Re: Zero Season 3 Episode 2 Review

The second episode of Re: Zero’s third season has arrived, and it appears that the show has decided to fully discard the wholesome exterior it presented to us last week – at least until the end of the first episode, that is. After a spectacular hour and a half opening to Season 3 last week, the episodes have returned to a standard anime runtime, yet somehow, more went down this week than last, and I was hooked on every second of it.

In this review, we’ll be discussing all things Episode 2 of this season of Re: Zero which means, unlike last week’s review, we will be talking spoilers for this episode! Be sure to watch the episode yourself and come back here to share your thoughts in the comments! For now, let’s dive headfirst into the madness that this week’s episode had to offer.

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The Review

Image by White Fox

The episode kicks off this week right where last week left off – with Subaru keeled over on the ground, reeling from the trauma he experienced during Sirius’ attack on Priestella. The show has often explored how his Return By Death power affects his psyche, but even so, I don’t think we’ve ever seen our protagonist this affected by what he’s been through. The episode’s direction makes you feel his pain, not only mentally but physically – the way they animated his head exploding was truly chilling.

One of my favourite aspects of this episode was watching Subaru deal with a catastrophic event that goes down so close to his Return By Death checkpoint. We’ve watched him strategize on how to prevent disaster with days to plan in the past. This time around, our main character has mere moments to act, and given how terrifying the antagonist of this episode is, Returning By Death multiple times is…let’s just say, less than ideal.

If there’s one thing we know about Re: Zero, it’s that we’re going to watch Subaru and friends die – a lot. In this episode though, the way that Subaru met his end at Sirius’ hands was incredibly brutal, almost uncharacteristically so for this anime. Considering what we’ve seen from Re: Zero in the past, this is no small feat. Watching Sirius execute Subaru is one of the show’s most grotesque moments, and genuinely makes the viewer pity his ability to Return By Death – no one would want to go through that again.

Image by White Fox

Speaking of Sirius, I had a feeling that she would be a force to be reckoned with based on her actions at the end of Episode 1, but it seems that, even then, I underestimated just how much of an impact she would have on the world of the show. Sirius is absolutely terrifying, unnerving on a level reminiscent of our first encounter with Petelgeuse back in Season One. Her malice, combined with her spritely voice, gives the character an air of cruelty that truly lets her live up to the title of Sin Archbishop of Wrath. Anzai Chika delivers an incredible performance in the role.

If I was Subaru, I would genuinely run away from it all. This adds a layer of heroism to his actions that makes the character more endearing. As I said, this episode is genuinely quite graphic, bordering on horror anime, and watching Subaru bleed, vomit, and even urinate on himself is truly upsetting. However, watching him get back up after this, and take on Sirius again allows him to thrive in the show’s world. In many ways, he has completely defied the mundanity of his life in the real world.

The episode was also a highlight for how Subaru turns to the people around him for help, which it feels like he never asks for. Of course, he cannot share his Return By Death power with them, which limits his opportunity to ask for assistance, but watching him finally take advantage of help from his friends was great to see. Beatrice, Emilia, Reinhard – all of these characters are reliable, and can hold their own. Subaru doesn’t want them hurt understandably, but watching them hold their own against the show’s antagonists is always a delight to see.

Image by White Fox

In letting these characters fight alongside him, we also get treated to some great fight scenes. Emilia and Reinhard in particular get to shine this week, battling it out against Sirius in glorious action scenes, even if their efforts would eventually prove fruitless. In a series that has mostly portrayed Emilia as a sort of damsel in distress, it was great to see her stand her ground and take on one of the show’s most terrifying foes yet.

On the topic of foes, the conclusion of the episode sees the arrival of Regulus Corneas to the battlefield, the Sin Archbishop of Greed. The character has appeared in the show before, and each time he has, he has drawn all eyes to him as one of the most compelling villains in the series. I cannot wait to see where his appearance leads us next week. The villains this season are looking to be a real strength of the show going forward – I’m anxiously anticipating next week’s installment.

I can’t point out any real weaknesses with this week’s episode, other than the fact that it ended, and I would have liked to see Beatrice get into the action a little more. If this season is able to keep up this pace with its episodes, then Re: Zero fans are in for a real treat. With the season scheduled for 16 episodes, this is looking to be one of the Fall season’s most integral anime series.Stay tuned for next week’s review, and thank you for reading!

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Where to Watch Re: Zero Season 3?

Image by White Fox

Re: Zero Season 3 is set to air on Crunchyroll weekly, every Wednesday starting October 2nd 2024. The season is scheduled for 16 episodes weekly, meaning we’ll be keeping with Re: Zero through the Winter season also! Great news for fans of the series!

See also: Re: Zero Season 3 Episode 1 Review – A Deceptively Pleasant Start

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