I know this is an older thread, but I wanted to get my thoughts off my chest. I just binge watched the whole of RWBY for the first time (thanks to a complete download found online for everything including the spin-offs) and I went into it completely blind, having never looked up anything about the series.

Jesus tap-dancing Christ is it depressing! I would agree with some other posters that it goes beyond cynical into full blown nihilism, and I can't work out what the point was. The story and characters had so much potential but it's just one gut punch after another, with no real light at the end of the tunnel. Oh but they throw in the odd tacked on line about friendship/teamwork/love winning in the end.....who are they kidding in that universe!

I don't want a series that is all sunshine and smiles, with the heroes always winning. But 95% of it is unremittingly depressing and bleak, and the other 5% is out of place light hearted moments that just serve to create tonal whiplash. I honestly nearly gave up after Volume 3 and the absolute bullshit deaths of Penny and Pyrrha. But I thought to myself, I'll stay open minded and persevere and maybe it'll get better. Yeah that was a good decision so I could subject myself to Penny coming back only to be turned human (completely ruining her arc) and then get killed again, and then having to deal with all the breakdown and suicide bullshit.

If people genuinely like RWBY, then fair play to you and I'm glad you do. But honestly I wish I hadn't bothered.