Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 4

Episode 12

Ever since losing his memories, Subaru's been ruled by suspicion and paranoia—which isn't exactly surprising given his recent (and repeated) painful deaths. However, with his last loop, he was able to have another “restart from zero” moment—to reevaluate himself and who he wants to be.

A big part of this was Emilia, in the face of certain death, explaining how Subaru went from the guy we met in episode 1 to the hero so many count on. This was something the amnesic Subaru was unable to even imagine. He couldn't understand how he could become the well-respected companion of the much stronger people surrounding him—which is why he feared he might secretly be a monster.

This is why the conversation between him and Ram is important in this episode. While it mirrors the other time we've seen this conversation, Subaru is much more collected and self-aware. His words are backed by conviction, not bluster. Ram is still irrationally angry, but she can see this, allowing the conversation to go in a different direction from its previous incarnation. Her metaphor of Subaru as a land covered in snow is apt. He isn't the welcoming summer field he was upon entering the tower, but he can very much become that again—and by saying this, she lets Subaru know he is on the right path to becoming the best version of himself once more.

The other major aspect of the last loop that allowed Subaru to “restart from zero” once again was the unquestionable love and support of those around him. Being shown this, even when he didn't deserve it, goes on to dictate his actions this episode. He's put together the pieces that Meili is the one who killed him in previous loops. Yet, now, instead of lashing out in paranoia, he treats her with compassion. Having read her book, he truly does know her better than anyone else—and then there's the fact that the phantom version of Meili had been living in his head, trying to mold him in her image.

He can empathize with her so much that he is even able to predict her suicide attempt (and enlist Emilia's aid to stop it from succeeding). The simple fact of the matter is that Meili is a confused child lashing out—unsure of her own feelings, not to mention her wants and desires for the future. Emilia's advice to Meili is solid. This cramped, high-stress environment is not the right place to make any life-altering decisions. Space, time, and thought may very well reveal options that were previously unthinkable.

All that is to say that Meili has spent her life either as a monster or the ward of a psychopathic mass murderer. She doesn't really know how to be human, so now it's up to the entire party to show her the best of humanity instead of the worst—and hope she grows and learns from their example.

With that issue solved for the moment, the party can once again focus on the immediate issue in front of them—namely passing the current challenge and climbing the tower. The idea of finding Reid's death book is a good one—though I'm not sure who would be suitable to read it given all that happened with Subaru and Phantom Meili.

And beyond that, there is still something important that Subaru has overlooked. While it's pretty clear now that Phantom Meili was caused by reading her death book (hence why repeating Phantom Meili's words about “murder becoming a habit” had such an impact on the real Meili), this also means she was a figment of his imagination. This, in turn, implies that she was neither the cause nor in control during Subaru's blackouts. There is something else lurking around—something capable of not only taking over Subaru's body but also knows enough about him to sadistically play on his fears. Or to put it another way, there is a much bigger problem facing our heroes than a bored legendary swordsman—and overlooking it may spell the end for Subaru on this particular loop.

Rating:

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Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

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Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation, is the majority owner of Anime News Network, LLC. One or more of the companies mentioned in this article are part of the Kadokawa Group of Companies.