I suppose I will start by saying that according to word of mouth, this episode was a complete 1:1 adaption of the source material. Meaning that every line of dialogue, every action is exactly the same as the source material. For an adaption that is quite a feat but in ways it can be a detriment. There are those who believe that as long as an adaption stays as faithful as possible then it will just be as great as it’s source material and truthfully I thought this as well before. However there are many other factors to take into account with an adaption and if it doesn’t adapt the source material for a another medium then the results can feel lesser. I think a perfect example of this is the Watchmen movie, which if you disregard it’s changed ending, is a very faithful adaption of the comic. However despite this it’s considered a weak movie and a disappointment to its source material. Why? Because reading something and watching something are two entirely different experiences. From the New World is a good anime example of something which is hindered by it’s original format as it’s exposition heavy and to me feels like a journey to find the next thing to spout more exposition. For a book that’s fine, but for an anime it’s painstakingly slow and cuts away one for the greatest assets of a visual medium. The ability to show someone a story instead of telling them one.
You may wonder why I am talking about this but I want to try and explain why this episode gave me a mixed response. From a narrative standpoint I like what was accomplished. Subaru looks to finally be snapped out of his rut and this marks the starting point of his long awaited redemption. I certainly am glad for that as if his issues continued further than his character would become completely unsympathetic. However I feel the journey to his revelation was all too long and while I am hesitant to use this word as I feel it is rather harsh, this felt somewhat…contrived. I admit I am certainly not fond of drama where characters recite perfectly a long seemly previously arranged upon script and shout till some sort of revelation. It at often points just feels like a story beating around the bush till the point where it’s reveal could have the most dramatic gravitas. This is why I lost so much patience with Kiznaiver, as an adult i have come to value my time. Thus I have less patience for a show that is evidently wasting it. I feel that some of this conversation was somewhat redundant, yet at the same time it felt necessary. It’s confusing for me, basically I am trying to say that I think this whole thing could have been handled in a manner that would have made it less…dialogue dependent I suppose.
The bulk of the episode was focused on a single conversation between Rem and Subaru but there was some interesting aspects before that. Subaru died once again by Pucks hand but Puck mentioned quite a number of interesting things. One was that his contract with Emilia details that if she dies then he will end the world. For such a saintly figure like Emilia that’s a rather grievous claus to take up, makes me wonder just why she agreed to it. This means that Subaru didn’t just save Emilia in the first arc, he saved the world. Puck also refers to the white Whale as Gluttony which does fit. Does this mean that cardinals of sin need not be human? Upon facing down Betelgeuse he means that he would need at least half the dark hands of Satella to take him down which does seem to suggest that Puck faced Satella at some point. Finally Puck did what everyone did and pointed out just how Subaru had failed.
So having just been told off by the entire cast what solution does Subaru come to? I honestly thought he was starting to get it when he talked before putting forward his proposal. But then he says he wants to run away with Rem. She of course rejects him on this offer but for those interested there is indeed a If story written detailing just what would happen if she accepted his offer. Thus after a long twenty minutes of talking does she convince Subaru to try to fix things again with her fully supporting him all the way. One thing I am concerned about is whether this “fixed” Subaru for good. I have said before that I don’t think Subaru’s problems are something that can be brushed aside with some pep talk and a forehead kiss. It such be a long process of fixing his issues and considering that there is more arcs to come it’s possible that will be the case. If Subaru is essentially going to toss aside all his mental hangups and become a perfect hero then his downfall these past few episodes will feel very cheap. You need to carry that weight with you Subaru and you yourself have shown to be aware of your failings.
I want this to be a bandaid for Subaru’s problems, not a solution. Much like Emilia’s lap pillow in the previous arc, this should be a temporary fix to get Subaru on the right track. I really did like Subaru acknowledging his screwups in the previous episodes and one thing he said that really struck a chord with me was him saying that before coming to Lugnica, he did nothing. That felt like a real jab at those who self insert characters were created for. His claims about being empty almost felt like a meta moment of him coming to see his existence as some self insert light novel protagonist. I also have quite a bit of respect with him for putting it out that he loves Emilia and flat out rejecting Rem. Again that certainly seems to be a trait of light novel protagonists to lead on other girl’s affections without pointing out that they already have someone they care for.(Isn’t that right, Kirito?) I wasn’t quite happy with this at first but I did read an interesting opinion about Subaru falling for Emilia in the same way that Rem fell for Subaru. In that they were both saved by those they desire. Well before this gets any longer I might as well wrap this up by saying that Subaru it was good that you told her and that you are absolutely goddamn insane to reject such an embodiment of pure perfection that is is Rem! Bloody hell.
~AidanAK47~
The greatest thing about this show is that there are no quick fixes, and this certainly wasn’t a quick fix. Subaru’s resolve (if we are to consider the first half of the story as evidence) is very fragile and needs constant maitenance and validation. Rem’s obsession over Subaru is an important source of infinite, unconditional praise and positivity for him, and without her he will spiral. So yeah, she’s a bandaid, but isn’t everyone? I would have preferred him to resolve to start at square one than to continue wallowing, and hoenstly isn’t 4 episodes enough time to consider progression uncontrived? We know from the first arc that Subaru’s superpower is essentially his ability to ignore reality and forge ahead, so this isn’t exactly out of left field.
While a partly agree with the whole “holding a script” feel *cough cough Kokoro Connect cough cough*, I also partly disagree. I think Subaru had strangely amazingly thought out arguments for suffering severe PTSD but Rem felt 100% legit in that long convo. Her voice actor is truly amazing, and the whole confession with her saying how she wanted to run away and live with him and all the little details were quite heartwarming.
Strange also how Betelgeuse was nothing for Puck but Gluttony was “a troublesome one”. Guess the commanders are quite varying in power, which makes me wonder if one will be a match for the ever-anticipated overpowerness that is Reinhart.
I agree about adaptation – I think if they relied more on visuals, it would have had less rough edges. Subaru’s affirmation about Emilia certainly was abrupt after an episode dedicated to Rem’s confession of love, but it actually got me thinking on love in Re:Zero. I had to check wiki for different definitions of love – and it starts to click if you see Rem and Subaru as not feeling primarily romantic love, but that they have unconditional love or Agape – one that focuses on loving goodness of another person. This is why Rem doesn’t run away with Subaru and accepts his confession about Emilia with tears, that seem to be a mix of sadness and happiness.
(Sorry in advance for my syntax, still learning).
I also have mixed feelings about this episode. This indeed was really powerful and I absolutly loved how Subaru is reflecting on his current and past self. However, the whole Rems confession, while being heartwarming then kinda heartbreaking in the flash of a few minutes, felt really overly melodramatic. That kind of scenery is just not my cup of tea, like seeing all those birds flying away while a bright light is shining and a “sad” music is screaming in the back… I just cant help but feel like this is sort of a big panel “NOW CRY” appearing in the back. Never been a good public for this in anime, I always felt like it is too forced.
I agree that this episode is important, at least now Subaru realized that he’s just powerless, and ignorantly push thing forwards won’t do him any good. But then we have Subaru and Rem shouting self-indulgence nonsense, confessing love at each other again, (sigh). It doesn’t help that the dialogue wasn’t really that great.
Anyway, we always have his “evil laugh” – the best moment in this episode bar none
Problem is without said self-indulgence, Subaru would have made the rational decision of fleeing to another country, instead of suffering the whole death and torture and we wouldn’t have a story.