Neo v Yang II... some things are more important, and only Yang would notice, only Yang would know that firing at her wouldn't stop her... in the end she knew in that one split-moment she had to move Ruby away... but something had to replace her... I am nothing close to a Bmblb shipper, Blake and Yang have never been up there as definite favorites, but brothers damn if my heart didn't absolutely sink and Arryn's scream here was just... goosebumps all day, every re-watch... And I don't no what's happened, i have no idea what's happened to Yang and I'm terrified... Yang always could Shroud, always... but this time she couldn't & I'll say this, I've felt like Weiss but especially Blake needed something more to draw her in to the main plot, other then just "doing what's right" and "because my friends are" and this damn well accomplishes that, her fury was so good and her realization later was so teasing, well she help Ruby for vengeance or help stop Cinder who poses far more threat to everything...

Also damn you Ambrosius, monkey paw, miss interpreting Weiss crap & Goddamn Book coming Ravagers..

I'm sure there's more to say but I'm tired and sad, so Thankyou all for the read, and hopefully I've proof read this enough.

2020, You've Been Warned !

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