Brunswick: The Price Of Apathy

In any great story, the clash between villains and heroes is a pivotal element that keeps us on the edge of our seats. We love to see the villains' arrogance and cockiness leading to their downfall, but wouldn't it be even better if they were not complete idiots? And what if the heroes won the battle through strategy and smart thinking instead of relying on the villains' mistakes?

Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Take Haven, for example. It was meant to be a victory, and we should support that. But going into volume six on such a high note, things were bound to get worse. "Rising" is a darker version of triumph, showing us that even if we can't win, we must still try because giving up is not who we are.

The characters in this story have learned about Ozpin's lies and the fact that Salem cannot be destroyed. This revelation makes their victory at Haven meaningless. Even with Haven saved, Salem herself cannot be killed as she is immortal. Even if physically destroyed, she will regenerate quickly.

The Impending Darkness

With Salem preparing an army to attack Atlas in volume 6, there is a real threat looming over our protagonists. If Salem manages to kill more of them, take the relics of knowledge and creation, and possibly kidnap Ruby and Oscar, then the victory at Haven does not impede the loss awaiting Atlas.

If Haven had been a complete loss, the audience would be numb and unaffected by another event like the fall of Beacon. But by setting up this despair and uncertainty among our characters, knowing that their efforts may be in vain, it creates the perfect setup for the darkness that awaits them at Brunswick Farms.

The Tension Builds

Ruby has always excelled when applying tropes from typical horror films. From Mountain Glen to the Nuckelavee in volume four and the entire Brunswick arc in volume six, she knows how to create tension. The frantic episodes, especially Chapter six, make excellent use of carefully choosing whether or not to use background music. Lingering shots on certain scenes add to the suspense.

But it's not just the external factors that contribute to the tension. The characters themselves are tired physically, mentally, and emotionally. Blake and Yang have tensions about confronting Adam again, while Blake struggles to understand Yang's desire for equality in this fight. Weiss isn't thrilled about returning to Atlas either. Oscar is having an existential crisis, fearing