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EP. REVIEW: Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- [2020-07-13]

One thing I don't think has ever been made clear (unless I missed it) is why Subaru is so knowledgeable about astronomy. Was he really into it as a kid or something?

Dr.N0 wrote:

Betelgeuse, Regulus, Subaru, and Aldebaran! I feel so stupid now.

One thing I don't think has ever been made clear (unless I missed it) is why Subaru is so knowledgeable about astronomy. Was he really into it as a kid or something? You tell me "What do you know about Baten Kaitos?" and I say "Wasn't that a game on the Gamecube?" not "Ah yes, from the Arabic for Belly of the Whale, a binary star in the constellation of Cetus."

Might be pulling this from thin air, but I think Subaru mentioned in the Memory Snow Ova that since he was named after a star, he took an interest in them.

I also think Subaru as a character was kind of dumb for not taking advantage of the offer for knowledge. Yes, from the meta view, it makes a better story but this feels like it adds to the feeling of Subaru being a moron.

We're told that the Sanctuary is a place for half-bloods, and that only Emilia has the qualifications to undertake the trial to free all remaining Arlam village residents that Garfiel is keeping hostage.

After all of her talk about proving herself and becoming a reliable person, she fails in a completely anticlimactic manner, without even a hint of her struggles being shown.

I also think Subaru as a character was kind of dumb for not taking advantage of the offer for knowledge. Yes, from the meta view, it makes a better story but this feels like it adds to the feeling of Subaru being a moron.

Normally I try to not compare the anime with the source material as much as possible, but I think there is one fragment of Subaru's talk with Echidna that was left out in the anime that should be explained. Mostly because I've seen many… let’s say "heated", comments in other places regarding Subaru’s refusal to ask anything.

In the LN Subaru did try asking something: if Echidna knows anything about the Archbishops of Sin. His intent, of course, was to save Rem. But turns out Echidna hadn't even heard the term Archbishops of Sin before. Because her soul can’t leave her tomb, the only source of information she has about what's been happening in the world since her death are the very rare visitors. She may have truly learned everything there is to learn in the world, but she is referring to the world of 400 years ago, when she was still alive.

Subaru lost interest pretty quickly because of that. Echidna can tell you anything about magic, the other dead witches, the lore of the world and other stuff that didn't change with time, but what he wants to know is how to save his friends who are in danger right now.

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We're told that the Sanctuary is a place for half-bloods, and that only Emilia has the qualifications to undertake the trial to free all remaining Arlam village residents that Garfiel is keeping hostage.

Just a correction, everyone who is of mixed blood can take the trials. To quote Garfiel: "The only way to break the barrier is to go through the graveyard's trial, but if anyone who isn't of mixed blood tries it... *gestures towards Roswal*". He does also say that "The only one allowed to undergo the trial is you (Emilia)" but that is perceded by "This is our demand", so it's not really an issue of qualification.

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After all of her talk about proving herself and becoming a reliable person, she fails in a completely anticlimactic manner, without even a hint of her struggles being shown.

Well, the exact same thing happened to Subaru and we didn't see him fail, so we're getting ahead of ourselves here, but that's kind of a recurring theme for this series no? Just because you make grandiose statements on one ocassion, doesn't mean you magically become ready to take on all challengers, Subaru went through something similar last time when he repeatedly bit way more than he could chew. Emilia took the responsibility for freeing the Sanctuary despite not even knowing what the trials entail because she didn't have a choice and she's predisposed to selflesness anyway, but in ReZero conviction is rarely the deciding factor.

I will agree that Emilia ending the episode fainted twice in a roll is an unfortunate consequence of the natural stopping point for the episodes.

Izanagi009 wrote:

I also think Subaru as a character was kind of dumb for not taking advantage of the offer for knowledge. Yes, from the meta view, it makes a better story but this feels like it adds to the feeling of Subaru being a moron.

That's only something you can say in hindsight, when you know that his people are literally just outside the spot where he passed out and they're fine, and on the assumption that time is frozen while he's talking with Echidna. When he last saw them Emilia had just dropped to the ground out of the blue and he never got to check on her condition. He just lost Rem to things happening when he was looking the other way, it's understandable that he isn't inclined to take chances .To pull some book knowledge tough, in the source material he did try asking about the sanctuary but Echidna readily admitted to not knowing anything from after her death, so since he wasn't exactly interested in deep lore, he left.

Note Garfiel is unaware nor was privileged to conversation between Subaru and Echidona where she granted Subaru right to take trials. In WN and LN, Suburu interacted with Echidona more than he did in anime so far. This may be case of brevity because this is longest arc in entire series.

In WN and LN, Suburu interacted with Echidona more than he did in anime so far. This may be case of brevity because this is longest arc in entire series.