© Nagatsuki Tappei / Kadokawa Co., Ltd. / Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World 3 Production Committee
Every once in a while, we get a plot/action episode like this but with little character development or themes to explore. The characters basically stand together and detail problems, spit out solutions, and decide on their priorities. That is, there was some contact.
Subaru clearly just wants to run to Emilia’s aid and fight Gleed. However, he may be aware of his helplessness in the situation. People from other factions don’t hate Subaru. Personally, probably everyone wants to help him. However, they must focus on things that will help their career. In this case, it makes their royal candidate look like he’s doing his best by saving the city.
Fortunately, as he realizes in Season 1, if he’s willing to help other factions, they’re willing to help him. So he puts his own needs aside to do what is objectively best for the city: dismantle the city-wide public address system used to terrorize civilians (and stop a sinful archbishop and two murderers from harming Mimi in the process cultists). Of course, this is the first time we’re this deeply into the loop this season, and things aren’t going too well – especially when Archbishop Gluttony shows up on the scene.
The only other character that comes into play this episode is the ongoing trauma Garfiel suffered when he first killed Elsa. Her ghost—both literal and metaphorical—continues to haunt him. During combat, he often gets distracted and makes mistakes he wouldn’t normally make. Mimi getting hurt trying to protect him only adds to his self-doubt. Although the bigger problem has not yet been solved, Subaru and Ricardo can at least keep Garfiel awake in times of crisis.
Other than that, this episode is just action. We see gorgeous combat, some clever strategy, and a dragon that grows its face back in weird and hilarious ways. All in all, it’s a solid piece of work that’s twisty and tense, and by the end leaves us wondering how far away Subaru is from his next gruesome death.
grade:
Random thoughts:
• Man, they just went out of their way to make Greed the most unlikable misogynist possible, didn’t they? I’m impressed.
• Reinhardt is so powerful that I find it hard to believe that even with a sword at Felt’s throat, he couldn’t save her.
• It seems that the Archbishops of Sin have a limited amount of time to operate, and they will retreat whenever the city bells ring. But who can force them to follow such rules?
• I do hope we get to see what Priscilla is up to. I wouldn’t be surprised if she took over a tower and killed an archbishop out of sheer boredom.
Re: Life in another world from scratch- Currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation and the majority shareholder of Anime News Network, LLC. One or more companies mentioned in this article are part of the Kadokawa Group of Companies.
