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MY RE:ZERO 2 EPISODE 13 THREAD
Just me rambling about a bunch of nice framing choices, character moments and whatnot.
Just me rambling about a bunch of nice framing choices, character moments and whatnot.
The visuals were decent this time around, but I feel like the sound design was what really sold this scene. The light ringing sound and dutch angle as Subaru is stuck between two Witches to emphasize his disorientation were a nice touch.
Minerva takes this opportunity to try hammering a lesson into Subaru. He& #39;s overcome his ego-driven savior complex, no longer driven by the pride of a "protagonist", only instead changing it into a martyr complex. He gets called out on his self-destructive behavior.
To make a connection with another popular anime of this season, it& #39;s somewhat similar to Hachiman& #39;s dilemma & overall message, but there is more to it when it comes to Subaru.
There is a clear parallel here to S1E13 (this happening on S2E13 feels somewhat deliberate), a parallel reinforced by the fact that Satella is a spitting image of Emilia. However, instead of outwardly toxic behavior & rant driven by pride, it& #39;s now a self-destructive attitude.
Subaru has reached a point where he sees no worth in himself beyond his ability—which is why the fact that he was unable to save Rem with said ability hit him so hard. What good is he for, as one whose only worth is in dying to protect others, if he can& #39;t even protect someone?
He& #39;s a completely broken person; but just as importantly, he& #39;s just a kid with the weight of the world pushed onto his shoulders, a teenager who& #39;s not even hit 18.
But he& #39;ll be free if he dies right there, in the dream world where Satella& #39;s reach is limited—if his mind dies, his body outside will remain an empty husk & he& #39;ll break free from the curse. That& #39;s why he bites his tongue, having finally crumbled under the weight on his shoulders.
The lesson the Trials have been building towards for Subaru is exposed here: that people do care about him, would mourn for him, and that his existence holds meaning beyond just RbD. That& #39;s why he eventually hesitates to end it all.
Ever since Arc 2, Re:ZERO& #39;s been pretty open with its appreciation for Evangelion. As far as scenes and overall messages go, this lines up extremely similarly with what Evangelion did with Shinji on Episode 26, albeit with a more experimental directing: https://twitter.com/JaerekO/status/1311330897803776008">https://twitter.com/JaerekO/s...
This scene is great; from the turning point it constitutes for Subaru to the shot composition reminiscent of Season 1.
At this point, one can& #39;t help but root for him.
There are many turning points in Re:ZERO where the narrative style shifts after an important moment; this is one of them.
There are many turning points in Re:ZERO where the narrative style shifts after an important moment; this is one of them.
And there it is— the big, overarching end goal of the story, if "making Emilia king" wasn& #39;t enough to satisfy certain viewers, as I remember seeing in 2016.
This Patrasche scene is sweet; it shows that beyond being just words, everything spoken in the dream world was true— Patrasche being a ground dragon, whose world right now constitutes of only him as she& #39;s his pet, is the perfect example of those who care for him.
Subaru is now much more openly accepting of people& #39;s feelings towards him — remember his reaction towards Otto in EP32?
First thing to note in the Roswaal scene is that he& #39;s wearing his makeup, but removes it upon learning that this isn& #39;t THE Subaru he& #39;s yearning for.
I mentioned before that Roswaal is cultivating Subaru& #39;s hero complex & a dependent Emilia to use them both; I& #39;ll just add that it doesn& #39;t matter to Roswaal if Subaru does it out of a sense of ego, or out of responsibility & lack of self-worth, as long as the results are the same.
These Roswaal shots are chilling and highlight how terrifying of an individual he is, an antagonistic force Subaru has never dealt with before, cornering him with his own ability. Notice how he no longer speaks in extended vowels in this scene.
Roswaal is towering above Subaru in every shot, and the closeups to his face show how twisted he is and fill the viewer with a sense of discomfort. What I love most is that he& #39;s completely different from any conventional villain; whether it be his goal, or how he does things.
Even as he& #39;s lying in bed, he& #39;s looking down on Subaru. His charisma & superb presentation aside, instead of aiming for Subaru& #39;s life—or the life of another—he& #39;s aiming for Subaru& #39;s mind itself, using every tool Subaru has against him. That& #39;s what makes him a terrifying villain.
It seems Roswaal has been around for far longer than we thought. Maybe it& #39;s no surprise that someone admiring Echidna has cast away his human heart. The intrigue around his character and backstory keeps piling on...
Now Subaru truly is stuck on a dead-end Roswaal created, as emphasized by the shot of the sky. We have the use of the classic worm& #39;s eye view, emphasizing how powerless he feels with the forest of Sanctuary towering over him.
But Subaru here is forgetting one important thing.
But Subaru here is forgetting one important thing.
—The scene cuts to black (I love when Re:ZERO does that), and Otto spells out Subaru& #39;s mistake.
Otto& #39;s arrival is heralded by the rise of the sun, which is used as a sign of hope. Subaru has been once again agonizing over everything alone as he always has, falling into old habits because of Roswaal. Otto here punches him to his senses and berates him for it.
Only with Rem, now gone, did Subaru ever agonize over something with, having tried & solved everything on his own. Instead of only reprimanding him for it, the story offers him someone to confide in—someone who, like Rem, has unconditionally been there for him & listened to him.
