User blog comment:Maki Kuronami/Lesson 14: No Rapier Wasps. At least we get a Mega Ursa./@comment-11188061-20131018012701

Once again RWBY surprised me by going the incredibly obvious route and completely blindsight my behind. It's impressive in a twisted way how they don't deviate at all from the typical, used-to-death plot. At least I got my Episode 14 message right: This is about Jaune proving himself capable as a leader.

So we now know Aura has unique traits to each person, and not just limited to random rose petals. It's not that hard, Maki, flip the initial idea around and you'll get it: Aura is complicated, but Dust is simple. With this they don't even need to explain about the science behind Weiss' glyphs, because it can ommit everything (or put it back for the Blue Rays) and say it's Aura.

I'd say it fits the purpose of their quick but short releases, even though I don't necessary like it.

Not really understanding why people wants Cardin to die or break a leg or whatever. Again, I know it's unpopular comment, but he's just a bully. A bully you find in middle or even elementary school. Somehow no one told him it was wrong to pick on your peers (imagine a chibi, 7 years old Cardin doing the exact same thing and NEVER changes... Rooster Teeth, seriously?) until Jaune. This confirms that one of his parents at least would be arrogant as hell. I'm guessing the dad.

This bully at least had the courage not to run like a complete coward (which his teammates really demonstrated to the bones) and tried fighting back, even though it's not necessary a smart choice. Then again, running away would help nothing since he has sap on his armor, so in hindsight fighting back was the only way.

What surprised me is the lack of wit (not Jaune's, but Rooster Teeth's creativity) in the overall combat. I was expecting Jaune to use the sap or do something clever. We already know that he's courageous (untrained half civilian facing down a Deathstalker).

So Jaune and Cardin are in a way, a reflection of each other. Jaune was the guy with the inferiority complex and Cardin the superiority. Both of them felt the unnecessary need to prove their own macho-ness somehow and did incredibly stupid things. More similar than people would realize (or believe).

As a final note, there's a fanfiction out there that described correctly the plot of Episode 14 (that FF's plot: graduation, Cardin thanking Jaune for saving his life). I forgot the title and could not find it now, but congratulations to him/her for nailing the right plot.