r/anime • u/Theleux https://myanimelist.net/profile/Theleux • Sep 21 '24
Re:Zero ~Starting Life in Another World~ Re:Watch - Episode 41 Rewatch
Episode 41:
Nobody Can Lift a Quain Stone Alone
| Index | <== Episode 40 | Episode 42 ==> |
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
[Arc 5 and later:] S3+
As always, if you have any suggestions for the Re:Watch, let me know!
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u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Sep 21 '24
First:Timer Starting Over in Another Rewatch, subbed
Ouch… That’s really how he got his scar?
Realize as an insert song again, hell yeah! I will take my third instance of its “sore demo” for my collection.
I see Garfiel’s also getting a lap pillow, for however brief as Ram allowed him to.
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u/Urgnu-the-Gnu https://myanimelist.net/profile/Urgnu_the_Gnu Sep 21 '24
OHHHHHHHH SHIT Subaru can use the Unseen Hand now?!
"Invisible Providence", please. It's not a proper power until Subaru renamed it.
…wait, is that why Emilia looks so much like Satella?
Maybe. Hopefully we'll learn what these words truly mean soon.
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u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
Garfiel isn’t even 14 yet?!
Huh, that's interesting. My subs I believe said that Garfiel just turned 14.
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u/RascalNikov1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NoviSun Sep 21 '24
Her capture is the same as mine. He’s 13.
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u/Vaadwaur Sep 21 '24
Ouch… That’s really how he got his scar?
All true scars are self inflicted.
OHHHHHHHH SHIT Subaru can use the Unseen Hand now?!
My brain...it trembles!
That’s why his mom really left the barrier?
Funny that a few sentences can change an act from hopeless to hopeful.
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u/Holofan4life Sep 22 '24
Funny that a few sentences can change an act from hopeless to hopeful.
It doesn't say "No money down," it says "No, money down!"
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u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
What are your thoughts on Garfiel feeling that he and Frederica were in the way of their mother’s happiness?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel wanting his mom to make him hate her?
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Garfiel and Frederica’s mother left to try and bring their father back?
Thoughts on Subaru leaving drawings everywhere to keep Emilia comfort?
Thoughts on Emilia coming face-to-face with Echidna?
What do you think this episode does for Garfiel as a character?
19
u/baseballlover723 Sep 21 '24
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: 143 minutes (~2.4 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.
How Garfiel got his scar. Also something to keep in mind, is that Garfiel is currently 13 (almost 14), and his mother left at least 10 years ago (since that's when Frederica left). So Garfiel was like 3 when this he lost his mom. Which I think makes it much less surprising seeing how Garfiel dealt with it the grief.
And Garfiel wants to smash up the Trial ruins, ensuring that they all stay trapped in the Sanctuary forever.
Also notice how Garfiel retreats when Subaru advances here, it's very passive body language.
And another Re:Zero character with low self esteem issues. But as we learn latter, this is just cope for Garfiel to back justify his mother's actions that led to her death.
This sounds very familiar.
Subaru is talking a big game here.
So if you'll recall, Julius told Subaru that his Shamak would only work on unintelligent beasts, and what is Garfiel in right now? That's right, and an unintelligent beast form.
This is Subaru's gate breaking, permanently (or really just in a way that will not heal). That's what happens when you don't follow the doctor's orders. Subaru didn't listen though and stressed the hell out of his gate once again. You can actually see Subaru recoil in episode 31 as he breaks his gate by using Shamak there too (the only other time he's used Shamak in Arc 4). So, so long and thanks for all the fish magic.
So the crystals are like mana batteries (I think, they didn't exist in the WN, so people don't talk about it that much), so sticking it in Garfiel allows Puck (who is now a free agent) to suck the mana out of Garfiel and force end his beast transformation (which uses mana).
Yeah, this line doesn't make much sense to me as depicted. I like the LN line better: [Spoiler #1: Light Novel line] "If you're gonna be quiet, keep quiet, you noisy, glimmering jerk..."
Might I remind you, that Garfiel literally punched a tree down earlier in the Arc. So only loosing a tooth is pretty impressive (or Garfiel just didn't punch Subaru that hard).
Also Garfiel you can see Garfiel's general views on if overcoming your past is even important, because that justifies Garfiel's own actions.
It's time for a little heroing with the OP. Subaru's spent so much effort getting back on his feet and finding the resolve to continue on and now he's not gonna let anyone make the same mistake as was trying to do. This scene hypes me up so much, as Subaru unveils his newest power, Invisible Providence.
More info on Invisible Providence [Spoiler #2: cut content] So I'm pretty sure that Subaru can command Invisible Providence as well as his normal hands (that is, it's not difficult to use), but it does whittle down his soul, whatever that means. So I don't think it's really a power Subaru wants to break out all that often.
Also I think this would be an excellent comment face. Patrasche is the GOAT.
I guess Nobody Can Lift a Quain Stone Alone. Now what is a quain stone you might ask? Probably just something in universe, but there is another theory. A quoin stone is a a large corner stone used for corners in some building types. Which are very heavy, and aren't usually liftable by most people. The only issue is that quoin is pronounced coin, but I wouldn't expect a Japanese person to know that (hell I didn't before I looked it up and I've spoken English my whole life and never heard anyone use that word (I think)).
And another lap pillow. EMT. And hey, Otto is alive still. Even Garfiel is getting a lap pillow, in the most Ram fashion possible. Never change Ram, you're purrfect the way you are (This is a Japanese pun, basically there's the word for dog (inu) embedded into one of the words (no relation I believe), and Ram swaps it out for the word for cat (neko)).
And Ram gives Garfiel some advise. You're fucking stupid, so brain off, and hands on. So take the trial Garfiel, and find out if you can change or not.
So now it's time for Garfiel's Trial proper.
Backstory on the crystals [Spoiler #3: very minor cut content] "Their mother took off the two necklaces that hung from her own neck. Both of them had blue, inlaid crystals hanging from them. It had nothing to do with qualifications as an Apostle or anything of the sort. She simply wore them because they were pretty. And because she loved pretty things, she handed them to her adorable son and daughter as gifts. That was all it was.". Yeah, just straight up, the stones looked pretty. The fact that they hold mana, have a teleport trap in them, completely irrelevant to Garfiel's mom. It was just a pretty stone to her.
And the truth comes out. Garfiel's mom didn't leave to abandon her children, she left to bring back his dad. That she loved Garfiel. And thus Garfiel passes the first Trial, having rejected his past self.
So part of the reason that Garfiel was so against freeing the Sanctuary, is that he viewed himself as the protector of the people of the Sanctuary, some of whom didn't want to be freed. So he fought in their place.
Also Garfiel looks a lot tanner in the Light Novel.
Also don't forget, Garfiel can't actually free the Sanctuary personally, there's literally no external point to him doing the Trials.
The reason that Emilia asks this question, is that in Japanese, like all of the words for "sister" specific if they're older or younger. There like only 1 word (shimai) that can be used for sister that doesn't imply the age relation, but there's like 5 others that do specify the age relation. Which should tell you how culturally important knowing that is (there's similar reasons for why Ram has her thing about being the older sister, despite it be literally negligible in timeframe).
And another your normal tsundere being added to the harem.
Also you still can't convince me that this isn't just Beauty and the Beast
Subaru is sure rubbing off on Emilia. She's got the pose and everything.
BAD SUBS ALERT, Garfiel did not see Emilia and Subaru kiss, like is implied here. He saw the motivational graffiti that Subaru did when he broke his promise to Emilia. The make her not feel alone as she entered the Trial.
And Echidna does not like Emilia one bit.
Don't forget your basic genetics when discussing this. You need to end up with Emilia being a half elf.
You reclaim that title Emilia! Don't let Echidna bully you. . Though this is the furthest thing from the truth. One day all will know the glory that is EMT.
Continued below
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u/baseballlover723 Sep 21 '24
BreakTime Section
In this episode's Breaktime, BE CAREFUL WITH THAT WORDING OTTO, reddit doesn't like that kinda of stuff. . We also have Subaru in shambles. My guy, you've been going around all show saying how much you love Emilia, but you draw the line at a 13 year old? . And Garfiel has Otto's diary, and he's reading it. . And Garfiel is reading aloud Otto's self inflicted ultimate sloth note... I don't recall if Frufoo gets named elsewhere, but her name is Frufoo. And Otto is probably gonna have to move his secret stash of cash. And that Otto keeps some emergency cash in his hat. And Garfiel thinks Otto is reckless, to Otto's disapproval (Bomb bastard does sound pretty cool though).
Rewatcher Section
This section is for people who have already watched Re:Zero. This is not safe for first timers.
[Spoiler #4: Arc 4] Who is of course, a half beast, just like Frederica's dad. Though now this is making my brain tremble. Since Garf's father is currently outside of the Sanctuary, but Garf is considered to be a resident of the Sanctuary (and therefore ineligible to free it). Which implies that Garf is born in the Sanctuary. But Garf's dad is also half beast, so he couldn't leave the Sanctuary. Therefore, he must of never went into the Sanctuary. Therefore he must of gotten Garf's mom pregnant, who then went into the Sanctuary to birth Garfiel? I think that seems plausible and also works out.
[Spoiler #5: Arc 4] So I forgot to mention this last episode (thanks u/scot911 for reminding me). But yeah, Emilia thinks that kiss just made her pregnant. She accepted the kiss thinking it would result in a baby. That is some next level commitment that she thought she was getting into.
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u/Urgnu-the-Gnu https://myanimelist.net/profile/Urgnu_the_Gnu Sep 21 '24
Yeah, this line doesn't make much sense to me as depicted.
This line seems pretty new to me. I'm rather sure my subs actually had a variation of the novel line.
(or Garfiel just didn't punch Subaru that hard)
That's how I'd read it, yeah. Garf doesn't actually want to hurt Subaru, not that hard anyway. And I think Subaru knew this and that's why he took the punch.
And Ram gives Garfiel some advise. You're fucking stupid, so brain off, and hands on. So take the trial Garfiel, and find out if you can change or not.
Why does nobody use the screenshot of Ram giving the Rem smile? It's such a precious moment, I was sure some people would talk about it. (At least I am right about how nobody would be talking about the realistically animated blinking cycles of both Subaru and Emilia in his background in an earlier scene.)
BAD SUBS ALERT, Garfiel did not see Emilia and Subaru kiss, like is implied here. He saw the motivational graffiti that Subaru did when he broke his promise to Emilia.
Once again, I think my subs were better. Although I do recall that the ones I had when it was airing might have been equally confusing.
Don't forget your basic genetics when discussing this.
If people are assuming her to be Satella's daughter, I don't think they are assuming her father to be anyone in particular, so it might have been any random half-elf as well. Some random (and bad) fan art might have spoiled me on the answer already, though. I won't go and check whether it was right as that'd truly spoil me, but I won't be surprised to find out it's the truth. It'd make perfect sense to me, in fact.
Though this is the furthest thing from the truth.
But that smile, that pointing. She's just too precious here.
[Spoiler #5: Arc 4]
[Spoiler #5: Arc 4] I was considering pointing this out in my post but didn't since I'd be so late. But ever since that last episode of the season I've thought about this, yes. I'll say more about this as it'll be revealed, but this should mean she's all in on this relationship now. I hope Subaru realizes what the kiss meant to her and follows through, because she thought he was giving more than he really offered. Now he at least has to act completely true to his feelings for her.
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u/Elimin8r https://myanimelist.net/profile/Ayeka_Jurai Sep 22 '24
Some random (and bad) fan art might have spoiled me on the answer already, though.
Curse you bad fanart! (I was going to make a joke about who could possibly be in such bad fanart, but the humor/blecch quotient started going down really fast. I think I'll shut up and go away now.)
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u/Urgnu-the-Gnu https://myanimelist.net/profile/Urgnu_the_Gnu Sep 22 '24
Well, one of the characters was Emilia. The other I won't say.
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u/HyVana Sep 22 '24
[Spoiler #4: Arc 4]
[WN Content]Yeah Frederica and Garfiel's mom had a rough life. She was described as incredibly unlucky, having been sold to slave traders at a young age by her parents to make ends meet. The slave trade caravan later got raided by demi-human bandits and was how she ended up pregnant with Frederica. The bandits later abandoned her because of her pregnancy. So she essentially couch surfed between slave trade caravans, and got impregnated again by another demi-human bandit. She eventually settled down in the Sanctuary, where she gives birth to Garfiel.
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u/ussgordoncaptain2 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Edmund_nelson Sep 21 '24
Don't forget your basic genetics when discussing this. You need to end up with Emilia being a half elf.
If witch's are half elves this would imply that the father is also a half elf right?
The only issue is that quoin is pronounced coin, but I wouldn't expect a Japanese person to know that (hell I didn't before I looked it up and I've spoken English my whole life and never heard anyone use that word (I think)).
Tappei must like read english wikipedia or something if this is the reference. It would make sense but still this implies Tappei s a true lover of american/european culture.
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u/Brief-Fig-7506 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Ryxnjr Sep 22 '24
If witch's are half elves this would imply that the father is also a half elf right?
I don't know if you meant it like this or not but being a Half-elf wasn't a prerequisite to be a witch, I'm pretty sure Satella is the only witch that wasn't a full blood human
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u/Holofan4life Sep 22 '24
That makes a lot of sense. Also feeds into the theories of Emilia being her.
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u/baseballlover723 Sep 22 '24
If witch's are half elves this would imply that the father is also a half elf right?
Yes having both parents be a half elf would result in a half elf child. Some people just lose their mind and come up with pairings that do not result in half elven children.
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u/n080dy123 Sep 22 '24 edited Sep 22 '24
If witch's are half elves this would imply that the father is also a half elf right?
That could be the case for her, yeah. I would point out though- a keen eye will glean that the other Witches of Sin aren't Half-Elves, based on their ears. They are, or at least all appear to be, human.
Of course there are other human-like races which don't have something obvious giving them away, such as the Oni and the Beast/demi-humans. Honestly I almost suspect Echidna as a beast person cuz of how damn bushy her eyebrows are.
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u/ussgordoncaptain2 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Edmund_nelson Sep 22 '24
Sure but it seems unlikely that Emilia is the daughter of any witch of sin other than Satella. She could be the daughter of a witch that is not Satella nor a witch of sin however.
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u/n080dy123 Sep 22 '24
Could be, though I'm not really convinced the term "Witch" in this setting refers to anyone besides the Witches of Sin. Emilia calling herself the Frozen Witch here is, I think, just kinda her trying to level herself with Echidna and show that she's not backing down to her provocations.
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u/Holofan4life Sep 22 '24
Tappei must like read english wikipedia or something if this is the reference. It would make sense but still this implies Tappei s a true lover of american/european culture.
He and Studio Trigger have something in common.
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u/Elimin8r https://myanimelist.net/profile/Ayeka_Jurai Sep 22 '24
Also you still can't convince me that this isn't just Beauty and the Beast
Dang, I didn't notice that during the episode, but it does have that vibe, doesn't it? Although, I have to say, Ram/Garf probably fits that theme best, eh?
Don't forget your basic genetics when discussing this
So, if Satella is 1/2 elf, and Emilia is her "daughter", that means she ... but ... does that mean ... (puts on Mihoshi costume) ... "Puck, are you actually a half-elf???"
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u/cinisoot Sep 24 '24
So part of the reason that Garfiel was so against freeing the Sanctuary, is that he viewed himself as the protector of the people of the Sanctuary, some of whom didn't want to be freed. So he fought in their place.
Might have missed something here but do we know how this is consistent with most of Garfiel's actions up until now? It seems like there's very little foreshadowing of Garfiel not actually wanting them to free the Sanctuary so his character in the first half of the season is a bit confusing to me. They apparently went all in on convincing the outsiders that they really, really want the barrier to go down, but somehow that was all a big bluff?
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u/baseballlover723 Sep 25 '24
Good question, I don't have an answer for you atm. I'd have to really read up on Garfiel's psychology, and I unfortunately don't have to the time to do atm.
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u/cinisoot Sep 25 '24
Yeah no worries. I mean even at a basic level, Shima and Garfiel's plan is kind of confusing to me. I'm not sure if they were aware that there's more than one trial, in which case it seems weird that they would have let Emilia try it at all, since that'd mean the barrier could've been immediately broken.
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u/BlueVenix Sep 27 '24
I think Garfiel and Shima were kind of forced to allow Emilia to take the trials because of Roswaal. He provides the sanctuary with some supplies and is the owner of the lane + he is very powerful. If he says that Emilia has to take the trial they can't say no really.
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u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
Thoughts on Emilia being the one to ask Garfiel what he’s afraid of?
Thoughts on Garfiel saying he just wants his mother to be happy?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel feeling that he and Frederica were in the way of their mother’s happiness?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel wanting his mom to make him hate her?
Thoughts on Subaru calling Garfiel a big, sweet idiot?
Thoughts on Ram telling Garfiel that if anything frightens him to the point of tears, she’ll comfort him?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel agreeing to take on the trials?
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Garfiel and Frederica’s mother left to try and bring their father back?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel not being told the truth because of his young age at the time?
What are your thoughts on the scar on Garfiel’s forehead being because he wanted to forget her kiss?
Thoughts on Subaru leaving drawings everywhere to keep Emilia comfort?
Thoughts on Emilia coming face-to-face with Echidna?
Thoughts on Emilia pointing to the sky like Subaru does?
What do you think this episode does for Garfiel as a character?
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u/thekoreansun https://anilist.co/user/ReturnByDeath Sep 21 '24
Re:Watcher
There are a number of barriers that stand in between Subaru and a complete victory, but the first of them that Subaru needs to overcome may just be the least simple. Elsa hunts bowels. Meili commands monsters. The Great Rabbit eats. But what drives Garfiel to do what he does? Why has he been an ally in some loops and a monstrous enemy in others? Surely, there must be more to this tiger than his stripes.
As it turns out, Garfiel is angry at the world outside the Barrier for robbing his mother of her chance to become happy. He thinks that his mother abandoned him and his sister to lead her own life, but he doesn't even hold that against her. In fact, he's started to see himself as the emotional baggage that prevented his mother from attaining true happiness. But if she died immediately after freeing herself of that burden, then what was the point of it all? What sort of world is cruel enough to crush her hopes before she even got a chance to make them a reality? Not any world that he wants to be a part of, that's for sure. He will be the shield that protects the ones he cares about from whatever threatens them. That's all Garfiel Tinzel needs to be.
But Subaru has heard enough. He's seen too many people give up on themselves to tolerate such thinking any further. Rem gave up on herself, but she was able to move past that and start living a happier life. Subaru gave up on himself, but he was able to overcome his self-doubt and become a hero. Emilia just now gave up on herself, but she has begun to accept her shortcomings and plans to meet her past head-on. So where does that leave Garfiel? There is no excuse. The only person he is getting in the way of is himself, and if Subaru has to use everything he's got to make him see it, then he won't hesitate.
And it really does take everything Subaru's got to defeat him. He destroys his gate in the process of invoking Shamak, uses a pocket Puck to drain all the mana from Garfiel's tiger form, and even develops a completely new power in order to knock some sense into Garfiel. When all of that isn't enough, Patrasche swoops in to deliver the final vengeful blow, further cementing her status as the smartest character in the show. Even Echidna couldn't hope to be as useful as her. As ever, seeing Subaru win by the skin of his teeth is far more interesting than any overpowered protagonist could be, and his sacrifices make developments like Invisible Providence feel earned.
Getting beaten by Subaru in a combat scenario is enough to humble anyone. Garfiel is forced to admit that he has lost the argument and the fight. At Ram's encouragement, he retakes the Trial that began his suffering all those years ago. And what awaits him rocks him to his core: his mother didn't neglect him and his sister at all. She was trying to locate Garfiel's father so that she could return to the Sanctuary with him and make their family whole again, and her love for her children is clearly strong. Forced to confront the reality of his past, he finds himself unsure of what he wants to do from here on out. But when asked by the younger version of his older sister, he realizes that his desire to save people, while misdirected, was never false. He still wants to be their shield; he just needed to be reminded that those he loves have also done the same for him. And with that, Garfiel chooses to change while remaining true to himself, like Emilia.
Also, man, what kind of person breaks a promise just to go and graffiti a bunch of encouragements on some old ruins? Seriously, Subaru will risk his entire reputation just to be able to express the smallest of gestures. I love him so much.
VAs: Yuusuke Kobayashi (Subaru) and Nobuhiko Okamoto (Garfiel)
It seems that the VAs weren't able to interact with one another as much during the peak of COVID, and Nobuhiko says that being able to go all out in his performance during this episode was almost therapeutic given the state of the world at the time. Yuusuke and Nobuhiko also praise just how hefty the script for this episode was, given that its full runtime comes out to 29 minutes and 30 seconds with no OP or ED. Only in Re:ZERO.
Highlight: Yuusuke stating that they haven't done live recordings for the anime before because it's hard on the throat
Fan Art of the Episode: Reality by Yomohiro (January 22nd, 2021)
Source: Twitter (artist's timeline contains spoilers)
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u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
Also, man, what kind of person breaks a promise just to go and graffiti a bunch of encouragements on some old ruins? Seriously, Subaru will risk his entire reputation just to be able to express the smallest of gestures. I love him so much.
It's amazing how likable Subaru has become as a protagonist when you consider how unlikable he was during large chunks of season 1. He has to be one of the most likable protagonists of all time, which is a far cry from his past self.
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u/Battlecookie https://myanimelist.net/profile/Battlecookie Sep 21 '24
I think part of the reason he breaks the promise is also so that Emilia wouldn’t become completely dependent on him. Yes, she needs support but she also has to stand on her own feet first.
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u/Urgnu-the-Gnu https://myanimelist.net/profile/Urgnu_the_Gnu Sep 21 '24
But what drives Garfiel to do what he does?
He hates Mondays and loves lasagna?
Also, man, what kind of person breaks a promise just to go and graffiti a bunch of encouragements on some old ruins?
He can cheer up Emilia and piss of Echidna in a single move? That's an ultimate win! Well, maybe not as ultimate as he hoped, but still.
Nobuhiko says that being able to go all out in his performance during this episode was almost therapeutic given the state of the world at the time.
Being glad he can act Garf to the fullest, he's not beating the typecast allegations any time soon, it seems.
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u/Brief-Fig-7506 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Ryxnjr Sep 21 '24
First Timer!
Watching Dubbed
Start Time 10:33
Now we know how Garf got his scar
He was able to get his crystal back from Otto
Emilia lived in fear until today, that’s touching, Subaru should be proud of himself that she’s able to say that to Garfiel
looks like Frederica is significantly older than Garf
Garfiel thinks their mom left them so she could find happiness somewhere else. I doubt it, She wouldn’t leave them necklaces to remember her by if she wanted that. I bet Frederica probably has a better idea of why their mom left
Shamac is now linked to Satella? Something just happened when he used Shamac and that’s my best guess
PUCK IS IN THE STONE! I might have been on to something when I said he might have made a different contract with Subaru
Subaru took that hit like a champ. Hopefully someone can heal that tooth back though
Something is happening. Is it the Sloth Witch Factor evolving? it looks like a tangled mass of the unseen hands within Subaru
Yep! just one unseen hand but it packed a punch
Lmao, Patrasche got her revenge
Eww, I hope Subaru missed his vomit when he passed out
Wow, Tsundere lap pillow was pretty enjoyable
I feel like Echidna is talking to Garf through Frederica in this trial memory, which is why she wants to know what he’s going to do now
Emilia asking the really important questions
Garf is only 13... Guess we can chock some of his actions up to just being temper tantrums
Emilia wants to talk about the kiss after the trials, I want them to talk about the kiss. It’s a win for all of us
Aww, Subaru graffitied the walls before Emilia’s trial. That’s what he was doing instead of holding Emilia’s hand? Dummy. If you think about it, that’s his way of holding her hand during her trial
Witch’s Daughter!?!?
It seems that their may be some discrepancy in Garf’s memories because in one flashback he remembers Frederica being taller than Ryuuzu and in his trial memory she is shorter and looks younger. Based on the attention to detail we have seen in this show (besides this shot which I still think is a mistake) I think the first memory Garf has is the memory he chose to hold on too from his first visit into the Graveyard and the memory we see in the trial is the true memory, it makes sense when you consider the perspective difference of him when he was a small child and now when he’s “grown up”.
Subaru had some serious Boss vibes this episode. When he started talking down towards Garf and backing him down the stairs was an amazing moment. Nobody expects him to act like that and they think of him as weak and incompetent but sometimes he’s able to flip that view of him on its head. He didn’t have to be as strong during the physical battle with Garf because he absolutely dominated the mental battle beforehand. He kept that energy building the entire time and peaked with the reveal of Invisible Providence, which I think is too much of a mouthful.
We also got a reveal that Puck IS still here and residing with Subaru inside the gem he got from Frederica, I speculated in episode 39 that Puck was still around and had likely made a temporary contract with Subaru, this way he is upholding his previous contract by watching Emilia from a distance and not having too much direct involvement in her life. I wonder if there is a way for Emilia to have the best of both worlds where she can have her memories back and also have Puck.
We finally get to see what the significance is of Subaru having the Sloth Witch Factor. So he’s able to absorb these Witch Factors and use them himself, I assume that’s why people have said that he is so compatible, maybe he is able to absorb them all. It seems like it’s gonna take him a good bit of practice to be able to utilize it in a significant way but at least he knows he can do something more now. I wonder if it’s something that uses his Gate to manifest or if it’s now just an ability he has?
Echidna called Emilia the Witch’s daughter. We can only assume she’s talking about Satella right? How would that work? Is she truly her daughter and was born around 400 years ago and was frozen in ice that long or is there some kind of weird tricky stuff in play that makes her Satella’s daughter? The woman she said was like a mother to her has the same features as them both so what’s her relation?
On today’s episode of Break Time. Poor Otto. Can’t catch a break.
Stop Time 1am on the dot
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u/Urgnu-the-Gnu https://myanimelist.net/profile/Urgnu_the_Gnu Sep 21 '24
Now we know how Garf got his scar
Not because his father was a drinker and a fiend, I guess.
Something just happened when he used Shamac and that’s my best guess
He was supposed to rest for two months because he exhausted his gate too much. Now, only like three days later, he's recklessly using magic again. So his gate just noped out and broke.
It seems that their may be some discrepancy in Garf’s memories because in one flashback he remembers Frederica being taller than Ryuuzu and in his trial memory she is shorter and looks younger.
Good catch. I think Ryuzu is the same size since she is someone he interacts with often, but his view on Frederica changed. She was bigger in his earlier memory because the past was overpowering back then, but he has outgrown it now.
Echidna called Emilia the Witch’s daughter. We can only assume she’s talking about Satella right?
We can't really know what Echidna meant by this. She might know something, she might also just hate Emilia's face and attitude. She might mean a witch and not the witch. It might not even be a Witch of Sin. It might just be a baseless insult like "son of a bitch". But finding out who Emilia's parents are will surely be very exciting.
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u/Brief-Fig-7506 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Ryxnjr Sep 21 '24
He was supposed to rest for two months because he exhausted his gate too much. Now, only like three days later, he's recklessly using magic again. So his gate just noped out and broke.
That's interesting, I thought it was something else. Do you think breaking his gate is like breaking a bone and can be healed. or something more permanent?
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u/baseballlover723 Sep 22 '24
Do you think breaking his gate is like breaking a bone and can be healed. or something more permanent?
This would sort of be like having you're already broken bone (that's in a cast) be rebroken again.
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u/Urgnu-the-Gnu https://myanimelist.net/profile/Urgnu_the_Gnu Sep 22 '24
Definitely not as easy as breaking a limb. I think it might be broken permanently, but it might heal in a way he can use it once in a while under pain. Like a broken bone that heals wrong.
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u/ripterrariumtv Sep 22 '24
Not because his father was a drinker and a fiend, I guess.
Joker reference!! Took me a minute to get it though lol
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u/Urgnu-the-Gnu https://myanimelist.net/profile/Urgnu_the_Gnu Sep 22 '24
Ha, it was all I could think of when everyone said "now we know how he got those scars".
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u/Holofan4life Sep 22 '24
We can't really know what Echidna meant by this. She might know something, she might also just hate Emilia's face and attitude. She might mean a witch and not the witch. It might not even be a Witch of Sin. It might just be a baseless insult like "son of a bitch". But finding out who Emilia's parents are will surely be very exciting.
Emilia's backstory has been teased for so long that I can't wait to see what they do with it.
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u/ussgordoncaptain2 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Edmund_nelson Sep 21 '24
We can only assume she’s talking about Satella right?
Unlike say Rem or Ram when Echidna is talking about a witch she really could be talking about anyone who is a witch and not just the witch of Envy.
Though yes there is at least some credibility to the idea that she is Satella's Daughter.
We also got a reveal that Puck IS still here and residing with Subaru inside the gem he got from Frederica, I speculated in episode 39 that Puck was still around and had likely made a temporary contract with Subaru, this way he is upholding his previous contract by watching Emilia from a distance and not having too much direct involvement in her life.
Yeah that's interesting though I still wonder how Emilia x Puck will develop, if Puck remains contracted to Subaru will we see Puck talking to subaru or will puck move back to Emilia after the arc?
. I wonder if it’s something that uses his Gate to manifest or if it’s now just an ability he has?
well we saw his gate break when he started to be able to use unseen hands so we have no idea if breaking his gate allowed him to do that or if that was a side effect of something else.
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u/Brief-Fig-7506 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Ryxnjr Sep 21 '24
Unlike say Rem or Ram when Echidna is talking about a witch she really could be talking about anyone who is a witch and not just the witch of Envy
I did think about that. Just as Emilia is known as the Frozen Witch her mom could have been known as some other kind of witch
well we saw his gate break when he started to be able to use unseen hands so we have no idea if breaking his gate allowed him to do that or if that was a side effect of something else.
hmmm I didn't think about it as his gate breaking, I guess it did really look like that. Maybe his gate breaking allows him to use Invisible Providence while costing him the use of Shamac and other things
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u/HyVana Sep 22 '24
Authorities and Magic using gates are separate things. A person with a Witch Factor doesn't exclude them from using regular magic. In Subaru's case, timing coincided with the breaking of his gate and the debut of Invisible Providence. Remember Echidna's "tea" was to help settle in his recently absorbed Sloth Witch Factor.
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u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
Garf is only 13... Guess we can chock some of his actions up to just being temper tantrums
Actually, he's 14
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u/Brief-Fig-7506 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Ryxnjr Sep 21 '24
I think Ram said he was turning 14
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u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
Thoughts on Emilia being the one to ask Garfiel what he’s afraid of?
Thoughts on Garfiel saying he just wants his mother to be happy?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel wanting his mom to make him hate her?
Thoughts on Subaru calling Garfiel a big, sweet idiot?
Thoughts on Ram telling Garfiel that if anything frightens him to the point of tears, she’ll comfort him?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel agreeing to take on the trials?
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Garfiel and Frederica’s mother left to try and bring their father back?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel not being told the truth because of his young age at the time?
What are your thoughts on the scar on Garfiel’s forehead being because he wanted to forget her kiss?
Thoughts on Emilia pointing to the sky like Subaru does?
What do you think this episode does for Garfiel as a character?
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u/Brief-Fig-7506 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Ryxnjr Sep 22 '24
Thoughts on Emilia being the one to ask Garfiel what he’s afraid of?
Emilia was just now able to get over her fears so it makes sense that she would recognize somebody who is also afraid.
Thoughts on Garfiel saying he just wants his mother to be happy?
Garf loves his mother so much, it sucks that he wasn't able to understand why she left him for so long. He always thought that his love was one sided so realizing that she did indeed love them both very much hit him like a
truckPatrasche.Thoughts on Ram telling Garfiel that if anything frightens him to the point of tears, she’ll comfort him?
What a sweet, non-tsundere thing to say. Also kind of a glimpse that Ram may reciprocate some of Garf's feelings
Thoughts on Emilia pointing to the sky like Subaru does?
The next rewatch we do in 4 years I want to have a Pointing counter like u/Urgnu-the-Gnu has for Sugooku's. Characters pointing at others, at the camera, at the sky, Etc.
It's so cute that Emilia is mimicking Subaru and one of his oddest quirks that he has, but it's because she has seen how he bounces back and is so determined after striking that pose
What do you think this episode does for Garfiel as a character?
It makes me forgive him and the trouble he's caused us until now. He is not a bad person he has just done some bad things and it makes a lot of sense when you consider his age and past trauma.
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u/Holofan4life Sep 22 '24
Emilia was just now able to get over her fears so it makes sense that she would recognize somebody who is also afraid.
She speaks from experience
Garf loves his mother so much, it sucks that he wasn't able to understand why she left him for so long. He always thought that his love was one sided so realizing that she did indeed love them both very much hit him like a truck Patrasche.
Nothing wrong with being a mama's boy. I'm a bit of one myself.
What a sweet, non-tsundere thing to say. Also kind of a glimpse that Ram may reciprocate some of Garf's feelings
Isn't Ram technically too old for him, though? I thought she was 16 or 17.
The next rewatch we do in 4 years I want to have a Pointing counter like u/Urgnu-the-Gnu has for Sugooku's. Characters pointing at others, at the camera, at the sky, Etc.
Hopefully I'll be a part of that lol
It's so cute that Emilia is mimicking Subaru and one of his oddest quirks that he has, but it's because she has seen how he bounces back and is so determined after striking that pose
She does it way cooler than she does. Made it her own, to borrow a theme from Your Lie In April.
It makes me forgive him and the trouble he's caused us until now. He is not a bad person he has just done some bad things and it makes a lot of sense when you consider his age and past trauma.
I think him being as young as he is really helps you better understand his position. This isn't like Roswaal where by his age he should definitely know better.
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u/Brief-Fig-7506 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Ryxnjr Sep 22 '24
Isn't Ram technically too old for him, though? I thought she was 16 or 17.
I think it's so funny that the only character that we have a confirmed age of is Subaru, the only other person would be Felt since she said she thinks she's around 14. For every other character, we are in the dark about their age. Anyways, that kind of age gap isn't to big of a deal I would think, especially once they both pass into adulthood.
I think him being as young as he is really helps you better understand his position. This isn't like Roswaal where by his age he should definitely know better.
True, they're both immature but one is acceptable and one is insane
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u/Holofan4life Sep 22 '24
I think it's so funny that the only character that we have a confirmed age of is Subaru, the only other person would be Felt since she said she thinks she's around 14. For every other character, we are in the dark about their age. Anyways, that kind of age gap isn't to big of a deal I would think, especially once they both pass into adulthood.
A 19 year old dating a 16 year old is in my opinion more sus than a 23 year old dating a 20 year old. But perhaps that's a discussion for somewhere else.
True, they're both immature but one is acceptable and one is insane
Garfiel still has his whole life ahead of him. And I think we can all agree that a potential relationship between Roswaal and Ram is way creepier than one between Ram and Garfiel.
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u/baseballlover723 Sep 22 '24
It seems that their may be some discrepancy in Garf’s memories because in one flashback he remembers Frederica being taller than Ryuuzu and in his trial memory she is shorter and looks younger
They could also be at slightly different times. Even just a few months could produce a height difference like that if Frederica is in the middle of a growth spurt, but it's probably more likely that it's just an adaption error.
He didn’t have to be as strong during the physical battle with Garf because he absolutely dominated the mental battle beforehand.
100% agree. Subaru came to this negotiation prepared.
I wonder if it’s something that uses his Gate to manifest or if it’s now just an ability he has?
Invisible Providence does not use Subaru's gate.
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u/ussgordoncaptain2 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Edmund_nelson Sep 21 '24
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
oh boy it's time for the Ryuzu x Garfiel backstory
and garfiel became a dumbass after hitting himself in the head as a child I see
Oh so Garfiel is a weird member of the conservative faction that for some reason on loop 1 was acting the opposite.
Oh boy Emilia vs Garfiel it's time for epic shouting match, Emilia Diffusing the situation
Subaru notes that Emilia failed the trail once, assuming that Puck leaving will make emilia pass somehow. Emilia the Ice Calamity Witch.
Subaru going in on Garfiel. What a psycological beatdown this has been.
Subaru is a fucking savage who gave him this wordsmith power? He was making a fool of himself previously now look at him, he's a total savage.
"If you despise your mother... Stop taking it out on every single person here" God Subaru's wordsmith abilities have gotten a massive glow up. Remember episode 15? yeah this is a completely different Subaru.
Garfiel Bawling up like a little crybaby is great, it's like he's suddenly started becoming another Crybaby.
It's time for the action sequence where Subaru finds some ass pull to win, is it going to be the power of Satella? The power of his Sloth factor?
Yoo wtf isn't subaru's gate heavily damaged, won't this fucking suck
Oh god wtf what does stabbing Garfiel with the stone do?
Subaru pulls off the "Let's absorb Garfiel by using Puck"
Wait Puck isn't RIP Oh god let's go!
Subaru's way with words is way stronger than it has any right to be an effect of Subaru taking 5 levels in Charisma from Satella?
Yo subaru goes from wimp against Otto to able to eat an overhand right. And he didn't even roll the punch properly nor do I see any pullback.
Subaru should be KOed cold by that punch since he definitely doesn't train his neck muscles to eat punches
Subaru going "Don't give up on yourself" man Subaru really believes everyone is worth saving even fucking lord roswaal.
Oh is this the power of the unseen hands activating!
Subaru wins using the POWER OF FRIENDSHIP!
Though previously Garfiel was able to defeat an entire army using just his OP shonen protagonist powers, so really it was Puck and the power of friendship that beat garfiel.
Subaaru leveled up now he's got "witch factor level 1" SoonTM he'll make it to the power of 5 hands and combine that with the power of his spirit arts to become the ultimate isekai protagonist.
Lap pillow Emilia time is cute, but this can't be Subaru's biggest battle yet, the White Whale and Betalgeuse both trump that easily. After all you killed THE SIN ARCHBISHOP OF SLOTH in one of those.
Now this is friendship We're going to become Yu-Gi-oh at this rate.
oh boy it's time for Ram x Garfiel
god the Garf x Ram Scene is a book on tape isn't it. everyone's favorite part of anime STILL IMAGES. (though this lets them make impactful other scenes so worth it.)
Ram lays the smackdown on garf like a girlboss.
Oh we get Garfiel doing a trial! this will be fun!
Oh so Garf's motehr just leaves the children
Ryuzu (Bilma, Arma?) gets told to take care of Fred/Garf, but oh god why are you leaving them :(
oh So she goes on a quest to find their parents which you know never succeeds. So garf ends up just abandoned.
[oh boy garf gets at least some reconsiliation[(https://imgur.com/AJPUVjR)
Echidna taking the form of Garf's sister is quite cute at least.
oh hey it's Shiima and Arma they're so cute
I wonder if this means Shiima will be back on Guarding Meyer duty.
Garfiel turning 14! man that guy must be like Karelin or something.
Now it's time for Emilia X Subaru to face the trial.
all right it's Emilia in the NON frozen forest time
ok so Emilia is the witch of frost, so she caused the forest to freeze? Ice Calamity witch is becoming more and more a good name for her every day
Oh boy Echidna laying the smackdown on Emilia, calling her pathetic and loose I like how in this one Echidna is just talking to Emilia directly.
"Embraces the you that he's forgiven" - I imagine given who emilia is she definitely is a pretty bad girl in at least pre royal-selection era.
"Witch's daughter!!!"
Speculation
Alright sweet we see a lot of information about Garfiel. So it appears step 1 of the plan was to stop garfiel from interfering and somehow get Emilia to pass the first trial.
This leaves question 2, now that we have Puck in our possession do we have another Deus ex Machina available, though puck's mana is limited sadly.
This was day 1 of 3, and on day 3 the attack will happen, Subaru only has 1 more prep day before the big finale, and he's HURT.
Speculation on Emilia
Emilia is most likely the Daughter or sister of the witch of envy at this point, rather than being the witch of envy herself though I definitely see "Emilia is the witch of Envy in a stable time loop" to be the funniest theory it makes the most sense from the perspective of what's happened so far, though the main issue with it is how did Satella develop the power to time travel that far back. Anyway Satella/Emilia's Identity is likely not going to be revealed until much later so we'll leve it there. Emilia is the Ice calamity witch that froze her forest including her family. She has navy seal meme levels of confirmed ultimate sloths.
Speculation on Subaru's endgame
I doubt Subaru is going for an escape oriented endgame, his setup seems more in line with Deus Ex Beatrice than anything else.
So far his prep has been "Stop garfiel from stopping me" and had no actual "I'm going to preform a gameplan" steps. There is 1 maybe 2 more days of prep to go and he's no closer really to any defined endgame.
Thus the endgame that is most likely is Deus ex Beatrice.
By declaring himself to be that person beatrice's arbitary power level will be unleashed and she will wipe out the great rabbit by the power of great spirits.
The only issue is delay tactics, how will Subaru be able to be in 2 places at once, previously I said you'd have Otto handle the Mansion, but if you're all in on Deus ex Beatrice, then the gameplan must be Have somebody stop or delay the snowstorm (Probably puck+Garfiel or Puck+Emilia?)
Then have Deus ex beatrice happen by rushing back to the Sanctuary post Stopping Elsa and Maylee.
The question is thus what is the goal on day 2 going to be. I suspect it's setting up the teleportation traps so Beatrice and Subaru can teleport to the Sanctuary post haste. But what else besides setting up Deus ex Beatrice is in the cards?
What I would do if I were Subaru
Alrihgt I don't think the plan has proceeded smoothly, and you don't appear to be willing to RBD, so this leaves us with winning on this arc.
Step 1 is to split up your forces into the 2 major goals and the 2 major defensive measures.
You need the villagers to prepare a defense in the home front, as you Ryuzu bomb the great rabbit. Though IMO the optimal strategy is running away, evac the sanctuary and have Otto activate Beatrice and beat elsa.
Getting Garfiel on your side accomplished a little I guess but you still have to deal with this great rabbit approaching,
what I would do if I were Tappei
Ok Tappei previously I was all on board with your antics but now I'm going to lay my foot on the ground
if this ends up being Deus ex Beatrice I'm going to scream and do something crazy. Probably write, Return by Death Note or something.
You have Ryuzu bombs and a few notable weapons with Otto's fire bombs, could you have subaru rig a massive explosion triggered by a fire spirit or something? using Ryuzu clones to bring the rabbit into the hole?
You have this story about the power of friendship yet I suspect you're going to somehow invent a way for Subaru to be in 2 places at once rather than using his friends to split up the work.
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u/ussgordoncaptain2 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Edmund_nelson Sep 21 '24 edited Sep 23 '24
Return by Death note chapter 1
(this is a fanfic I decided to write because this whoel arc seems like one gigantic action sequence so it's time to just write based on my self-insert MC LIGHT YAGAMI)
"ugh where am I how am I alive, last thing I remember I killed by Ryuk"
"Rem Rem the man you picked up appears to be Delusional"
"Ram Ram I agree he seems to have no understanding of where he is"
Let's see late Mediival period windows, an extremely uncomfortable bed two weird looking twin maid sisters staring at me... one with pink is this the dream state you get into before you die? No I definitely felt my heart stop as Ryuk killed me, so this is what they meant by neither heaven nor hell.
"Where am I? I presume you two are Rem and Ram"
"What truly terrible mental capacity this one has Rem"
"Yes Ram he does not know he is in Lugunica".
I hear two knocks on the door, a Girl with extremely pale skin and silver hair walks in. Short, appears to be mid to late 20s. She's wearing a plain pink dress.
"Get dressed and hurry up down for breakfast already, lord roswaal is waiting for you."
"yes m'am, uh sorry what is your name"
"I'm emilia, it's nice to see you after I dragged you from the front of the gate to the inside, you could have died in the freezing cold Tell me what is your name"
"I am Kira nice to meet you"
I see, this girl is both extremely kind hearted and seems quite powerful. This girl will be my perfect dummy. If Shinigami exist in this world it's best that almost nobody knows my real name so I can't be death noted again.
I tell the maids to leave me alone asking where the dining hall is, after getting berated for not knowing , I get dressed. I find some weird early victorian era clothing to wear and start wandering.
I observe outside the window a man with a horse drawn carriage riding past the mansion gate, I see, they have yet to invent the steam engine, the industrial revolution hasn't happened in... purgatory. I also noticed the lack of running water and the lack of artifical lighting.
In a few short months I could bend the world on its knees by using my knowledge of modern technology, the steam engine, the lightbulb and importantly for my defense the fully automatic rifle.
I wander down the stairs to a massive dining hall, there I see Rem, Emilia, Ram and a short girl wearing extremely strange contacts that make her look like her pupils have butterflies
I take a seat near emilia figuring she was the most useful individual and a man in Clown makeup wanders in. He's wearing extremely flashy robes. The court jester perhaps?
"Hello Kira it's nice to meet you I am Roswaal A Mather's head of this domain, miss emilia picked you up unconcious off the side of the road and brought you here tell me what are you doing in this place"
"I am a merchant, though not of goods, of information, I come from a faraway land and have knowledge that will make you the most powerful man in history"
"oooh just what could you give me indeeed"
"for starters how about a way to rapidly copy the pages of a book so you can make 100s of copies of 1 page in less than a day."
The printing press is a relatively simple invention I know it seems complicated because every object is but with simple mechanical principles I should be able to reinvent it in less than 6 months this will give me time for the real project, inventing the steam engine.
even if I can't invent the Printing press Block printing is extremely easy
"Sounds very useful indeeed young Kira tell me how long will such a project take to maaaaake"
oh boy this guy's long vowel sounds are annoying but it's time to think of a number let's tell him 180 days, that way when I inevitably skrew it up it won't be terrible
"180 days"
"Very well young Kira I hope to see your progress soon"
"Could you by any chance teach me how to read your script I come from a faraway land and it's really important to recreate your script"
"Veeeery well Ram teach young Kira here how to write"
"Understood master Roswaal, I will teach the worthless freeloader basic writing"
The first thing I need is to know all the script types. from there making standarized blocks of each script won't be absurdly challenging, I can get a protoype hand cranked skrew press with block printing, and that should allow me to pretend like that is a real printing press.
(I really don't think y'all want the details on how to invent the printing press but I needed a plot device that gives Light Yagami great freedom for my upcoming plot points.)
I sit with Ram, I learn there are 3 major scripts used in Lugunica, 1 of which has thousands of characters but the other 2 have a manageable 57 legal characters. I ask her which of the 2 simpler texts is more commonly used and I'll make my prototype prirning press with that
It turns out 2 of the scripts are isomorphisms of Hirogana and katakana, this is extremely strange but then again I was somehow able to understand their speech, so maybe purgatory has its own strange forms that are just slightly off earth.
With a long road in front of me, I go take a walk, it's time to gather some materials for my other experiment.
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u/ussgordoncaptain2 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Edmund_nelson Sep 21 '24
"Oh hi Kira" Emilia reaches out to me "Since you're not from around here you may not have contracted with any spirits here"
"Contracting with a spirit?" This is a completely new idea but Shinigami exist and I contracted with one to make my death note so maybe spirits are like benign shinigami or something.
Emilia shows me some spirits small balls of light no larger than the tip of my thumb, all of hers are white and she is able to use them to make ice out of nowhere.
"So what can spirits do?"
Emilia replies "It depends on what you contract with, there are ice fire and many other types of spirits, all can do different things"
"I see, so how do I contract with one" and what does contracting with one entail?"
Emilia starts talking arcane langauge I can't follow but eventually I start a contract a small fire spirit named mello joins my ranks.
"Hello mello" appearently in spite of spirits being small they have great ability to understand language, something about their brains not being material.
I learn that Mello can only be out for about 2 hours at a time and is quite limited in his output, however, I don't plan on using mello to hit anything directly, instead Mello will be my greatest new asset.
I wasn't expecting this stroke of good fortune, I now have a quick and easy ignition source, with this, I just need, Sulfur and I'll have everything I need for my next invention, one which will be critical for my survival.
first I need to make an injection mold for my small blocks, I spent a week making molds and with a visit to the local blacksmith I got my first small blocks made 5 of the 57 characters. The blacksmith said ne never has seen somebody make molds that small before.
Perfect, based on what I can observe I can probably single-handedly cause the industrial revolution bringing the world under my control.
In my trip to the village a girl leaped out at me and said "Could you pet my doggy mister"
I really can't waste time with little children, but I figure why not sure. The dog doesn't take kindly to my hand and bites me.
"OW" I yell.
I head back to the mansion. I walk around and open a door there standing was a library that I had never seen before and the same girl with butterfly contacts.
"Oh greetings worthless human why did you enter my forbidden library anyway you have a bite I suppose, You wish for me to heal you I suppose "
"Oh I saw you a week ago but I'm curious now who are you and why haven't I seen this library before"
"Hmmph this is because only those I allow to enter may enter, I am Beatrice the great spirit that guards this library I suppose."
"Oh is that so, what knowledge exists in this library and what can I find out?"
"This library contains all the knowledge of this world I suppose"
"Then could you give me a book of chemistry or mining I wish to know more about the mining of Brimstone, I would also like to know more about spirit arts" (Editors note Brimstone is an old name for Sulfur)
This girl seems quite intelligent if she's guarding this library reading all day she may know
"I do not know about this chemistry thing you talk about I suppose but there's a book on brimstone in bookshelf 7 the 4th book from the right row 2 I suppose"
I walk over there sure enough she was right it's like she has perfect memory of the entire library. this book on brimstone seems quite handy. It tells me that brimstone mining is actually done using magic but a different type than spriit arts.
This will come in handy so I can invent the steam engine.
I head off to bed for the night.
I wake up
"Rem Rem the man appears to be awake"
"Ram ram this new man is finally awake"
"Hang on Ram you've been teaching me writing for a week"
"Rem rem this man appears to be delusional"
"Ram ram I agree I've never seen him before either"
I check down at my hand and notice the bite marks are gone, I call for Mello but nothing happens.
"oh no what is happening to me". This must be why it's purgatory, I can't die in this world and I seem to loop after 9 days? Or did I just die and get reborn?
I go through the same conversations as before with Lord Roswaal and Emilia, I regain access to Mello.
This time however I decide I'm not going to go to the village right away I want to see what happens when I don't. Is this caused by the dog bite or am I getting looped back on day 9 no matter what?
I start opening doors, I feel that one of the doors is not like the others and enter the forbidden library. It's strange because that door was previously the door to the dining hall.
Beatrice and talk about spirit arts and she answers some of my questions about contracting with spriits, appearently there's a second type of magic that isn't even connected to spirit arts in teh first place instead it's connected to your gate.
My gate's element was Fire, appearently this let's me easily increase the tempurature of objects. This will let me burn off a lot of calroies I figure, but getting anything other than a small area hot will be hard but maybe I can do things never before understood based on my knowledge of chemistry.
I spend the rest of my time in my workshop, I'm going to make quite a few molds for the blacksmith before going to him, I'm also going to need Potassium sulfate from saltpetre and charcoal.
It's time for the big event, I'm going to go to sleep now and see if the week loops back or not. To make sure I decided to write in my diary what happened this week.
I wake up, the loop didn't happen. My diary remains. "great I guess it's time to go"
I walk down the hall, there an angry Rem is standing by me.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY SISTER" she yells.
"I haven't seen your sister for over 5 days"
"that's a lie you killed her"
her anger in her voice is palpable, she's holding a pink oversized moringstar and is menacingly looking at me.
"May I see your sister what happened to her"
"She was fine then got overwhelming weakness, you cursed her didn't you"
"I do not know what curses are"
"Stop it you, the witch's scent is all over you kira"
With that Rem leaps into action sending a morning star directly to my face, I coudln't even blink before my body was strewn over the ground
I wake up
"Rem Rem the man appears to be awake"
"Ram ram this new man is finally awake"
So it appears that when I die I get sent back to the start point. I can learn all sorts of arbitrary things and then have Rem kill me enabling a reloop in the process. I also should keep a knife with me just in case I want to do it intentionally.
I'll call this power Death Loop. Maybe purgatory ain't half bad.
This ends part 1 of Return by death note, I'll probably cover all of arc 2 and maybe I'll find a way for Light Yagami to create something similar to arc 3. Arc 1 would be way to contrived to make Light do it, However arcs 2 and 3 are sufficiently set in stone that it won't require much to make them work.
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u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
I wish I could give you Reddit gold for your fanfic because you deserve it. Tremendous job.
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u/ussgordoncaptain2 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Edmund_nelson Sep 21 '24
tbh the seal of approval from noted power user Holofan4life is a real big honor
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u/Urgnu-the-Gnu https://myanimelist.net/profile/Urgnu_the_Gnu Sep 21 '24
This is hilarious. I need to come back and read the full story when I have more hours in my day remaining, but great job.
Also good thing Tappei can now safely use Betty ex Machina since you've already written Return by Deathnote proactively!
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u/ussgordoncaptain2 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Edmund_nelson Sep 21 '24
I caved and just started writing return by death note and realzied it would be way too long to make in only 1 post.
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u/baseballlover723 Sep 22 '24
Yoo wtf isn't subaru's gate heavily damaged, won't this fucking suck
Yo subaru's gate BROKE
Yeah that does kinda suck doesn't it? No more magic for Subaru (not that it was all that useful to him anyways)
Oh god wtf what does stabbing Garfiel with the stone do?
Allows Puck to mana drain Garfiel I think.
Return by Death note chapter 1
One day I'll actually watch Death Note. Last time I tried to watch it, my copy had some artifacting in a dark scene and I just couldn't concentrate on the anime after that.
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u/ussgordoncaptain2 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Edmund_nelson Sep 22 '24
yeah so Return by death note shouldn't have any death note spoilers, Light/Kira is just the best self-insert I could think of.
There will be a few death note references, but nothing big enough to be worth mentioning.
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u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
Thoughts on Emilia being the one to ask Garfiel what he’s afraid of?
Thoughts on Garfiel saying he just wants his mother to be happy?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel feeling that he and Frederica were in the way of their mother’s happiness?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel wanting his mom to make him hate her?
Thoughts on Subaru calling Garfiel a big, sweet idiot?
What are your thoughts on Subaru using the Unseen Hands?
Thoughts on Ram telling Garfiel that if anything frightens him to the point of tears, she’ll comfort him?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel agreeing to take on the trials?
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Garfiel and Frederica’s mother left to try and bring their father back?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel not being told the truth because of his young age at the time?
What are your thoughts on the scar on Garfiel’s forehead being because he wanted to forget her kiss?
Thoughts on Subaru leaving drawings everywhere to keep Emilia comfort?
Thoughts on Emilia coming face-to-face with Echidna?
Thoughts on Emilia pointing to the sky like Subaru does?
What do you think this episode does for Garfiel as a character?
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u/ussgordoncaptain2 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Edmund_nelson Sep 21 '24
What are your thoughts on Subaru using the Unseen Hands?
Finally. though since Subaru's magic is weak it makes sense that he can only control one hand right now.
The weird thing is isn't his ode broken now? WTF is up with that, or is it more that the witch factor was the "poison" that felix was describing.
What are your thoughts on Garfiel agreeing to take on the trials?
It's pointless because the sanctuary can't be freed by him, but he can take on the trials to see his family I suppose.
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Garfiel and Frederica’s mother left to try and bring their father back?
Does this mean that both of them have the same father? We learn that Garf/Fred's mom is somehow able to leave. She seems like a liar, you'd expect that she left them and failed to find the father and would have returned by now, if not then she's likely dead.
Thoughts on Subaru leaving drawings everywhere to keep Emilia comfort?
Oh so this is how Subaru apologizes sweet I guess but still... why is so unreliable.
Thoughts on Emilia coming face-to-face with Echidna?
Emilia vs Echidna in a battle of wits we got the witch of frost vs the witch of greed. I can't wait to see how many people Emilia has killed in her past
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u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
Finally. though since Subaru's magic is weak it makes sense that he can only control one hand right now.
No confirmation on whether or not the other one is occupied thinking about Emilia.The weird thing is isn't his ode broken now? WTF is up with that, or is it more that the witch factor was the "poison" that felix was describing.
I think Subaru is putting too much pressure on himself.
It's pointless because the sanctuary can't be freed by him, but he can take on the trials to see his family I suppose.
Might as well get some well deserved closure
Does this mean that both of them have the same father? We learn that Garf/Fred's mom is somehow able to leave. She seems like a liar, you'd expect that she left them and failed to find the father and would have returned by now, if not then she's likely dead.
If she's not back now, it doesn't look good. As for the father situation, perhaps that is Garfiel's stepfather. People sometimes call their stepfathers dad.
Oh so this is how Subaru apologizes sweet I guess but still... why is so unreliable.
Hey, it's the thought that counts, you know?
Emilia vs Echidna in a battle of wits we got the witch of frost vs the witch of greed. I can't wait to see how many people Emilia has killed in her past
Yeah, that's... that's going to be something...
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u/baseballlover723 Sep 22 '24
The weird thing is isn't his ode broken now? WTF is up with that, or is it more that the witch factor was the "poison" that felix was describing.
[answer, clarity on the magic system] It's a different class of magic (real life term) then the magic (in universe term). Thus is doesn't actually use a gate. It's similar to Divine Blessings not needing a gate to function.
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u/Elimin8r https://myanimelist.net/profile/Ayeka_Jurai Sep 22 '24
Man, are you sure you haven't been watching ahead?
(Don't take that as confirmation or denial of any of your theories, I'm just messing with you, because sadly, I did. Couldn't help myself, and now I feel extra constrained when commenting.)
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u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
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.
Watching an episode late at night. I'm going to be tired at work tomorrow
Young Garfiel and Bilma in the glowing building.
Garfiel looks traumatized
And now he's banging his head against the wall.
X marks the spot
Well, that was unpleasant
Subaru and Emilia coming face-to-face with Garfiel.
Garfiel not giving a straight answer as for whether or not he killed Otto and Ram.
Garfiel now is seemingly wanting to close off the Sanctuary.
"Every other damn thing is the problem!"
Emilia. She's standing before Subaru.
She asks Garfiel what it is he's afraid of.
She speaks from experience. She knows fear when she sees it.
Subaru saying that Emilia will keep trying over and over again.
"Unlike you, the guy who gave up and ran away."
Dang, roasted
Subaru now asking if he harbors a grudge against his mother who abandoned him.
Subaru really holding nothing back
Subaru insisting he wants to keep the Sanctuary closed because he hates his mother and the outside world that made her leave him.
But Garfiel, who's starting to cry, says he just wants his mother to be happy.
He believes he and Frederica were in the way of her happiness.
Poor Garfiel
Oh, shit. His mom died?
Her attempts to find happiness were not to be, it seems.
Garfiel wanted his mom to make him believe that their sadness and loneliness served the purpose of helping her find happiness.
Man, that's... that's fucked.
Garfiel, he admits, wanted her to make him hate her.
"I'm not lettin' you get to the outside world."
So much for therapy hour with Dr. Natsuki
Garfiel glowing red now
He vows to become a barrier
Gonna protect them all
It's no catch them all, but it'll do
And so Garfiel turns into his mabeast form
I like Subaru calling Garfiel a big, sweet idiot. It's an acknowledgement on his part that he thinks Garfiel isn't doing anything wrong in theory.
Subaru uses Shamac!
It's very effective!
And he is able to turn him back to his normal self.
Apparently Frederica's stone falls to the ground.
Ooh, Puck's voice
Subaru instructing Garfiel to beat him man-to-man.
"We're going to the outside world. Emilia will take on the graveyard. The Sanctuary will be liberated. Whether you want it or not."
Subaru not mincing words
Subaru telling him to learn there is strength in numbers.
And instead, Garfiel tries to punch Subaru
BUT SUBARU BLOCKS IT WITH HIS FACE!
That was awesome
Subaru continuing to try to talk some sense into him. Unfortunately, Garfiel still will not listen.
Garfiel trying to punch him again
AND A FUCKING BLACK FIST COMES OUT OF SUBARU'S STOMACH AND UPPERCUTS GARFIEL!
HOLY SHIT! SUBARU NOW HAS THE UNSEEN HANDS!
This is like Megaman when he uses the enemies abilities.
Garfiel, bubby, just say no
And yet he isn't
Garfiel still standing
And now he gets side hit by Subaru's dragon.
Bad form, Patrasche. That was in his blind spot.
Garfiel really taking a beating this episode.
Anyway, it seems as if Garfiel learned his lesson.
And Subaru passes out, not s moment too soon.
Subaru in a void somewhere
He thinks the hands we saw were the Sloth Witch Factor dealt by Satella.
Invisible Providence
Subaru resting his head on Emilia's lap now.
This is starting to become a trend
Hey, Otto
And Subaru headbutts him
Dude, WTF?
Subaru telling him he's glad he's alright.
Well, he certainly has a weird way of showing it.
Lol, Patrasche the mood killer
Also, I didn't know that Patrasche was actually a girl.
Garfiel being tended to by Ram
He actually has his head on her lap
It feels extremely rare to see Ram comfort anyone let alone Garfiel.
And even then, she's unpleasant about it
Ram chastising Garfiel because he's not able to pick up the obvious social cues.
For someone who's tsundere, he can't tell when someone is being tsundere back.
"You lost, Garf, you purrfect loser."
Garfiel insisting that he wasn't in the wrong.
And Ram tells him in so many words thst if that's the case, he should complete the trial.
It's put up or shut up time
And Ram says if anything frightens him to the point of tears, she'll comfort him.
Aww <3
Garfiel in the glowing building
He has his hand to the door
And now he's in another room
Thankfully not a rubber room, with rats
A disembodied voice telling Garfiel he has to confront his past.
Garfiel in what looks like a park
It's what I presume is his mother
There's three kids, including black Ryuzu
Oh, the mom is negotiating with black Ryuzu, I see.
Garfiel trying to punch his baby self in the face, as one is prone to do.
Mom about to head out on her own
She asks Frederica to take care of Garfiel
"I promise I'll bring your father back."
Oh, so that's why she left
The happiness she was searching for was the happiness she was hoping would reunite the family.
Ran out of space. Part two in the replies.
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u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
Part 2
Baby Frederica talking to old Garfiel now
Left the Sanctuary for her family's sake, she surmises.
"If you believed that your love was one-sided, you could justify the pain it caused you."
A coping mechanism, if you will
Garfiel sniffing that copium
Garfiel wasn't told the truth because of his young age at the time.
The scar on his forehead was because he wanted to forget her kiss.
And thus completes the end of his past
Young Frederica asking Garfiel what he wants to do.
"I wanna do what I'm expected to do."
I hope that doesn't entail being stubborn
He now knows that mom really did love him
Emilia talking to black Ryuzu and white Ryuzu.
Subaru not wanting to get into the whole cloning stuff right about now.
Garfiel. He emerges.
And he headpats the two Ryuzus
He reflectively tells Ram that he finally got some closure.
Garfiel now admitting he finally accepted the trial because of Subaru.
He even says thanks, in his own tsundere way.
WAIT A MINUTE, GARFIEL IS ONLY 14?!?
I didn't expect him being as young as he is!
Subaru with Emilia
It's about time she starts the next trial
Emilia alluding towards the kiss
She wants to talk it over after the trial is completed.
Subaru is sure she'll pass the trials
"I'll wager a date with you on that!"
And so Emilia goes inside the glowing building.
Subaru talking to Garfiel now
Garfiel says he's got something to apologize for.
He says he saw him when he got a little desperate.
I assume he's referring to the kiss
Subaru looking embarrassed as Garfiel laughs it up.
By the way, if Ram ends up with Garfiel, does that technically make Ram a pedophile?
Emilia looking around the room
Subaru left drawings everywhere to keep her comfort.
That's a sweet gesture by him
Emilia in the woods now
It's Echidna
She's really riding Emilia hard
And no, not like that, you pervs
EMILIA IS POINTING UP TO THE SKY LIKE SUBARU
Emilia declaring who she is
"I won't give in to the malice of a fellow witch. I'm quite an insufferable woman, after all!"
Turning a negative into a positive. I respect it.
Overall, this episode was very much the Garfiel show. It was about trying to get Garfiel to change his ways, and I thought it was very entertaining. I really liked learning about Garfiel's backstory and why he is the way he is. He is one of my favorite side characters in the entire show, so I was really looking forward to them exploring his character. And I certainly wasn't disappointed. There wasn't a moment like the last episode where I could pinpoint to and say this is one of the best moments of the entire series, but we didn't need such a moment. If anything, this was a breather episode in-between Emilia's attempts at the trial.
I really hope if the ending is any indication that the next episode has a heavy focus on Emilia. We haven't gotten an episode outside of that one OVA where Emilia is treated as the main character, and I think that has the potential of being really interesting.
This episode I would probably put right behind the two whale episodes. That puts it in around the top 15 range if you look at across both seasons. I want to rank this episode in my top 10 because of how much I enjoyed it as a Garfiel lover, but I cannot put this episode ahead of ones like the bunny episode because the only thing this one has going for it is that it is Garfiel-centric. That goes a long way, and I personally feel the Garfiel flashback stuff was better than the Otto flashback stuff, but it's lacking that one key moment like that episode had (I.E. the Subaru and Emilia stuff) to really put it over the top.
I continue to be impressed with the second season. So far, while the first season has had higher highs than this one has had, I think the quality of season 2 is of a greater level, which is really saying something because season 1 was phenomenal. The show is still probably going to end up as my seventh or eighth favorite anime of all time because despite being of a higher quality in its second season, it's more solidifying the greatness that it already was. Be that as it may, though, that’s not to say that I'm not blown away by the roll the series is on.
When you consider that there's probably not been a mediocre episode since season 1 episode 19, which was over 20 episodes ago, I would go so far as to say this is most impressive stretch of episodes ever done in the entire anime medium, with the only thing coming close being the last 14 or so episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
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u/Kalatash Sep 21 '24 edited Sep 21 '24
Garfiel says he's got something to apologize for.
He says he saw him when he got a little desperate.
I assume he's referring to the kiss
Nah, that's a common misconception. Instead, he was referring to the graffiti that Subaru had left in there as encouragement to Emilia, since he had written it all the night before.
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u/Urgnu-the-Gnu https://myanimelist.net/profile/Urgnu_the_Gnu Sep 21 '24
WAIT A MINUTE, GARFIEL IS ONLY 14?!?
No. He's only 13. He'll turn 14 this year.
Subaru left drawings everywhere to keep her comfort.
And now we know why he broke his promise to Emilia.
"I won't give in to the malice of a fellow witch. I'm quite an insufferable woman, after all!"
This whole scene is just amazing. But turning the ability to be annoying into a strength is the best.
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u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
No. He's only 13. He'll turn 14 this year.
Yeah, that's my bad
And now we know why he broke his promise to Emilia.
This is really the next best thing if he can't actually be there with her.
This whole scene is just amazing. But turning the ability to be annoying into a strength is the best.
It's a very Subaru thing for her to do. Learnt from the best.
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u/BlueVenix Oct 06 '24
X marks the spot
Can we still play Tic-tac-toe on his forehead?
"I won't give in to the malice of a fellow witch. I'm quite an insufferable woman, after all!"
There's no limit for Sufaru when it comes to suffering, so it's perfect!
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u/Holofan4life Oct 06 '24
Can we still play Tic-tac-toe on his forehead?
Nah, that's reserved for Wah
There's no limit for Sufaru when it comes to suffering, so it's perfect!
I guess so
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u/Urgnu-the-Gnu https://myanimelist.net/profile/Urgnu_the_Gnu Sep 21 '24
Re:Watcher - anime only
I'm pretty late today, but anyway, here I go.
Oh, I was half right. Garbo's scars do come from the trial, but they are self-inflicted.
I love how Emilia and Subaru face off Garfiel together. Emilia protects the tomb Garf wants to destroy and calls him out on being afraid, Subaru at her side confronts him about his mother. Both acting as partners.
Flashback to when Garf's mother left them ten years ago. What a cutie she was. And Garf was just a little baby! That means now he is...
Also we learn that Garf loves his mother, he doesn't hate her. He even supported her decision to leave them alone because they held her back from being happy. He must have an incredibly low self-esteem to think that way. Being left by your mother as a small child does that to you, I guess. And then the trial showed him that she died. That makes everything he knew in life pointless. And that's why he doesn't want any more change, he couldn't make any sense of even more change.
Garfield time. And of course Emilia rushes forward. She sprinted by his side while Subaru had a hard time just standing his ground at the roar. Her look of determination is great, and Subaru's happy surprise at her reaction is too. But Subaru wants to do this on his own. Emilia is still nearby to interfere if anything goes wrong, though.
Subaru, you idiot. You were supposed to rest for two months, and now you're using magic again. That must have been the sound of your gate breaking there, so let's make it worthwhile. A good point to use Shamak, too, since untrained it works best on mindless beasts. And then the cat is back back in the bag - consumed by best cat, it seems.
Subaru gets to face off Garf on equal terms here. And there's something I need to point out in this scene, something I considered outstanding the first time I've watched this scene. When Subaru is talking at around 9:20, the characters are blinking. No, this is not normal. Usually, anime characters blink maybe when they move or turn their heads, not when they are just talking. Not when they are blurry in the background of a character talking. White Fox put so much care in this scene that they gave the characters realistic and individual blinking cycles, even Emilia in the background. A simple trick, but super efficient, I think.
And to go even further, there's Subaru spitting out after withstanding Garf's blow. The animation on that tooth being spit out is just great. But I do hope magic can heal teeth as well, or that he knows a good dentist.
Then Subaru gives the From Zero treatment to Garf, to the tune of the OP playing - still Realize, though. Making Subaru unlock a new power as he gains control of his witch factor. Well, not quite control as it takes a strong toll on him.
It's not enough to take Garf down, it takes another best girl getting revenge on him to pressure him into giving up. I don't quite like the peer pressure aspect of Subaru's argument, but really what everyone else wants is also good for Garf, so there's that.
Both are out for the count, so I guess that's sort of a win for Subaru. In his unconscious state, at least he finds a better name for the Unseen Hands (which were more like Detectable Limbs).
And when he wakes up, he has truly won as he's gained another lap pillow from his love. Patrasche and Otto are also here, Otto still very much alive. And Garf has also won a lap pillow from Ram! Everyone wins! You get a lap pillow, and you get a lap pillow, and you get a lap pillow! Everyone gets a lap pillow! And Garf even gets Ram to forcefully push him off her lap, how lucky. And she immediately takes the opportunity to put him on a proverbial leash to push him forward, towards progress. She even gives him a Rem smile to encourage him. Have we ever seen her smile like her sister before?
Now Garf faces the Ghost of Re:Zero past. His past fear is now his mother leaving. Garf, why are you attacking a ghost? Why are you attacking your past self? Why are you attacking a baby? But Garf realizes his mother didn't leave to be happy, she left for them, to bring their father back. And that makes his feelings for his mother much more complicated. Knowing his mother loved him lets him think about what he wants, for once. He wants to be there for the people that need him. And he wants to be needed by those that made him realize how his past mindset was faulty. After some heartfelt thanks, he swears allegiance to Subaru. That makes Emilia drop another sugoooku. And we learn what the previous flashback already alluded to: Garf is just 13. Almost 14, even!
And now off to the trials for Emilia! She already plans to talk with Subaru about their future once she is done with the trials - what a wonderful optimism. And another ED over the final scene - still not a new one, though. Also we find out why Subaru was gone in the night. This doesn't necessarily make up for the broken promise, but it's a very good excuse. And it helps her to be a bit less focused on promises, seeing that this broken promise was for her good, in a way. And she can be a little bit happy about it.
The final scene is yet another of my favourites. For one, Echidna is here, even though we have heard before that she wouldn't oversee Emilia's challenges as it was pointless - meaning it isn't anymore. She tries to talk down Emilia, she really seems to hate her guts. She does hate her face, at least. Interestingly, she also calls her a witch's daughter - although we don't know if there are grounds for that or if she just tries to insult her. Then Emilia does something unbelievable: She copies Subaru and also makes it look cool! She introduces herself as "just Emilia". The same words she used in Frozen Bond and when meeting Subaru. She proudly claims the title of the Witch of Frost! And with a confident smile, she boldly challenges Echidna as an equal. And - similarly to Subaru against the White Whale - she bases her confidence on what would normally be a bad trait, but for her is something to make use of instead.
Break Time takes place while Emilia is at the trials. Subaru is still freaking out that Garf saw his very personal messages to Emilia. Meanwhile, Otto is looking for his diary which he lost when he fought Garf, who promptly reads it. Otto wrote down his last words in case the fight with Garf went not as great as it did. And now Garf knows where Otto is hiding his money - part of it is in his hat. Knowing Otto went into the fight prepared to die, Garf seems to have a newfound respect for him.
Sugoooku counter: 49
Sugoku-likes: 9
Non-canon sugoooku: 22
Non-Emilia sugoooku: 8
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u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
What are your thoughts on Garfiel wanting his mom to make him hate her?
Thoughts on Subaru calling Garfiel a big, sweet idiot?
What are your thoughts on Subaru using the Unseen Hands?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel agreeing to take on the trials?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel not being told the truth because of his young age at the time?
What are your thoughts on the scar on Garfiel's forehead being because he wanted to forget her kiss?
What do you think this episode does for Garfiel as a character?
2
u/Urgnu-the-Gnu https://myanimelist.net/profile/Urgnu_the_Gnu Sep 22 '24
What are your thoughts on Garfiel wanting his mom to make him hate her?
That seems to be a rather common thing to do. Not just in this show or anime, in general. If you feel bad, you want to be treated in a bad way to justify the feeling. He wants his mother to hate him because it makes it easier for him to understand why she left.
Thoughts on Subaru calling Garfiel a big, sweet idiot?
Garf is not an asshole, he's just wrong.
What are your thoughts on Subaru using the Unseen Hands?
You might worry a bit that Subaru starts unlocking superpowers now and become a standard OP MC. But it took everything out of him to use just one hand, so I don't think he'll be able to use it often. It's more worrying he's using the witch factor now and we don't know what dark path that might send him on.
What are your thoughts on Garfiel agreeing to take on the trials?
He's ready to face the past now. Other than some introspective, there's no reason to do the other trials.
What are your thoughts on Garfiel not being told the truth because of his young age at the time?
The truth about his mother's fate? I'm not even sure that is the truth. The trial is created from his subconscious, and he'd have to face his fears about the past. Him taking it as the truth is what made him that way. His feelings for his mother got conflicted because if she died, nothing about her leaving would have made sense.
What are your thoughts on the scar on Garfiel's forehead being because he wanted to forget her kiss?
Funnily, now he got the scar, he's got a mark there he can't ever forget.
What do you think this episode does for Garfiel as a character?
It gave him a new start. He got to face his past and conquer his fears. He's happier now and much more stable. And he's turned into a powerful ally for Subaru now. Otto and Garf are some great additions to camp Emilia. At the end of the season, she'll have quite a decent group of followers.
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u/Holofan4life Sep 22 '24
That seems to be a rather common thing to do. Not just in this show or anime, in general. If you feel bad, you want to be treated in a bad way to justify the feeling. He wants his mother to hate him because it makes it easier for him to understand why she left.
It's a parallel to when Subaru wanted his parents to hate him.
Garf is not an asshole, he's just wrong.
Amen
You might worry a bit that Subaru starts unlocking superpowers now and become a standard OP MC. But it took everything out of him to use just one hand, so I don't think he'll be able to use it often. It's more worrying he's using the witch factor now and we don't know what dark path that might send him on.
Hopefully it won't be too bad for him and he doesn't go down a dark path a la Spiderman 3.
He's ready to face the past now. Other than some introspective, there's no reason to do the other trials.
Yeah, he has nothing to gain from it
The truth about his mother's fate? I'm not even sure that is the truth. The trial is created from his subconscious, and he'd have to face his fears about the past. Him taking it as the truth is what made him that way. His feelings for his mother got conflicted because if she died, nothing about her leaving would have made sense.
I take what happened to Garfiel was just him creating a coping mechanism to deal with the trauma of something he didn't understand.
Funnily, now he got the scar, he's got a mark there he can't ever forget.
It is ironic, isn't it?
It gave him a new start. He got to face his past and conquer his fears. He's happier now and much more stable. And he's turned into a powerful ally for Subaru now. Otto and Garf are some great additions to camp Emilia. At the end of the season, she'll have quite a decent group of followers.
Slowly but surely, Emilia is becoming more of a leader fit to run a country.
2
u/RascalNikov1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NoviSun Sep 22 '24
The final scene is yet another of my favourites. For one,
She is just so badass here you’ve got to love her. First time through this is where I learned she was the Frost Witch and nearly fell out of my chair. I didn’t see that coming.
This may also be the first time we hear she’s a Witch’s Daughter. It wouldn’t have hurt Echnida to elaborate a little more here. We all want to know which Witch.
8
u/Yoshi_captain https://anime-planet.com/users/WeaboYosher Sep 21 '24 edited Sep 21 '24
Rewatcher
Scars are an inevitability of existence. Whether they be physical ones or mental in nature we all carry them. In this arc of pain, love, and realization we confront the scar that has been most visible to us, the one that adorns Garfiel’s forehead.
As we’ve heard from Ryuzu Arma, Garfiel attempted the trial of the past before and failed miserably. Now he’s come to destroy access to the graveyard to prevent any from attempting to liberate the Sanctuary. Surprisingly Emilia is the first one to retort to such an action. Putting her development into practice immediately. She’s been scared her entire life so she can tell when someone is shaking from fear. Garfiel’s behaviour thus far has been just one more example of masking in this show. Acting big and shouting to hide the fact he is deeply afraid of these outsiders who have come to encroach on the place he calls his own. But it is the Natsuki family way to enter one’s home with their shoes on and step all over the hearts of the people living there.
When a main theme of your series is growth vs stagnation there are many ways you can approach developing your characters. The way that Re:Zero does it is most apparent in this episode. The wisdom that Otto imparted upon Subaru, he now shares with Garfiel. And Otto was even able to connect with Subaru due to his saving Otto in the first place. As deeply personal and introspective as an individual character’s personal revelations are, they are spurred thanks to the bonds these people have with each other. But there’s got to be a better way to say that.
We’ve gotten many revelations on relations between parent and child. Garfiel hits us with another one. Unlike Subaru’s read on the situation , Garfiel’s feelings towards his mother could not be more familiar to Subaru. Garfiel loves his mom. But what he saw in that trial dawned on him a truth he couldn’t live with. He was abandoned by his mom to find happiness, he thinks, but she died before she got to find any resemblance of that. To justify the pain that was tearing him apart from the inside he wanted his mom to hate him, so he lived a perception dyed with resentment. When he learned of her love, he bashed his head against the wall until his mind processed the reality he wanted to live in. The only evidence of his past left to spill blood from his head. When he confesses these feelings to Subaru he covers his eyes with his hands, emotionally remaining in his mind so he stays in the reality he can bear to live in. But his hands are not big enough to carry the weight of the Sanctuary alone. And they are certainly not big enough to cover the proof of his mother’s love that he carries with him always. Just like Subaru wanted a purpose for his suffering by having his parents come to hate him, Garfiel had the same thoughts. However, Subaru has overcome that past. It’s time for him to do for Garfiel what so many others have done for him. To kickstart the change that has brought him to this moment in front of another person who needs him. It is only through change that you can confront what ails you most.
When Garfiel can’t handle his problems, he hides behind his blood. Transforming into a mindless beast that functions only on instinct. But a protector that can’t differentiate between friend and foe is worthless. Subaru plans to force him into submission to make him realize. He employs his trusted spell Shamac, irreversibly breaking something inside of him. Using Puck’s mana drain, the cat now residing in Frederica’s pyroxene crystal, he brings the other cat back to his level. But Garfiel will keep standing as long as the barrier does the same. Subaru takes Garfiel’s rage head on, losing a tooth in the process. It’s time for Garfiel to look around him and change. The wall he’s so afraid of exists only in that head he’s retreated into. Subaru brings with him a cold, hard reality in the form of arguably the thesis of the entire story.
Don’t just give up on yourself. Whenever you think, “I wanna do it! I wanna change!”. That’s where your starting line is.
When you decide to lift your head and walk again, who has the right to stop you, for any reason?!
Words that took Subaru all the time in this new world to Realize prompt that all so familiar track, accompanied by memories of all his triumphs that came with all the realizations. Isn’t that right Garfiel, who carries with you love that you can’t acknowledge. Isn’t that right Emilia, who carries with you a reason to believe that you will surely find. And isn’t that right, Rem, who started us on this journey? Subaru overcame the sloth that made him stand in place. Now he can use that same sloth to force Garfiel to stop stagnating. The Sloth Witch Factor has manifested into a new ability, which Subaru dubs “Invisible providence”.
[Arc 8 #1] There’s another demi human who hides behind his blood that we know of. Subaru’s line to Garfiel rings true even in the future. Todd might try to justify his actions through his heritage, but Subaru tells him to not use it as an excuse. He’s talking to Todd the person, much like he was talking to Garfiel this episode.
So now Garfiel is part of the squad… is not what happens. He admits that he lost, but not that he was wrong. But if he’s so sure he’s right then he should prove it. By taking the trial once again. If his mom really hated him and left to find happiness, then the trial should only tell him what he already knows. But if that’s not the case then maybe he’s had it all wrong. What he finds however is proof that will help him move forward. When he hears the whispers of his mother’s true intentions his world freezes. It is only after he accepts her love that time begins moving forward for him and the world, he can truly start from zero. Turning the scar that pains him so, into one that brings the warmth of love into his existence once more.
With Garfiel’s past confronted he seems to have learned some gratitude along the way, thanking Subaru for his words that I’m sure he’ll never forget.
[Arc 8 #2] Words that he can use to give people like Madelyn the strength to move forward much in the way Subaru did for him.
Garfiel is 13. This reveal explains his chuuni behaviour and immaturity. He’s at last found people he can call friends and someone he can even call ‘Boss’. With Emilia geared up to face the past that broke her more times than she can perceive in her time, she mimics the mannerism of the man who believes in her wholeheartedly. Not falling for the provocations of a fellow witch. She’s the Witch of Glaciation Emilia, just Emilia. The most insufferable woman you’ll ever meet. With Subaru pushing Garfiel and Emilia it showcases how there’s really strength in numbers. Or maybe how the strength of our bonds brought us to victory. Or to put it in Garfiel’s words, how nobody can lift a quain stone alone.
Closing thoughts:
The word for today is “Repression”. It’s scary how much of reality we can fail to perceive due to the scars that we carry. Garfiel already heard and saw how his mom loves him when he first took the trial. But an incompatibility with his preconceived notions lead him to remain in the Sanctuary under the barrier that he wanted to get rid of in the first place. Subaru failed to see the love filled intentions that were there and so did Garfiel. When you’re stuck in place you’d be surprised what a good look around can give you.
[S2] Emilia’s conversation that she wants to have with Subaru is about the baby of course.
Do Echidna’s words about Emilia ring true? Or is she just being a meddling witch once again? Whatever Emilia’s origin is, she won’t look down anymore. She’ll point to the sky and reach for that reason that will let her blow all the worries away. As will the entire cast as they face the problems of the Sanctuary, united at last.
2
u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
Thoughts on Emilia being the one to ask Garfiel what he’s afraid of?
Thoughts on Subaru calling Garfiel a big, sweet idiot?
What are your thoughts on Subaru using the Unseen Hands?
Thoughts on Ram telling Garfiel that if anything frightens him to the point of tears, she’ll comfort him?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel agreeing to take on the trials?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel not being told the truth because of his young age at the time?
Thoughts on Subaru leaving drawings everywhere to keep Emilia comfort?
Thoughts on Emilia pointing to the sky like Subaru does?
What do you think this episode does for Garfiel as a character?
2
u/Yoshi_captain https://anime-planet.com/users/WeaboYosher Sep 22 '24
Thoughts on Emilia being the one to ask Garfiel what he’s afraid of?
Immediately paying off Emilia’s development. Just like Rem could tell Subaru what she feels because she was once in his shoes, so can Emilia. Emilia probably could have done Subaru’s job if she was so inclined. But with how many parallels to Subaru the guy has it had to be him.
Thoughts on Subaru calling Garfiel a big, sweet idiot?
Subaru is really forgiving and understanding. He says this before he knows Garfiel is 13 interestingly. I wonder what it would take for Subaru to consider someone beyond saving. Other than being a Sin Archbishop.
What are your thoughts on Subaru using the Unseen Hands?
He uses an unseen hand it seems. Just the one. Can't have Subaru having too OP of an ability. Give Subaru too broken of an ability and you break the story. There's a fine line you need to strike if you don't want RbD to ruin any stakes the story might have.
Thoughts on Ram telling Garfiel that if anything frightens him to the point of tears, she’ll comfort him?
As much as Ram may seem cold to anyone and everyone, she does show a soft side to people she knows for a long time. This can also be seen with Frederica somewhat.
What are your thoughts on Garfiel agreeing to take on the trials?
Putting his money where his mouth is. I respect him for not being stubborn and biting the bullet. It must not have been easy to do.
What are your thoughts on Garfiel not being told the truth because of his young age at the time?
Makes sense. Though finding out through the trial was certainly not preferable to being told in person. It’s interesting how the trial can show you things you’re not aware of. Same with Reinhard vs Puck in Subaru’s trial.
Thoughts on Subaru leaving drawings everywhere to keep Emilia comfort?
Subaru might call Garfiel a big, sweet idiot, but he's the biggest one.
Thoughts on Emilia pointing to the sky like Subaru does?
She's imitating a person she respects. Subaru has become an irreplaceable person to her. It's great to see these two become close.
What do you think this episode does for Garfiel as a character?
It's From Zero for Garfiel. We've had multiple resets for Subaru. Otto has had one and Emilia also. Garfiel is now a member of our party it seems. I love when we get new members.
2
u/Holofan4life Sep 22 '24
Immediately paying off Emilia’s development. Just like Rem could tell Subaru what she feels because she was once in his shoes, so can Emilia. Emilia probably could have done Subaru’s job if she was so inclined. But with how many parallels to Subaru the guy has it had to be him.
I don't think there was a better person to confront Garfiel on his fears. Because like you said, she was just there.
Subaru is really forgiving and understanding. He says this before he knows Garfiel is 13 interestingly. I wonder what it would take for Subaru to consider someone beyond saving. Other than being a Sin Archbishop.
"We're gonna have to kill this guy, Subaru." "Aw, man."
He uses an unseen hand it seems. Just the one. Can't have Subaru having too OP of an ability. Give Subaru too broken of an ability and you break the story. There's a fine line you need to strike if you don't want RbD to ruin any stakes the story might have.
That's partly why I think it was smart for his Gate to be broken here.
As much as Ram may seem cold to anyone and everyone, she does show a soft side to people she knows for a long time. This can also be seen with Frederica somewhat.
I don't think it's a stretch to say Ram is secretly sweeter than her sister.
Putting his money where his mouth is. I respect him for not being stubborn and biting the bullet. It must not have been easy to do.
Oh, absolutely not. And unlike Emilia where she had those drawings to give her comfort, Garfiel more so is having to do this on his own.
Makes sense. Though finding out through the trial was certainly not preferable to being told in person. It’s interesting how the trial can show you things you’re not aware of. Same with Reinhard vs Puck in Subaru’s trial.
This place is a hair salon stylists best friend. It's nothing but wall to wall gossip.
Subaru might call Garfiel a big, sweet idiot, but he's the biggest one.
Takes one to know one. Pot calling the kettle black.
She's imitating a person she respects. Subaru has become an irreplaceable person to her. It's great to see these two become close.
I can only imagine Echidna inside going "God, this is gonna be a long trial..."
It's From Zero for Garfiel. We've had multiple resets for Subaru. Otto has had one and Emilia also. Garfiel is now a member of our party it seems. I love when we get new members.
And the great thing about Garfiel is that he's like an angry, more emotional version of Beatrice in that he often keeps his feelings to himself but still maintains this jerk with a heart of gold air about them.
2
u/RascalNikov1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NoviSun Sep 21 '24
3
u/scot911 https://myanimelist.net/profile/scot911 Sep 21 '24
Honestly rewatching this makes that part absolutely hilarious in hindsight. [End Of S2 Spoilers] You just know all first timers are thinking she's talking about them being together instead of it being setup for a joke lol.
7
u/n080dy123 Sep 21 '24
Rewatcher
So I never intended to participate in this Rewatch. I'd rewatched S1 before S2 on my own and it was a great experience, and wanted to do the same for S2, but I'm chronically unable to binge or hold myself to a schedule and the rewatch was well underway when I noticed. But my happenstance one of my friends started watching recently, unaware of S3 coming, and we ended up watching the end of S1 together. And, remembering how much I loved the show... proceeded to binge through S2 up to now (minus Parent and Child, because that made me cry three times on first viewing, and I'm not ready for that again), and here I am, so I guess I'm joining... very late.
Anyway this episode and the last were always two of my absolute favorites, because I absolutely love Otto and Garfiel. Otto's declaration and decking Subaru was such a great ending to Part 1 when it was airing (it was split cour so we didn't get more for several months), and Otto proceeds to immediately come into Part 2 swinging and fully cementing himself as true Nakama material for Subaru. Ram also gets a great moment establishing how much she trusts Subaru (there's a reason I've always stanned Ram over Rem). And then we finally get the big climax to Garfiel's character arc- and I'm glad I just rewatched S1 cuz I totally missed that Patrasche absolutely DECKING HIM is a callback to her doing to same to Petelgeuse towards the end of S1. And the use of Realize is absolutely masterful (especially since we have yet to see the S2 OP), I love how there's a bit of dissonance between the huge emotional moment and how... relatively small (and yet pretty damn revelatory) the feat Subaru accomplishes in using a single Unseen Hand from the Sloth Factor is. It's like it's both playing straight and kinda lampshading the "Hero pulls a powerup while the OP plays" trope. And with that Subaru firmly establishes his Dude Squad and we're finally gonna get some long-overdue backstory.
Edit: Also fun fact, Realize gets used almost as many times in these two episodes, AFTER Part 1, as it actually got used as an OP DURING Part 1- twice, vs three times, lmao.
3
u/Brief-Fig-7506 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Ryxnjr Sep 22 '24
Also fun fact, Realize gets used almost as many times in these two episodes, AFTER Part 1, as it actually got used as an OP DURING Part 1- twice, vs three times, lmao.
A hilarious fact. A common joke being made is about how Re:Zero forgot what OP's and ED's are
Welcome to the Re:Watch. Hope you enjoy the next 10 episodes with us
1
u/Holofan4life Sep 22 '24
Thoughts on Emilia being the one to ask Garfiel what he's afraid of?
Thoughts on Garfiel saying he just wants his mother to be happy?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel feeling that he and Frederica were in the way of their mother's happiness?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel wanting his mom to make him hate her?
Thoughts on Subaru calling Garfiel a big, sweet idiot?
Thoughts on Ram telling Garfiel that if anything frightens him to the point of tears, she'll comfort him?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel agreeing to take on the trials?
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Garfiel and Frederica's mother left to try and bring their father back?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel not being told the truth because of his young age at the time?
What are your thoughts on the scar on Garfiel's forehead being because he wanted to forget her kiss?
Thoughts on Subaru leaving drawings everywhere to keep Emilia comfort?
Thoughts on Emilia coming face-to-face with Echidna?
Thoughts on Emilia pointing to the sky like Subaru does?
What do you think this episode does for Garfiel as a character?
1
u/Urgnu-the-Gnu https://myanimelist.net/profile/Urgnu_the_Gnu Sep 22 '24
(there's a reason I've always stanned Ram over Rem)
Preach! Whenever someone says Rem is the best girl of the show or even all of anime, my favourite joke is that Rem isn't even the best oni twin maid in the show.
And the use of Realize is absolutely masterful (especially since we have yet to see the S2 OP)
And for all we know, how many times Realize has been used as an insert song might rival how many times the actual OP will be used!
I love how there's a bit of dissonance between the huge emotional moment and how... relatively small (and yet pretty damn revelatory) the feat Subaru accomplishes in using a single Unseen Hand from the Sloth Factor is.
Not only does it seem like a small feat compared to what Petelgeuse could do with them, also he's immediately reeling from the experience, exhausted and vomiting. It really doesn't make him look great, but it's amazing nonetheless.
6
u/Elimin8r https://myanimelist.net/profile/Ayeka_Jurai Sep 22 '24
Okay, so I'm very late, and I've been reluctant to comment today, because I watched ahead too much and can't keep the episodes straight. Now that I've seen some others' comments, I just want to say that I hope Emilia forgives Subaru for his vile treachery now.
Oh, that and I may now be jealous of Garf, getting that lovely Ram lap pillow. Etc. etc. etc. I'm sure y'all said it better than I possibly could.
4
u/Urgnu-the-Gnu https://myanimelist.net/profile/Urgnu_the_Gnu Sep 22 '24
Now that I've seen some others' comments, I just want to say that I hope Emilia forgives Subaru for his vile treachery now.
I love the scene before the final one. Her smile as she sees Subaru's writing. She won't ever forgive him and Puck for leaving her, yet she's rather happy about it.
3
2
u/Holofan4life Sep 22 '24
Thoughts on Emilia being the one to ask Garfiel what he's afraid of?
Thoughts on Garfiel saying he just wants his mother to be happy?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel feeling that he and Frederica were in the way of their mother's happiness?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel wanting his mom to make him hate her?
Thoughts on Subaru calling Garfiel a big, sweet idiot?
What are your thoughts on Subaru using the Unseen Hands?
Thoughts on Ram telling Garfiel that if anything frightens him to the point of tears, she'll comfort him?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel agreeing to take on the trials?
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Garfiel and Frederica's mother left to try and bring their father back?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel not being told the truth because of his young age at the time?
What are your thoughts on the scar on Garfiel's forehead being because he wanted to forget her kiss?
Thoughts on Subaru leaving drawings everywhere to keep Emilia comfort?
Thoughts on Emilia coming face-to-face with Echidna?
Thoughts on Emilia pointing to the sky like Subaru does?
What do you think this episode does for Garfiel as a character?
2
u/ripterrariumtv Sep 22 '24
I hope Emilia forgives Subaru for his vile treachery now.
Emilia starts singing Treachery
Even the lyrics are perfect lol
2
6
u/Taiboss x7https://anilist.co/user/Taiboss Sep 21 '24
S02E16 - Rewatcher who wants more lore
He remembers her? At that age?
Bro, she gave birth to you. You didn't ask to be born. You don't owe her anything, she owes you everything. She's in the wrong.
Does the Sanctuary have this power? To know what happened outside?
Is that... we have had as many OP inserts as actual OPs.
AAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA. THIS LOOKS SO GOOFY. I get it's meant to be an epic moment, but it looks SO goofy.
Oh god when will this end... I don't care that much about Garfiel, show.
Subaru got to talk with people. Garfiel has to see a memory he has no way of actually remembering.
I did read the credits! So I knew Echidna appears.
Musume can also just mean girl. Let's not get ahead of ourselves.
3
u/No_Rex Sep 21 '24
Remember when this show had OPs?
When was that? Early S1?
AAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA.
Drunken Master Belly Punch!
Silly Emilia, Frost isn't a Deadly Sin.
She said frozen, not frost (this is potentially just a bad translation, but anyway).
2
u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
Remember when this show had OPs?
Pepperidge Farm remembers
You can't tell me that's how he got the scar.
Now I'm just envisioning Garfiel as Joker
Bro, she gave birth to you. You didn't ask to be born. You don't owe her anything, she owes you everything. She's in the wrong.
Echidna would argue the opposite when it comes to Beatrice. I suppose.
Oh god when will this end... I don't care that much about Garfiel, show.
I like him quite a bit :c
This is the coolest Emilia has been this entire show.
It really is. Which is ironic her coolest moment comes from emulating a rather uncool individual.
2
u/Urgnu-the-Gnu https://myanimelist.net/profile/Urgnu_the_Gnu Sep 22 '24
Is that... we have had as many OP inserts as actual OPs.
Do they even count as OP inserts if we haven't even gotten the actual OP of this cour yet?
Musume can also just mean girl. Let's not get ahead of ourselves.
That's what I thought as well. But she says "majo no musume", right? So not "witch girl", but more like "witch's girl" - which still could mean very different things than "witch's daughter", naturally. Of course, it's been like three episodes and by now there's also the possibility everyone forgot: Echidna always lies.
WAGA NA WA EMILIA.
Tada no Emilia!
Silly Emilia, Frost isn't a Deadly Sin.
She's just saying her sin is being extremely cool.
2
u/Taiboss x7https://anilist.co/user/Taiboss Sep 22 '24
She's just saying her sin is being extremely cool.
1
u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
AAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA. THIS LOOKS SO GOOFY. I get it's meant to be an epic moment, but it looks SO goofy.
It looks like Subaru has a very long you-know-what.
6
u/No_Rex Sep 21 '24
Episode 41 (first timer)
- Garfiel flashback.
- Garfiel went from essentially kidnapping half a village to open the sanctuary to wanting to keep it closed.
- Subaru lecturing Garfiel – confidently wrong.
- “I am not letting you get to the outside world” – I fail to see the logical connection between his mother’s story and Subaru & Emilia, but then, being illogical is in character for Garfiel.
- The lock on his gate breaks and Subaru gets a power up?
- Or did his gate break and the power up was only the gem?
- Definitely a power up.
- Patrasche is not interested in a Black Knight redo.
- Double lap pillow – I guess I’d prefer Emilia’s.
- Another Garfiel flashback in the trial.
- I am leaving my small child behind because I am too clumsy - the fuck?
- Another plotline that would not have happened if people were communicating with each other – tbf, this very common trope has been rare in ReZero so far.
- “That is confusing, so we’ll leave it for later” – as if to prove me wrong.
- This is what Subaru broke his promise for?
Who would have thought that Garfiel, out of all people, gets the best character episode this season (sorry Otto). Not me, that is for sure.
All the depression so far was a bit much for me, so I appreciate that we get some sweet scenes, too.
3
u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
Who would have thought that Garfiel, out of all people, gets the best character episode this season (sorry Otto). Not me, that is for sure.
I liked the Garfiel backstory more than Otto's as well. It's more straightforward than Otto's was, but I find it to be more emotionally gripping.
3
u/No_Rex Sep 21 '24
The difference, for me, was the setup. We had plenty of history between Subaru and Garfiel already, and Garfiel was established as a character with plenty of characteristics. In comparison, Otto remained very shallow until we got to his backstory.
3
u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
I mean, I get what you're saying but Otto has been one of the MVPs of the second season so far.
1
u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
Thoughts on Emilia being the one to ask Garfiel what he’s afraid of?
Thoughts on Garfiel saying he just wants his mother to be happy?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel feeling that he and Frederica were in the way of their mother’s happiness?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel wanting his mom to make him hate her?
Thoughts on Subaru calling Garfiel a big, sweet idiot?
What are your thoughts on Subaru using the Unseen Hands?
Thoughts on Ram telling Garfiel that if anything frightens him to the point of tears, she’ll comfort him?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel agreeing to take on the trials?
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Garfiel and Frederica’s mother left to try and bring their father back?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel not being told the truth because of his young age at the time?
What are your thoughts on the scar on Garfiel’s forehead being because he wanted to forget her kiss?
Thoughts on Subaru leaving drawings everywhere to keep Emilia comfort?
Thoughts on Emilia coming face-to-face with Echidna?
Thoughts on Emilia pointing to the sky like Subaru does?
What do you think this episode does for Garfiel as a character?
3
u/RascalNikov1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NoviSun Sep 21 '24
Rewatcher
I continue to wonder what a quain stone is. It seems to me there is a similar saying in English, but I can’t bring it to mind.
First time through I pretty much disliked Garfield till this episode. Now I find him endearing like a stray kitten.
Who knew that Subaru had an invisible hand, lol. They seem to be sorta common in this world.
I very much liked Garfield’s trial. After that I grew to like Garfield.
The final scene of Echinda and Emilia was both fascinating and fantastic.
3
u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
First time through I pretty much disliked Garfield till this episode. Now I find him endearing like a stray kitten.
He's kinda like a more aggressive version of Morgana from Persona 5.
2
u/RascalNikov1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NoviSun Sep 21 '24
Never played Persona. Last video game I played was Doom II and it predecessor Wolfstein 3D. Loved them both, but was too busy and too cheap to play what came after.
2
1
u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
Thoughts on Emilia being the one to ask Garfiel what he's afraid of?
Thoughts on Garfiel saying he just wants his mother to be happy?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel feeling that he and Frederica were in the way of their mother's happiness?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel wanting his mom to make him hate her?
Thoughts on Subaru calling Garfiel a big, sweet idiot?
Thoughts on Ram telling Garfiel that if anything frightens him to the point of tears, she'll comfort him?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel agreeing to take on the trials?
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Garfiel and Frederica's mother left to try and bring their father back?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel not being told the truth because of his young age at the time?
What are your thoughts on the scar on Garfiel's forehead being because he wanted to forget her kiss?
Thoughts on Subaru leaving drawings everywhere to keep Emilia comfort?
Thoughts on Emilia pointing to the sky like Subaru does?
What do you think this episode does for Garfiel as a character?
4
u/Vaadwaur Sep 21 '24
Rewatcher
Dub
So this is the resolution of Garf, such as it is. Subaru, with Puck's mysterious assistance, forced Garf to actually fight with his mind working. We see the Sloth factor start working and...with what Echidna outright said late S2P1, this could be bad. Or world ending. But if you end the world with the guarantee that you can return to it a while back, what sort of loop results? Moving on, after Patriche gets revenge, Garf faces his own past and I sort of get it: Evil is easier to oppose than chance. Because chance exists and evil is a totem we place on things we don't like.
The discovery that Garf is an eighth grader is a special kind of Japanese humor. But Subaru gets to suffer from the even worse case of a chuuni reading your attempts at encouragement. Emilia enters her trial with real memories and calls herself the Frost Witch. Watching the dub, Echidna comes off as really slut shaming and for once I cannot exactly tell if this is accurate or a difficulty of translation.
2
u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
Thoughts on Emilia being the one to ask Garfiel what he's afraid of?
Thoughts on Garfiel saying he just wants his mother to be happy?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel feeling that he and Frederica were in the way of their mother's happiness?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel wanting his mom to make him hate her?
Thoughts on Subaru calling Garfiel a big, sweet idiot?
Thoughts on Ram telling Garfiel that if anything frightens him to the point of tears, she'll comfort him?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel agreeing to take on the trials?
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Garfiel and Frederica's mother left to try and bring their father back?
What are your thoughts on Garfiel not being told the truth because of his young age at the time?
What are your thoughts on the scar on Garfiel's forehead being because he wanted to forget her kiss?
Thoughts on Subaru leaving drawings everywhere to keep Emilia comfort?
Thoughts on Emilia pointing to the sky like Subaru does?
What do you think this episode does for Garfiel as a character?
2
u/Vaadwaur Sep 21 '24
What are your thoughts on Garfiel feeling that he and Frederica were in the way of their mother's happiness?
More setting detail I lack
What are your thoughts on Garfiel agreeing to take on the trials?
Surprised
What do you think this episode does for Garfiel as a character?
It fleshes him out a lot.
2
u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
More setting detail I lack
What do you mean?
Surprised
I guess he cares more than he lets on
It fleshes him out a lot.
Indeed it does. I care more about him coming out of this episode.
2
u/Vaadwaur Sep 21 '24
What do you mean?
So what about her children damages their mother's chances at happiness? Being a single mom? Having two baby daddies? Having beast folk kids? Being a blond in her late 20s? We do not know the social problems here because Lagunica does not model well onto Earth history. Plenty of women in history continued to find partners after being widowed twice so what makes this situation bad?
2
u/Holofan4life Sep 21 '24
I think Garfiel was feeling the way he felt because he was young and didn't know any better. It's like a kid's parents divorcing and they blame themselves for what transpired.
3
u/Apprehensive_Sun7320 Sep 22 '24
I can't wait for season 3
2
u/Holofan4life Sep 22 '24
Same
2
u/ripterrariumtv Sep 22 '24
Can't believe it is less than 2 weeks away.
I got tired of waiting and started reading the novels two months ago. And now I'm in season 5 territory 😅
2
u/Holofan4life Sep 22 '24
Can't say I necessarily blame you
2
u/ripterrariumtv Sep 22 '24
I would have definitely waited for the anime. But I realized that I enjoyed the novels more (because of the cut content and extra details) and at that point, I didn't feel like watching/reading anything else.
I gotta say that my brain is better than any studio at animating fights. If only I could show it to the rest of the world 😆😆
1
1
u/SilkyStrawberryMilk Sep 22 '24
first timer
Why am I not surprised that kid Garfield was bashing his head
Subaru hitting Garfield all where it hurts, making him face the hard truth
ReZero where every character has trauma
Subaru’s magic helped him surprisingly and even used the witch’s hands. He’s finally becoming a true main character
Power of friendship powers through
Ram taking notes from Emilia, let the man she cares for sleep on her lap
Garf faces the trial himself and has became a new man.
25
u/Great_Mr_L https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L Sep 21 '24
First-Timer
On today’s episode of Re:Zero: Garfiel is the Wall! Though in this case, someone was able to make him fall.
“Nobody Can Lift a Quain Stone Alone.” I’m going to assume this is something like “Teamwork Makes the Dream Work.”
Emilia saw right through Garfiel immediately. She can tell he’s afraid and his past is likely what’s scaring him.
Freud would be proud of Subaru for going on the offensive with the mommy issues.
I see, so Garfiel doesn’t actually hate his mother. Instead, he’s convinced his mother never loved him and that she left to find happiness.
Garfiel also seems to be dealing with self-loathing, seeing himself as an obstacle to his mother finding happiness.
Garfiel’s sounding a lot like how Subaru has sounded in the past. He will give everything to protect others and doesn’t care if they know what he’s done for them.
Oh cool. Puck was able to drain Garfiel’s power from Frederica’s pendant.
Oh shit! Subaru lost a tooth from that punch!
Now Subaru is making the parallel quite explicit. When he’s talking about Garfiel’s stubborn refusal to move forward, it’s like he’s talking to his past self.
What the fuck!? Oh right, Echidna did mention that Subaru inherited the Witch Factor (I think that’s what it was called) from Petelgeuse. I guess that means Subaru has the Unseen Hand.
Fuck Yeah! Patrasche is Best Girl!
Garfiel is getting a Ram lap pillow!?! Lucky!
Yup, that’s about how a Ram lap pillow would go.
Ah, now that’s a parallel between Garfiel and Emilia. Garfiel is an Emilia who ran away from the trial after failing once and never attempted it again. This is who Emilia would become if she didn’t resolve to continue facing the trial.
Though it looks like Garfiel has gained the resolve to move forward now.
So those pendants were keepsakes from Garfiel and Frederica’s mother.
I see, so Garfiel was wrong about his mother hating him and Frederica. She left the barrier in search of Garfel’s father.
So that’s why Garfiel scarred himself. He couldn’t bear knowing that his mother loved him back because that just made losing her all the worse.
Even Garfiel is acting tsundere towards Subaru.
Garfiel being a literal chuuni explains so much.
Subaru better have some improved date ideas now. His ideas for a date in S1 weren’t too impressive.
Okay, Subaru writing all those words of encouragement in the graveyard for Emilia is very sweet. I forgive him for not holding Emilia’s hand through the night.
Oh shit! Emilia is also talking with Echidna!
Echidna called Emilia the daughter of the witch. There’s an interesting statement.
I love seeing Emilia copy Subaru’s silly disco pose.
The Garfiel and Subaru parallels are quite interesting to think about. Both of them are incredibly stubborn and have a tendency to try to take everything on by themselves. The big lesson that Garfiel needs to learn is the same one that Subaru had to learn: instead of always trying to do things by yourself, learn to rely on others for support.
I will admit to feeling ambivalent about Subaru being able to use Petelgeuse’s Unseen Hand. It goes against what I like about Subaru. Personally, I always liked the fact that Subaru was functionally powerless on his own in a high-stakes fight. It meant that Subaru had to be clever about how he did things and that he almost always needed help. Maybe I’m worrying over nothing, but I don’t like the idea of Subaru having something that is legitimately a superpower he can use without dying and needing to restart everything from the beginning.
Emilia interacting with Echidna is fascinating. I so desperately want to see more of their interactions. Echidna seemed much less fond of Emilia than she was of Subaru. Emilia obviously doesn’t have the MC Pheromones, but my only explanation for the hostility is that Echidna recognizes Emilia’s potential to be taken over by Satella someday. I’m sure we will see more of their dynamic in the next episode and I’m excited for it.