Studio Shaft's new take on RWBY dedicated the first three episodes to retelling the first season of the original series and while some thought it was a tad rushed, there were some effective changes. However, one big change was the addition of an original character, who is now a primary figure behind the original arc currently airing this season.
While the main characters battle monsters in the woods as part of their initiation to the school, Shion Zaiden joins Professor Ozpin and Glynda Goodwitch in observing the students. Zaiden is introduced as a hunter seeking a particular prey that is lurking about, that might try to attack one of the students.
A True Dream Catcher
It wasn't until episode 3 that Shion's purpose in the story was made clear when Jaune fell victim to an affliction by a creature of Grimm. Shion formally introduces themselves as a "Nightmare hunter," Nightmare being the title of a breed of Grimm that latches onto people through their stress and then traps them in nightmares.
By trapping people in dreams, they can exploit their fears and insecurities and - no matter the form of the dream - slowly leech away at their life force. Shion explains that the only way to save someone is to send the friends of the afflicted into the dream to pull them out and that only their friends can do this.
Tools of the Trade
Zaiden's methods are made that much more interesting by the technology used to accomplish this task. For a series that emphasizes action and monster hunting, it's refreshing to see a character whose primary tools aren't inherently weapons.
They wield a staff with a dream-catcher on the end, fitted with glowing threads that can be used to create a hammock of sorts for those going into the dream and the afflicted individual. These same threads are then used to retrain the Nightmare once it has been removed from the body. It is then contained rather than killed, thought isn't clear why they aren't exterminated.
But the threads are merely one tool, as Shion has a case full of tools at their disposal, primarily for communicating with those inside the dream, to advise them on their next steps. Since only people associated with the victim can enter the dream, it is essential to have communication to thoroughly explain how to save them.
How Their Semblance Works
Shion's semblance allows them to send people into another's dream, where they assume their role within the dream according to how they are viewed by the dreamer. The dream self and the real self will be similar or different depending on the complexity of the dream and how accurate the dreamer's perception of the person is.
After Ruby enters Weiss' dream, she notices that she's wearing winter clothing as per the setting of the dream, but her weapon functions completely differently. This is because Weiss herself doesn't comprehend how the weapon functions in the real world, whereas Blake and Yang's powers and weapons are more or less the same.
Inside the dream, Shion's ability grants the dreamers a number of coins that can be used on meters that pop out of the ground. These coins allow the dreamers to create objects to be used to help them. While the extent of the coins' usage hasn't been fully explored, it's been used to create decoys and fast-travel points.
Is There More To Shion?
With the story of this show focused so much on Weiss and making them out to be the antagonist in this dream, it remains to be seen if more will be learned about Shion. Given that they are an original character introduced for this arc, they could even be revealed as the final antagonist.
Something about that seems unlikely, however, as while Shion hasn't been active in combat, they've offered useful advice to Ruby, who continually worries that Weiss can't be saved. As the season continues, it wouldn't be hard to foresee Shion being the support the team needs to push through and save their friend.
Shion might appear as somewhat one-note as of the five episodes that have aired at the time of writing, however, they have a killer aesthetic and their mystique only lends to how cool their scenes are. Their appeal may vary from viewer to viewer, but Shion and their power might be one of the smartest choices made with this series.