RWBY Vol 8 Chapter 6 – Midnight Discussion
The RWBY Volume 8 mid-season premiere is rapidly approaching (this Saturday, Feb 6th, for RTFirst subscribers) and we are almost caught up with our episode discussions. Sophie, Nathaniel and Clare are back again to break down their thoughts on RWBY Vol 8 Chapter 6 – Midnight.
RWBY Vol 8 Chapter 6 – Midnight Synopsis
It’s time.
Well that’s not cryptic at all. Did you have any idea when this episode started what we would be getting?
C – I figured given the synopsis we’d be getting Salem finally making her move… I did NOT think for a single second we’d get Cinder’s incredibly emotional backstory.
S – I didn’t think for a second we would get to see why Cinder is so damaged! Still don’t like her though.
N – I didn’t expect it at all, although I’m glad we got this glance into cinders past. I really do think we should have got this before we learnt about Salem or her past.
Cinder’s Semblance appears to be tied to her emotions, specifically anger, did that surprise you?
S – No she is a very angry soul which always leads to her getting beaten in fights. But if I was electrocuted every time someone didn’t like what I did I would probably have anger issues too. The song that played during the Cinder growing up montage before the Huntsmen came along was kinda heartbreaking tbf. She still says “without you I am nothing” but to Salem, what’s that about?
N – Her anger has really brought her down in previous volumes, it’s been a massive flaw throughout. I was always under the assumption it was just her drive to prove herself and that the anger was due to failing. But his glance into seeing what happened in her past really did explain some things. Although I found it very counterproductive Cinder had an opportunity for good and showed great development but then just snapped. It was a nice glimpse but I believe it could have been fleshed out a lot more and deserved to be.
C – Not really, we’ve seen it countless times in her fights, she lets her emotions get the better of her and that tends to be what gets her beaten. Given what we saw in her memory it’s really not a surprise.
She originally wanted to be a Huntress, do you think she would have made a good Huntress if things had gone differently?
N – She had the qualities to be a Huntress but I don’t think she ever cared about becoming one or the ideals involved, I agree with Sophie it was more to do with the concept of freedom for her more than anything else.
C – I am not sure. She clearly had the talent and excellent combat training but one important thing was missing, teammates. As we have seen with Teams RWBY and JNPR the different personalities balance each other out and help round out the individual.
S – I don’t think she wanted to be a Huntress, she just wanted to be free. She certainly never displayed the qualities that are needed to be a huntress. It was more of a means to an end for her.
The gem on Cinder’s clothing in the present day seems to be modelled on the one from the shock collar her guardian put on her, what do you think the symbolism of that is?
C – It’s a reminder not to be beholden to anyone. Like she said in the previous episode she is no-one’s servant. While she might be bending the knee to Salem at the moment she has her focus (getting the Winter Maiden powers and destroying Ruby) and I think it’s all in service to that plan.
S – I would agree with Clare on this one, it’s there to serve as a reminder. It has been on each of her wardrobe changes.
N – I think she wears it as a reminder of who she was and what she’s done to get where she is, hopefully it may be elaborated at some point.
Oscar and Oz have a little heart to heart (or should that be head to head?) and come up with a plan to try and infiltrate Salem’s inner circle like she has done to the rest of the world. Do you think it will work?
S – I hope so, all it takes is that seed of doubt to start spreading, Hazel is probably the ideal target out of all of Salem’s followers. Cinder – no chance, Tyrian – well he’s just too crazy, Watt’s is locked up. Mercury being new to team Salem, I mean what is he gonna do really. Also Watt’s did use the scroll he stole to contact Tyrian!
N – It could work but how much more can Oscar take before it does. In the past 2 episodes alone we’ve seen him used as a chew toy, tortured by Salem and then relentlessly beaten by Hazel. I hope for his sake his plan works or someone comes for him soon.
C – It could. The trouble with a group like the one Salem has assembled is that it’s full of people who bounce from one strong leader figure to another. All it would take is someone else offering them a better solution and I wouldn’t be surprised if one or two flip.
N – also we called it about the scroll, I was surprised how quickly it came into it though. I imagined seeing Watts hiding and fixing it this episode as a sign of things to come, so I was somewhat surprised at that.
Were you surprised that Salem relented and allowed Cinder to go after Penny?
N – That was a big twist I expected her to be punished not for it to just stop and for her to say just go do it. Although she did show that she has very little hope in her and seems to be sending her and the Hound on the same mission, if cinder does it then she could redeem herself, if the Hound does then she is just going to get worse but either way the conclusion is the same. Currently all Cinder is, is a glorified key to be used to open the vault at Salem’s command.
C – Honestly yes. Given the way she has treated Cinder in the last few chapters of this Volume, and even right up until she apologised, that really came out of leftfield. I was sort of expecting Cinder to do what she did with her guardian and fight off the pain Salem was causing in her Grimm arm and stand up to her (literally).
S – More disappointed, I really wanted her to go full on crazy Grimm lady on her. I can’t help it. I really want to see Cinder burn (see what I did there?).
C – We need to talk about your Cinder issues… just not when I’m wearing my Cinder cosplay though…
S – But I could put my Raven cosplay on…. And Cinder could get her ass beat AGAIN!
N – You could but seeing as most Cons have been cancelled for a while let’s not get kicked out of the first one back, for running around swinging swords at each other…. Just saying
C – Spoilsport!
Okay… can we talk about that ending?! The River of Grimm attacking the shield towers on Atlas and then Monstra crash landing and spewing out a tidal wave of Grimm.
C – Absolutely NOT what I thought was going to happen. I figured the river would attack Mantle, cause panic and disruption there and force Ironwood into acting (sending the military there at last to defend them). I did not see it jumping up to Atlas AT ALL.
S – I thought the River would go to Mantle, when it started going up my Ghostbusters 2 idea went out the window. I mean it was an ingenious plan really, the look on Ironwood’s face was priceless. Suddenly the synopsis of this episode makes sense.
N – I did not expect the river to suddenly blast up and attack Atlas at all, it was a complete surprise but it showed the planning that Salem went through for her entrance to Atlas. Clearing the towers out of her way for Monstra to unleash all those Grimm.
Predictions for the mid-season finale?
N – mayhem. We knew it was coming on a large scale but I don’t think we expected anything this big, everyone really has their work cut out for them. There’s attacks on Mantle and now Atlas as well, We have the teams split with their own ideas and Ironwood on his own little rollercoaster. There’s going to be a lot going on next week.
C – Carnage. Absolute carnage. Really hoping that Jaune, Yang and Ren sort their shit out and are able to reunite with Ruby, Weiss, Blake and Nora. I also hope that Ironwood maybe comes to his senses when he sees a MASSIVE GRIMM WHALE ON HIS FRICKING DOORSTEP but I doubt it.
S – HAHA what Clare said, carnage is definitely what I expect to happen. I bet Winter and Ace-Ops arrest Yang, Jaune and Ren because they are muppets or should I say puppets?. I’m having flashbacks to the fall of Beacon and it’s not making me feel good. I hope Ruby is good and rested cause she is gonna need those magic eyes of hers!
C – You think they’d work on the giant whale? That’s gonna make a big ole mess when it lands!
S – OOOoo interesting, they worked on the Leviathan.
That’s it for our discussion of RWBY Vol 8 Chapter 6 – Midnight. What did you guys think of this episode? Let us know in the comments below or on social media. The episode is streaming now on RoosterTeeth.com. You can check out our review of the previous episode HERE.
