Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World-

Episode 15

Hoo boy. If the series was back up to full steam last episode then it kicks into overdrive with this one. The result is an episode as dark and intense as anything seen so far that once again raises some fresh new questions with long-term plot implications.

But first, everyone was expecting a loop after the traumatic circumstances of last episode, and after exposing Subaru to more traumatic sights it does happen, though probably not in the way that anyone expected...unless anyone actually predicted Subaru being frozen to death by a trap in an underground corridor alongside some witch cultists suffering the same fate. Given that both Puck and Emilia used ice-related magic back during their encounter with the Bowel Hunter, it makes sense that a likely wounded Emilia used that room as her final defense. And the voice that said Subaru was “too late” sounded a bit like Puck's.

The reset point was also a matter of some debate, but it makes sense in a meta way that Subaru is once again back in front of the apple stand – only this time Rem's with him, so we're back at 7:57 in episode 14, right after Subaru has the conversation with the stall owner about the Jealous Witch. (There's a brief scene at the point where Subaru is shown walking towards the stall, with Rem standing there waiting.) That means he doesn't get to redo his failings during the selection process, duel, and disastrous talk with Emilia afterwards, and I'm glad the series handled it that way; being able to handwave those problems with time travel would have been letting Subaru off too easy. This time though, the trauma is too much for him to process, so we get a totally mentally broken version of Subaru. This results in Rem taking him back to the mansion sooner, but not soon enough. This time they're beset by the cultists together, who spirit off Subaru while Rem fights, leading to the introduction of the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, Betelgeuse Romancée-conti, who turns out to be the clown-like guy from the opener. Calling him “wacko” might be a gross understatement. He's a full-blown freak who has converted his insanity into a twisted religion involving bizarre interpretations of “love” and “sloth,” and he chews Subaru out for only “faking” having gone insane himself.

While Betelgeuse's shtick does approach becoming tiresome, he puts a tangible face on the dark forces at work in the story. The scene where Rem comes to face down Betelgeuse and rescue Subaru is wrenching (morbid pun intended), and Rem's last-breath success at freeing Subaru is a massive gut-check. Even with the obfuscating shading, this is very graphic stuff, and the musical score works the mood throughout! But while that might normally be a good place to wrap the episode, we get to see Subaru trudge back to the mansion with Rem's body through gradually increasing snowfall, and that's when the big twist happens. What the hell is that giant animal-like creature with the glowing yellow eyes emerging from the mansion? Is it Puck or some manifestation of the Jealous Witch? Who is it referring to as its daughter: Rem or Emilia? And when it told Subaru to “sleep” and beheaded him, was it actively trying to trigger his loop? I'm not sure about the former, but I favor the latter interpretation.

The closing credits play as snow gradually covers up the scene and blots out the beast, which I thought was a very nice dramatic and visual touch, but the episode still doesn't stop there. It uses its epilogue to show Subaru's second reset, and this time he's not insane. Betelgeuse's actions gave Subaru the focus he needed to pull himself back together mentally – and while I was expecting something to snap him out of it, this isn't the way I was expecting it at all. Fittingly, the episode ends with the most determined and hateful expression we've yet seen from Subaru. The stark contrast between it and the ecstatic expression of Rem just a moment before is too specific to not be intentional, but more importantly, that scene is necessary to complete the theme of the episode: transforming Subaru's despair into rage. It does a beautiful job of bringing that to a conclusion.

In general, the artistic and musical choices made throughout this episode are outstanding; I don't think I've been giving enough credit to how carefully this series chooses its scene framing and character expressions before. My only quibble is that there's no bloody streak left across the cave floor after Rem crawls across it to get to Subaru, but everything else is done so well that I can forgive that oversight. Betelgeuse's references to an Ordeal and his Lord are also intriguing; does that mean the cultists aren't actually connected to the Witch? So many questions still need to be answered, but I'm equally curious as to how Subaru will respond to what he's experienced. I'm sure I won't be the only one eagerly awaiting the next episode.

Rating: A

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