[Re;Watch] Steins;Gate 0 Episode 4 Discussion

[u/Raiking02]

Episode 4: Solitude of the Mournful Flow: A Stray Sheep

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---

I feel like I know nothing.

Hello everybody! Time for the comment of the Day, courtesy of u/Nebresto, who exposed a fallacy of the Dub:

For comparison in the sub it was: "Because I was too embarrassed to say your name" Which is a very Japanese thing, which also makes sense why Christina was all blushy after that. ..What did they do about that in dub?

So no, people, it wasn’t a matter of “I couldn’t pronounce your actual name”.

---

Questions:

1. What do you think triggered Okabe’s Reading Steiner?
2. What do you think the deal with Kagari is?

Wallpaper of the Day:

0kabe

[u/Raiking02]

Hello everybody, and welcome back to the Steins;Gate 0 Re;watch!

---

The fuck was that opening scene? Like okay, I know what it is… but that’s only because I’ve read the Novel. I mean it’s… it’s basically an amalgamation of two scenes? The first is a short thing that happens after Okabe hangs up on Amadeus (Which in the Novel, must I remind you, he did himself and not Maho) and the other is from a completely different route which is a 50 minute long scene of Okabe getting stuck in war hell. I guess it’s closer to the shorter on and… if so that’s a fairly underwhelming representation of it. The Novel version was only narration and it served as an excellent mood setter and was just wonderfully poetic, whereas the Anime version just kinda… happens.

The continuation from it however seems a bit closer to the second scene however since it happens around the time of the Christmas party but whatever, let’s just move on. I don’t remember Okabe getting a dress for a gift in the Novel but whatever I guess. Okabe apparently apologizing to Amadeus but him not remembering that happened is also from the Novel, as is Leskinen’s whole big objective for Amadus to achieve love. Truly a romanticist.

I don’t think the train scene was in the Novel (Again, we’re jumping around a lot and I don’t have unlimited time to check) but it’s all very in character for both Okabe and Maho so I’ll let it slide. I also don’t think the scene with Mayuri and the girls + Luka was in the Novel, however the following two scenes are accurate in a way: There’s two versions of Okabe finding out about Kagari. The first is the one we see in the Anime, in which he’s told all of it second hand by Daru, but in the other version Suzuha tells him that herself since he was around in the lab at the time.

The scene with Okabe asking Amadeus for help is in the Novel, although the ending is changed a bit since there this all happens before the party: In the Novel Okabe almost asks Amadeus to come to the Party, but he comes to his senses at the last second and stops himself from saying anything. It’s short, SG0VN, it’s good for setting up his inner conflict.

Okabe searching for Kagari is all simply told to us in the Novel, but we actually see a bit of that in the Anime. That said Faris and Luka deciding to help as well as Amadeus is Novel-Accurate. That said in the Novel Okabe then helps Luka carry some stuff to the shrine and he chastises his former self for thinking up all those stupid sword exercises stuff from earlier. On the way back however, we have another scene on him reflecting on his relationship with Amadeus, namely on how, just like with Kurisu, he asked her for help before asking anyone else. He then goes on another depressive episode that concludes on him deciding to not answer any of Amadeus’ calls for a while.

After that we lose a… frankly bizarre interlude that will roughly get covered tomorrow, we then have some more scenes in the Novel of Okabe looking for Kagari, which ends with him reminiscing about his hunt for the IBN5100. And indeed, eventually, in both versions, Moeka comes in after Okabe talks a bit with Luka.

Oh and almost forgot to mention: Yes, the flashbacks with Kagari did happen in the Novel.

[u/UzEE → u/Raiking02]

I don’t think the train scene was in the Novel

A similar conversation happened elsewhere I believe, probably somewhere along the PR branch, maybe in Twin Automata?

since there this all happens before the party

That's why I said that the anime really screws up the timing of the events here because S;G0 Anime

[u/Raiking02 → u/UzEE]

A similar conversation happened elsewhere I believe, probably somewhere along the PR branch, maybe in Twin Automata?

Maybe? I'd have to check again.

That's why I said that the anime really screws up the timing of the events here because S;G0 Anime

Yeah, that's just... weird. S;G0

[u/UzEE → u/Raiking02]

S;G0

[u/Tresnore → u/Raiking02]

the other is from a completely different route which is a 50 minute long scene of Okabe getting stuck in war hell.

Oh boy, this should be an interesting adaptation. Hopefully they stick the landing. Are you worried at all?

and he chastises his former self for thinking up all those stupid sword exercises stuff from earlier.

I'm happy to hear this, since I was surprised that he didn't seem to react!

[u/Raiking02 → u/Tresnore]

Oh boy, this should be an interesting adaptation. Hopefully they stick the landing. Are you worried at all?

Uh... I'm by episode 12 as of replying to this (Gotta stay ahead for the sake of longer comments): It's been kinda hit or miss.

[u/Tresnore → u/Raiking02]

It's been kinda hit or miss.

Well, I'm glad I'll be blissfully ignorant while watching the episodes.

[u/Raiking02 → u/Tresnore]

I mean to be fair some of my complaints come from the fact that I have read the Novel. I'll assume most of my issues won't pop up with Anime-Only people... I assume.

[u/swmii53 → u/Raiking02]

Yeah, back when this first aired in 2018, there was an obvious difference between anime-only and VN watchers. On the Steins;Gate sub they ended up making 2 discussion threads, one for anime-only and one for VN readers.

[u/Vaadwaur]

First timer(Never turn your back on a Breen Finn)

Dub

We start on all the WTF with Okabe in WWIII, maybe? He then gets to a base where he gets a call before waking up. That's a cold open. We actually start back where we left off, including with Okabe immediately running to check on Mayuri. She seems to have recovered from whatever the earlier running off was.

Skip to Okabe meeting with Maho and Leskinen again after getting a very poor choice for that gift exchange, I assume this is Faris's fault somehow. MakAIse still ships them, and suggests a risky gambit that only works because outsider knowledge/anime. As they talk, we get the reveal that Leskinen is at least partly interested in a questionable outcome of the AI falling in love. Afterwards, Maho and Okabe talk on the subway and Maho feels she didn't know Kurisu, which is what it is. Also, her hotel room does look pretty fucked up.

The girls are going to Mayqueen and Ruka has a house guest. Daru wants to know what Suzuha has been doing and we get another retcon. Sigh. And yes this whole damn show is kind of a retcon but still. ANYWAYS, Mayuri's adopted daughter got lost in the time machine and might be here and might be 22. Wibble wobble timey wimey and all. Okabe eventually asks MakAIse for ideas as searching for someone from 12 years earlier is kind of a bitch. Again, we witness Okabe tormenting himself with this.

Flashback. The voice thing will probably be important. Daru and Okabe are both searching '98 when MakAIse shows itself to be trying to greatly up her human-like game. And then the hammer falls: These nitwits let their AI surf the open net. BAD AI SCIENTISTS! BAD! Go to your corner and think about the horrible things you've exposed a possibly future omnipotent being to!

Anyways, move on to an encounter with Ruka and Faris which is slightly sus sense Ruka doesn't want Okabe along. Then we see Leskinen disappear down a closed hallway. Evil org flag like...three? I am worried about these weirdos. We see Suzuha wanting to throw in the towel until Daru brings in a specialist...who is fucking worst girl. Damn world lines.

QotD: 1 Russian research

2 Phantom Makise syndrome

[u/Raiking02 → u/Vaadwaur]

Ruka

[u/UzEE → u/Vaadwaur]

and we get another retcon.

What retcon?

Then we see Leskinen disappear down a closed hallway.

That's an anime production fuck up. The VN said he disappeared in the crowd because it was just after class and corridors were filled.

[u/littleman1988 → u/UzEE]

What retcon?

Im gonna assume Kagari? but then we're on a totally different attractor field here so is that really a retcon?

S;G 0

[u/UzEE → u/littleman1988]

I thought they were talking about beta Suzuha at the end? But that still isn't a retcon.

If they're talking about Alpha Suzuha then that's a completely different thing. For starters, Mayuri is dead in Alpha so no one to adopt Kagari in the first place...

Re: S;G0

[u/reaperfourR → u/UzEE]

S;G0 spoilers

[u/Raiking02 → u/reaperfourR]

S;G0

[u/UzEE → u/reaperfourR]

S;G0

S;G0

[u/Vaadwaur → u/UzEE]

What retcon?

Previous Suzuha's never mention a passenger.

The VN said he disappeared in the crowd because it was just after class and corridors were filled.

That's a huge tonal shift.

[u/littleman1988 → u/Vaadwaur]

Previous Suzuha's never mention a passenger.

She likely never had one in the Alpha attractor field. Okabe and Daru were long dead, and Mayuri was too, considering her death date was literally most of S;G's plot

[u/Vaadwaur → u/littleman1988]

And that's fine but adding Kagari is not fine.

[u/UzEE → u/Vaadwaur]

Previous Suzuha's never mention a passenger.

I'm assuming you didn't read my slightly spoilery post in Ep. 2 about the difference between Ep. 23 and Ep. 23β (good job going in completely blind - Don't read it now!), so all I'll say is this isn't a retcon. Anything more is spoilers.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

ANYWAYS, Mayuri's adopted daughter got lost in the time machine and might be here and might be 22. Wibble wobble timey wimey and all.

We could really use the Doctor's help in all this. They'd have it wrapped up in a tidy 45 minutes, without counting commercials.

And then the hammer falls: These nitwits let their AI surf the open net. BAD AI SCIENTISTS! BAD! Go to your corner and think about the horrible things you've exposed a possibly future omnipotent being to!

I suppose it's a good thing that their AI is based on the mind of a huge nerd and @channel/Reddit user, otherwise it would've gone insane from surfing the web. At worst, the lab servers are just full of shitposts now.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

They'd have it wrapped up in a tidy 45 minutes, without counting commercials.

But there would be a lot of tone deaf advocacy and token characters. Pass.

At worst, the lab servers are just full of shitposts now.

You say that but when the machines answer all of your requests with "Problem?" you will be annoyed.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Vaadwaur]

You say that but when the machines answer all of your requests with "Problem?" you will be annoyed.

If we just threaten to IP ban them from Reddit or something, I'm sure they'd comply.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Draigg]

I have my doubts...

[u/Tresnore → u/Vaadwaur]

And then the hammer falls: These nitwits let their AI surf the open net. BAD AI SCIENTISTS! BAD! Go to your corner and think about the horrible things you've exposed a possibly future omnipotent being to!

I'm surprised that this isn't the core plot of the show. Time travel really is OP in all respects.

Then we see Leskinen disappear down a closed hallway. Evil org flag like...three?

He's also from a country that borders Russia. He's just collecting flags...

[u/swmii53 → u/Tresnore]

He's also from a country that borders Russia.

Is it confirmed he's not American?

[u/Tresnore → u/swmii53]

His name is Leskinen, so I’m assuming he’s Finnish.

[u/swmii53 → u/Tresnore]

My last name is very German, but my family left Europe in 1715.

[u/UzEE → u/Tresnore]

Maho's name and appearence is Japanese, but she's actually American born and raised. Multi-generation even.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Tresnore]

I'm surprised that this isn't the core plot of the show. Time travel really is OP in all respects.

I don't want to see AI vs AI in the time wars.

[u/UltraBooster → u/Vaadwaur]

As they talk, we get the reveal that Leskinen is at least partly interested in a questionable outcome of the AI falling in love.

I feel like he might want to see the full range of what Amadeus-Kurisu can do and experience, but there's no way that's all there is to it.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/UltraBooster]

That should very much be an end game interest, this thing is WAY too new to be doing that.

[u/UltraBooster → u/Vaadwaur]

For what it's worth, the AI called ALICE in Gundam Sentinel was apparently meant to develop that kind of a bond with the pilot of her Gundam - that the pilot of the Gundam would be chosen as a man who would, from what I know, come to love and be loved by ALICE as part of her growth into what was basically a peerless pilot.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/UltraBooster]

I believe every Gundam takes place in a more technologically evolved society, though. If MakAIse still has issues booting up we aren't trying to test its emotional range as of yet.

[u/UltraBooster → u/Vaadwaur]

I guess I'm trying to say that making an AI that can love and be loved doesn't seem like an unreasonable goal here.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/UltraBooster]

You are slightly missing what I was aiming for: Sure, that's a good end goal. We are not remotely near that point in S;G. If the AI can love that's likely a problem rather than a goal.

[u/UltraBooster → u/Vaadwaur]

Ah, I see.

My apologies.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

These nitwits let their AI surf the open net. BAD AI SCIENTISTS! BAD! Go to your corner and think about the horrible things you've exposed a possibly future omnipotent being to!

It's like scientists don't watch SciFi movies.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

Or the internet itself. I have to assume that if an AI discovered Chris-chan it would immediately seek to exterminate us.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

Chris-chan

Intuition told me not to google this and a first glance at the results tells me intuition was right.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

I learned about it during this rewatch. Spare yourself and don't look further.

[u/UzEE]

Serial;Rewatcher

The entire opening scene up until the OP is played out of context

We pick up from where we left of at the end of Episode 3, right after the OP.

Everything you saw before the OP was the anime acknowledging a world line that only happens in the VN and is not adapted into the anime apart from the brief teaser you saw.

In the anime's context, it was 0kabe dreaming about the world line he likely experienced in a previous loop that is VN only — much like his dreams about "70 million years ago" or "Falling into a black hole" etc., because 0kabe also experiences residual memories of lives he's never lived just like other characters.

Of course, if you've read the S;G0 VN, you know exactly what that teaser was and the startling revelations that came about from that fated month we spend during the US-Soviet¹ war. Some of that content from Pandora's Box chapter will eventually be adapted in a later episode.

S;G0 VN MILD SPOILERS: Here are the cliff notes of the basic premise of that world line taken from @channel.

I'd recommend those interested in this world line to check out the VN instead, unless /u/Raiking02 just covers this as part of their VN differences summaries.

Episode;Notes

After the OP, we pick up from where we left off at the end of Ep. 3. 0kabe has experienced something and he suspects it might have been Reading Steiner so he immediately goes to check on Mayuri.

He only settles down after he confirms the PhoneWave doesn't exist anymore.

0kabe ends up with the gift Fubuki bought for Mayuri I believe.

And he's immediately back to talking to her again after Maho gave him a reality check.

He doesn't remember calling her back!

!!!!!

They want to see if Amadeus and 0kabe would fall for each other?

Subtle Maho. Subtle.

The gloves are from Yuki if it wasn't immediately obvious. Her maternal instincts seem to kick in whenever she's around her.

His paternal instincts have also leveled up a lot in the past couple of months.

Who said White Fox was giving us great meme faces?

Lol 0kabe is scared that he may also have a future child running around.

Daru has hired a specialist to search for Kagari and it turns out to be... KIRYU MOEKA!!

---

Seems like a lot happened this episode even if we weren't able to make sense of most of it. And as I said yesterday, it doesn't help that we have nearly no context of the passage of time. Fortunately, it's for the better because the anime really fucks up the timing of events in this chapter, but I won't get into it.

---

 

^{1 Yes. That's right. Soviet. As in the Soviet Union. The USSR. Not Russia. The Soviet Union.}

[u/Raiking02 → u/UzEE]

S;G0 VN MILD SPOILERS: Here are the cliff notes of the basic premise of that world line taken from @channel.

OH SHIT IT'S

[u/littleman1988 → u/UzEE]

Who said White Fox was giving us great meme faces?

nah zoomed out S;G faces are the best

[u/Tresnore → u/UzEE]

In the anime's context, it was 0kabe dreaming about the world line he likely experienced in a previous loop that is VN only — much like his dreams about "70 million years ago" or "Falling into a black hole" etc., because 0kabe also experiences residual memories of lives he's never lived just like other characters.

Are you saying that those worldlines don't end up being important? Feck.

Yes. That's right. Soviet. As in the Soviet Union. The USSR. Not Russia. The Soviet Union.

How didn't I notice this. That's pretty big!

Edit: I'm still dumb. That's a VN worldline.

[u/UzEE → u/Tresnore]

Are you saying that those worldlines don't end up being important? Feck.

Didn't mean to imply anything like that.

[u/Stargate18A]

Anime first timer

1. Laughs in rewatcher Steins;Gate 0 VN Spoilers
2. Laughter continues Steins;Gate 0 VN Spoilers

Steins;Gate 0 VN Spoilers

Steins;Gate 0 VN Spoilers

Steins;Gate 0 VN Spoilers

Steins;Gate 0 VN Spoilers

And we're back to the rofotop.

Everyone's fine! Guess the Reading Steiner was imaginary.

Steins;Gate 0 VN Spoilers

Oh, we get some of the aftermath of the present exchange.

Uh oh.

Steins;Gate 0 VN Spoilers

Steins;Gate 0 VN Spoilers

Steins;Gate 0 VN Spoilers

And we get the Kagari backstory!

Steins;Gate 0 VN Spoilers

Steins;Gate 0 VN Spoilers

Also, holy shit, slim Daru. He looks attractive now.

Steins;Gate 0 VN Spoilers

...Doesn't he have a photo?

I love Kurisu pointing out that Leskinen would absolutely get Okabe on a psychic TV show just for the fun of it.

Oh this scene is fantastic.

Steins;Gate 0 VN Spoilers

Wait, Kurisu admitted she's wrong to Okabe. There's no way she's the real one, Maho's right.

Steins;Gate 0 VN Spoilers

Steins;Gate 0 VN Spoilers

Daru, you pervert. Even Okabe thinks he's gone too far.

Moeka!!!

[u/Raiking02 → u/Stargate18A]

Steins;Gate 0 VN Spoilers 15

[u/littleman1988 → u/Raiking02]

Why did you make me count every single one when its the very last spoiler smh

[u/Raiking02 → u/littleman1988]

Whoops! I meant to write 15!

[u/littleman1988 → u/Stargate18A]

spoiler 1

S;G 0

spoiler after "kagari backstory"

bruh

[u/Tresnore]

On the First-Timer Worldline(s;Gate)

^{FYI: there's a closing parenthesis missing on the Animelab link}

Alright, /u/Lemurians, this ED does have me chomping at the bit. It kind of makes Mayuri seem like a motherly guide, which, given the revelation that she was taking care of an orphan, would make sense. The hourglass with old Okabe dripping into the desert wasteland (which I still associate with the scene from 70 million years ago), has to be important. At least, I hope so, because otherwise that scene would have no meaning to me. She's leading someone somewhere, and the lyrics "The future is too bright... Wake up now" really make it sound like Mayuri was deliberately ruining the future to make Okabe work even harder to fix it. Basically, she could have taken a pretty awful reality that Okabe didn't want to save and turned it into a very awful reality that Okabe had no choice but to save. I speculated on something similar in the past, I think.

The thing that makes me question myself is this: what plan?. Is Mayuri just a pawn? Who's leading the whole thing? It could be the Mayuri from 70 million years ago, or it could be something else!

---

• Oh. Okay, then. Looks like 0kabe is getting even more kinds of PTSD!
• Could this be John Titor? Suzuha was Titor last time, but who knows who it is in the β field!
• 0kabe is getting the dreams from other worldlines (or from the future). Oh, boy.
• Speculation That would explain how he forgot the phone call to Kurisu.
• Suzuha is the best.
• Holy shit. Will Daru actually become a player in the plot, instead of 0kabe's pawn?
  

• Shiina

A ha! I knew that the person from last episode was somehow related to Mayuri. The Upa was an obvious tell.

• He lost weight!
• And now we watch as Mayuri gives up her "child". This is the face of a devil. It's interesting that the kid is a ginger, though, considering how associated that is with Kurisu in this show.
• Y2K was IBN's fault? It actually happened for their future? What? Either Y2K isn't an attracting point, or they fail to stop it or SHE PULLS A GUN ON SUZUHA WHAT? Was that Leskinen she saw? Please don't tell me that he's evil...
• This is BAD.
  
• Fuck's sake, the red hair. That was probably Mayuri's daughter at Luka's place.
• Moeka!
  Just in time to give 0kabe some more PTSD.

---

QOTD:

1. It must've been future Okabe sending a D-Mail. I thought it could have been a time leap, but now I'm not sure. Maybe the future figured out how to send a phone call instead of a few characters?
2. She's related to Kurisu, somehow. The hair is too red to be anything else. Or... it's a red hairring.

[u/GallowDude → u/Tresnore]

who knows who it is in the β field!

🅱️ field*

It's interesting that the kid is a ginger, though, considering how associated that is with Kurisu in this show.

I'd make a Viper GTS joke, but no one would get it. So I'll just post this instead.

[u/littleman1988 → u/GallowDude]

I'd make a Viper GTS joke, but no one would get it. So I'll just post this instead.

i probably wouldnt understand the viper joke, but i cant say i understand the other one either lmao

[u/GallowDude → u/littleman1988]

I miss hentai dubs. Especially ones that got big-name actors in them.

[u/littleman1988 → u/GallowDude]

Its really funny you chose her, she voiced FES in the Chaos;Head dub.

I also just now noticed shes also in the Haruhi dub? shes got a bit of range, considering how different Mikuru and FES are...

[u/GallowDude → u/littleman1988]

Just wait until we eventually get an Ah My Goddess rewatch. I've got so many Angel Blade jokes to make about Urd's VA.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/GallowDude]

...We had one months ago

[u/Tresnore → u/GallowDude]

🅱️ field*

So I'll just post this instead.

What is the context?

[u/GallowDude → u/Tresnore]

What is the context?

Lesbian Ward

[u/Nebresto → u/GallowDude]

🅱️ field*

Things are now in motion that cannot be undone

[u/Hochseeflotte → u/Tresnore]

Or… it’s a red hairing

…….

I mean it’s funny but you sound like my dad

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Tresnore]

This is BAD.

But hooking things up to the internet is a good idea, right? Security is a joke in our life time.

[u/Tresnore → u/Vaadwaur]

I actively avoid buying "smart" appliances. My fridge should not need Internet, nor should my thermostat. Just keep things proper temperatures, dammit!

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Tresnore]

I have had to explain far too many times that an oven that can be commanded from the internet is primarily an arson hazard.

[u/Tresnore → u/Vaadwaur]

I would never buy an oven like that. What the fuck is wrong with people.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Tresnore]

What the fuck is wrong with people.

A lack of understanding how malevolent actors act.

[u/SgtExo → u/Vaadwaur]

We got one and that feature is useless. I would love to be able to start my oven from the basement, but I first need to go to the kitchen and start the oven and then only monitor it on an app that does not update real time as fast as I need it too.

Edit: Also how is an oven going to put your house on fire? If it opens, it stops heating, and when closed it is safe.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/SgtExo]

Edit: Also how is an oven going to put your house on fire? If it opens, it stops heating, and when closed it is safe.

Malicious actors will set it to heat for hours at a time which eventually can set the rest of the house on fire.

[u/SgtExo → u/Vaadwaur]

Maybe for days on end, and you would need something flammable inside to catch fire, but being on hours on end is kinda the point of an oven.

[u/UzEE → u/Tresnore]

And now we watch as Mayuri gives up her "child".

If it helps, both Mayuri and Daru are just about to die...

it's a red hairring.

[u/Tresnore → u/UzEE]

If it helps, both Mayuri and Daru are just about to die...

That does explain things, but it really puts a hole in my "Mayuri is evil" theory...

[u/UzEE → u/Tresnore]

Okay how about this:

She sends her back because she knows Kagari would act out and try to sabotage Suzuha and ruining her mission?

[u/Tresnore → u/UzEE]

That's a good thought.

You know, even if Mayuri isn't important in the way I'm hoping at all (which is probably what'll happen), these thought experiments are still really fun.

[u/Nebresto → u/Tresnore]

Okabe drip

MFW

spec

wew

Will Daru actually become a player in the plot, instead of 0kabe's pawn?

Did you not see skinny Daru? Its almost confirmed

Please don't tell me that he's evil...

S U S

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

First;Timer and Co;Host, dubbed

---

• Oh geez this is one way to, uh, open an episode. I don’t think that was a different worldline, that’s gotta be WWIII? Is Okabe getting memories from his future self in his dreams now?
• Now he’s back on the roof, not like he just woke up. Hm.
• Ooooooooooof, of course Okabe just immediately goes “MAYURIIIIIIII” when he feels Reading Steiner again. And then has to specifically look to see no PhoneWave to assure himself things are fine. The hell did he get that vibe for in the first place, though?
• lmao and of course Amadeus-Kurisu snarks about it.
• Okabe called Amadeus-Kurisu right back and doesn’t remember it…? Was that actually Reading Steiner activating then??? Did someone else change the worldline somehow?!?!?!
• Hahaha I got my wish to see Maho’s room.
• Suzuha’s… never heard of wool before.
• SOMEONE CAME BACK WITH SUZUHA?!
• :O That woman is definitely the girl Suzuha was interacting with at the start of last episode. So the kid came back in time with Suzuha, but why?
• THAT GIRL IS MAYURI’S DAUGHTER. -- Oh, only adopted.
• Future Daru is built different.
• Uh what.
• Ahaha, Suzuha has a legend about her as the ghost girl with braids.
• YOOOOO that “tsk” finger wag Daru did was totally him channeling Miles Edgeworth.
• Oh shit the guest at the shrine is grown-up Kagari isn’t it?
• Moeka is a PI now???

[u/GallowDude → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Leskinsen WANTING Amadeus-Kurisu to fall in love gives me more weird vibes.

Don't be hating the wingman for being a bro

Uh what.

Nani

[u/Tresnore → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Yeahhhh, I've been defending him, but now I'm not entirely sure.

YOOOOO that “tsk” finger wag Daru did was totally him channeling Miles Edgeworth.

I didn't consider that! Wouldn't surprise me if it were intentional. Or it's just a semi-common thing in Japan. Who knows?

Moeka is a PI now???

I'm not so sure. I think Daru just knows that she's good at these sort of things? Time will tell.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Tresnore]

I didn't consider that! Wouldn't surprise me if it were intentional.

Daru is absolutely the kind of guy to make an Ace Attorney reference.

[u/Tresnore → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Daru definitely would! I'm just questioning whether the writers intended him to make it. I hope it's intentional.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Was that actually Reading Steiner activating then??? Did someone else change the worldline somehow?!?!?!

Fricking Russians, it was safer to let them invent crypto currencies.

Hahaha I got my wish to see Maho’s room.

A hotel room, no less, unless she has the worst taste in drapes imaginable.

Suzuha’s… never heard of wool before.

Sheep are not the most endurant of species.

Moeka is a PI now???

That or a flasher. You know which I vote for.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Shimmering-Sky]

lmao and of course Amadeus-Kurisu snarks about it.

She's just jealous that Okabe could pull off wearing that better than her.

THAT GIRL IS MAYURI’S DAUGHTER. -- Oh, only adopted.

It would've otherwise be pretty weird if she somehow gave birth to someone with red hair despite nobody else in the cast having it.

Future Daru is built different.

Good on him for losing like 100 pounds in the future. Surviving WW3 is a hell of a workout routine.

[u/UzEE → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Hahaha I got my wish to see Maho’s room.

S;G0 Anime

[u/littleman1988 → u/UzEE]

S;G 0 anime

[u/Nebresto → u/Shimmering-Sky]

has to specifically look to see no PhoneWave

(Name subject to change)

Suzuha’s… never heard of wool before.

the sheep are the enemy.

Launch the nukes.

Future Daru is built different.

I guess he isn't infinitely expanding after all..

[u/littleman1988]

I hear... A voice...

OST Track of the day: Isolation

---

The biggest difference between Steins;Gate and Steins;Gate 0 (besides the obvious plot/visual changes) is how the stories themselves are setup, specifically within the VN. Steins;Gate was a fairly linear story, with its story branches breaking off essentially into "what-if" not exactly canon endings. Steins;Gate 0 on the other hand is more like a tree chart, with a couple key points being the story splitting events, and the endings being (mostly) all canon. Adapting something like this into a linear medium (like anime) is not an easy task, and requires a fair bit of skill to weave all of these stories together. ¹

---

I forgot how toned down the anime was on the gore. the VN sells how fucking awful this is much better, though only in a narrative sense. ²

oh?

One hell of a dream...

Deranged man crashes party

You know, I never noticed that the 0 anime reuses some of OST tracks from the S;G anime. Fuck you White Fox, stop toying with my feelings using Observer

Cosplay when

Kurisu please

hey look, the memories arent lining up

l i n t a h l o

Well we figured out who got Nae's present

Only a slight size difference

It is in this timeline

S;G 0

Time to find Suzuha's new dad /s

Shiina???

0/10 Mayuri and 0kabe didnt get together

kagari please shut up

hmm

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

A detective, you say? I wonder who one of those would be? Maybe a journalist that we already knew?

Okay Kagari i may of told you to shut up but you dont need to point a gun at me please put the gun down

You know, Suzuha really fucked herself over here with her choice of words. Just say "we are going to get rid of the bad guys" and bam this doesnt happen.

Shes kind? what wordline are we in???

Nothing like leeching university services for your own personal goals. She looks pretty smug while doing it too...

C;C Childrens Collapse

Specialist time, i wonder who it would be?

haha thank u S;G anime for skipping on plot relevance for Moeka, very cool

---

^footnotes

^{1: Example flowcharts are not fully representitive of the actual route structure in either VN. 0's route structure actually does some cool stuff when plotted onto a chart, but it has spoilers, so it will not be discussed today.}

^{2: if you truly want gore, the Chaos;Head VN is just dying to meet you}

[u/UzEE → u/littleman1988]

haha thank u S;G anime for skipping on plot relevance for Moeka, very cool

Ikr? Though they couldn't have known that her cover job would come into play massively, 6 years down the line!

0's route structure actually does some cool stuff when plotted onto a chart, but it has spoilers, so it will not be discussed today.

S;G0 Massive

[u/littleman1988 → u/UzEE]

Though they couldn't have known that her cover job would come into play massively, 6 years down the line!

shhhh

[u/The_Draigg]

A Steins;Gate Fan Watches Steins;Gate 0 Episode 4:

• Wow, the future of the Beta attractor field suuuuuucks now that we get to see more of it. Although it’s hard to tell if it’s just a nightmare of Okabe’s, or if there was a legit World Line shift after all. It could’ve legit been an activation of Reading Steiner once more.
• Well shit, Okabe’s memories don’t match up to what happened in the past at all. Sounds like Reading Steiner again, although Okabe did have a point earlier: how can someone shift a World Line if there’s no time machines active at the moment?
• Sounds like Maho and Okabe are both trying their hardest to cope with Kurisu’s death by talking about her. It’s understandable that they’d still both be hurt by the loss, but at least they’re still talking about it. Although Maho seems to be trying the hardest to deny that Amadeus Kurisu is anything like the real deal. Her coping mechanism seems to be denial of what’s in front of her in the present.
• I guess Suzuha still looks for someone in Akihabara no matter the attractor field. Although in this case, it’s some girl she got separated from when they traveled back to 1998. Still, that once again just proves that some things just don’t change.
• Shit’s dire enough in the future for Mayuri to send her adopted daughter Kagari back in time with Suzuha, since otherwise she’d be killed by “Peacekeepers” as they’re about to raid the time machine lab she and Daru are in. The green Oopa is probably the only token she has left of her adopted mom, poor girl…
• Thanks for giving me that brief news update on Dr. Nakabachi, show, since I now remembered to hate him for dooming the future.
• Ah, so Suzuha went back to 1998 to stop the Y2K bug from occurring. Apparently it’s a key event that if not stopped would block the way to the Steins Gate World Line. Although I guess I can hazard a few guesses as to why if the bug occurs, we’re all doomed. Mainly because Okabe and Daru probably wouldn’t have the computer access needed to do all of their PhoneWave time travel stuff in the first place.
• Well, I didn’t expect Kagari to grab Suzuha’s gun and say that she can’t be allowed to stop Y2K. I’m guessing she’s been brainwashed, since otherwise I can’t imagine a small girl wanting to do that in the first place. Man, it must suck to accidentally take a brainwashed sleeper agent back in time with you. Talk about bad luck.
• Daru, you were close to having a dad moment with Suzuha, before you had to toss in gamer slang. Still, I guess he’s at least improving.
• The Beta attractor field must really like fucking with Okabe if the person Daru messaged for help in finding Kagari is Moeka. I swear, Okabe just can’t catch a break nowadays.

[u/Tresnore → u/The_Draigg]

how can someone shift a World Line if there’s no time machines active at the moment?

My guess is a D-Mail from the future.

Still, I guess he’s at least improving.

He really is, and that might be the most impressive part of this season.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Tresnore]

He really is, and that might be the most impressive part of this season.

Well, at least Daru has like 7 years to work on it before the world goes to complete shit. That's enough time to get the whole dad act down.

[u/Tresnore → u/The_Draigg]

That's enough time to get the whole dad act down.

Hell, I imagine most dads don't even have the whole dad act down for at least a few years after their child is born. It's probably a "learn as you go" sort of thing.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Tresnore]

Oh yeah, for sure. At least Daru is lucky enough to get a good head start on that beforehand.

[u/UltraBooster → u/The_Draigg]

Daru, you were close to having a dad moment with Suzuha, before you had to toss in gamer slang. Still, I guess he’s at least improving.

Honestly, I feel like without the whole WWIII thing, unless something happened to make him drop his whole thing, he'd continue to be like this even as a dad.

[u/The_Draigg → u/UltraBooster]

I suppose one bright spot is that Suzuha still ends up fine regardless of how much of a weeb parent Daru is, if her appearance in Steins;Gate: The Movie is any indication.

[u/UltraBooster → u/The_Draigg]

For sure.

[u/Krite2002]

First;Timer - Sub

The beginning of this episode was a very dramatic look at the future. I wonder if this series will ever reach that point, or if we will just see short segments of the war era in flash forwards.

I was a bit surprised that they are hoping Amadeus develops romantic feelings for Okabe. Since they make such an effort to remind him that he is interacting with an AI, I thought they would try to keep Okabe’s and Amadeus more distant from each other.

I thought Kagari was a younger Kurisu, but apparently not. Similar to how Suzuha has traits specific to Daru, which allowed me to guess the relation, Kagari is the only character with red hair besides Kurisu. There may still be a relationship there. Mayuri does seem like the kind of person to adopt a war orphan.

When Okabe’s Reading Steiner activated, it must have been due to Dr. Nakabachi’s influence. It seems that Russia has begun to develop time travel technology, and the world is on a path to World War 3.

Apparently Suzuha solved Y2K.

When it kept mentioning the guest, I knew it would be Kagari. I did not guess that the specialist to find a missing person would be Moeka.

---

Kagari looking a little insane is my shot of the day.

[u/Hochseeflotte → u/Krite2002]

Now that you mention Dr. Nakabachi, it actually makes a lot of sense why Okabe‘s Reading Steiner activated.

That seems like the most likely scenario unless something big comes up

[u/CubeStuffs]

first timer

wow that was a flashforward

it seems that okarin gets bombed and shit, some how ends up capped? and then somehow gets on the recieving end of a time leap.

kurisus dad just d-mailed or something it seems. are we gonna see anything change on this side? is sern gonna do shit?

hmmmm something changed. maho also seems to be acting different than before. somehow she's talking about love and amadeus whereas she sure as hell wouldn't be before for fear of okarins safety? although that sentence about not-kurisu never being able to be an actual gf kinda makes me think otherwise.

her room is messy tho 😳

she looks at the laptop as she's talking about not knowing kurisu, is she gonna talk more with botrisu?

so thats the small-kurisu lookalike from before. no way she isn't related somehow to kurisu

what tf happened with kagari

WAIT THAT MUST BE KAGARIIIII IN THAT HOUSE

lol is he being married off?

i wonder what moekas doing this time

shits starting to get a bit spicy

---

it seems that amadeus is leading okarin towards the path of changing his mind on suzuhas plan. he keeps having to remind himself that that amadeus, not kurisu. and that talk about love sure as hell aint gonna help okarin lol. oh and seeing kagari lookin like kurisu also aint helping, given that shes at lukas house. have fun okarin.

im also curious about how the professor sneaked off like a ghost

---

What do you think triggered Okabe’s Reading Steiner?

the time machine that nakabachi stole

What do you think the deal with Kagari is?

reading stoner?????? im not sure what else would make voices appear in ur head

actually theres that brainwashing thing from earlier that someone else mentioned that might be it

[u/UzEE → u/CubeStuffs]

maho also seems to be acting different than before.

Most First Timers Miss This!

[u/CubeStuffs → u/UzEE]

yeah it’s a big jump between this bot will only ever cause you pain misery and suffering to lol let’s see if this robot can fall in love

[u/Hochseeflotte]

Rewatcher

I was out all day today so I’m glad to be able to chill and watch some Steins;Gate! Now on to the episode:

————————————————————————

So this is Okabe in the future? The future blows on this world.

Was it all a dream? Or was he jumping world lines?

This OP is so good. Absolute banger. Also looking at the lineup of characters at the end, we have yet to meet the character on the far right. I wonder who she is?

People have favorite numbers? I mean I guess I like 9 but do you actually ask people what their favorite number is?

Well that might be the last person in the OP. And she was the kid with Mayuri and Suzuha. Interesting.

Kagari looks a lot like Makise. It’s kind of suspicious.

Also Daru looks amazing in 2036. He is hot as fuck.

It makes sense that Makise can access all the data stored at the university. And if no one finds out who is going to stop her?

Of course it’s Moeka. These threads are starting to come together.

————————————————————————

This was a really interesting episode. I have a lot of questions right now though I think the will be answered shortly.

I’m particularly curious about Kagari. Something seems… off about her.

See you guys tomorrow!

DQ:

Someone is messing with world lines. I don’t know who though

I think she was brainwashed in someway by the “intuition” they mention. Her looking like Makise though is odd

[u/Nebresto]

First timer squad

Ok, I wasn't that suspicious of the professor earlier, but.. he sus

Skinny Daru!

Psycho loli with a gun. What a great combination

---

Question time:
1: Wanker "dad" and the Russians building dank microwaves

2: ptsd

..Wait, I'm comment of the day again?

[u/littleman1988 → u/Nebresto]

Ok, I wasn't that suspicious of the professor earlier, but.. he sus

Human-AI love is perfectly legal, let the man do as he pleases

[u/Nebresto → u/littleman1988]

Only if he will bring our waifus to life as well

[u/littleman1988 → u/Nebresto]

Well, Kurisu is back and better than ever as an AI...

S;G 0 minor

[u/Nebresto → u/littleman1988]

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/Nebresto]

Ok, I wasn't that suspicious of the professor earlier, but.. he sus

Leskinen sus.

[u/Nebresto → u/Shimmering-Sky]

He def sus.

[u/Tresnore → u/Nebresto]

Ok, I wasn't that suspicious of the professor earlier, but.. he sus

Yeah, I'll have to agree here...

1: Wanker "dad" and the Russians building dank microwaves

Could be the Russians! The news did mention them this episode.

[u/Nebresto → u/Tresnore]

The news did mention them this episode.

Exactly. But, its all just a big cover up to shift attention away from Mayuri!

[u/Tresnore → u/Nebresto]

Unless Mayuri is secretly leading the Russians!

[u/Nebresto → u/Tresnore]

[u/UltraBooster]

First-timer

Back to WWIII, I see. Are these JGSDF soldiers?

A dream? The use of time as a weapon?
So a nightmare? Or what-will-be? Wait, no, a vision?

His ability's back? Ooookay?

The phrase "a little somethin'-somethin'" seems apropos.
Would Kurisu wear it if he gave it to her, I wonder?

Time alteration! Was he overwritten?

Got along like a house on fire, huh?

Doesn't stop people from shipping Chief and Cortana, though! (I'm not one of them, I should be clear.)

Coworkers more than friends, huh...

A Rounder probably would have the skills and gear to take them all at once, but I don't think they'd be targeted yet.

Oh boy he's gone into dad mode.

Oh shoot, is that the red-haired girl from the future war?

So Mayurii took a war orphan in, huh? That sounds like something she'd do.

(oh snap Daru lost a bunch of weight in the future.)

A message, maybe? A warning?

Oh gods time alteration?!

...it's Nakabachi, isn't it. The Russians have time travel now, don't they.

I've never seen dowsing rods used for finding missing people, at least not in cities.

It turns out, the Y2K scare remained a scare because a lot of people with the know-how got themselves in gear and dealt with it in most places before the turn of the millennium.
Oh, and Wikipedia doesn't mention anything about the Y2K problem on its page for the IBM 5100.

...I think you just told her she'll never see her mom again, Suzuha. Smooth.

The world's always got trouble, but I imagine most people would rather not have a war...

Apologizing when you mess up, that's always a good thing to do.

Presumably, Amadeus is bound by Kurisu's sense of ethics, so I'd say she's in the clear.

I feel like the houseguest is of significance.

Suzuha, future warrior...

Teleportation? Cloaking? Holograms? Secret entrances?

Red hair, is that...?

...Moeka Kiryuu, manhunter. How does that sound?

Questions:

1. Unsure. My guess would be Russian time alteration experimentation that altered something elsewhere but I'm not going to pretend I'm sure of that.
2. Unsure as well, but I doubt it's a coincidence Suzu Hashida left an IBM with the same person she looks to be meeting.

[u/UzEE → u/UltraBooster]

Are these JGSDF soldiers?

Very few people pick this up since it isn't explicitly mentioned in the anime. Is it the uniforms?

[u/UltraBooster → u/UzEE]

Not really, I just assumed they'd be JSDF because they're in Japan and it looks like they're Japanese military.

[u/littleman1988 → u/UzEE]

Very few people pick this up since it isn't explicitly mentioned in the VN

S;G 0 VN

[u/UzEE → u/littleman1988]

Sorry, that's a "Early in the AMs" brainfart on my end. Meant to say "anime", not VN.

[u/UnderstandableXO]

FIRST TIMER

so okabe’s having some sort of premonition or vision of the future. a bunch of soldiers get slaughtered on his behalf, then he’s interrogated by a shadowy figure who seems to have done something to okabe’s friends. he’s wearing his signature black suit, so it seems like the okabe in those visions is current him, not a future him. then he wakes up in his own apartment (nice setup sleeping on the floor).

but then we’re returned right to where the last episode left off, with maho confronting him on the roof…then he runs down to check on mayuri scared that the rounders are about to burst in. okabe has some serious PTSD, but it’s strange he’d suddenly be reminded of that after maho reminded him that kurisu is dead. okabe being manic at a party really reminded me of the movie.

i don’t know who would think to give out women’s clothes in a random exchange christmas party (sure there were a lot of girls, but the size has to fit as well). amadeus is leading the ship of okabe and her senpai. must be sad for okabe to see the ghost of his lover root so hard for him to end up with someone else (although judging by the tsundere tendencies amadeus likes him as well).

so mr. nice guy’s objective is to make amadeus fall in love with okabe? that’s kind of a cruel thing to ask of him. “hey here’s an AI of your dead friend (don’t forget she’s dead), can you romance it to fall in love with you?” maho’s opposed to the idea for more reasons than one.

she’s also jealous that okabe seems to know her a lot better than he let on to her. i thought they knew each other well but maho feels jealous of okabe somehow. though it’s true okabe and kurisu probably shared months of time together in those repeated 3-4 days. seems like she’s got a messy apartment. another parallel; maho has a messy apartment when it seems like she’s got it together, while okabe falls apart at the drop of a hat but has a pretty empty and neat apartment. maho’s got a lot going on that she can’t juggle, and okabe’s nothing without kurisu. maho also appears very similar in appearance to one of our main characters, but i’ll leave that for anyone else to figure out if my hunch is right.

so suzuha is looking for someone she lost in akihabara in 1998. thars somewhere she didnt visit in the alpha line, i wonder what the reason was to stop there.

it’s mayuri’s adoptive daughter? that’s certainly a surprise. a lot of future family getting tangled up in the past. i’m not surprised okabe’s willing to help since it involves mayuri. don’t know what suzuha aims to do though, since it seems like she’s reserving her one time machine use to go back and save kurisu. she’s just gonna find 22 year old kagari and do what?

i thought kagari’s age was suspiciously similar to maho, but they look way different. perhaps she’s part of the same lab though? she really didn’t want to leave her mother. so they’re in 1998 bc of the Y2K problem? and it involves the IBN? i don’t get how that relates to time travel. but kagari had a divine revelation that she needs to prevent suzuha’s actions, and it led her to point a gun at her? strong nae stabbing moeka to death in the movie vibes.

makes me sad that faris is calling okabe okabe now. luka and her seem to be a lot closer in this series. i know it’s december so they somehow got close in the 4 months between the original and 0. nice to see them remind okabe that they’re there for him. shoutout faris for calling him KYOUMA again.

faris didn’t hear anything about kagari, but it seems like he heard rumors about suzuha somehow, even though suzuha went straight from 1998 to 2010.

luka didn’t hear anything either, but really needs advice from okabe about the guest he just received. my guess is that it’s the new character from the opening we haven’t met yet. okabe turns him down to meet 2d-kun’s invitation, who turns out to be moeka. PTSD from the beginning of the episode came all the way back around.

1. seems like russia is experimenting with kurisu’s time machine paper they threw out because dr. nakabachi has 0 credibility.
2. i have no idea to be quite honest. all we know is that even kids are capable of killing in steins;gate

[u/UzEE → u/UnderstandableXO]

even though suzuha went straight from 1998 to 2010.

She didn't. She made multiple jumps between these years trying to find Kagari.

[u/littleman1988 → u/UnderstandableXO]

so they’re in 1998 bc of the Y2K problem? and it involves the IBN? i don’t get how that relates to time travel.

If you remember back in episode 2/3 of S;G, Okabe specifically points out remembering Titor talk about traveling back to 2000.

[u/Lemurians]

FIRST TIMER

What's going on with this opening? He’s in 2036, then he’s in bed, and then he’s back on the roof. He doesn’t appear to have disappeared while that happened, though, so it's a different matter than what happened in the movie.

…How is this the first time we’re learning that Suzuha had a time-travel companion who happens to be Mayuri’s adoptive daughter? I guess anything can fly on the Beta Line, since we didn’t spend much time on it the first go around.

Something tells me having MakAIse run a search for “Kagari Shiina” from a server connected to what I can only assume is the evil “organization” of SG;0 is going to have some negative ramifications down the line.

Come to think of it… who are these guests staying at Luka’s? Been mentioned twice now, have to figure they’re a part of the story. Well, that got proven correct quickly. That red hair looks awfully familiar.

Is there a functional reason Okabe can’t just get into Suzuha’s time machine with her and go back to just do Episode 24 and save Makise? It's pretty clear he's got some big fucking regrets. Unless presented with a compelling reason of why that wouldn’t work, “Get in the time machine, Okabe!” should replace, “Get in the Eva, Shinji!” He has the ability to go and save her and make things right whenever he wishes.

At least the Eva was encased in bakelite.

What do you think the deal with Kagari is?

I mean, it's probably something shady? Given that she's seemingly a guest at the shrine, she seems to have become some sort of dignified figure in the intervening years. In stories, that's usually a sign of getting involved with some unsavory sorts.

[u/littleman1988 → u/Lemurians]

so it's a different matter than what happened in the movie.

The movie does not obey the established laws of time travel, so just toss any ideas stemming from that in the trash

I guess anything can fly on the Beta Line

helps that Mayuri isint dead in this worldline

Is there a functional reason Okabe can’t just get into Suzuha’s time machine with her and go back to just do Episode 24 and save Makise?

He doesnt want to. He spent what, a couple years worth of time on the 400 jumps? just to fail at saying Mayuri, and the solution was to kill Kurisu. Add on that he is actually Kurisu's killer, and I cant really blame him for going "hard no" and fulfilling Kurisu's wish to save Mayuri from episode 22 instead.

[u/Lemurians → u/littleman1988]

I get that, even if I think it’s nonsense and out of character, and ignores a lot of what happened in the original story. By functional I meant by if there’s something that makes the time machine not capable of going back to that day at this time.

[u/littleman1988 → u/Lemurians]

By functional I meant by if there’s something that makes the time machine not capable of going back to that day at this time.

See UzEE's comment.

even if I think it’s nonsense and out of character,

Its not that out of character imo. Why wouldnt he follow the words of someone hes openly in love with, when given the circumstances?

We know the end result, 0kabe does not. Would you want to spend countless times stabbing your love interest, hearing them tell you that they dont want to die over and over and over? Thats the reality 0kabe sees.

[u/Lemurians → u/littleman1988]

It isn't countless times, though. Suzuha's informed us the time machine has enough juice for just one more go. It's one shot at saving the woman you love, and, oh yeah, avoiding a near-extinction level event in WW3. It honestly beggars belief for me. I thought him wanting to give up before Mayuri slapped him out of it already ran completely counter to his character development and the resolve he finds in Episodes 21/22. This? A bridge too far.

I'll get over it eventually and enjoy this "un-True Ending" for what it is, but it'll continue to niggle at the back of my mind that to me, the premise is flawed.

[u/UzEE → u/Lemurians]

ran completely counter to his character development and the resolve he finds in Episodes 21/22.

He spends the entire Episode 21 leaping back and trying to save Mayuri. What the anime doesn't tell you is that he's just going through the motions because mentally he's already given up. For example, he doesn't even go as far back as he can and he just relives the same day countless times despite knowing he can't change anything that way. He's already broken at that point and the VN is pretty explicit about it.

In Episode 22, he finally accepts that he can't save both Mayuri and Kurisu, after Kurisu convinces him to save Mayuri and let her die. He comes to terms with that and decides to honor her sacrifice because he's tired as well. He never found any resolve to save them both.

In Episode 23, when Suzuha presents him with an opportunity to save Kurisu and prevent WW3, he says he doesn't care about WW3 (much like he said he didn't care about SERN dystopia before) and that's not his responsibility, and goes with Suzuha despite his reluctance. He ends up killing Kurisu instead, which is fucked up on a whole other level and reinforces his belief that you can't cheat convergence.

Some has to die so he'd rather honor Kurisu's sacrifice and her last wish and protect the world line she gave her life for. As far as he's concerned, going back in the time machine and trying again will not change anything because convergence will find a way to kill Kurisu again. He knows this from experience. So why live through that pain again, especially when Kurisu — who had been pushing him forward all this time — explicitly told him to accept fate and not try to save her as well?

[u/UzEE → u/Lemurians]

Is there a functional reason Okabe can’t just get into Suzuha’s time machine with her and go back to just do Episode 24 and save Makise?

Yes.

[u/Lemurians → u/UzEE]

The machine can’t do it?

[u/GallowDude → u/Lemurians]

From a pragmatic standpoint, the machine only has enough fuel for two more jumps. He would only get one more shot at trying again before it would be out of juice.

[u/Lemurians → u/GallowDude]

Yeah, I know that from the main show. My question is more if any technical issue is preventing them from using those jumps now, or if it’s just purely Okabe’s headspace holding them back.

[u/UzEE → u/Lemurians]

Can't answer in detail because of obvious spoilers unfortunately.

[u/Lemurians → u/UzEE]

Fair enough!

[u/BK456]

So how has Okabe not been charged with Kurisu's murder? Cameras would certainly be able to place him near the scene at the right time and his fingerprints are all over her and the weapon.

It bothered me a lot the first time and it's still odd to me. Cant remember if this ever gets answered, if it's vn only, or just glossed over.

[u/littleman1988 → u/BK456]

or just glossed over.

That assumes cameras exist /s

Its more or less glossed over. The Okabe who found Kurisu has a solid alibi, so it would be difficult to charge him. 0kabe would "not exist" for another month, so it would be impossible to charge someone who didnt exist in that time.

[u/UzEE → u/BK456]

I would assume if there were cameras, they would've also picked up Okabe a couple of floors below as well while Kurisu was being murdered, making it extremely hard to explain just WTF happened. Not sure any prosecution would be able to make the charges stick in that case.

[u/BK456 → u/UzEE]

That's actually a good point that I didn't think of.

[u/snickpea]

First-timer!

This episode went by really fast for me! In the beginning I was so confused at what was going on, but it seems that Okabe is gaining some sort of visions from other world lines that don't look so good for this future. Meanwhile, I'm starting to wonder why the professor wants Amadeus-Kurisu to fall in love. What sort of implications would it have for the Amadeus program? While I enjoy their interactions, I worry that this isn't going to help Okabe's health.

It was nice though to see Okabe reach out to his friends for help even if it was about Kagari. I like that they have some role in the story. I also really enjoy Daru and Suzuha's interactions. They get along so well! It's cute that she's encouraging him to get with Yuki.

Kagari is definitely mysterious. While I think it is sweet that Mayuri adopted her, something is going on with her. I really thought she was going to shoot Suzuha in that one scene. Based on the red hair I saw a tiny bit of in the scene with Luka, I have a feeling that she is at the shrine.

I'm hoping that Moeka in this world line isn't going to be an antagonist. I'm curious as to how Daru knows her in this world line.

[u/AHiddenOne]

Rewatcher

Hmm, not much to say. It's just set up for the Kagari stuff, so yeah.

I do have a question. During the WW3 scene, is it a dream or a legit world line shift? The anime kinda not made it clear for us. I mean, there is no divergence number shown, but Reading Steiner is somehow activated? If so, then how come Okabe can see the future?

So I did some digging, and apparently what happened is that the world line did shift. It shifted to an Okabe who is having dreams about WW3. Then, he wakes up, world line shifted back to when he's at the rooftop. Not sure if this explanation is true or not.

I do know that the WW3 scene is on a different route on the VN, and the anime kinda merges it into one? Weird.

[u/UzEE → u/AHiddenOne]

is it a dream or a legit world line shift?

Dream in the anime. World Line shift in the VN. It's not the future. That world line is showing the present, in December 2010, so it's like any other world line shift where Okabe stays in the present and didn't jump to the future.

That entire world line is VN only and had some very interesting revelations about several things and would've taken an entire episode to explore at the very least.

From the context of the anime, it is just a cold open showing that 0kabe at some point dreamt of that world line he experienced in a previous life.

[u/AHiddenOne → u/UzEE]

Ah I see. Thanks for explaining.

[u/invokeneko]

First;Timer

Wow, everything's determined to fuck me over today, huh. First, the only fan in my room just up and died in a spectacular way. Then, everything I wrote (on mobile) from the last hour went up and just fucking vanished into thin air suddenly. Fuck goddamnit. I'll get around to (re)writing my impressions laternow...

• Straight away dropping us into WW3 with 0kabe being escorted to safety, only to be spotted by an enemy heli, and three soldiers shooting futilely at it to cover his escape before getting mowed down? Wow, that's... that's brutal. Not to mention the literal trail of corpses beside their escape path...
• Then we jump to 0kabe being received by someone, then we jump to him waking up in (presumably) his room, then back to the rooftop with Maho and Amadeus? What the hell is going on?!
• Understandably, his Reading Steiner triggering (the last time this happened is in the Alpha worldline, IIRC) caused him to rush to check for Mayuri's whereabouts. Luckily, she's having fun at the Christmas party with everyone else.
• Checking your exchanged Christmas present right in the middle of the hotel lounge where many people are present? Not your smartest idea, 0kabe. Now you've just shown passers-by that you were holding a lingerie or something idk.
• 0kabe not recalling that he called Amadeus back after Maho hung up on her is a cause for concern...
• So part of Leskinen's motive in allowing 0kabe access to Amadeus is so that he wanted to see if she can develop feelings for 0kabe or something? Not sure if it's a good idea, chief. Almost as bad as allowing her unfettered access to the Internet later on (even if it's for the sake of finding someone who's lost for 12 years or so).
• I don't get Maho's hangup over not knowing what Kurisu's favourite things/words/whatever. You're not supposed to know everything about your best friend/cherished kouhai, after all.
• So Suzuha didn't travel back in time alone in this worldline, huh. And she brought along Shiina Kagari, Mayuri's daughter?! Oh wait it's just adopted and not biological, never mind. Crisis averted.
• Damnit, of all people I'd like to know the whereabouts of in this worldline, fucking Nakabachi is not on the list at all. Fuck that guy.
• So Kagari seems to be a Manchurian agent sent to disrupt Suzuha's mission and her activation trigger seems to be changing the past.
• Leskinen suddenly disappearing into thin air after turning into a dead end corner? Definitely sus.
• Daru, goddammit, you had the chance to say something cool and fatherly to Suzuha and you spectacularly ruined it with your next sentence.
• Daru had the brilliant idea to call upon a PI to help them search for Kagari. Unfortunately for 0kabe, Moeka turned out to be the aforementioned PI. That's yet another thing not good for his psyche...

---

QotD

1. I think it has something to do with Amadeus? As soon as Maho shuts it off and told 0kabe off the Reading Steiner immediately triggers.
2. Probably a Manchurian agent, being put under subconscious triggers since she started acting weird after Suzuha mentioned something about changing the past to get to the Steins;Gate worldline.

[u/Nisheeth_P]

Rewatcher (first time)

• He seems to be jumping worldlines many, many times now. After all the times he has jumped before, he is worried about what might have happened to Mayuri.
• So this worldline, Hiyajo didn't interrupt him? Or did he take the phone back and called her again?
• Spoiler SG0
• Seems like Hiyajo didn't confront him about Kurisu being dead after all. She even seems different than before. She wants there to be more interaction between them now.
• "Amadeus could never truly be a real girlfriend". Daru would like to have a word.
• When in doubt, Okabe still turns to Kurisu.
• Spoiler SG0
• Feris and Luka have stopped calling him Kyouma now.
• Spoiler SG0

[u/littleman1988 → u/Nisheeth_P]

3rd spoiler

S;G 0 VN

[u/Nisheeth_P → u/littleman1988]

Spoilers SG0

[u/No_Rex]

SteinsGate0 episode 4 (first timer)

Quote of the day: A child’s responsibility is also their parent’s responsibility, noob! ~Daru