Episode 50:
Offbeat Steps Under the Moonlight
| Index | <== Episode 49 | [Final Discussion] ==> |
Various Links:
MyAnimeList
Streaming:
Crunchyroll has the regular release available.
AppleTV has the regular individual episodes available.
Spoiler Rules:
-
As always, please be sure to tag any future content spoilers according to the r/Anime rules. There is likely to be first timer viewers here, and while discussing how previously seen content connects to content later down the road is interesting (be it later episodes or even Season 3), please be sure to properly spoiler tag anything mentioned! Let's make this a fun experience for everyone involved!
-
This also applies to cut content discussions, which I believe are fine to include for the sake of discussion, but should be properly tagged to avoid potentially spoiling viewers. Be mindful with how you present this information!
Story Arc Lengths for Discussion Purposes:
[Arc 1:] S1 Episode 1 – S1 Episode 3
[Arc 2:] S1 Episode 4 – S1 Episode 11
[Arc 3:] S1 Episode 12 – S2 Episode 1 (26)
[Arc 4:] S2 Episode 2 (27) – S2 Episode 25 (50)
[Arc 5 and later:] S3+
As always, if you have any suggestions for the Re:Watch, let me know!
by Theleux
19 Comments
**First:Timer Starting Over in Another Rewatch, subbed**
I should have more to say in the overall thread tomorrow (including a comment meant specifically for the source readers in here ahead of going into the season 3 airing threads, so if you’re a source reader for this series, make sure you don’t miss it!), but *man* I really love this series so far and am now super stoked to watch season 3 as it airs!
– [Huh, it is.](https://i.imgur.com/u4cCf8T.png) [](#thoughtful)
– [Good point.](https://i.imgur.com/GyqILaG.png) [](#rengethink)
– [Hahahahahaha](https://i.imgur.com/2yyds67.png) [](#azusalaugh)
– [Got the rabbits boxed in, huh…](https://i.imgur.com/strtLkO.png)
– [Ohhhhhh shit, having them devour each other is *diabolical*, I love it.](https://i.imgur.com/834aown.png) [](#popcorn2)
– [Well, that works too.](https://i.imgur.com/qcxuPKA.png)
– [Aha](https://i.imgur.com/2kViJde.png), so [I was right](https://i.imgur.com/GDCmbUf.png) when I guessed last episode that the first Roswaal kept passing down his memories over [this bit.](https://i.imgur.com/r8wOygf.png) [](#chiochanvictory)
– [Pfffffffffffffffffffffff](https://i.imgur.com/CLZFZF4.png) [](#laughter)
– [Okay *whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat*](https://i.imgur.com/aLXdgMx.png) [](#cokemasterrace)
– […wait, does she think you immediately get pregnant after kissing someone?](https://i.imgur.com/SJocEhZ.png) [](#kotohoops)
– [She does indeed think exactly that.](https://i.imgur.com/cnVpydO.png) [](#seasonallaugh)
– [Yeah, fair.](https://i.imgur.com/29wLkgZ.png) [](#punch)
– [Subaru “sore demo”!](https://files.catbox.moe/46xi27.mp4)
– [Aha…](https://i.imgur.com/xkd3l7P.png) ~~Also, shirtless Roswaal is much appreciated, thanks.~~
– [Oh wow that outfit is gorgeous.](https://i.imgur.com/3RjwY6a.png) [](#neat)
– [Sounds promising.](https://i.imgur.com/qyreFHj.png) [](#mugiwait)
– [Dance!!!](https://i.imgur.com/d9j0mT4.png) [](#slightoverreaction)
Hey guys. Holofan4life here.
Welcome to the In Preparation of Season 3 Rewatch of Re:Zero!
Oh, and nay I forget…
**First Timer**
I decided to watch this show because I wanted to do something for the month of August. ’Course, this was before the yearly Spice and Wolf rewatch got pushed back to September, but I just found myself looking for something to occupy my time with. And with this show being in my top 5 must watch list, I figured now was as good a time as any.
I am going into this show relatively blind. I know some of the memes, who Rem, Ram, Emilia, and Subaru are, and that this show got its inspiration from Familiar of Zero, but that’s it. I find rewatches and my participation of them more fun when I have no idea what I am in store for. And with this series, I think we’re in for a blast. It’s also going to be the longest rewatch I participate in this year and second longest overall only behind the 20th Anniversary Fullmetal Alchemist rewatch. And given how joyous that show turned out, I don’t see why I should expect nothing less from this one.
With that out of the way, let’s begin.
I’m watching the sub, by the way.
After over a month straight of watching this show, I am finally caught up with things heading into the third season. It has been quite the journey.
Subaru telling Emilia she did a good job completing the trials.
Beatrice telling Subaru to focus as he gets distracted by Rem.
I love Beatrice, man
Beatrice calls her contractor being a novice and this being her first battle in 400 years the perfect handicap.
Subaru says he feels stronger than ever.
Time for the battle against the Great Rabbits.
Woah, that was impressive
Beatrice instructing Subaru what to do
And now they’re working together
This is pretty cool
The plan is if they can stop all of them when they hit the max amount, they should be able to destroy them.
Easier said than done. Let’s see how it plays out.
Subaru letting himself be chased as he carries Beatrice.
Subaru asking for Emilia’s help
“Let’s all win this together!”
Emilia tracing the line
This I’m pretty sure was inspired by the Wii U.
Beatrice giving the exclamation point
And now the rabbits are eating each other
Did… did they get sucked up?
Oh, Beatrice sent them to an isolated space. Neat.
Not the Great Rabbits know how introverts feel.
Never will be able to come back out, says Beatrice.
Roswaal holding Ram still
And Ram carasses his face
And Ram comes to
Beatrice pouting
And Subaru lifts her up
I love these two so much
Beatrice with Roswaal
Echidna
Beatrice apologizes for not keeping her promise.
Roswaal asks Beatrice if Subaru is “That person”.
She say while he’s not, she chose him.
Roswaal calls Subaru’s response as relayed to him by Beatrice arrogant.
Beatrice says she didn’t leave the forbidden library because she became his number one.
“I left because I want to make Subaru my number one.”
[](#feelingloved)
Oh, wow. Beatrice is only now recognizing that this is Roswaal.
Beatrice mentions something about soul transcription, which I’m not sure what that’s about.
Roswaal says the soul of another will not take hold in an empty vessel.
“Would you curse me as an inhuman monster?”
I have no idea what’s going on
Roswaal kneeling down in front of Beatrice.
And she slaps him across the face
She says that was payback for burning down the forbidden library.
Memories rushing back for both Beatrice and Roswaal.
And Beatrice welcomes him back
“I’m back, Beatrice. And welcome home.”
This is a pretty emotional scene. Feels very poignant, like they’re saying goodbye to Echidna knowing that as a consequence of them returning.
Subaru and Emilia waiting on Beatrice and Roswaal.
Subaru believes she can call Puck back one day.
“You’ve changed, Emilia-tan.”
Join the club of people who’ve said this.
Emilia believes she needs to get to a point where she can give back to everyone soon.
Emilia blushing hard now
Even her pointy ears are red, which is just adorable.
Emilia bringing up him saying he loved her.
She wants a proper talk
“About… well… the baby I’m carrying in my belly!”
Ain’t no way she’s pregnant. They never even had sex before.
“But when a boy and a girl kiss, it makes a baby, right?”
There it is XD
Emilia is so pure
Subaru blaming Puck for not telling her about the birds and the bees.
Garfiel punching Roswaal in the face
And now Petra and Otto are beating him up.
I guess this is what he gets for being a moron.
Roswaal resting his head on Ram’s lap.
Beatrice tells Rem that she has bizarre tastes.
By the way, Emilia, Ryuzu, Frederica, and Subaru are also here.
Ram telling that she doesn’t want to be told on who she should love.
Subaru says they do need Roswaal’s strength. After all, Emilia can’t complete in the royal selection without his support.
Rem is here also, albeit unconscious
Oh wow. Frederica is willing to forgive.
Credits her brother for saving her
She says she’s here today because she learned so much from Roswaal.
Before they can continue this conversation, however, Otto wants to know how much the margrave intends to yield to them.
And Roswaal proceeds to undress
[](#lewd)
Woah. A glowing thing on his chest.
An oath sealed with a curse
Roswaal lost his battle, therefore he cannot harm any of them.
“If I break this promise, my soul will be tainted, and my body will burn away in the flames of hell.”
Who came up with this oath, a chunni?
Had Subaru lost, the mark would’ve ended up on him.
The thing is he can never lose because of Return by Death. It feels like Roswaal was being short-sighted.
Ryuzu telling Garfiel that what happened to Shima was her own choice.
It was necessary to act as the key to undo the barrier.
Wasn’t lonely Shima was because she had Garfiel.
Petra still can’t forgive Roswaal, unfortunately.
She put trust in him, and he betrayed it.
“So… I’m never going to forgive you!”
Garfiel agrees to forgive him, but only because of Frederica, Ryuzu, and Petra.
Emilia talking now
She says he hasn’t even done the most important thing yet.
She wants him to say he’s sorry
And he does so
I like how that was done. It feels like an appropriate punishment was assigned to Roswaal while I truly believes he regrets his actions. Very effective scene.
Also, we’re also 2/3rds of the way through the episode. This is flying by.
A bunch of candles now
Everyone is dressed up
Oh wow. They’re officially making Subaru a knight.
This is the Miload family’s mansion
Annerose is apparently a big fan of Emilia.
Roswaal tells Subaru that his goal is to reunite with his teacher.
One whose blood flows, breathes, and houses a soul.
“That is my desire and dearest wish.”
Roswaal telling Subaru he’s keeping his eye on him.
He is certain he’ll surely continue to be hurt from now on.
He believes the only thing that can lead him back to Echidna is Subaru.
Now who’s being selfish? [](#chitogheh)
**Ran out of space. Part two in the replies.**
**Re:Watcher**
Just as Emilia transformed from a spirit arts user into a magic user, so too did Subaru swap from the paltry magic user that he once was to his true calling as the contractor to the Great Spirit of Yin Magic, Beatrice of the Forbidden Library. Whereas Emilia has resolved to forge her own path while remaining appreciative of the ones who helped her get there, Subaru has metamorphized into the truest expression of himself: someone who helps others become their best selves.
And it’s about time! Beatrice and Subaru start off their new partnership by holding off the nightmare that gave Subaru his worst death so far, and he’s eager to return the favor. It’s immediately apparent how well they work together when Subaru comes up with a plan that Beatrice accepts without hesitation. He may have been disappointed by its “debuffs” at first, but Subaru’s affinity for Yin Magic is perfect for someone like him: we’ve seen multiple times just how creative and nonlinear his strategies can be, and the capabilities of Yin Magic allow him to flex his creative muscles to the limit. Which also highlights how perfect Beatrice is as his partner. Who else would have been able to defeat the Great Rabbit by sending it to the shadow realm like that? And who other than Subaru would have then responded to Beatrice’s pout with the immediate outpouring of love she has always secretly wanted?
After two heart-to-heart conversations about family (one of which was a false alarm but very encouraging regardless), everyone comes together to beat up the clown that started this whole party. Despite having thwarted Roswaal’s plans, not everyone is willing to forgive and forget what he tried to accomplish. Even a magical oath isn’t enough to convince Garfiel that Roswaal is worth trusting; it’s only because of Ryuzu’s tearful assurance that Shima would have needed to sacrifice herself anyway that he decides to go forward with the plan to keep Roswaal’s actions under wraps. Petra feels even more betrayed than Garfiel does, since the lord of her village’s domain and her new boss just tried to kill her and everyone she cares about. But once again, she demonstrates her strength when she puts that aside for everyone else. According to Emilia, there’s just one thing left that Roswaal must do: apologize. And when he does… she forgives him. What an absolute angel. (She’d make a great mom, actually.)
Finally, we get to see everyone celebrate Subaru at a proper knighting ceremony, turning the false claim that he made in the throne room into actual fact. No one can say that he’s unworthy of standing by Emilia’s side anymore. He put in the work, and he’s here to stay. But in spite of that, he still remembers to honor the ones who raised him and told him what he needed to hear in order to overcome his past. There is no Natsuki Subaru without Natsuki Kenichi and Naoko, and he’s never going to take that for granted.
Emilia approaches Subaru afterwards, feeling unsure of whether he will think less of her when learning about her past. But he assures her that she has nothing to worry about; no matter what she ends up telling him later that night, there is no chance that he won’t continue to support her. After all, her current ideal of creating a Lugunica based on equality has already started to take form in front of them: humans and demihumans, nobles and commoners, all in celebration of the same things. So long as she continues to find new things to wish for, he will be there to help grant them for her. Even if it’s something as simple as the offbeat steps they take under the moonlight.
By the way, I do wish that they had adapted the scene in which [cut content] >!Beatrice tells Subaru that all her mana is now completely used up after casting that Al Shamak!<, simply because I think it’s an absolutely hilarious end to things. But I understand how pressed for time they were in this episode, even with it having a full 29 minutes and 30 seconds of runtime. Arc 4 is *long*: even what amounted to around eight extra episodes by the end of the season wasn’t enough to include everything that was covered in the arc. I would actually recommend that the anime-onlies read how it ends, because there were some interesting implications in the final chapters of Volume 15 that weren’t covered in this finale. And who knows? Maybe you’ll get sucked deeper into the Re:ZERO rabbit hole, as I and many others were in the past.
Just be careful not to run into any actual rabbits.
—
[**Re:ZERO After-Talk #50**](https://youtu.be/llYkO4u1lYQ)
**VAs:** Yuusuke Kobayashi (Subaru), Rie Takahashi (Emilia), and Takehito Koyasu (Roswaal)
Season 2 is finally complete! Yuusuke and Rie look back on the year they spent voicing their characters with gratitude. Apparently, Yuusuke was almost tempted to read ahead in the novel during the gap between the first and second cour, but he has a policy, and he stuck with it. And after welcoming Takehito Koyasu, they celebrate the awards that they all received at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards and the Seiyuu Awards. It’s always great to see their work being recognized for its greatness. I wonder, how many awards will they collectively receive in the future?
**Highlight:** Takehito being as amazed as the rest of us that the episodes aired without OPs, EDs, or commercial breaks
—
**Fan Art of the Episode:** [*Everyone’s Smiles*](https://files.catbox.moe/qrezzg.jpg) by Yomohiro (September 23rd, 2021)
**Source:** [Twitter](https://twitter.com/rb_crr/status/1440785090317930501) (artwork has been deleted)
—
Season 2, in several ways, was an exercise in doing as much as you can with the resources you have at your disposal. Obviously, releasing an anime during the peak of quarantine was always going to be a difficult endeavor for White Fox, but when you consider that they could no longer outsource as much work to studio Nexus as they did during Season 1 and that they were leaking staff to other projects such as Studio Bind’s Mushoku Tensei, it is a *wonder* that everything came out as well as it did. (You can read more about the whole situation [here](https://blog.sakugabooru.com/2020/06/18/rezero-production-journal/).) I don’t think that the creators involved will ever receive enough credit for their perseverance during that period of time, especially considering that their work was seen and enjoyed by millions as they were stuck indoors during the largest international health crisis in a century. It is solely because of them that we are lucky enough to be less than two days away from Season 3, which is receiving a much, much healthier schedule than any Re:ZERO project before it. Given how much KADOKAWA is now recognizing the significance of the Re:ZERO IP, the future of the series has never been brighter. I can’t *wait* to see what White Fox can achieve when they’re granted the resources that allow them to perform at their highest potential: talent and time.
## Rewatcher, sub, basically a secondhand novel reader (Arc 4)
It seems reddit doesn’t like some of the terminology I used, so I am using “ultimate sloth” as a replacement term for the general concept of what Subaru needs to do in order to loop.
Time taken: 121 minutes (2.0 hours)
As always, I’ve numbered all my spoilers tags so that they’re easier to respond to
—–
###First Timer Safe Section
This section is safe for first time watchers.
[Yeah, yeah](https://i.imgur.com/Y1wat1p.png) it [looks bad](https://i.imgur.com/3GmOluA.png), but [really](https://i.imgur.com/or6zu82.png), [it’s just](https://i.imgur.com/kYKaNQA.png) a [handicap](https://i.imgur.com/8FW9kpT.png) to keep it a bit fair.
[Subaru can do that](https://i.imgur.com/2X7vzI4.png) [](#faito)
[minor cut content](https://i.imgur.com/PjUN4OS.png) [Spoiler #1] >!Beatrice actually gives Subaru direct access to her gate. Which is extremely rare for spirit arts. Subaru is literally casting via Beatrice. Not commanding Beatrice to use magic, but directly using her magic.!<
[very minor author comments](https://i.imgur.com/EbEo5Qu.png) [Spoiler #2] >!Tappei notes that the upper limit of the Great Rabbit is around 80k.!<
Some information on how [Al Shamac](https://i.imgur.com/pYDZvxf.png) works: [Spoiler #3: cut content] >!So [Shamac](https://i.imgur.com/w0Om8OD.png) was described a blind spell. That’s not entirely accurate. Shamac is actually an isolation spell. Regular Shamac isolates your mind from your body, cutting off your senses (it’s not just sight). El Shamac takes that one step further and also prevents you from controlling your body (paralyzing you). Ul Shamac isolates your mind even further, sending it somewhere else (you can’t even think). And Al Shamac, [sends your body with your mind](https://i.imgur.com/Ym9rC17.png). Which to me, sounds a whole lot like getting isekaied. Also Al Shamac costs an absolute fuckton of mana. Beatrice goes through all 400 years of accumulated mana casting it. Oh and Subaru doesn’t give Beatrice much mana at all. So no more OP magic probably.!<
This would make a good [comment face](https://i.imgur.com/knfkQUw.png).
This is [huge life moment for Beatrice](https://i.imgur.com/VTevtxS.png), to reject Echidna, and to [make her own decisions](https://i.imgur.com/f0PohtM.png).
[Beatrice never realized](https://i.imgur.com/UEZqGdK.png) that [Roswaal was the OG Roswaal](https://i.imgur.com/nWj3N2m.png). [Spoiler #4: author comments on why Beatrice didn’t talk to Roswaal] >!Roswaal was way too into Echidna for someone who has never met her. Better to avoid him.!<
[Roswaal succeeded](https://i.imgur.com/1wzMbp0.png) where [Echidna](https://i.imgur.com/lsf4pJO.png) failed. The [secret](https://i.imgur.com/NYnwDR1.png) is to use a [vessel with high affinity](https://i.imgur.com/S1Y6MZT.png). Someone like your own descendent. So yes, [I’d curse Roswaal as an inhuman monster](https://i.imgur.com/7RCP43l.png). He’s a body snatcher.
I like this [transition from OG Roswaal to present Roswaal](https://i.imgur.com/3mwn09p.mp4)
And we finally get to see [Echidna’s](https://i.imgur.com/787VV7L.png) [face](https://i.imgur.com/ZJJ4rNA.png). Looks a [bit different](https://i.imgur.com/glr0dxx.png) huh? This is why Emilia didn’t recognize Echidna’s body. Trial Echidna and actual Echidna just look different. Which makes sense when you recall that Trial Echidna controls the Caste of Dreams, and can choose her appearance. [Spoiler #5: minor author comments] >!”According to the story details, the Echidna that Subaru frequently ran into in the tomb is around eighteen years old. Think of the one sleeping in the grave as being an adult around ten years older than that. I’d like you to think of it as giving the impression ‘They look similar, but are they different people…?'”!<
And now it’s [time to talk](https://i.imgur.com/QqJImXl.png) about what [Emilia wanted to talk](https://i.imgur.com/iSZN7xa.png) about [after the Trial](https://i.imgur.com/HhTyACX.png). [Emilia’s pregnant](https://i.imgur.com/F50zQPx.png) [](#cokemasterrace) (also the subs completely fuck this by not splitting the lines here). As it turns out, [Emilia just hasn’t had sex ed yet](https://i.imgur.com/zl48fld.png). [Thanks Puck](https://i.imgur.com/GzcRvsB.png).
And now, it’s time to [get revenge on Roswaal](https://i.imgur.com/sUkZmXP.png).
[Ram lap pillow](https://i.imgur.com/E1Ku8GK.png). And this time she doesn’t throw the person off at first opportunity.
[Garfiel](https://i.imgur.com/GV3VlG0.png) in [shambles](https://i.imgur.com/pHe1qDM.png).
And yes, [Roswaal is still part of the squad](https://i.imgur.com/hYeZkSw.png). They need Roswaal. They can only [compete in the Royal Selection](https://i.imgur.com/soGbEGQ.png) under the banner of Roswaal. Like it or not, [they need him](https://i.imgur.com/YvVUsAX.png).
[Garfiel is against this idea](https://i.imgur.com/hnJZhND.png), but [he’ll gone along](https://i.imgur.com/coq2rqB.png) with it [if Roswaal can’t hurt them again](https://i.imgur.com/kidNMNX.png). [Frederica is willing to forgive Roswaal](https://i.imgur.com/bQXsbA3.png), no harm no foul, and Roswaal has [done good for her in the past](https://i.imgur.com/qWOMW2d.png). [Petra refuses to forgive Roswaal](https://i.imgur.com/R0JH9ag.png)
So how can we be sure that [Roswaal won’t betray the Emilia camp](https://i.imgur.com/8MVRojp.png)? [Roswaal has an oath not to](https://i.imgur.com/wCc9Es9.png). That if he breaks it, his [soul will be tainted](https://i.imgur.com/m742l7T.png) and [his body will burn away](https://i.imgur.com/5oIWDbk.png). And then he’ll [stop existing](https://i.imgur.com/MUs2he7.png). That was the [result of the bet](https://i.imgur.com/03IYa3u.png). So if Subaru had lost, [he would of been bound](https://i.imgur.com/VUpndoy.png) instead.
We also get some info about different types of magical contracts (fucking finally). [Covenants](https://i.imgur.com/YQA2DvM.png) apply to your blood relatives. Oaths apply to a person (via their soul).
Quite the [strong promise](https://i.imgur.com/4qWiMiE.png) for Roswaal.
[Roswaal hasn’t even](https://i.imgur.com/pUnp0UE.png) [apologized](https://i.imgur.com/52htlgU.png). Which [he promptly does](https://i.imgur.com/vbLSJez.png).
Few things I want to point about about [this frame](https://i.imgur.com/Wbz9l1e.png). 1: They rolled out Rem in a wheelchair to attend. 2: Garfiel fucking with his bowtie is so relatable. 3: Beatrice is not amused. 4: That shade of green is a really bold color Petra, who is also the only maid not in her maid outfit.
[Roswaal wants to revive Echidna properly](https://i.imgur.com/aE1RpVr.png).
[Roswaal can actually understands the toll RBD takes on Subaru](https://i.imgur.com/25rSnKR.mp4). I’m sure this will be relevant in the future.
BAD SUBS ALERT: This should read [If *you* lost anyone](https://i.imgur.com/QkBT4Dh.png). Also to be clear, this is a threat. There will be no more Rems. Subaru won’t be caught in the middle ever again. If things are going bad, [Roswaal will ensure](https://i.imgur.com/UL9PhYS.png) that it is unsalvageable. And in doing so, that will violate his oath to not harm any of the Emilia camp. Thus ultimate slothing himself as well.
Even without the oath, [it’s in Roswaal’s best interests to help Subaru](https://i.imgur.com/92RLeFM.png). Subaru is the only way he can accomplish his goal. [Spoiler #6: cut content] >!Roswaal also clarifies that he hired Elsa, but not Meili. Also previously Meili and Elsa had mentioned a “Mama”, who they talk about like it’s their boss.!<
And now, it’s time to [knight](https://i.imgur.com/dodGKTO.png) [the ~~self-proclaimed~~](https://i.imgur.com/nNJQbpL.png) [literal knight](https://i.imgur.com/CM7wXQE.png), [Natsuki Subaru](https://i.imgur.com/tGcQ0jZ.png). [Spoiler #7: very minor cut content] >!Anarose is 9 years old.!<
[Subaru gonna keep Subaruing](https://i.imgur.com/orJuYXX.png).
[Guilty](https://i.imgur.com/J1zD3Kf.png) as [charged](https://i.imgur.com/fQAVSEa.png)
[Idk what this talk is about](https://i.imgur.com/3Iyr1pf.png). [Me too Subaru](https://i.imgur.com/J2nWfsS.png). Knowing Re:Zero though, probably nothing good for the soul.
[I love Emilia](https://i.imgur.com/mA3T5bm.png).
[This frame looks really good](https://i.imgur.com/8MPox1t.png).
[No alcohol for Garfiel](https://i.imgur.com/foGF5Jt.png). [](#howcouldyou)
[This is very cute](https://i.imgur.com/gImrwdY.png). If I wore dresses, I’d want one like that one Petra has.
Subaru, [why are you jumping](https://i.imgur.com/fafb5vu.png)?
[That smile](https://i.imgur.com/Fgf7Yit.png)! [](#urbansmile)
[I don’t like this title](https://i.imgur.com/ECHTKWi.png). They should of named it The Silver-Haired Half-Elf’s Knight, Natsuki Subaru imo.
[Rip Rem](https://i.imgur.com/M9HWvwd.png). We went a whole Season without you waking up. Hopefully you’ll wake up soon.
[S Tier Frame](https://i.imgur.com/aXhHuVm.png).
And that ends Arc 4, The Everlasting Contract.
###Continued below
**S02E25 – Rewatcher finishing this one up past 1AM.**
* Cause’ I’m insane.
* [He can have this.](https://i.imgur.com/l2m3PzB.jpeg) He _did_ gambatte a lot this season.
* [Man, Subaru knows he’s at the end of the season and won’t die now.](https://i.imgur.com/EBXZ59g.jpeg)
* [“I can’t understand you, you’re too far away!”](https://i.imgur.com/KXgSsYz.jpeg)
* [Don’t jinx it.](https://i.imgur.com/u5rjWLD.jpeg)
* [NOW IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO DIE!](https://i.imgur.com/JHFhTgQ.jpeg) …I know he won’t. But he should.
* [Oh, so it is Echidna?](https://i.imgur.com/RxUBZhC.jpeg) Why do we not see her face then?
* [Indeed!](https://i.imgur.com/3efo9Wz.jpeg) He forced his soul upon his clan!
* [Yes](https://i.imgur.com/KXZ8Zbr.jpeg).
* [We. don’t. get. her. eyes.](https://i.imgur.com/zs3ODzK.jpeg)
* [Okay, I simply had to wait.](https://i.imgur.com/4szvWZI.jpeg)
* [Well, she did get iced before she could have had the talk…](https://i.imgur.com/Ya5CxW1.jpeg)
* [Well he got off scot-free.](https://i.imgur.com/tdUBe3S.jpeg)
* [He’s gonna be useful I guess.](https://i.imgur.com/hBIIQbl.jpeg)
* [In this loop.](https://i.imgur.com/JEpysHD.jpeg) You are alive _in this loop._ Tbf, these other Roswaals *did* die pathetic deaths, so… hm.
* [The soul transference thingie?](https://i.imgur.com/QySRaCl.jpeg)
* [So… any ally not here is fair game?](https://i.imgur.com/KjdMRlD.jpeg)
* [They are not Republicans tho.](https://i.imgur.com/Dqgcope.jpeg)
* [Blessed Ram and Rem image.](https://i.imgur.com/gg1X5Wn.jpeg) Now they need to find a way to kill the Arch-Bishop.
* [So you had children that you didn’t overwrite?](https://i.imgur.com/gFc2Epc.jpeg)
* [Uh-huh.](https://i.imgur.com/ODkwAqL.jpeg) Last episode, new character. Anime tradition!
* Okay, that was a nice moment.
* And that’s the end of the season wooooo. I don’t have to watch the time anymore to post woohooo.
**First-Timer**
**On today’s episode of Re:Zero:** I don’t think we ever solved the inciting incident of this season. Rem has spent the entire season in a coma and the characters are nowhere near bringing her back.
– How sweet that Beako just wants to hold Subaru’s hand through all of this [](#anko)
– Damn! Beako really is amazingly powerful! [](#shock)
– Yup, just like I thought, Subaru’s job is to be monster bait once again.
– Ooh, that’s clever. Cutting off the rabbits’ senses made them start eating each other and allowed Beako to send them all to the Shadow Realm. That’s a clever way to defeat them.
– Beako looks so cute pouting because she wants Subaru to praise her! [](#jibrilaww)
– That really is Echidna in the grave. Someone earlier had mentioned that the reason Emilia didn’t remember Echidna is because Echidna erases the memories of people who meet her in the trials after they leave those trials.
– I was right! Roswaal really has been transferring his soul into new bodies. That’s why he’s still the same person as he was 400 years ago.
– It’s sweet to see Roswaal and Beako finally speaking again after being stuck for 400 years. Re:Zero’s habit of having characters’ reflections appear in the eyes of a person when they are truly connecting with each other is so good. Season 2 has made much more use of it so far than Season 1 did.
– [PREGNANT!?!](#maxshock) Wait, this is going to be a case of Emilia thinking you get pregnant from kissing, isn’t it?
– [Yup, it is.](#rinkek)
– Wow, Petra can hit a lot harder than you’d expect. [](#mugistronk)
– Beako looks so cute sitting on Subaru’s lap! [](#ilovethiskindofshit)
– Wow, Roswaal really made this a high-stakes contest. If Subaru had lost, he’d literally be bound to do Roswaal’s bidding.
– I love Emilia’s logic. The most important thing she wants Roswaal to do is say “I’m sorry” for everything he’s done. [](#mayushii)
– Huh, so Subaru is actually going to become a legitimate knight. I did not expect that.
– Naturally Roswaal still wants to bring Echidna back. The question is how this relates to defeating the dragon. I still think the dragon must have some sort of seal on Echidna that prevents her from coming back.
– This Annerose girl has a distinct enough design to make me suspect she will play a role in future arcs. [](#thinkingtoohard)
– Now is not the time to say that Emilia looks sexy, Subaru. [](#facepalm2)
– It’s very nice that Subaru and Emilia are actively trying to talk things out and come to a better understanding of each other. That’s some impressive romantic development. [](#kannathumbs)
– Fun seeing Frederica act as a responsible older sister and give Garfiel orange juice to drink instead of alcohol. [](#kotohoops)
– There’s a dude with a monocle who shows up in the end credits standing next to Annerose. Again, that is such a distinctive design that he must play a role in future arcs.
– I just wish the ED song had been “STYX HELIX.” That’s still *the* definitive Re:Zero song as far as I’m concerned.
This was a pretty good wrap-up to the season. It’s quite appropriate to have the Sanctuary barrier be brought down this episode. The barrier was something that isolated the Sanctuary from the outside world. Regardless of what happened elsewhere, life within the Sanctuary remained stagnant and unchanging. It’s a metaphor for the lives of Roswaal, Beako, Ryuzu, Garfiel, Subaru and even Emilia. All of them are characters who felt “stuck” during this arc. Roswaal, Beako, and Ryuzu were all old friends who never got over losing Echidna. Roswaal and Beako in particular couldn’t do anything except follow the fortune-telling books that Echidna left them. They could only live their lives according to Echidna’s instructions, rather than make their own decisions.
Subaru, Garfiel, and Emilia were all stuck because of their pasts as well. They were stuck on some particular trauma from their past. Subaru was stuck because of his memories of his parents and his deep depression in our world. Garfiel was stuck on the loss of his mother and the question of whether she loved him. Emilia was stuck on her missing memories about her village and Fortuna. It’s fitting that the characters were physically stuck in a location until they could overcome these emotional hurdles that were keeping them in one place psychologically. This is a season about these characters getting unstuck and willing to move forward.
Also, sorry I haven’t really been responding to others the past few days. I’ve been really busy on a trip and today I’m sick as a dog. I don’t think I can be around today.
I really can’t believe we’re already at the end of this rewatch. It feels like it just started yesterday.
Just a reminder that tomorrow is technically a ‘catch-up’ day and also the final discussion thread, so please keep the over-arching series/ Re:Watch retrospectives to that one!
**First Timer!**
Watching the Dub
Start Time 10:46
This is it, the final episode of the rewatch. I’m not sure what I’m going to do in place of this after today. I’ve created a habit of sitting down every night to watch one episode of a show and spend several hours writing about it for almost two months now. I’ll be discussing this more tomorrow but now I have to decide what to do going forward with the series. I thoroughly enjoy it and don’t know if I should pick up the novels to read, I’m usually not much of a reader but still. Also I have been watching the Dub this entire time and have gotten fond of the English VAs work, I haven’t heard how long it will be taking for the dub to be released so it could be several weeks or longer, Do I really want to wait for that? a lot to think about but I’ll save that for later. Right now there is a Rabbit that needs to be slain.
Beatrice likes saying Subaru’s name. How cute
So Subaru and Beatrice now have a contract, wonder what it entails? He holds her hand, She destroys anything that tries to harm him?
[Emilia now has the new crystal that Puck is in around her neck](https://imgur.com/a/5Npml0x)
[Does this mean Subaru is a spirit arts user now?](https://imgur.com/a/fjgb6AO)
So the Great Rabbit isn’t dead. It’s just in a different realm now? Betty said “somebody else’s problem now I suppose”
Roswaal looks defeated
[That’s not Echidna’s face. Is it? I see similarities but it definitely looks different](https://imgur.com/a/0bor4Tb)
[Excuse me… what?](https://imgur.com/a/xYzGXzb) Don’t tell me that Emilia thinks you get pregnant from kissing lol
Fucking classic. Emilia is so cute and innocent
Yes guys, he deserves it.
Lol, they called it the [“Purification Ritual”](https://imgur.com/a/k4yxw8L)
Ooo is Subaru finally going to be recognized as Emilia’s knight?!?!! How is he going to embarrass himself this time?
[Why does AnneRose Miload remind me so much of Minerva?](https://imgur.com/a/e4oLHtc)
[Emilia in her dress looks amazing](https://imgur.com/a/RdMRXd1)
What an idiot
So we didn’t get the long awaited Emilia confession
[A great ending shot](https://imgur.com/a/aeUFKT0)
So Subaru and Beatrice have now formed a contract with each other. It’s actually the most ideal thing they can do to keep their promise, from everything we have seen Spirits and their contractors are nearly inseparable with the exception of Puck since Roswaal messed with his contract. It also gives more of a reason for Subaru to hold Betty’s hand as I’m guessing that’s her way of feeding off his mana, I wonder if Betty will have the same problem Puck has where she will have to hibernate during certain hours. So because of this, it looks like Subaru is now a spirit arts user, since we saw him using magic without the use of his gate that he shattered a couple episodes ago, he also has pretty great control over the magic which has to be because of Beatrice. Subaru finally got to look like a true hero out there running and trapping the bunnies with his magic, I feel like Reinhard and Julius would be proud.
Isn’t the final episode of a season supposed to answer more questions than it generates? I guess it wouldn’t be Re:Zero if that were the case. We finally see Echidna’s face and it looks nothing like the one we are familiar with, so what’s up with that? Possibly something similar to what Roswaal did with transferring his soul into others. I wonder if the Echidna we saw in the Castle of Dreams is the real one or if the one in the Graveyard is it. Speaking of soul transference, I really don’t like the implication that was going on when Roswaal was saying that Echidna’s soul needed a body to inhabit while the camera was focused on Rem. Don’t you dare touch her clown man. Confirmation on the transference of souls also opens up the idea of Fortuna being saved and inhabiting another body, could even be a created one like Ryuuzu or Beatrice (or Puck???).
Not going to lie, I was really wanting an Emilia confession at the end of this season. I thought for sure that it was going to happen on the balcony or maybe in the room and was hoping we could get to see one more kiss but I guess I’ll keep that hope going for next season. At least we get to finally see ~~our self-proclaimed~~ our Knight Subaru Natsuki become official as he declares in front of everyone once again that he will stop at nothing to protect Emilia and grant her every desire as long as he lives. And with the power Subaru possesses, he could end up being the greatest protector ever, maybe Garf will even create an idiom for him one day.
***
On today’s episode of Break Time. We see the new additions to the Emilia camp from this season interacting with each other just before the knighting ceremony, Garf and Ottotototo are already good friends but Frederica is a little jealous, she wants to reconnect with her brother that she had to leave so long ago and find out about his life, she wants to be a family again. Lucky for them, their family has grown bigger with the additions of a new little sister and older brother. And thus, with all the commotion going on, Ottoto is again unable to write in his diary
I wonder what Break Time will look like next season, Hopefully it’s a break time and not another Re:Petit
***
Overall, I just barely like the first season more than the whole second season, but if we consider S2 P2 by itself, It’s my favorite. The amount of character development combined with Betty and Subaru forming a contract and **The Kiss** is too good for me.
Re:Zero is officially my favorite series, so much so that it’s making me cry a little that the Rewatch is now over. I have enjoyed watching these characters and writing down their actions and feelings so much more than I thought I ever would when starting this rewatch. Embarrassingly, there have been a couple discussion recaps that I had worked harder and more diligently on than some assignments I turned in in college. I guess that’s the difference between writing about something you are passionate about and just writing something to turn in.
Stop Time 2:41am
**Re:Watcher**
[Wouldn’t be a fair fight otherwise](https://imgur.com/a/pJnnLq6)
[Subaru casting a spell?](https://imgur.com/a/KOGjGLF) Didn’t his Gate just break? Yeah it did, but good thing spirit magic doesn’t require casting through the gate like Emilia told us way back earlier in S1Ep8 during the magic lesson with Puck. Here he is actually using the Mana Beatrice has stored over the last 400years
Betty aren’t Subaru aren’t the only ones to fight.. That’s some [pretty impressive magic](https://imgur.com/a/nb5u0iX) by Emilia.
And so the calamity that is [the Great Rabbit has been defeated](https://imgur.com/a/O3H3hyn). Trapped to live in a parallel dimension forever forced to feast upon themselves for all eternity.
[Roswaal realizing](https://imgur.com/a/Xd4xCFB) he lost his bet and knowing that he’ll never gets to see his gospel ever again.
You chose Subaru yourself Beako, [better get used to his antics](https://imgur.com/a/Cteeg9p). It is however so nice to finally see Beatrice be happy!
[Betty is realizing Roswaal, her old brother figure from 400years ago is still alive](https://imgur.com/a/0rHogiB).
[A high affinity with you own soul…](https://imgur.com/a/lcYHOE0) Yes, the old Roswaal really used the bodies of his descendants to keep on living in his quest to be reunited with Echidna. Yeah Roswaal really will do anything for Echidna. Maybe he isn’t so human after all.
[That punch must have felt satisfying Beako!](https://imgur.com/a/sVBtEOC) You let him off quite easily though. I think he deserved quite a few more of those for what he did!
[And so Roswaal, Beatrice and Echidna are finally reunited after 400 years](https://imgur.com/a/JzisMf0).
And after not being shown the face of non-castle-of-dreams-Echidna for the entirety of S2part2, we finally get to see that the face of the Echidna we, Subaru and Emilia know is not the same of that which [Roswaal, Beatrice and Ryuzu know..](https://imgur.com/a/ApoT7Gy) Echidna really is a mysterious woman.
*Continued in Part 2*
The last three episodes of Re:Zero season 2 are probably the best climax to a season of anime I’ve ever seen with the exception of like the last 20 episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood which I would consider one big arc. Any misgivings I may have for season 2 are made up by how awesome these three episodes are.
**Re:Watcher** – anime only
Time for the final obstacle and the justification for *Return By Death Note*: Betty and Subaru and Emilia against the Great Rabbit. Nice that Subaru can play bait against another of the Great Mabeasts. Now he only needs to do it against the Black Serpent and he’ll unlock a hidden achievement. While Subaru baits them, Betty encages the bunnies and Emilia… lifts the whole section of ice with the bunnies into the air? And then Betty banishes them to the shadow realm where they have nothing to feast on but themselves. Sugoooku and sugoi from Emilia, before I forget.
Defeated Roswaal just staring and then crying as Ram lifts her hand got me, as well as Ram’s weak smile. It’s been only five minutes, but everything is solved already. Time for the best part, the emotional payoff.
Betty and Roswaal pay their tributes to Echidna, but both have changed. Them exchanging their experiences is really great, I suppose. It really helps Roswaal. The more things change, the more they stay the same, it seems. Betty turned into her former, happier self, and so did Roswaal, and they reconnect. Roswaal really loved Betty, after all, and for her first time out of the library to win an old friend back is wonderful. Even though Betty wasn’t aware of Roswaal’s body hopping. I guess he never bothered to tell her, and she didn’t have her mind to pay any attention to him when he was in her library. But now she looks at him, and the Roswaal in her eyes is the young chap with a natural face she once knew.
And we finally get why Echidna’s face hasn’t been shown in any flashbacks. Who is that? Emilia was right to wonder, as even if it’s not the easiest thing to show in anime, this Echidna’s face is much different from the one we saw in her dream world. The reason for that? Hard to say. Maybe she did actually manage to transfer souls. Maybe there never was a single Echidna but a small hivemind of Echidnas – although they did behave slightly different as well, using different pronouns for instance. Maybe one of them was a fake. Maybe one is the daughter of the other. Maybe dream Echidna just used her incorporal form to give herself some beauty adjustments. Let me know what you think.
Meanwhile, Emilia and Subaru catch up. Talking about Puck and Emilia’s growth, and of course… the scene that YouTube spoiled for me through recommendations and spoilers in a video title. Double sugoooku from Emilia here. Emilia thinks kissing makes babies. But she doesn’t know it’s not an immediate cause and effect, there’s at least one step in between. It’s a funny and endearing scene. I think it’s best to be considered without context. Because with context, you have to remember that yandere Emilia kissed dying Subaru, with all the implications. Had she known how to really make babies, would she have done it? Also, she was willing to accept Subaru’s baby right there in the entrance to the tomb. The best interpretation is that she feels so much for him she’s willing to raise a child with him already, even if it’d make the Royal Selection difficult – that for her all lights are on green in this relationship. At worst, she was accepting something from him that he wasn’t offering, and her reason to believe was the baby, was a lie. That all her character growth was based on a misunderstanding. Yeah, let’s not think further about this.
Time for punishing and forgiving Roswaal. It’s hard to forgive him, but they need him and he literally can’t do anything against them. Yeah, that’s why Roswaal accepted the bet. Subaru would have lost his soul if he didn’t honour his part, and that’s certainly across timelines. Petra not forgiving Roswaal hits really hard. He made a kid cry, he has to work hard to make up for that now. A sugoooku from Emilia when she pressures Roswaal into asking for forgiveness in the first place.
And finally we get to the point of being able to drop the “self-proclaimed”. Subaru has earned it. Ram presenting Rem like a show-and-tell is funny. Garf looks out of place in a suit, but Otto looks great – still with a hat, is he storing his money in this one as well? Petra’s dress is beautiful – maybe too beautiful considering she’ll never be able to wear it again, most likely. Maybe her children will wear it one day. Subaru is looking good in the knight outfit, but his personal knight outfit looks better on him. Roswaal is back to being a noble clown. And a new character, one of Roswaal’s relatives!
Roswaal telling Subaru about his goals is oddly comforting. He knows Subaru’s power and will follow him because it’ll get him closer to his goal. As such, Roswaal is now a confidant for Subaru! He’s a very powerful partner and even if he might be a bit shady at times, he is on his side.
The ceremony itself is beautiful. But Subaru, even if her outfit shows her great form, you might want to say this in a different way. Though it’s nice to see him give a genuine compliment and Emilia accepting it without making a big deal out of it. And they have a sweet talk out on the balcony later that night, with another sugoooku from Emilia as they discuss Roswaal, and one more as they tell each other how amazing they think the other is. If you remember, they had this exact exchange at the beginning of S2 as well, next to the sleeping Rem before Subaru started crying and all that. This time, it’s under much better circumstances, not to build each other up, it’s just genuine. And there’s the promise of many more private talks of them together in Emilia’s room, as well as more reassurances of trust and faith. And another sugoooku as Emilia compliments how Subaru looks in her eyes while both of them enjoy everyone interacting at the party.
A wonderful end on the dancing couple and more scenes from the party. Subaru and Emilia just look perfect together. From the other party scenes Roswaal and Ryuzu as well as Betty and Petra are my personal highlights, besides Ram and Rem. Wait, that’s basically just dissing the Otto, Garf and Frederica scene – that one is nice as well.
The final Break Time gets back to Otto and Garf after the festivities, and Frederica daydreaming next to Petra when observing them. She’s happy Garf found a friend, but she also wants to talk to him, so she is jealous of Otto. Petra takes care of Ottotototo and pushes him away. Then the siblings have a proper reunion, finally. I like that the final Break Time ends with the season’s four big additions to Camp Emilia. Ryuzu won’t stick around as much, I guess, as they’ll have to manage the former inhabitants of the sanctuary.
Tomorrow will be the full series discussion, so what’s left for today is a bit of talk about S2 in particular. No surprise here, I loved it. When it started, I just wanted more of the goodness that made S1 the series I loved so much. And we got that, but we also got a whole lot more. The pace seemed slower as there was so much happening just at the sanctuary, and there was just a single loop, just one arc. But that meant after getting so many setbacks in the first part and Subaru at a new low point, the payoff in the second part was nothing short of amazing. Pretty much the whole second part was peak after peak after peak, pure hype. And part of that was how the second part completely reinvented the series. While RbD is an important factor still, the way it is treated changed a lot. The way witches are seen changed as well. And while Subaru is at the center of this story, now we frequently get into the perspective of others as well. His love and his friends are his equals, equally strong main characters. Emilia’s personal growth feels quite similar to Subaru’s growth in arc 3, which is to say it’s absolutely amazing. Subaru himself still grew in this arc, even if in a different way. And of course this arc also did a lot for Ram, letting her stand on her own, as well as Roswaal of course. A great second season that blew my expectations away.
To finish this post, let me list my favourite scenes of this season – again in ascending order, keeping the best for last.
Subaru telling Echidna about RbD. The relief of Subaru being able to say it is still great.
Otto’s declaration of friendship. Such a simple thing, but so genuine and precious.
Satella appearing in the sanctuary. That was a totally unexpected game changer.
Subaru’s first death to the Great Rabbit. What a brutal mindfuck that was.
“Choose me.” A wonderful conclusion to give freedom to a great character.
Yandere Emilia. The whole final scene is straight out of a great horror movie.
Minerva. I want to say every scene she’s in, but on a rewatch, knowing I’d grow to love her, her first appearance became one of my favourite scenes.
Emilia’s trials. That’s cheating, but I didn’t want to push out any of the other mentions in my top 15. The past was my favourite though.
Emilia’s hug from behind in the first episode of the season. This is one of my favourite moments in the series, but I can’t put it above any of the following.
Garf vs. Elsa. For Garf to be able to stand toe to toe with the most dangerous enemy we’ve seen *and win* is incredible, and their bond during the fight was also very intriguing.
Ram vs. Roswaal. The fight was amazing, and Puck’s size bluff was the best part, but Ram’s intervention on Roswaal was both fantastic and heart-wrenching.
Parent and Child. Once again cheating, but all of it blurs into one scene for me, and you know it’s a great one.
The Witches’ Tea Party. The Witches of Sin, both enigmatic and misunderstood beings, teaching Subaru to be better to himself. Satella’s unexpected care at the center of this, and Echidna’s machinations as well.
The knighting ceremony and festivities. A great payoff for the season, and a wonderful finale.
The kiss. The kiss itself was wonderful, and as a *reason to believe* it was beyond words.
Sugoooku counter: 73
Sugoku-likes: 13
Non-canon sugoooku: 24
Non-Emilia sugoooku: 22
You know how you associate certain scenes with certain songs? Like with 1×15, people can’t think of the ending scene without Requiem of Silence. I can’t think of the ending sequence with everyone partying without [Journey’s Any Way You Want It playing in my mind.](https://youtu.be/mmasR6_1lBo?si=M068Mjc0N8UbbYeh)
**Rewatcher**
It’s the second end of the beginning and the beginning of the end. With Beatrice and Subaru contracted it’s time to bring that newly gained power upon the Great Rabbit. And what power they have. Beatrice is not called a great spirit for nothing. With Emilia’s assistance Subaru and Beatrice send the Great Rabbit to another dimension with the highest form of the Shamac spell, Al Shamac. In a dimension with no food sources to speak of the rabbits indulge upon themselves. The second Great Witchfiend Subaru has encountered is felled quickly and efficiently. Some might be disappointed that there was not a bigger battle with ups and downs, but I think it’s better to be rid of the rabbit quickly and focus on tying up the character plots satisfyingly.
And those character moments are definitely satisfactory. Roswaal’s conversation with Beatrice gives us insight into how Beatrice now feels about Subaru and how Roswaal from 400 years ago managed to live for all those years. Beatrice knows that she isn’t Subaru’s number one, but she has Subaru as her number one. There is no romantic relationship between these two and there never was. They are two people that care about each other. Making fun of each other one second and sharing their insecurities the other. They resemble siblings more than anything. But if Subaru is Beatrice’s found brother, then he’s not the first. There’s been one other who has been with her all this time that has not made his presence known. Roswaal. Not Roswaal L. Mathers, but the Witch’s disciple and Beatrice’s friend. Making use of his descendants as vessels for his soul. Showing just how inhuman of a monster he is. But he’s here and Beatrice doesn’t let him off easy with a slap to the face with her shoe. In reality Beatrice was never alone. She was always surrounded by family. Now she’s just aware of them. Her mother in the coffin looks different than the one we’ve come to know in the tea party. Even using a different personal pronoun. ‘Watashi’ instead of ‘boku’. What this means we can only theorize. But for now, these three are reunited and have finally returned home to each other.
Emilia and Subaru have gone through a lot of turmoil together, but now that the snow has settled, they can finally talk. Subaru might have thought that Emilia was seriously considering their relationship going forward in terms of them as a couple. And while that is true it was most definitely not in the way Subaru was expecting. You see Emilia is pregnant with Subaru’s child. But that can’t be right. I mean they’ve never… The only thing they’ve done is kiss and that doesn’t… Oh… That’s right our sheltered princess is even more sheltered than you might have thought. Thinking that kissing makes babies. While the scene and misunderstanding are cute it goes to show just how pampered she was by Puck and serves to recontextualize a previous loop. The taste of death after Emilia was mind broken. The kiss she gave Subaru was with the intent to carry Subaru’s child. If the hell loop wasn’t already messed up enough it is now.
Now that all the obstacles have been cleared it’s time for the Emilia camp to confront Roswaal, their benefactor. Otto, Garfiel and Petra hold great disdain towards the clown for his attempts at destruction at the mansion, which includes Arlam village, and at the sanctuary. Except for Frederica, Emilia and Ram the camp does not forgive Roswaal. But they can’t get rid of him, they need his power if they want Emilia to win the Royal Selection. For a guarantee of his cooperation Roswaal shows what the Straight Bet he made with Subaru really meant. The loser of the bet would have a covenant placed upon them that would force submission on the affected party. If Subaru had lost, he would have had the same seal put on him. Presumably carrying over even after he resets if it’s engraved on his soul. The stakes were high the entire time without Subaru’s knowledge. But just the covenant is not enough to satisfy the likes of Garfiel and Petra. They make Roswaal swear not to do the shit he’s done ever again. And Emilia ends the conversation with what she wants to hear the most from Roswaal, an apology.
With that the Sanctuary is freed, and we move onto the next location. The Miload mansion belonging to the Mlload family, which is a branch of the Mathers family. A certain ceremony is taking place there, but before that the two clowns have a chat. Roswaal admits defeat fully. But while he might have lost The Tome of Wisdom, he’s found a new reason to be in the man before him, Subaru. The threat he makes towards Subaru is not translated all that well in most subs, so to summarize. While Roswaal will die if he tries to harm any member of the Emilia camp, as soon as Subaru loses a member and it’s a fact that they cannot be brought back that loop, Roswaal will force Subaru to reset by essentially killing himself. That is what he promises to Subaru. But that is a threat that will come into play in the future. For now, it’s Subaru’s victory and what better way to celebrate it than with an official knighting ceremony. The self-proclaimed knight becomes a genuine one. More than the speech Emilia gives it is the words that Subaru responds with that carry the most weight. Genuine resolve to protect and understand the girl in front of him. He swears to do so on the world, his pride, and the people who made him who he is, his parents. Carrying them with him for the rest of his life. Ending the ceremony with flattering words for the girl he loves.
The knight and candidate duo now officially formed they talk on the balcony. Mirroring the first night they met in this world. A full moon shining upon them with Subaru telling Emilia ‘Okay!’ with a smile. They have both grown so much and yet they have so much growing left to do. Promising to talk and lean on each other as they strive to fulfil their dearest wishes. One having been accomplished as they look upon the party unfolding in the hall proving more than anything could that they have persevered in the face of adversity. But the night is still young, and they cap it off with a dance. With the full moon and friends by their side they share a dance of offbeat steps under the moonlight.
—
Closing thoughts:
The word for today is “Ending”. More than even last season’s finale the end of Arc 4 feels like the series could end here and I’d remain satisfied. All the relevant plotlines were tied up with a neat bow and we’ve been witness to what seems to be the end of the first section of the story in Arcs 1-4. The Emilia camp is fully formed and ready to face whatever comes their way. There was some cut content at the end much like at the end of S1, but I’m glad the team behind the production ended the season at the most satisfying place.
If you’d like to know the cut content, then… [Cut Content] >!The real ending of Arc 4 is the creation of an entity known as ‘Omega’. The clone of Ryuzu Shima which houses the soul of the Witch of Greed Echidna and the rest of the witches of sin. This was hinted back in ep 23 when Shima had Echidna’s voice. Omega being seemingly the end goal that Echidna was striving towards this entire arc. Being free from the Sanctuary and unleashed upon the world once again. But the staff can just reintroduce this when it becomes relevant again, even if it’s a great cliffhanger.!<
S2 as a whole is what really made me fall in love with Re:Zero. It’s why I started reading the novels, because I just had to know what happens next to this cast of characters that I’d grown to love. And let me tell you with S3 on the horizon in just two days I cannot wait for the upcoming developments.
There are obviously going to be comparisons between S1 and 2 but I think the second season is overall the better package with it’s expansion of characters and lore that make you even more invested than you thought you were. The escalation of problems in the Sanctuary and mansion followed by the character realizations coming from all sides is what Re:Zero does best. Arc 4 stands to this day a crowning achievement of the best parts of Re:Zero, though it is most certainly not the best the story has to offer. For that we will see each other the day after tomorrow, after the final series discussion in which I will give my thoughts on the series and rewatch as a whole. It’s been a lot of fun and I can’t wait to see you all for the last time before S3 tomorrow.
**First Timer Dubbed**
Note ORV=Omnicient reader viewpoint it’s a way to describe the difference between thinking in Subaru’s knowledge and the Knowledge of the Viewer.
Note2 Intentionally trigger RBD means what you think it means it’s just reddit has crazy admins.
**Reaction to the Episode**
[It’s time to kill the wabbit](https://imgur.com/G7BOsXO)
“the contract was only just signed” Wait was their cut content of a contract between Beatrice and Subaru?
“this is the strongest I’ve ever felt in my whole life” – man arc 3’s army was nothing to you?
[Wait Subaru can use magic what didn’t his gate break?](https://imgur.com/LrsmyzS)
Oh boy Beatrice is epic I suppose.
“act as a decoy I suppose” -oh girl you have no idea how good Subaru is at that.
Subaru can shout really really far I suppose
[DEUS EX BEATRICE](https://imgur.com/AIo8xCm)
Man that fight was anti-climaatic but it works for Beatrice I suppose.
[Ram be like I LIVED BITCHES](https://imgur.com/zLiC2BU)
beatrice be like
“I chose Subaru even though he’s not that person I suppose”
“I want to make him my number 1”
Subaru Harem +1! We can debate if Rem counts or not but Beatrice+Emilia+Petra all do.
Soul transcription magic let roswaal live forever? Oh is this the Betalguese thing?
[hmm echidna looks really different from her state in the trials](https://imgur.com/4bVJEzX)
“you seem so much stronger” – oh boy if Emilia’s Ice witch powers are live then she’s a character on the tier of other cheaters like Puck and Beatrice.
“just so I’m sure you said that you l-love me” -oh boy is Emilia scared about something that happened in the ghost of christmas future?
“I wanted tot talk about THE BABY THAT’s IN MY BELLY” – Who raped Emilia?
Oh my god what is this anime about weird emotions about Subaru x emilia probably the worst scene of the season. This stupid kiss misunderstanding was the worst even though it was also cute
[And now it’s roswaal punishment time](https://imgur.com/mYRMJZ1)
[I like how the classic shonen trope of “I beat you now you’re my ally” got finally justified in this version. ](https://imgur.com/KtWFDvJ)
I notice that only one of the 3 surving Ryuzu’s is here I guess they really do rotate around.
So uh subaru breaks promise > Loops > LOl get rekt? Is subaru immune to binding contracts?
I love petra’s response, petra is so cute.
Emilia go “apologise roswaal” so cute
[where are they now what didn’t the mansion burn?](https://imgur.com/sOBtu8y)
I like how Roswaal goes “well man I know you can return by death so if things go bad for me I’ll make sure they go bad for you so you RBD back and make things good for me”
Subaru Natsuki becoming a knight eh? Finally going from Self appointed knight to total badass knight.
A speech about pride is pretty sweet for the person who might be the sin archbishop of pride. (ok he isn’t but he IS the sin archbishop of sloth)
Oh god swaering it on mom and dad who will never see you again. so sad…
[YO SUBARU YOU ARE A FUCKING DORK!](https://imgur.com/4IgSy5X) (man can you somehow not be horny just once)
yo what kind of weed do they sell in Lugunica Subaru must be smoking some of the dankest Kush imaginable if he’s that high on life (I also don’t drink, I don’t smoke either something about needing to wake up at 5 AM to get the shit beaten out of you by a russian with a chinstrap beard)
“I’m a repeat offender when it comes to breaking promises” oh boy you are
this is a pretty sweet set of Emilia x Subaru scenes all told
So is the important thing to discuss
A: Puck
B: Royal Selection and Subaru’s new duties as a knight
C: Rem/Crusch and the sin archbishop of gluttony.
D all of the above
hat didn’t happen
**commetnary on the endgame position**
Subaru is emilia’s knight, but the power of Subaru’s team is greatly diminished. The overpowered spirits in his domain are now far far weaker. Beatrice appaerently has lost a lot of mana and Puck is also very weak relative to before.
I wonder though given that Roswaal knows Subaru can return by death why didn’t Satella kill Roswaal? Is it because he dosen’t know that death is the trigger, can she only come out when Subaru says so?
(I might have spent a loop trying to kill roswaal this way because fuck roswaal roswaal is a piece of shit)
Subaru has 1 OP witch factor and seemingly can cast magic even with a defective gate? maybe he can channel his mana through beatrice or something (he was carrying beatrice the entire time)
If we go over the royal selection candidates now
**Who I think will win**
1. Crusch (If she gets her memory back in a timely manner)
2. Anatasia
3. Priscilla
4. Felt
5. Crusch (memory loss edition)
6. Emilia ** (in universe, obviously ORV and plot armor give her far above average chances)
**Who I want to win**
1. Crusch (memory regained edition(
2. Anatasia
3. Emilia
4. Crusch (memory loss edition)
5. Priscilla
6. Felt
Emilia has proven herself to be not totally awful at leading but Crusch/Anatasia are far far better leaders. The crusch/Emilia alliance (with Anatasia as a partial 3rd) is the “We don’t suck” alliance.
You know it’s strange that the rest of the plot is probably going to revolve around Royal Selection, yet both of the most recent arcs were more about gathering allies in the local domain. More than improving relations abroad. Emilia is way behind in royal seleciton.
**Subaru from the perspective of a random arlem villager**
This guy has shown up about 2 months ago, a goofy boy who really likes playing with kids in this time period he rescued the entire village 3 separate times
First he defeated the mabeast attack near the village center. He killed a huge amount of them while roswaal and Ram cleaned up the rest.
He then saved the village a second time when the witch’s cult attacked he knew they were coming and brought a whole army with him.
Finally he came a third time to the sanctuary saving the entire village from the great rabbit.
Who is this guy is he some legendary hero that Roswaal hired because he knew the witch’s cult was coming? He since has become Emilia’s knight and is now the hero of our village. I don’t know why he likes the half devil so much but boy is he cool.
**The story is a series of Deus ex Machinas**
Step 1 Subaru encoutners impossible foe (elsa, Doggo/Rem, White Whale+Witch’s cult, Elsa+Great rabbit)
Step 2 Subaru decodes mystery
Step 3 Subaru has a powerful ally that solves the problem for him (Reinhard, Rem+Roswaal, Crusch’s army+Iron fang, Beatrice and Garfiel)
Seriously so much of this story is “convient ally takes out foe that is a level 100 cheat opponent” Arc 4 mansion was the only time I didn’t feel like t
>*- And so, characters are gonna fight the great Rabbit, one of the Three Great Mabeasts that terrorize this world, and who can multiply infinitely*
>*- Wow, they are probably in really tough situation, considering how hard it was to defeat a Whale*
>*- Actually, it would be Super easy, barely an inconvenience!*
>
Also, over 25 episodes, only like 4 had an opeing and endings, so i REALLY don’t know, why they even bothered to make ones.
*Now my angry rant from episode 23 will continued, because even if i found that ending to be bad overall, it also was a sighn that show is about to make one of my most hated development toward Rosvaal.*
Here we go.
So, you have this morally dubious character in your story. And you really want him to be on the main character team.
But here’s the problem – he’s already messed up the heroes’ lives. And you should bring it up, but then his switch to the “good” side will have to cause some conflict for the heroes.
The thing is… You VERY much don’t want to deal with that. Why should you try to make the characters feel alive when you just want to move on to the next storyline?!
Luckily for you, there’s a solution that makes it seem like you’ve dealt with the moral side without causing any conflict!
**You’re just forcing the most uninvolved character to make all the accusations.**
In this case, it’s Garfield and Petra in that role, so let’s talk about the former for now.
Though he was caught up in Rosvaal’s plans, the only time Garfil suffered from him in the overall picture was when he activated the snow, which would have caused ALL of them to die. So as bad as it sounds, Garfil death would have just been collateral damage.
Other characters in comparison:
* Rosvaal tried to psychologically break Emilia.
* Sent assassins to kill Frederica, Petra, and Beatrice.
* Responsible for the murder of Ram’s parents, and has generally put her in a situation where she could have died at least twice already.
Subaru – I don’t think I need to mention. Of all these characters, only Otto is also unaffected by Roswaal’s schemes, and that’s because he was literally accidentally dragged into them.
Add to that the fact that Garfil is a new character, that he doesn’t work for Roswaal unlike the others, and that he was an antagonist himself, and it’s clear that it’s not really his place to blame him.
And that’s important, because then you take a character who’s ACTUALLY been hurt by his evil deeds, and you make them say that they **doesn’t give a fuck**. He’s already forgiven.
In this case it’s… pretty much every other character, but let Frederica be an example.
As I’ve written before, Rosvaal has REALLY threatened her life. But she doesn’t care about that.
And just like that, not only does she gets holier than thou, but all of Garfil’s claims are discounted. Because what can he say? Those who were really hurt by Roswaal have forgiven him, so he has virtually no right to keep blaming him.
Just switch Frederica and Garfill in this situation. Let her be the one angry at Roswaal. Suddenly, the whole dynamic changes – now you can’t just say that others have forgiven him, the characters need to consider her feelings or they’ll look like heartless bastards.
That’s why it’s so important that the most uninvolved character is the FIRST to voice the main grievances – so that no other character whose opinion needs to be considered will voice them.
*continue in reply*
Man, what a finale. <3 <3 <3.
Anyway, I’m having a hard time thinking about what to say, except E-M-T – those shots at the end, so precious. Somehow, I’m suddenly jealous.
Anyway, before I gush some more, here’s something I forgot earlier, or maybe was saving for now: [A little screenshot from Isekai Quartet that might just be timely](https://imgur.com/gy0qI58).
And also, since we’re finally having the big party, [here’s our lovely ladies all dressed up for a night on the town](https://imgur.com/6DNtFJ5)
*(ahem)*
Hopefully that wasn’t too cultured.
Meanwhile, Deus ex Betty, and it appears that they most definitely have a contract now. What could possibly go wrong?
And Roswaal gets the slapping around he deserves. Well, maybe not quite. I like how Petra refused to forgive him. How very kawaii.
Someone should have told him, *”By the way, ditch the clown suit and stop trying to ape a stupid warlock.”*
Yeah. I guess that’s asking too much, though.
Otherwise, that party, the knighting, so good.
Also, finally managed to find the Break Time shorts, among other things. They were quite amusing, although I reuse to feel sorry for Maylie. Or Elsa for that matter.
[Somehow, this seems topical, perhaps to Roswaal too. We shall see. Kashira.](https://youtu.be/DVX4zGX3iWg?si=E8E0zkyrWwZUK-Te)
Otherwise, what other off topic things do I have to share? I don’t remember. There was another song tickling my brain last night, but I can’t quite. Oh, yeah. Something human. So, if you care to hear some Canadian Prog that isn’t Rush, here’s:
[Saga – Only Human](https://youtu.be/El4ygchuXaQ?si=6-ubmFgTvdv0gl35)
Anyway, have a great day, and hopefully I can think of something semi-intelligent to say for the wrapup tomorrow.
1) I love this anime. Didn’t rewatch many episodes but I showed up to the threads most of the time. It was a lot of fun
2) I want to make some top 5 lists for tomorrow’s thread. Any suggestions?
I am already gonna make top 5 characters and top 5 episodes
You guys are on ep 50…. I’m rewatching the whole thing in like 35 hours……
“We are not the same…. I procrastinate way more”