Important takeaways
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Re: Zero
New season features Subaru and Emilia facing the forces of evil in the Attack Arc. - Every arc in the show brings quality, depth and character development.
- Subaru's journey includes struggles, camaraderie and redemption, showcasing growth and complexity.
Re: Zero The latest season promises to be one for the ages, with the anime seeing Subaru Natsuki return for a new adventure. In the current events of the series, the dark fantasy isekai protagonist and his muse, Emilia, see them take on more evil forces in the Attack Arc. Along with a cascade of familiar characters, the fight for justice and answers continues only for the mischievous and cheeky Subaru.
In the entirety of Re: Zero anime, there have been many story arcs that have taken place, originating from the light novels. While some arcs only cover a couple of episodes, some arcs can span an entire season, with the adventures of Subaru and friends requiring plenty of time to flesh out important events. Filled with colorful characters, dynamic animation and a fleshed out story, some of the the show's best arcs stand out from their peers. But each arc still adds quality and depth to the overall story.
5 Subaru's introduction to a new world
The protagonist finds friends and enemies in Lugunica
- Arc length: Anime episodes 1-3
The beginning of Re: Zero aimed to impress the audience, and succeeded in introducing Subaru to a foreign fantasy land different from his own. When Subaru is transported to the region of Lugunica, the misplaced character wanders the land and discovers the half-elf Emilia, the love of his life, and Puck, the spirit. While becoming intertwined with Emilia and fitting in with the country, Subaru becomes involved in the search for Emilia's missing insignia. This leads to non-stop action, as Subaru suffers his first Return by Death at the hands of Elsa Granhiert, the gut hunter.
As Subaru aims to protect Felt, Old Man Rom, and Emilia, the cocky protagonist recruits knight Reinhard van Astrea after many deaths to help defeat the evil killer. Despite being only three episodes long, the show's first arc provides an exciting introduction to the world of Re: Zerowhich showcases the comical dynamic between clueless Subaru and his newfound friends. Even in the opening episodes, epic fights and character conflicts occur, which makes Re: Zero a spectacle to behold. In just three episodes, this arc gets viewers hooked on isekai's premise while providing plenty of mystery for both the audience and Subaru.
4 The Archbishop of Sin's attack in Priestella
Familiar faces reunite in an arc still in its infancy
- Arc length: Anime Episode 51-Ongoing
Although only one 90-minute episode has been released, Re: Zero newest arc promises plenty of quality and action as more chaos uproots Subaru and his party. Emilia's party takes place in the town of Priestella and is invited by Anastasia Hoshin, who mentions a crystal that Emilia desires to restore Puck to full health. On their adventures, the group interacts with familiar faces like Reinhard and Crusch Karsten, with the show's iconic comedic tone shining throughout the arc's opening episodes.
Despite this, trouble arises in the final sequence, where the archbishop of sin representing Wrath, Sirius Romanee-Conti, kills Subaru and many more in a massacre, resulting in a significant cliffhanger that left the audience on the edge of their seats. In this whirlwind of an episode, the Attack Arc promises to showcase the ever-growing number of Sin Archbishops out to harm Subaru and his friends. However, the arc is only in its infancy in the anime, leaving much to explore in the upcoming episodes, although early signs point to a promising arc to come.
3 Adventures in Roswaal Manor
Death, deception and friendship At home with Emilia
- Arc length: Anime episodes 4-11
As Subaru continued his journey, he ended up at Roswaal Manor, meeting fan favorites such as the Oni sisters, Rem and Ram, Roswaal L. Mathers, and the hardened spirit, Beatrice. While the main character fumbles as he interacts with his new buddies, this arc has a healthy dose of Return by Death, deceit and evil working to unsettle Subaru. Although characters like Roswaal and Rem seem nice and happy on the surface, both are shown to have a menacing side, with the famous blue-haired maid killing Subaru based on his suspicious behavior.
Throughout the arc, Subaru works to win the favor of his new companions, including Emilia, which makes for a comical but compelling display. At the height of the arc, Subaru begins to show his usefulness when he saves Rem and Arlam Village from a bunch of Mabeasts, showing growth from the beginning of the show, where he seems oblivious to the thoughts of others. While engrossing, much of the arc sets the stage for future events, serving as an introduction to many characters that will affect the proceedings while showing Subaru's increased understanding of his power.
2 The fight to win Emilia back
Subaru tries to make a U-turn on his actions
- Arc length: Anime episodes 12-25
In the second half of Season 1, tensions and hardships arrive at Subaru's door, as he becomes alienated from Emilia for his actions in the royal selection process. After making a fool of herself in front of hundreds of high-ranking officials, which included taking a beating from the knight Julius, Emilia casts Subaru aside due to his selfish attitude, leaving him lost. As a result, Subaru fights back with the help of many friends, including Rem, Crusch, and even his enemy, Julius, to fight obstacles, such as the White Whale and the Witch Cult, which aims to eliminate Roswaal Manor's residents, including Emilia.
Throughout Subaru's redemption arc, he faces many trials and tribulations that push him to his limit. But Subaru learns to rely on the people he meets on his journey to help fight his battles. One of the many amazing aspects of the arc is the amount of amazing battles that take place. As such, the engrossing battle between Subaru and Crusch's army against the White Whales proved to be epic, while eliminating part of the witch cult provided a sense of euphoria after Subaru's problems with the group earlier in the arc.
1 Battle of the Sanctuary
Subaru and Emilia take on the witch of greed and her disciple
- Arc length: Anime episodes 26-50
Season 2 of Re: Zero proved to be one for the ages, as Subaru and Emilia went through a gauntlet of obstacles that pushed them to their limits. The fourth arc of the anime spanned the entire second season and brought the protagonists face to face with Echidna, the witch of greed, inside the sanctuary. This bow has become known for bearing fruit Re: Zero biggest villain to date, as Echidna deeply affects the events that occur. While the scheming witch plotted against Subaru and Emilia to gain knowledge, Roswaal acted as a secondary antagonist, causing despair and chaos on Subaru, the shrine, and the residents of Roswaal Manor to break the protagonist's will.
In a rollercoaster of emotions, the arc sees many characters at their lowest, with Emilia and Beatrice shown to be equally vulnerable as they deal with the consequences of their pasts and the influence of the Witch of Greed. As the main characters try to solve the emerging crisis, new characters – such as the stubborn Garfiel Tinzel and Roswaal Manor maid Frederica Baumann – enter the fold. While proving complex with all the changing moments, Re: Zero delivers an ambitious season filled with intense emotion, constant mystery, and character development that sets the show on a good path forward.
