Overview: After the harrowing events of Volume 8, our heroines are thrust into an unknown world – the Ever After! However, once Team RWBY explores this strange and mysterious realm, they quickly discover it might not be quite as unknown as they first assumed.

As they journey to find a way back home, they’ll have to overcome some of their toughest challenges yet – the struggle of their own identities, and whether or not they’re equipped to stop Salem.

Blu-ray Verdict: After the bleak ending of Volume 8, where the villains won, and everything came tumbling down, this 9th volume is by far the most beautiful-written chapter of this remarkable series. I love that it takes inspiration from Alice in Wonderland and the Matrix films with the identical themes, nostalgic tone, and visual style.

Ruby’s development along with Jaune is tragic and strong while learning the sacrifices of their duties. He feels the need of rescuing people without realizing it was their decision to put their own lives on the line.

And Ruby’s arc throughout the Volume was most important also, She’s unsure at first if her identity as a huntress is enough. But after remembering her mother Summer Rose she love her exactly as she is, Ruby finally accepts she doesn’t need to be perfect due to living up to others’ expectations (because Summer wasn’t perfect either). That is the definitive message of this Volume: Figuring out who you and what you’re going to be until the end of your life. In closing, the animation is gorgeous, the action scenes feel impactful and just chock full of highly emotional moments scattered generously throughout, and the amazing music just makes this whole show feel like something big is going to happen at any moment. [A.J.]