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To Help Someone Else is To Change Oneself, a ReZero thread:
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When this frame popped up in EP33, it reminded me of Puck and Emilia's relationship in the Frozen Bonds/Bonds of Ice OVA. https://twitter.com/MezuEko/status/1298736534506463239
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When this frame popped up in EP33, it reminded me of Puck and Emilia's relationship in the Frozen Bonds/Bonds of Ice OVA. https://twitter.com/MezuEko/status/1298736534506463239
When I first watched the OVA I thought Satella was the one talking here; because as we've seen in S1, Puck knows quite a lot about The Witch.
It also seemed like he had a history with her, but now knowing that this is Echidna speaking, I'm starting to see things in a new light.
It also seemed like he had a history with her, but now knowing that this is Echidna speaking, I'm starting to see things in a new light.
It seems that Echidna has been observing people for a long period of time. She has been observing Puck and Emilia long before Subaru even stumbled into this world.
This may mean that Echidna began observing Subaru by coincidence when he started following Emilia, but I'll digress
This may mean that Echidna began observing Subaru by coincidence when he started following Emilia, but I'll digress
Knowing that Puck sheltered Emilia (like Roswaal did) by not telling her about the witch cult made me suspicious of him.
However, in the OVA, Puck was shown to mirror Subaru in how he helps others, while harbouring secrets that he won't speak of even if he wanted to.
However, in the OVA, Puck was shown to mirror Subaru in how he helps others, while harbouring secrets that he won't speak of even if he wanted to.
This suggests there might be more hidden parallels between Puck and Subaru that we aren't aware of *yet*.
ReZero from the get-go was a story about lonely people helping one another; from Subaru the shut-in, to Rem in her guilt, and Emilia in her struggle against discrimination.
ReZero from the get-go was a story about lonely people helping one another; from Subaru the shut-in, to Rem in her guilt, and Emilia in her struggle against discrimination.
They all go through similar journeys, being helped by people who keep secrets as they themselves hide their pasts.
For starters, Subaru was helped by Emilia despite knowing nothing about her past; and from what we've seen of her trials' results, she might be hiding heavy stuff.
For starters, Subaru was helped by Emilia despite knowing nothing about her past; and from what we've seen of her trials' results, she might be hiding heavy stuff.
Rem & Ram too are hiding their past. As viewers we might forget that we saw Rem's past in first person, she didn't explicitly tell it to Subaru. Meaning that Subaru might not know the specifics of her history with the witch cult, only tidbits relating to Ram losing her horn.
Subaru is also, obviously, someone who's hiding a lot from other people. No one knows what he goes through, yet he still helps the people around him and is much forgiving of what they've done to him throughout various loops.
The pattern here leads me to believe that a couple other characters are no different from Subaru.
(1) Puck — He was assigned(?) to watch over Emilia and was forbidden from "unduly meddling" in her life; yet he did, and it got him out of comfort into trouble (with Melekuera).
(1) Puck — He was assigned(?) to watch over Emilia and was forbidden from "unduly meddling" in her life; yet he did, and it got him out of comfort into trouble (with Melekuera).
This is similar to Subaru's position as someone who can RbD. He could've -as he first thought of doing- sold the "metia" to live in comfort, then passively observe things to fix or use to his own benefit with RbD if things go awry. Yet he chose to help others.
The choice of helping someone new and connecting with them in the story of ReZero is significant.
That is because if you form a new connection, "you will no longer be you".
This is true for every instance of a character helping others in this story.
That is because if you form a new connection, "you will no longer be you".
This is true for every instance of a character helping others in this story.
Ram sacrificed her potential as the strongest demon of the clan to protect her sister.
Emilia discarded her older self who was discriminated against, as she aims to rid the kingdom of xenophobia.
Subaru gave up his lazy self-indulgent self to become the hero he wanted to be.
Emilia discarded her older self who was discriminated against, as she aims to rid the kingdom of xenophobia.
Subaru gave up his lazy self-indulgent self to become the hero he wanted to be.
In the latest episode, one more character *agreed* to forego her current self, and she is:
(2) Echidna — When Subaru asked her to not hide herself in his memories, it necessitated for her to give up her position as a passive observe; which is what makes Subaru's request "unfair"
(2) Echidna — When Subaru asked her to not hide herself in his memories, it necessitated for her to give up her position as a passive observe; which is what makes Subaru's request "unfair"
Echidna's compliance proves she's not enemy.
I reject the premise that being a witch makes her automatically evil. At worst, she might be somewhat grey. But since she agreed, it means that she is willing to change, and "no longer be herself".
She's not in it to exploit Subaru.
I reject the premise that being a witch makes her automatically evil. At worst, she might be somewhat grey. But since she agreed, it means that she is willing to change, and "no longer be herself".
She's not in it to exploit Subaru.
Echidna is not different from him and the rest of the cast, she's discarding her current self as someone who only watches over from a distance, in favour of helping him.
And with that I DECLARE THAT ECHIDNA IS A TRUSTWORTHY WITCH.
This is my bet for the rest of Arc 4
And with that I DECLARE THAT ECHIDNA IS A TRUSTWORTHY WITCH.
This is my bet for the rest of Arc 4
LN readers probably laughing as I read a non-existent pattern into Echidna's character 
If you've read this far, hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading!
Gif source: https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/81200176
If you've read this far, hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading!
Gif source: https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/81200176
