Re:Zero 2 pt 2 episode 50 – Watership Down

Irina

5 years ago

Re:ZERO Season 2 Part 2 Episode 50 marks the end of season 2 of re:Zero. Fans absolutely adore it. I just read a review calling it Isekai perfection. And for one last time, Crow and I will discuss the episode.

Have any of you read Watership Down? Did you like it? I read it in school and although I do appreciate it as a book. As in I don’t think it’s badly written at all and I understand the themes and points it was making. Effectively if somewhat brutishly, I did not enjoy it. I will not reread it again. I just don’t like the idea of bunnies killing each other. I’m a very simple creature and fluffy cute things should be friends.

What do you think Crow?

It’s been forever since I read the book or have seen the movie. The movie was well made, by the way. I grew up on a farm, so my view of animals includes the idea of livestock. Growing up in that environment left its mark. Bunnies, or cattle, or pigs — once you see them as part of a food chain, it’s hard to unsee that.

At least, that’s what I thought. My brother went vegan and he’s never been healthier. Perspectives can change!

We’re off topic, aren’t we? Well, I’m off topic… And I’m in bold. There will be spoilers.

But on to episode 50 of re:Zero 2. As far as the events of the episode go, there isn’t that much to talk about. The fight against the bunnies was over in a heartbeat and after that it was a wrap up. The characters simply reaffirmed information we learned throughout the season.

The only new thing I suppose is that knighting scene at the end of the episode. I did not realize that Emilia had been made queen so that’s new information for me I guess but I’m sure most of the viewers were more diligent. I guess it was an alright scene but in practice I don’t see how it changes anything. Subaru was going to stand by Emilia’s side and defend her regardless and it’s what he’s been doing up until now. Maybe there’s more to it but we’ll find out next season.

One thing I will say for this scene. Did they really haul out Rem’s unconscious body to attend? That seems really rude! Especially after how hard the narrative shafted her this season. Oh well…

I’m sure you have plenty of stand out moments Crow. Please tell us about it!

I don’t think Emilia’s on the throne yet. Subaru mentioned they’d need Roswaal’s help in the selection process, so that still seems in play. The only thing I could figure is that Roswaal’s family is royalty and Subaru’s knighthood is as a ward of that family. But that’s not a satisfying answer.

As far as what I enjoyed about it, I was absolutely astounded to see Subaru in something other than a track suit. I didn’t know how to process that! Also, after everything he and Emilia have been through, it was great seeing them have time to just be their awkward halting selves.

And Beatrice twirling Petra on the dance floor was too adorable.

But as I feared, Rem’s still unconscious. And it was a little creepy having her out on the floor. She certainly didn’t get anything out of it!

In the end, I have a lot of lingering questions about the season and thankfully Crow pays much better attention and will be able to answer them! Like what was the point of a lot of the events. Why did Roswaal do all this? To break Emilia’s spirit so she can serve as a vessel for Echidna? OK, fine. But why murder the people at his mansion? Why burn it down? Why risk Beatrice, the beloved daughter of the woman he loves? Why hire vampires? Why summon the bunny rabbits? Why challenge Subaru? How do any of these actions help his goal? It seems really convoluted if it’s just to keep Subaru away from Emilia.

And I know Subaru could leave at any time. Why did Emilia go through the trials at all? Why not just leave Sanctuary as it is, Roswall and all and just go on her merry way to, maybe help find a cure for one of her most dedicated servants who she’s forgotten?

Why did there need to be so many clones?

And this is more of a production issue, but was the lady in the coffin Echidna? The characters seem to say she wasn’t the same Echidna that we’ve been seeing all season. And I have to admit the character model did seem a bit odd to me but I don’t know if that was intended or simply a slight art consistency issue. Are we to understand that who we thought was Echidna wasn’t? Cause I would need a bit more to go on if that’s the case. If not, why include this?

I feel like I’m on stage and the spotlight just kicked on. Someone in the back coughed. My costume doesn’t fit right. And I forgot my lines.

I wish I could answer your questions, because each one is a good question. Now, on and off through the season, I’ve had some theories about some of your questions, and I’ve seen others post conjecture on other questions. The thing is, as much as I like this show, it has a flaw that bugs the heck out of me.

The best description I’ve read is from Dewbond’s site Shallow Dives in Anime. In a post called “Re-Dive, Quick Thoughts Edition on Steins;Gate: Back to the Future, and then back again,” he said: “Steins;Gate is a show that rewards you for paying attention, but also doesn’t penalize you not paying attention like ReZero does.”

I embrace the idea of show don’t tell. I love figuring things out. But the sheer volume of things I’ve needed to figure out is enormous for this show.

For some shows, I have to make up some inner fan fiction to explain points that make sense. For this show, I have an entire parallel world. And it’s constantly changing to adjust to the latest episode.

You should not have had to ask a single one of your questions. The narrative should have answered them. For heaven’s sake, your questions dealt with character motivation, which is at the heart of believability!

TL;DR: I completely understand you not enjoying this season. I’m glad you stuck with it, and I hope it didn’t diminish your enjoyment of anime in general!

It’s not a question of not enjoying it. I know for a fact I often forget show elements so I think there are answers to all these questions and I’m curious. Maybe some of our readers know them.

I think your questions are spot on. I honestly don’t think the show did a good job of answering them. But we do have some really sharp readers! Maybe one of them will have something.

One thing I will say is that the characters seem to be pretty much back to their season 1 personalities at the end of this episode and I think that’s a good thing. I found most of them a lot more compelling in season 1 and I hope they don’t shift too much again.

At least Emilia knows where babies come from now! Maybe! Well, we’re not really sure, but I’m hopeful!

So Crow has been bringing back the three main themes of this season of re:Zero in every single one of his posts to create continuity. And I am super embarrassed to admit this, but I don’t know what these themes are.

I thought about it and here are the three main themes I could come up with for the season but none of them work.

1- True love conquers all. Admittedly this was the weakest of the three but seeing as the kiss was presented and paced as the cornerstone event of the season, I figure it was of some importance. However, this theme falls apart immediately. True love doesn’t work for anyone else in the season. It didn’t work for Roswaal and he had to give it up. It pretty much doomed Geuse and if anything his arc was a cautionary tale to not get blinded by love. And poor Rem. Risking her life for her true love got her sidetracked all season and even if she ever does wake up, she gets the reward of finding out her one true love got a girlfriend while she was in a coma and is now super happy without her.

So, we’re 0 for 1.

2- Learning to count on others. Both Subaru and Emilia had to learn to depend on and trust others this season. But well not really again. There was this big thing about Emilia having to stop depending on others, especially Puck, and believe in herself. So that sort of undoes this theme right at the start. And Fortuna was doomed because she depended on others, not to mention that her trust in others pretty much led them all to a gruesome death. And anyone who trusted Roswaal…well that’s a bit on them, let’s face it.

So, 0 for 2? It’s beginning to feel like baseball.

3- The strongest theme I could see was: Confronting and learning to let go of the past. As in you must first accept your past and move on to have a future. Pretty much all the main characters went through this and I think it is a decent connecting thread. Still, the season did manage to specifically contradict it through Garf, Frederica and Otto, all of whom had to specifically reconnect with their past and go back to their roots instead.

Is that a foul ball maybe? So, still 0 for 2 with us needing another pitch for 3?

So I give up, Crow, please tell me what the three themes of the season were. I’m actually really curious about this!

And I thought I’d dodged a bullet with your last questions! I’m tempted to channel Jack O’Neill from Stargate SG-1: “I got nothing!” I’m also tempted to be flippant! But let me see what I can come up with.

It’s okay not to shoulder the entire burden alone. Sometimes you have to, but if you start thinking that way by default, Rem will end up unconscious. Not everything can be solved by Return by Death!

Go big or go home. Want to save everything in Sanctuary and the mansion? Then pay the price not by accepting pain and death, but by doing things that are more scary. Like backing Roswaal into a corner and convincing Garfiel that he should fight Knifey. Yes. That’s a repeat of the first one, but it’s slightly different, so I’m going with it.

And sometimes, you need a bro to punch you in the face. Sometimes you need something to adjust your thinking, and if reason won’t do it, there are other tools in the box.

How’d I do?

I didn’t mean to be flippant. I tried to give it some serious thought. It’s more that I came up short than I was trying to be disrespectful. Not the case at all. To me, it felt as if I was missing a piece of the puzzle. Either because I have forgotten something or because the story needs to be considered in light of an arc that hasn’t been adapted yet. And I was actually curious about the themes you already had been using all season, you didn’t have to come up with new ones but that’s good too.

Well, I had themes for The Promised Neverland… When I don’t have a great answer, I fall back on humor, which is not a great thing because I suck at it. I didn’t take a single one of your questions as flippant — I’ve been trying to bring these ideas together for the latter half of the season, and it’s bee a struggle.

Isn’t it’s ok not to shoulder everything the same as learn to count on others?

The second theme of season 2 you mention is that the gimmick of the series should not be counted on, so like future seasons will move away from the Return by Death? Maybe, but I think the characters would all be dead without it, no?

Go big or go home as in do not compromise. That’s actually a good one. It’s an unusual lesson but I guess stand your ground or something like that could work. I mean not for Rem, Echidna, Roswaal, Beatrice, Fortuna or Geuse but the story didn’t directly contradict the theme either. It’s a clear theme that works with season 1 as well. I have to admit, I wouldn’t have picked it up on my own. But I like it.

The punch a bro in the face theme is do learn to compromise and don’t stand your ground? I like the opposite one better.

Sometimes, standing your ground is a terrible idea! A punch in the face can be a reminder to retreat once in a while!

I thought the first episode of part 1 was a very interesting setup and conflict. The confrontation with the cultists and the consequences to Crusch and Rem. And that’s kind of the story I wanted to see. Which means that next season should be awesome for those who watch it.

How about you Crow? Did the season give you everything you had hoped for? Are you happy with the resolution and are you looking forward to next season?

See, you had to bring up Crusch. I miss her terribly because of her potential, especially in her diminished state! I’ve been waiting all season to see what Subaru could come up with against Nom-ie and Arrogant Man. Though it was nice to see Pandora smack him around a bit!

Yes, I am looking forward to the next season. I want to see those things I didn’t see this season. I want to see Rem restored or I want to see that world crash in the attempt.

Will you watch a fifth season if it comes out?

Fifth? I thought we were at the third season. In any case I’m pretty much done with re:Zero personally. I will enjoy reading other people’s posts on it instead. I’ve always been more of a KonoSuba sort. You know, wacky comedy isekai.

By fifth I meant third. I don’t get along very well with math.

I’m guessing you will?

Probably. I doubt I’ll review it, though. But now that you’ve mentioned the series Darkness is in, that has a pretty strong appeal!

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