Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World-

Episode 10

Re:Zero's streak continues with another strong episode, bringing it closer to Best of the Season potential. While it isn't quite as sharp as some of the preceding episodes, it offsets that by (at least temporarily) correcting its biggest ongoing flaw: smoothly timing Subaru's prattle.

To be sure, he still engages in it, but this time around things flow more smoothly. Besides, Subaru wouldn't be Subaru without it. He acts like a dork because that's just what he is: an earnest, pure-hearted, clever dork. It's a character type so commonly attempted in recent years that I think built-in expectations may have distracted me from a subtle characterization shift which makes him different from most of his predecessors: he's remarkably personable on his own merits. Normally, such characters need to have gimmicks going for them to help them attract other characters (especially members of the opposite sex), but Subaru has just the right mix of confidence, self-effacing behavior, vulnerability, and goofy charm to make his ability to gradually win over others believable. This did result in him coming on stronger than expected earlier in the season, but once you get comfortable with his style, I think it's hard not to like him. That shows quite clearly in this episode.

The episode is also satisfying because it doesn't make Subaru's encounter with the mabeasts (here identified as “ulgram”) a fatal one – at least not yet, anyway. Though the children were saved and the village's protection re-initialized, there were consequences for that encounter, as Beatrice reveals once Subaru recuperates thanks to the efforts of Rem and Emilia. The ulgram have laid curses on him, which will be triggered when they replenish their mana in half a day; in other words, they feed on mana by laying a curse and then using it to drain the target. (This is an interesting concept that I'm not sure I have seen done before in this manner.) Because they're interwoven in a tight mess, Beatrice cannot undo them like she did the other curse, so the only option is to kill the ulgram. Subaru quickly deduces that Rem has probably gone off to do exactly that, so now he and Ram are foraying into the forest together after her.

That gives the series a convenient chance to lay out much more of the truth about Ram and Rem. They are both oni, and Ram doesn't have her horn anymore because something happened in their youth that resulted in it being cut off. (There's a brief flashback, but it's vague about what's transpiring.) That's left her feeling incompetent compared to Ram, conflicting with her perception of how she should be as the elder of the two. She also reveals the interesting notion that oni twins are normally rejected because they get one horn each instead of a full set of two. That goes a long way towards explaining why they are so passionately loyal to Roswaal for giving them a place. But the strongest and neatest touch was the flashback showing the village kids enthusiastically asking Ram to bring Rem back to them. This is important because it contradicts the earlier story of the Red and Blue Ogres, a story which Ram has clearly taken to heart.

Of course, that's not all the episode has going for it. We do get to see Rem, Ram, and Subaru in action mode, with Ram in particular impressively tearing into the ulgram and Subaru remaining quick-witted even in the midst of a fight. (Figuring out a way to use what happens to him when he tries to talk about the time looping to his advantage is really cool.) The action is remarkably well-animated too, which combined with the strong musical score brings out some serious intensity. The dog's all-too-human expression of anger at one point lends further credence to my theory that it isn't just a dumb animal.

The fight that caps the episode does not fully conclude though, which means that this arc will run at least one more episode. But that just gives us more time to ponder various theories. The idea that the dragon in the land's stories, rather than the witch, may actually be responsible for Subaru's time looping seems to be shot down by the way that the smell of the witch flares up when Subaru tries to mention time loops. But what other interpretations will arise from this?

Rating: A-

Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.