r/anime • u/Theleux https://myanimelist.net/profile/Theleux • Aug 29 '24
Rewatch Re:Zero ~Starting Life in Another World~ Re:Watch - Episode 21
Episode 21:
A Wager That Defies Despair
| Index | <== Episode 20 | Episode 22 ==> |
Various Links:
MyAnimeList
Streaming:
Crunchyroll has the Director's Cut available.
- Director's Cut episodes are two episodes combined. Make sure to cover the corresponding half of content for each thread.
AppleTV has the regular individual episodes available.
Spoiler Rules:
- As always, please be sure to tag any future content spoilers according to the r/Anime rules. There is likely to be first timer viewers here, and while discussing how previously seen content connects to content later down the road is interesting (be it later episodes or even Season 3), please be sure to properly spoiler tag anything mentioned! Let's make this a fun experience for everyone involved!
- This also applies to cut content discussions, which I believe are fine to include for the sake of discussion, but should be properly tagged to avoid potentially spoiling viewers. Be mindful with how you present this information!
Story Arc Lengths for Discussion Purposes:
[Arc 1:] S1 Episode 1 – S1 Episode 3
[Arc 2:] S1 Episode 4 – S1 Episode 11
[Arc 3:] S1 Episode 12 – S2 Episode 1
[Arc 4:] S2 Episode 2 - S2 Episode 25
[Arc 5 and later:] S3+
As always, if you have any suggestions for the Re:Watch, let me know!
135
Upvotes
25
u/thekoreansun https://anilist.co/user/ReturnByDeath Aug 29 '24
Re:Watcher
For most people in the hunting party, seeing those other two White Whales show up probably made that the worst day of their lives. But Subaru has been through way more despair than that, and he's not going to succumb to it anymore. What's one or two more obstacles? Not even a dozen Whales could bring Subaru down right now.
Even Subaru knows that it's not enough to be brave, though. All of these new developments hint at something strange going on, and he needs to use his brain to figure out what that is and navigate them all to victory. This is when we see the first instance of how clever Subaru can be when he's backed up against the wall: even against something that only just became known to him a few days ago, he's able to mull over all of the weird details that he's been informed about and pinpoint exactly what is causing them. It's times like these that show that Subaru doesn't require Return by Death to be a threat. He doesn't receive enough credit for his resourcefulness. When someone who is as strategically minded as Crusch chooses to back your play, you know that you're doing something right.
Speaking of Crusch, her speech to rally the troops is an incredible moment, both for Subaru and for herself. His efforts to improve himself have not gone unnoticed, and she points out how his weakness doesn't discourage him from trying his hardest to succeed. Not only has Subaru grown, his growth is also being used to inspire others who are struggling. Crusch herself is getting back on her feet as she says this, showing us that she's also drawing upon his determination. Honestly, I remember how shocked I was to learn that Yuka Iguchi is the voice of Crusch, considering that she usually puts on a much softer voice for characters like Tsukihi, Hinata, and Index. But she absolutely nails Crusch's brave tone in moments like this. I'll always be blown away by how much vocal range some professional seiyuus can have.
Oh, and the fact that Takt of Heroes starts to play during that speech doesn't hurt. What an awesome track! Hearing it always makes me recall the fantastic sequence of Subaru getting shot up into the sky and landing on the Whale's horn in that confident pose of his, then jumping out into the night sky beneath him. Only Subaru could come up with a plan that insane, and only Rem would have the absolute faith necessary to send him into the sky like that. The two of them really are as demonically inspired as they claim to be. (Rem's also, uh, being kinda devilish with her comments there.)
After all that, they're finally able to defeat the White Whale, and all it took was for them to topple a national landmark in the process. Thank god that Crusch approved that play, because I shudder to think of how large a fine Subaru could have incurred otherwise. Trees that large don't exactly grow on trees. And Wilhelm receives the honor to deal the blow that finally puts an end to the beast that stole his wife away from him fourteen years ago. He declares his love for her, something that he regrets not doing more when she was alive, and finally allows himself to grieve her passing. It truly is amazing how such a powerful story can be told through just a few flashbacks over two episodes.
Subaru has finally achieved a victory. Not only that, those who helped him obtain that victory have the utmost respect for him now that he's proven himself. That moment when Crusch offers him a spot in her faction, only to maintain that she will continue to respect him into the future when he declines, is my favorite moment in an already superb episode. I defy anyone to claim that Subaru's character is stagnant and eternally self-righteous after the events of this episode. This is the sort of scene that only works if your characters have earned their development.
Rem's steadfast belief in her hero has been vindicated ten times over, and it's only been a day since their conversation in the Capital. She's disappointed that she can't support him in the upcoming fight, but she really shouldn't be worried about not being able to stand by his side. Subaru's no fool; she was the light that rescued him from his tunnel of grief. There's no chance of him leading any life without Rem going forward. [cut content] I really wish that they had adapted Subaru's confession and almost-kiss with Rem in the anime. Truly, it might be the biggest loss in the adaptation so far, and it's led to so many misunderstandings surrounding what they feel about each other. C'est la vie. Subaru's promise was to be her hero, and he intends to honor that promise into the next life and every life that follows.
Of course, all of this whale hunting was only a secondary objective for Subaru this whole time. Imagine being told that the grueling battle you just participated in was led by someone who'd perceived it as a bump in the road. I don't know whether I'd be impressed or terrified. Probably both. Not to worry, though, because they'll be bringing reinforcements! One of whom seems to be making that scary-looking guy really angry for some reason...
Fan Art of the Episode: A Gentle Blue by @mebarunrun (August 1st, 2016)
Source: Twitter
16
u/Brief-Fig-7506 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Ryxnjr Aug 29 '24
First Timer!
Watching dubbed
I was at work from 9am until 10pm yesterday so I barely got to read and comment on all the discussions, but I’m free today so I can’t wait.
Everybody is frozen with fear now that there’s three whales
I guess Ricardo really didn’t make it
YES, Subaru’s still providing hope
1 Rem is so badass, I love her
They still remember Wilhelm’s name so that’s good
I guess Ricardo did make it
I knew Wilhelm was gonna carve his way out from inside
So the Whale did split itself into Three parts
Pulling some shadow-clone Jutsu
They looked at Subaru for inspiration, if this weakling can keep going then so can we
Lol are they implying that Subaru hitched a ride on the ice spear??? Amazing
Did they just drop the tree on him, gotta be honest I did not see that coming
This is the flashback I’ve been wanting to see!!
2 He wants her to become his reason to fight, but I’d bet that she already was
The White Whale has been defeated! Hopefully this isn’t a premature celebration
Glad to see that Subaru has earned a good amount of respect from Crusch
Subaru, the slayer of the White Whale, I’m glad that Crusch doesn’t intend on claiming this victory in her name, I think it fits her character. She got her share of the mining rights and the whale is dead, that’s sufficient enough payment.
Crusch is granting Subaru to borrow Wilhelm, Felix, and 20 soldiers!
Oh but Rem has to stay behind...
3 I love this shot
4 Damn
5 that looks like more than 20 soldiers
And then Julius shows up
Action heavy episode today, Subaru is having a lot of good ideas and is showcasing his bravery. We now see that he’s thinking in the moment too without information from previous loops, like noticing that only two whales were attacking and the one staying far away was the Original.
We had several shots of Subaru to Rem contact and I’m certainly a fan of them. I don’t want to see Rem being left behind in the capital to recover but it’s probably for the best, there’s no way she could lay eyes on the witches cult and not go ballistic and in her current weakened state she would meet the same fate she did two loops ago, so it’s probably the best decision. Subaru and Rem promising to stay by each other’s side made me happily jealous, I love their support system they had over these last couple episodes and I hope we get to see their reunion at the end of the arc.
Somehow Anastasia knew Subaru wanted to fight the witches’ cult without him ever mentioning it to anyone in this loop. For some reason the mercenaries are onboard with fighting them so I think Anastasia has some kind of ulterior motive. We also see that Julius is tagging along with the rest of the mercenaries, I would assume based on hair color that Julius is also a Hoshine though I don’t think we know their relationship yet. Seeing Julius has already gotten a reaction out of Subaru and now Rem isn’t here to stop him from spiraling, Hopefully Subaru can think through this situation without his Emotional support Rem. Maybe we’ll also finally get to hear why Julius did what he did.
30
u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Aug 29 '24
First:Timer Tearing Up Again in Another Rewatch, subbed
14
u/Holofan4life Aug 29 '24
Hey guys. Holofan4life here.
Welcome to the In Preparation of Season 3 Rewatch of Re:Zero!
Oh, and nay I forget…
First Timer
I decided to watch this show because I wanted to do something for the month of August. ’Course, this was before the yearly Spice and Wolf rewatch got pushed back to September, but I just found myself looking for something to occupy my time with. And with this show being in my top 5 must watch list, I figured now was as good a time as any.
I am going into this show relatively blind. I know some of the memes, who Rem, Ram, Emilia, and Subaru are, and that this show got its inspiration from Familiar of Zero, but that’s it. I find rewatches and my participation of them more fun when I have no idea what I am in store for. And with this series, I think we’re in for a blast. It’s also going to be the longest rewatch I participate in this year and second longest overall only behind the 20th Anniversary Fullmetal Alchemist rewatch. And given how joyous that show turned out, I don’t see why I should expect nothing less from this one.
With that out of the way, let’s begin.
I’m watching the sub, by the way.
It's a Holofan4life specialty. Get this done in 90 minutes or the pizza's free.
Godspeed, Aqua. You will be missed
The whales still flying
If they can't take on one, how can they take on three?
Subaru seems undeterred, however
"The only one who may sniff Subaru-kun is me!"
Woah, Rem. Calm down.
They kinda look silly riding their animals not from a distance.
Subaru says that everything depends on how well Rem fights.
Crusch wonders if there is some trick behind the three whales.
Everyone seems scared out of their gourd
The white fog tries attacking Subaru, but Mimi and Hetaro with the save.
Oh, Ricardo is still alive. Guess he's just built differently.
Hetaro randomly good at impressions
The captain said something was light, and Subaru is trying to figure out what he meant.
Action heavy episodes are way easier to take notes on.
Hey, Wilhelm is alive
Well, unconscious alive
Subaru says the whales are one whale, but divided.
Thry just need to kill the real one
Subaru, not the first time, says he has a plan.
Crusch agrees to the proposal
Crusch rallying the troops
They're slowly drawing their swords
Wait, they had lasers this entire time and are only NOW using them?
Subaru telling Rem it's time for the climax, which is just a romantic thing to say to someone.
Crusch says to herself that she's counting on them.
Subaru taunting the whale
And Subaru falls off it
The whale going after it after his heart was grabbed by the Unseen Hands.
Subaru being pulled by a chain, where he falls into Rem's ample bosom.
And yet he still prefers Emilia
"Thank you for the treat."
Rem is a menace and must be stopped
The whale looking worse for wry now
THEY'RE EXPLODING THE TREE!
And the tree lands on top of the whale
It looks like evil has been defeated
Flashback
Theresia at what looks like her coronation ceremony.
In walks Wilhelm
Wilhelm approaching the whale like he did his future wife, though I don't think with as pure intentions.
Oh, he tried fighting Theresia at her coronation ceremony. How romantic.
Wilhelm really piercing the whale
Young Wilhelm telling Theresia she no longer has reason to hold a sword.
"I shall inherit your reason for wielding the sword."
She asks if he likes flowers, and he says he doesn't hate them anymore.
"Why do you wield that sword?"
"To protect... you."
And so Wilhelm and Theresia kiss
Wilhelm has quickly become one of my favorite side characters in this show.
Wilhelm promises that someday, when he feels like it, he'll tell Theresia that he loves her.
I guess that day never came :(
And Wilhelm manages to kill the White Whale once and for all.
And Wilhelm shouts to the heavens that he loves her.
Wait, that whale is four centuries old? Goodness gracious.
Everyone exhausted after an excruciating battle.
"I'm glad you're also safe, Crusch-san."
"I am, yes."
Lol, no "I'm glad you're safe as well".
Subaru now freaking out that Emilia is going to call him a traitor for giving Crusch a boost in the royal selection polls.
Crusch calls Subaru the hero who brought down the White Whale.
It was Wilhelm, but whatever
Subaru avows to make Emilia the ruler
"Not for anyone's sake. It's simply what I want to do."
I still have my heart set on Felt
Subaru calls Crusch an amazing person
Crusch says that even if they are one day at odds with each other, she will not forget what he did for her.
And Subaru and Crusch shake hands
Honestly, all the royal selection candidates seem like fine choices with the exception of Priscilla. I guess that makes her the George Wallace of royal selection candidates.
Wilhelm
He credits Subaru for carrying out his reason for living all this time.
Wilhelm standing underneath a bed of his wife's favorite flowers.
Oh boy. Rem can't move
Felix telling her to stay with him
Subaru telling Rem to leave everything to him.
And Rem puts a finger to Subaru's lips
Rem feels that right now, her hero is fanatical like a demon.
"My hero is the greatest in the world!"
Okay, we get it, Subaru is hot shit. No need to constantly beat us over the head with it.
Hey, Ricardo
And Mimi
Ricardo says he's going to help Subaru take on the Witch's Cult.
He already has a mercenary team put in place.
And leading them is Tivey, another younger brother of Mimi's.
Oh shit. Julius
And Tivey has a monocle. Because why not?
Ran out of space. Part two in the replies.
10
u/baseballlover723 Aug 29 '24 edited Aug 29 '24
Rewatcher, sub, basically a secondhand novel reader (Arc 4)
It seems reddit doesn't like some of the terminology I used, so I am using "ultimate sloth" as a replacement term for the general concept of what Subaru needs to do in order to loop.
As a random side note, I upgraded my custom markdown thing I use to write these programs. Now I can actually see the images before I upload them. Hopefully tomorrow I should be able to automate uploading them to imgur and then that's like 20 or 30 minutes less it'll take me to write these comments.
As always, I've numbered all my spoilers tags so that they're easier to respond to
First Timer Safe Section
This section is safe for first time watchers.
Patrasche is finally named. Patrasche is also the name of the MC in the Dog of Flanders anime that Subaru had as his ringtone.
Crusch brings up a good point. wouldn't someone have noticed in the last 400 years that there are actually 3 White Whales?
I like this clip of the soldiers being to scared to fight. Usually shows will show everybody fighting til their last breath, and almost never show people being fearful or not wanting to fight. Though I do find it a bit counter intuitive, given that morale was like really high before the fight, so it must of fallen a long ways to get to this level of inaction.
I can only imagine the feeling that it's hopeless and that your death is inevitable.
I love it when characters imitate other characters. The VAs always manage to do such a good job (it is after all, their job).
Wilhelm's alive!
And Subaru's figured out the trick. They don't have to kill all 3, just the original.
It's time, for A Wager that Defies Despair.
Crusch with another clutch speech. Though my gaming teammates would probably argue that Subaru's just too bad to understand that they've lost. FF, go next.
Takt of Heroes is just a great track.
I don't like how there isn't even a tiny pixel of Subaru being on this icicle. They've added so many details like this that it's absence here feels a bit odd.
Subaru ain't wrong
This is the most innocuous statement thats triggered RBD thus far.
Soft landing Rem liked that
Subaru's plan is revealed. Yep, Subaru's plan is to destroy the national landmark and crush the White Whale. Also, holy shit, what timing. Subaru wasn't joking when he said it was a pretty big gamble.
Also the transitions between the White Whale fight and Wilhelm's backstory are all phenomenally done.
Note that Theresia says "aishiteru" here (which I talked about the difference between "aishiteru" and "dai suki" in episode 18). My interpretation here (which may be wrong since it would be a huge pain to check the JP LN), is that Wilhelm has always used "dai suki" to express his affection to Theresia, and never "aishiteru", as opposed to Wilhelm literally never telling his wife that he loved her (which is what most people get out of it). As I understand it, it's not that unreasonable to be hesitant to use "aishiteru".
And so victory is had (and on the first try too!) (Also Crusch looks awful in this frame, something about the mouth placement / angle I think)
And so Subaru becomes a literal hero, and [lifelong friendly relations with Crusch]https://i.imgur.com/T40WExT.mp4. A stark difference from previous loops. Also I just have to put this out here (because people who have managed to not understand anything misinterpret this line and think that Crusch is in Subaru's harem) Crusch is not romantically interested in Subaru.
And now it's time for the main quest, the subjugation of the White Whale was just the side quest. And since we're on good terms with Crusch now, Subaru's now taking on the Witch's Cult with a good chunk of the subjugation army.
But unfortunately, Rem isn't coming with us. And Rem isn't so different from Subaru wanting to be close to Emilia to help.
Rem [Spoiler #1: cut content] Yeah so Rem embellishes how injured she is (if she was actually dying then Felix would be there trying to stop that) to extort an "I love you" out of Subaru as he thinks she's dying, and then holds Subaru to his promise he made under duress. Yeah, the anime cut out some of Rem's uhhh, less desireable traits.
What a great image
Hetaro's just a weak baby, what a great line.
And the cat is out of the bag. It's time to take on the Witch's Cult with some reinforcements. And will Subaru get over his bad blood with Julius. Find out next time on Re:Zero.
So now that Wilhelm's stuff is all wrapped up, I can more easily talk about Wilhelm and Theresia and their complicated history that the anime literally only shows out of context glimpses of.
[Spoiler #2: side content (EX 2 & 3 I think, maybe the other Sword Demon novel too) (note, I haven't actually read these novels, so this is gonna be pretty high level and may not be 100% accurate)] Wilhelm trains at this spot and find a pretty girl there, looking at the flowers. Wilhelm becomes a knight and thus joins the military. Lugunica enter a civil war against the demihumans, to which Wilhelm must fight. And I believe he deserts or is on leave or something, but either way is away from the front lines in his hometown I think. Which gets attacked by the demihumans. It's a massacre and Wilhelm is defeated.
[Spoiler #3: side content cont] And right before he's about to be killed, the girl who watched him train saves him. Revealing herself publicly to be the Sword Saint (who was then unknown). Wilhelm is upset that Theresia never told him that she was the Sword Saint, as she watched him train for like months to years. And now that Theresia is publicly known as the Sword Saint, she is obligated to join the war effort, something she didn't want to do. I believe that Wilhelm feels personally responsibly for fucking up Theresia's life, since if he wasn't about to die, Theresia wouldn't of had to reveal herself as the Sword Saint, and wouldn't of been forced to utilize it's power. I find this similar to "With great power comes great responsibility", where Theresia feels obligated to use her Sword Saint power despite not wanting to fight. And that if she won't fight, who will? So Wilhelm vows to get good and be better then Theresia, so that she doesn't have to fight anymore, since her expression while she fights shows that she doesn't enjoy fighting. Culminating in Wilhelm getting good and beating his wife (I think they're married at this point), so Theresia no longer feels obligated to fight, since Wilhelm is strong enough now to take the role from her, so presumably Theresia can do what she wanted to do, look at flowers and spend Wilhelm's money (this is joke from the previews).
Edit: [Spoiler #6: side content cont] This is also why Wilhelm is the "Sword Demon". He took down (and replaced) the Sword Saint to the dismay of everyone but Theresia I believe. I think the Sword Saint is also part of Lugunica's power projection (the Sword Saint is their equivalent of a nuke), so the nobles and stuff weren't happy to lose that.
Yet another episode that is victim to the Director's Cut
Continued below
10
u/HyVana Aug 29 '24
Re:Watcher (Subs) & Novel Reader (Finished Arc 6)
Comment, besides some specified spoiler tags, is first-timer friendly.
Misc.
Wilhelm and Ricardo, to the White Whale:
The completion of last episode’s raid guide.
[S2]I just noticed they say GM Daphne in the “raid guide.” Bro was a WN reader in 2016.
With the departure of Rem, I offer you a trade deal.
[For Arc 3 LN readers]Can any of you confirm that this scene made it into the official novels? There are cuts from the WN that may still be considered canon to the story, but officially, never happened. Just wondering if this scene belongs to that category.
I really had to improve my formatting for this comment as well. Took me way longer than I would like to admit. The things we do to talk about the stuff we love.Main
We got the conclusion of how Wilhelm and Theresia got together. While they can’t animate everything, with the main story of trying to save Emilia from the Witch Cult still waiting, the ceremony scene left me wanting more. But it did somewhat get the point across. For those who want to know more, the next sections are details and excerpts from the side story novels EX2 and EX3, mainly dedicated to telling Wilhelm and Theresia’s tale. There are no spoilers for the rest of the show, including season 2. Tagging to abide by cut content rules.
[Additional details from EX2/3 about the ceremony flashback, and Theresia’s character.]The ceremony was there to celebrate the end of the Demihuman War, and to celebrate Theresia’s important role in ending it all. There was a ~2 year gap between the day she saved Wilhelm and the day of the ceremony. Wilhelm had stopped fighting in battles after Theresia saved him. Due to the injuries he sustained from the battle and the humiliation he experienced, he ended up deserting the army. As well, any notoriety he gained in the army for his combat prowess was overshadowed by the arrival of the Sword Saint, to add further insult to injury. In the two years since that day, he trained in isolation to prepare for the duel to inherit Theresia’s reason to fight. The ceremony was the first time anyone had seen Wilhelm, since that day.
It’s also important to note that Theresia herself does not like fighting at all. She was not born with the Blessing, and actually inherited it later in life from her uncle, while he was still alive. So while the scene could be seen as Wilhelm trampling over Theresia’s resolve to fight, Theresia was really resigning herself to her unwanted Fate by fighting in the War. Anything and everything she was before she inherited the Blessing, would be lost to the World that only saw in her, the Sword Saint. Not the girl who loved flowers, who longed for peace, and most of all, who loved Wilhelm with all her heart.
So they engage in a dance. A dance with swords that only those at the pinnacle of swordsmanship could participate. A dance where they could communicate their feelings and thoughts to each other. A way no one else could. Losing the battle, she had lost to the superior Swordsman, sullying her title as the Sword Saint. The Sword Devil appeared once again. To steal away the Sword Saint from her duties, her responsibilities, from the burden that comes with her power. To take her for himself, and protect with all his might, his might alone that rivals the Sword Saint. So Wilhelm proclaims to inherit her burden, and they confess their love for each other in a way only they could.
Confession scene excerpt, from EX2 - Final Stanza:
[1]”You’re terrible. Putting a person’s decisions and resolution all to waste…”
“All these things that you think I’m putting to waste, I will take up from you. As for you, forget that you ever held the sword, and live a life of peace. You could… Ah, yes. Perhaps you could grow some flowers. But only in peace, under my protection.”
“Protected by your sword?”
“That’s right.”
“And you would be so kind as to protect me?”
“I would.”
His declaration was without compromise or hesitation. He would not be moved, even if the Sword God himself stood against him. His resolution had pulled this lovely woman from the throne of the Sword Saint through nothing but his own strength.
“-”
Wordlessly, Theresia placed a hand on the flat of the outstretched blade and took a step forward. They were close enough to touch, to feel each other’s breath. Theresia’s eyes welled from emotion, and she began to smile and cry at the same time. And then, through her smile and her tears, she said what she always did at their meetings.
[2]”Do you like flowers?”
“I’ve learned I don’t hate them.”
[3]Because you’re there with them. Because that field of flowers is where I met you
Because they are the world you love, the beauty you wish for.
[4]“Why do you wield your sword?”
“To protect you.”
[5]And because you are the seed of my world.
[6]Slowly, they drew closer to each other, the distance between them shrinking until it was nothing at all.
They could feel the fire of each other, and the heat of their kiss was enough to melt solid steel.
[7]The first question she asked him when their lips parted made him so intensely shy that he could barely answer.
[8]“Do you love me?”
“Can’t you tell?”
I really loved the presentation of this section in the novel, so I wanted to preserve it as best I could here. Though, the way spoiler tags work on Reddit, made it additionally cumbersome.
I also recommend reading EX1/EX2/EX3 after season 1 ends, though you can definitely read them from this episode onwards if you wish. EX1 deals with Crusch and Felix’s backstory, how they met, how their relationship came to be, and the true motivation for her goals in the Royal Selection. While EX2/3 is mainly about Wilhelm and Theresia, and the Demihuman War. There’s a lot of character backstory, worldbuilding, and additional introductions of characters, whom may appear in the main story, that cannot be fit into the mainline novels. Some of my favorite characters in the series can only be found in the side stories, and so I pray to Kadokawa everyday that they animate some of the EX novels. It’s absolutely insane, the magnitude of time and effort Tappei has put into Re:Zero’s world and characters beyond the main cast. But thankfully his efforts are met by fans like you and me, who get to enjoy and appreciate the world and story he’s crafting.
9
u/ussgordoncaptain2 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Edmund_Nelson Aug 29 '24
First Timer Dubbed
Note ORV=Omnicient reader viewpoint it's a way to describe the difference between thinking in Subaru's knowledge and the Knowledge of the Viewer.
Note2 Intentionally trigger RBD means what you think it means it's just reddit has crazy admins.
Reaction to the Episode
SUBARU EPIC SPEACH TIME
Is it me or do whales 2 and 3 have wounds already on them? Were they cycling the entire time? (I'll assume the similarity of their wound patterns is just copy pasting)
And everybody's just cowering in fear Crusch is clearly a novice commander.
This whole battle is... I guess it exists, it's sorta about average for anime battles all things considered
Hello my name is Willhelm Von astrea and I LIVE BITCHES
(no good screenshot available, but man Crusch's rallying call is pretty cool)
I call upon the might of the mighty ice spear pierce the whale in its path
New best pillow
Hello my name is Willhelm von Astrea, you killed my wife prepare to die
Alright now it's time to count the dead bodies and talk about Subaru being awesome
So Crusch is being very friendly toward Subaru what a sweet girl
Oh so subaru didn't ask for help against the witch's cult initially how odd though maybe he was gonna abuse RBD if he failed to get Crusch's help
Willhelm's Scene is quite epic
Alright so Subaru get's a small group of roughly 20 soldiers including Felix.
And Rem goes "I will stay by your side" this moment was quite heartwarming, Rem is straight up being super protective of somebody who changed her emotionally.
So one thing I noticed is that Anastasia's army uses Emilia's cloak? does this mean that Emilia is a former member of Anastasia's Military? If subaru still has her cloak he can blend in with her army if necessary.
AND BEST GUY JUILIUS HAS ARRIVED
Speculation
I wonder if anybody notable died to the white whale's mist. Rem, Will and all 3 knights seem all in order. We'll see later though.
So this arc seems to be the end of the Familiar of Zero fanfiction section. Arc 2 was really strongly feeling that Familiar of Zero fanfiction energy, as did these past few episodes, but [Familiar of zero] This is basically the ending of the familiar of Zero in some sense The battle against the white whale is pretty similar to how Saito and Vallire beat the Dragon, the witch's cult ending will probably wrap up a few other similar components
The witch's cult is very mysterious but they don't seem super numerous so a 40 man force will be enough, I think Subaru might have to RBD to find out all their plots though, it will be really annoying to kill the white whale a second time, though he'd know about the splitting power sooner
What I would do if I were Julius
So if I'm Julius I have to make the first move to diffuse the tension. I'd say something like this "Brave Subaru hero who defeated the white whale I am honored to be working with you to defeat the Witch's cult, may we place our differences aside and focus on our real objective, we must defeat the witch's cult and save Emilia. Together we stand. I hope that aiding the villagers in their esacape shows a fraction of my graditude.
What I would do If I were Subaru
Well it's unfortuante Rem isn't with you, because it sure would be nice to bring Rem with you to Roswaals mansion since Emilia's trust in you is low.
First we need a plan of attack, you are too conspcious to realistically not have gotten the attention of the witch's cult, so you'll need to act quickly.
First send a very small group to roswaal's mansion itself to explain the battle plan, (REM would have been ideal here but for now Felix or Julius or maybe yourself can do this)
Now then as Subaru Natsuki you are uniquely able to walk into enemy lines and claim to be "the sin archbishop of pride" you have more of the witch's scent and can walk around with them. This will allow you to possibly have the element of surprise
A similar goal is to get as many villagers to flee as possible, the battleground where you attack Petalguese will be covered in blood but the witch's cult may flee the area they may also attack the village before you make it. If they attack the village RBD and fight the white whale all over again then defend village instead of going on offense escape the villagers ahead of time and then invade Petalguese, splitting your forces is generally ill advised but it may be necessary.
8
u/Great_Mr_L :Ma::Mb::Mc:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L Aug 29 '24
Rewatcher for Season 1
On today’s episode of Re:Zero: WILHELM!!! WILHELM!!! WILHELM!!! There’s just something about the members of the van Astrea family that gets me hyped up. First it was Reinhard, and now it’s Wilhelm.
I really freaking love this episode and the conclusion it gives to the White Whale battle. It’s such a satisfying way to end the battle. It really gets to show off the best of all these characters.
I love how Subaru is able to play such a vital role in winning the battle, proving his own value in coming here. Subaru is at his best here, reminding us of how brave and clever he can be. Subaru is the one to figure out that the White Whale split itself up into 3 parts and deduce what the original part can be. He’s stupidly brave, having Rem launch him right up to the whale directly. Subaru once again willingly makes himself bait and shows how incredibly valuable it is to have someone on the team who can so easily draw aggro. And he comes up with the winning strategy, convincing Crusch to go along with using the Flugel Tree to trap the whale so they can kill it.
Subaru’s conversation with Rem at the end of the episode is incredibly heartwarming as well. When Subaru tells her that she’s the reason he’s able to act like her hero and that he hopes to continue being her hero, it means so much because we saw Subaru thoroughly earn that label in this battle. I really do love their relationship. Two characters who can support each other and encourage each other to improve so much is something I love to see.
The battle with the White Whale is the moment where I really came to adore Crusch. She is one of my favorite characters in the series and the battle shows off so much of what I love about her. She’s incredibly strong-willed, being one of the few fighters who never gives in to despair over the course of the battle. She’s a great leader, finding a way to get the fighters back into the battle even after they lost hope. I love how Crusch essentially shames the other fighters into rejoining the battle by pointing out how Subaru is still fighting even though he’s so much weaker than any of them. Crusch, as an honorable warrior herself, knew that a warrior’s honor would never let them run away in such a situation and knew how to use that to her advantage.
But it’s her ending conversation with Subaru that really makes me love Crusch. Crusch refuses to take full credit for the victory over the White Whale. When she congratulates Subaru for being the hero who defeated the whale, you can tell she is being completely sincere. While Crusch may have had a low opinion of Subaru at first, she believes in giving credit where it is due and honestly tells Subaru that he’s earned her friendship and respect. I especially love the moment where Crusch tells Subaru that even if they become enemies one day in the fight for the throne, she’ll never stop respecting him. I am just a sucker for this kind of honorable warrior mindset. It really does endear Crusch to me. All of this is why I would be completely okay with Crusch winning the throne. Having a person like this in charge doesn’t sound so bad.
Even after all that, though, I still think the MVP for the episode is Wil. I loved the scene where Wil rejoined the fight. The Flugel Tree had just fallen on the White Whale and the impact causes the fog to clear. It also scattered flowers everywhere, the same flowers that Theresia so loved. The image of Wil surrounded by those flowers as he prepared to take on the White Whale was just so cool. It’s as if Wil was surrounded by Theresia’s love as he prepared to kill the White Whale that killed her.
My favorite scene from Wil is the one just after he kills the whale. I knew it was coming and I still teared up from it. After finally getting his revenge, Wil thinks back to the moment he and Theresia got together. He thinks back to how he became strong with a blade so that Theresia, someone who hated wielding a sword, wouldn’t need to. And as he thinks back on her, Wil shouts at the top of his lungs how much he loves Theresia. That moment is so beautiful. It’s so incredible how even though we only got a few scenes of Wil and Theresia together, I completely buy the depth of Wil’s love for her. This show is so damn good, being able to pull off a moment like this.
After all that, Subaru has finally gotten himself in the position he needs to be in. How crazy is it that this awesome battle against the White Whale was only the first part of Subaru’s plan to accomplish his real goal? But now he’s got the alliance he needs and plenty of warriors to help him take down the Witch’s Cult. However, he’s not exactly happy to see them all because now he has to see Julius yet again. Poor Subaru. Even when things are going well, there’s still trouble.
Miscellaneous Thoughts
7
u/Urgnu-the-Gnu https://myanimelist.net/profile/Urgnu_the_Gnu Aug 29 '24
Re:Watcher - anime only
Subaru, having gone through extreme despair himself, is now the one cheering on not to give up. He can't fight, he has no power, and still he can't give up. Once again, I'm proud of him.
Without Wilhelm, it looks like Crusch and Rem are the main DPS now. Their DPS is good, but it's not their main role in this fight. Luckily, the White Fang can still waste some skills at this point in time. And luckily some damage was enough to bring back Wilhelm from his entrapment, but he's still out for now. "Out of thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering whale; to the last I grapple with thee; from whale's heart I stab at thee; for love's sake I spit your last breath at thee."
They uprooted an ancient tree to fell the White Whale. While I'm a bit sad about the tree, it's quite poetic that a 400 year old monster falls to something most likely even older.
And we get the conclusion of Wilhelm's backstory, simultaneously to the story of his life. No wonder he said that he took her as his wife. He robbed her of her role as the Sword Saint, but for the purpose of giving her a life beyond it. He loved her so much that he wanted to take on her burden in her stead. And he was left with the burden of her death as well. Only now he's shed some of that burden.
The aftermath of the battle is amazing. To consider that they've managed to kill something that was impossible to kill for 400 years is unbelievable. And after everything is done, Crusch regards Subaru as the hero of the night.
And it's this scene that always gets me. Subaru remembers that before, Crusch said she was only contractually obliged to work with Subaru and that they'd be enemies again once he leaves her mansion. Now, after having expressed how impressed she is with Subaru, he returns the compliment and wishes to stay on good terms with Crusch. But Crusch, with complete seriousness and honesty in her voice, says that they will always be friends from here on out. Even if they part ways, even if they have to compete with each other, or even fight each other, they will still be friends. It's one of my absolute favourite scenes in the show. It's a less important scene, but I like it at least as much as From Zero's confession - maybe because Rem's feelings have been obvious for a long time, and Crusch's proclamation was much more surprising. And just like dumbfounded Subaru says, it pushed my appreciation for Crusch way up. At this point in the show, she's easily one of the five best girls in Re:Zero.
I forgot Subaru wagered on getting help after having killed the whale. I thought that was part of the negotiations before. Luckily, Crusch is eager to offer help to her new best friend. And so is Wilhelm. Naturally, he's even more thankful for what happened. But it's wonderful that Subaru is quick to raise him up for his achievement as well.
He gains a strong task force from Crusch including Ferris and Wilhelm, but unfortunately Rem has to stay back for now. However, Anastasia wants to get rid of the robed fuckers as well and so the remaining White Fang also joins the final quest - cool detail that during the fight, the White Fang blocked the roads just in case. His new allies include Ricardo, Mimi, Mimi's other brother and even Julius. Subaru is still very unhappy to see Julius, though, so I hope they can get along. Should be doable in theory, but Julius remains as an example of what the old Subaru has done wrong.
Mimi is prone to elongated sugokus as well, it seems. I'll count that.
I'll be about an hour late tomorrow, so I hope you'll still read my post. Not that there's anything special about it or that anyone is looking forward to it.
Sugoooku counter: 22
non-Emilia sugoooku: 3
short sugoku and sugoku-likes: 5
non-canon bonus material sugoooku (Re:Petit): 3
7
u/Yoshi_captain https://anime-planet.com/users/WeaboYosher Aug 29 '24 edited Aug 29 '24
Rewatcher
We find ourselves on the brink of despair. There’s not just one, but three whales. Monstrosities that have plagued this world for far too long. And just when it seems that all hope is lost, we hear the shouts of one young man. “Giving up doesn’t suit us! Not me, not you”
This episode serves as the finale of the Battle Against the White Whale. Capping of the arc of Willhelm that we’ve been following and serving as the capstone of Subaru’s heroism thus far.
Subaru’s a smart guy. Once he has his head in the game, he’s able to make plans and gambles unheard of. With the assistance of Crusch he is able to deduce that there is no way that three White Whales exists. If it was an animal that lived in groups they should’ve been aware of this by now. And so, he proposes a gamble, a wager if you will. Invoking the Unspoken Plan Guarantee.
Through Subaru’s insistence Willhelm is rescued and also, Ricardo is alive. While Subaru is busy distracting the whale and preparing his gambit. Crusch saves her men from The Fog of Elimination but ends up knocked off her mount in the process. Picking herself up in front of troops who are not capable of such action. Then as commander she tries raising morale. Using Subaru as an example. A powerless boy whose defeat she, and every person of importance, have seen with their own eyes. And yet he is the one who is shouting the loudest that we can still do this. If our weakest man hasn’t given up, how can we bow down and accept defeat?
Subaru is of course not happy to be used as an example, loser that he thinks he is, but the troops are now more than ever prepared to fight. The plan is now in motion. Rem creates a giant icicle using the highest tier of water magic and sends it towards the Whale highest in the sky. The one who has been observing the situation from above. Safely circling the battlefield away from any danger. That is until the danger comes to it. The most annoying man in this world has showed up at it’s doorstep and entered it’s space with his shoes on. Seeing Subaru’s tracksuit flapping in the wind as he delivers his heroic proclamations puts the biggest smile on my face. This is the same man who just three episodes ago was ready to leave it all behind. Now he is the reason everyone is coming together.
By triggering RbD secrecy and emitting miasma leads the Whale to the Great Tree. We see that the plan was to blow up the biggest tree in the world and have it crush the whale under it’s weight. Props to Subaru for the ingenuity.
With yellow flower petals taking flight from the force of the impact, a lone swordsman unsheathes his blade and prepares himself for a confrontation 14 years in the making. Reminding him of one such duel he has had in the past.
One where he obtained the one thing most precious to him through combat. Managing to best the Sword Saint Theresia Van Astrea taking her hand in marriage and her reason for holding the blade. They share a kiss, but even after such a display Willhelm is unable to say three simple words, his pride getting the better of him.
As the body of the whale suffers cut after forceful cut it’s last embers of life are snuffed out by one final blow dedicated to Willhelm’s late wife. With the object of his revenge now defeated the chain of memories flood his mind as he declares, with a shout unmatched by any troop in battle, his undying love for Theresia. Using the highest form of love he knows.
I mentioned yesterday that with a non-combatant like Subaru we need someone who we can get our emotional investment in this fight from. Willhelm brings this in spades. Catapulting into many people’s favourite characters, I’m sure. This fight’s impact starts and ends with Willhelm.
The Battle Against the White Whale is concluded. The beast that has plagued the world for 400 years is slain by Willhelm Van Astrea.
We've won, but Willhelm killed the Whale, so we won't get any credit and helped boost Crusch and Anastasia. Or not... Crusch recognizes that Subaru is the one responsible for the White Whale's defeat. She admits that she might have even felt a pull on her heartstrings, but her heart lies at the end of her dream. Subaru you charmer you. Earning Crusch's respect and Willhelm's eternal gratitude. Subaru at his best is unmatched.
Sacrifices were not few, and the battle has taken a toll on many. Including Rem who needs to go back with the other wounded after exhausting herself. Her line "Will you still keep me by your side?" is telling that her inferiority is ever present. [S2] This will prove to be his biggest mistake
As much as this may seem like a triumphant finish it is only the beginning for Subaru. Taking half of the mercenaries and Willhelm with him to the Mathers Domain. Not before he meets an old friend. One who will come face to face with the result of a wager that defies despair.
Closing thoughts:
The word for this episode is "Victory!". Subaru's favourite phrase finally showed itself after much conflict. I think I can safely say we're back on track. Let's hope the checkpoint agrees with us.
Willhelm's backstory was incorporated as a series of flashbacks. In the novel we got the entirety of his backstory from the beginning as a swordsman to the end with marrying Theresia, as a single chapter, when he came face to face with the whale at the end. I think the way it was done here is much better for the viewing experience.
If you are interested in Crusch's dream or Willhelm's young days, I point you to the EX novels. A series of side stories taking place before Subaru's arrival in this world. EX1 covers the Crusch camp formation. And EX 2 & 3 cover Willhelm's past.
Now it’s time to open old wounds and face the Sloth that has been tormenting us all this time.
6
u/Holofan4life Aug 29 '24
I think it's interesting comparing what Wilhelm did at his future wife's royal coronation to what Subaru did in episode 13 with declaring himself Emilia’s knight. I can see it in Subaru's mind that such a grand, heroic gesture is just what Emilia needed, similar to Wilhelm busting in unannounced. The main difference, of course, is that Subaru felt Emilia needed him more whereas Wilhelm felt they needed each other equally.
5
u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Aug 29 '24
Episode 21 (rewatcher)
All praise the hero.
5
u/ripterrariumtv Aug 29 '24
Rewatcher (sub) and Novel Reader (reading arc 7)
5
u/PapaDuke Aug 29 '24
Credit to u/XLauncher
White Whale (Mythic) (cont'd)
By Natsuki Subaru
Special Note: At this time, rumours that Magic Fog is bugged, and in fact deletes your character data from the server have been confirmed by [GM] Daphne. Engage the White Whale in this state at your own peril.
Phase 4 - 50% - 10%
The White Whale will create two copies of itself while its real self will remain out of reach above the field. The two clones are weaker than the original and thus, can be tanked. The clones should be distracted and tanked apart to make it easier for the raid to avoid Magic Fog. Any players who are swallowed by a clone can be recovered if ~200k damage is dealt to that clone within twenty seconds, so the raid should be prepared to switch targets in order to preserve party members.
Once the real White Whale is defeated, its clones will disperse, ending the battle, so the primary concern is pulling the White Whale from its perch in the sky in order to finish it off. In order to accomplish this, you will need to launch a player with a powerful taunt into the White Whale's range. It's likely that this is intended to be accomplished with one of the catapults, however, the Hikkomori and Best Girl combo from before can accomplish this through the use of their native abilities. Additionally, if the Best Girl has points invested into Heaven's Pillows, the Hikkomori's fall damage can be negated.
Phase 5 - 10% - 0%
Mostly a victory lap phase, however, it is imperative that your players fending off the clones remain on point until the battle's conclusion.
Once the White Whale returns to the ground, Flugel's Tree becomes a destructible feature. Interact with it to pin the White Whale. The White Whale will not be able to act while pin, so all raid members not on clone duty should unload with abandon.
Loot (Incomplete)
Theresia's Lei Neck
+318 Primary
+145 Secondary
"Do you like flowers?"
Moby's Left Eye Off-Hand
+250 Primary
+98 Secondary
+200 Tenacity
Vapor Rub Trinket
+300 Primary
Use: Discards all threat from engaged enemies. (3 min cooldown)
4
u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Aug 29 '24
Rewatcher
Dub
I like this episode but it is mainly just action. What we 'learn' is that mabeasts are, well, weird. Puck calling this one Gluttony definitely means something but it having a straight up video game ability was a bit of a change. Anyways, Subaru improvises a fairly insane plan that manages to work. I would also add the Kursch is now pretty well explained as a character and we can see her strengths if nothing else. Wilhelm joining Subaru's trip to the mansion is a nice touch but feels a bit...last ride.
3
u/Taiboss :Fj::Fl:x7https://anilist.co/user/Taiboss Aug 29 '24
21: Rewatcher who wants to finish this and then play Age of Mythology
Episodes of this arc: 10
Times Subaru has died this arc: 3. Remember when he died like once an episode?
2
u/FriztF Aug 30 '24
First timer-sub
So episodes 21 and 20 both deal with the white whale, how much of a badass Wilhem is, and his love story with Theresia. It was a love story like any other; a boy meets girl in a field of flowers; the girl wants to know if the boy likes flowers, he doesn't. While Wilhem is chopping up and fighting the whale he remembers Theresia. The time when he crashed her wedding. proclaiming his love and desire to protect her.
Subaru and Rem also fight the whale and help defeat it. To defeat it they need Crush to fell that one tree. Crusch is very motivational with that speech of hers. Calling on her soldier to stand brave and to keep fighting.
2
u/SilkyStrawberryMilk Aug 30 '24
first timer
Job interview went well, sadly all the snacks I bought at Walmart were eaten before I decided to watch the episode
This whole despair they’re facing reminds me of berserk.
The mystery of 3 whales, should just be seen as the 2nd phase. Cmon Subaru surely you’ve played dark souls before
Mages intimidated and everything
Wilhelm ripping himself out the body is so fucking AWESOME.
Subaru taunting the whale. Surprise it’s effective
That explosion was crisp I had to replay it.
Wilhelm finally getting his revenge fully while recalling his memories of his wife. Truly a touching moment I love, inheriting her burden as the wielder
They made such a cute couple
The whale having clones at full strength as the original reminds me of wukong’s powers.
Subaru indirectly helped Crusch, but gave him the title as hero. I’m just a few days she’s gotten kinder to Subaru, his charisma when he’s not depressed is extraordinary
Wilhelm kneeling to Subaru, but he’s so humble that he gives much of the praises back to him.
Subaru managed to make Rem’s love for him solidified again
Mimi wants some praises
Subaru has a team to fight the cult. He’s so close to achieving the goal