I don't own Rwby and spoilers ahead for Volume 1.
The story in this volume could have been done better.
I feel like the team was trying to do too much but with very little time. In my opinion, they only should have focused on the girl's because they're the main characters. Sure, we could have Pyrrha, Jaune especially during the exam process. It shows we have other people that we can come back to but later when we have more resources to make episodes longer. We do sacrifice Jaune's arc for the moment but in exchange, we get more screen time for the girls. Ruby and Weiss could have had more time to flesh out their relationship instead of wrapping everything up in a few minutes. Yang can also get some development or even have her and Blake warm up to each other. It felt like they were trying to cover too much but with such little time.
I'll give a pass to the animation because it is fairly back in the day and while it's rough. I can understand their restraints on animation.
I do like how Ruby is trying to prove herself and show off because she is two years younger than everyone else. We know it's because no one can take her seriously. Which is why she does her best to impress Weiss. Whom she already annoyed earlier in the volume. It's a nice touch that I can understand. Even if it caused more problems, it's an understandable fault.
However, I don't like what they did with Jaune nor with Cardin. I'll get into them both in another post because that's quite the explanation.
Blake does get some development with how she is so quiet and off putting because of her past. It's justified and it helps with her goal. However, if she wants to improve Human and Faunus relationships is by not hiding things from her teammates. For almost the entire Volume, she has kept her true identity a secret. Speaking of the Human and Faunus relationship, Blake's actions only further Weiss's negative stance on the Faunus because of The White Fang. It could be a nice fault that Weiss has to acknowledge and work on, she has many reasons to not like the faunus but she needs to learn that the actions of a few does not represent the whole.
Weiss just going, "I don't care." Is not an adequate reasoning to openly accept Blake with such open arms. Weiss has been shown to dislike Ruby for quite a while and Blake should not be exempt from the rule. If we had more time Ruby and Yang would try to convince Weiss to give Blake a chance. Weiss obviously refuses because of her negative experiences with the faunus and doesnt search for Blake. Weiss is alone at school while she let's Yang and Ruby search for Blake. Weiss is questioned by Ozpin on why she is alone and Weiss speaks about Blake. She expects Ozpin to discharge Blake but he doesn't before explaining to Weiss on Blake's perspective. If all you do is say that someone is a monster and keep hurting them. They will become that monster. He tells Weiss to think it over and she begrudgingly does.
This helps to let Weiss have character development. She may not trust Blake or any faunus but we have seeds be planted for that eventual dynamic. When Weiss meets up with Blake. Weiss is willingly to give Blake a chance to prove to her that she isn't like the other faunus.
Weiss is not buddy buddy with many faunus except for Blake because Blake will eventually be an exemption to that rule. Indicating that Weiss still has a cold outlook about the faunus. This tells the audience. That despite working on her flaw, not everyone can be perfect. That they will still have issues in the future.
Yet we lose something like this because of...Jaune and his arc.
Heck, we can even have Ruby and Yang have development. Yang trying to get Ruby to not only rely on her big sister is trying too hard to push Ruby away. This can further their relationship as Ruby realizes that the job she wants, will not always allow Yang to be by her side. It'll help Ruby become more independent and realize that as the leader. She can't look to other people for help or for comfort.
Yet the plot has to keep being pulled back to Jaune.
I do like Sun. His introduction and screentime is where Blake screen time is and doesn't take away from Blake. If Jaune could have been used like this more often than I wouldn't hate him as much.
For example, when Ruby is looking for Blake. Jaune comes to Ruby's aid this time and says being a leader is tough. As everyone relies on them to fix their problems and the problems with the team. The two can mutually bond about the situation and Ruby knows that she can rely on Jaune. As a emotional pillar and they can be good friends because of their circumstances. This helps establish Jaune as a kind individual willing to help or even just hear his friends out. It didn't take four episodes to establish him but just two minutes of screen time. As someone Ruby can relate too and vice-versa.
Instead, Jaune serves to just take time away from the girls with 4 episodes dedicated to him. Who still need development and to be fleshed out a lot more.
Blake is quite enjoyable at least in my opinion. I might be in the few who do like her but I can see why others don't like her.
Ruby and Yang need more time dedicated to their sibling relationship. As it would develop both characters, two birds, one stone and mentioning of possible Weiss development is above. This would help to improve the first volume somewhat as Jaune and the side characters would be sidelined. However, since Ruby, Weiss, Blake and Yang are the main characters. It is imperative that the entire first volume be focused on those four. We can add other characters later.
Overall, I'll give this volume a 5/10.
