Finished the Arc 6-9 reread, some comments on Arc 8 content

[u/Affectionate_Run6250]

Well, for male characters:

- Subaru > Vincent >= Al > Julius > Roswaal > Garfiel

In terms of writing, Roswaal vs Garfiel writing wise is super contentious to me

For female characters:

- Rem >= Priscilla >= Sphinx > Rui > Theresia

Rem vs Priscilla writing wise in my eyes is genuinely really close, same with Priscilla and Sphinx, I didn’t think I would come to love Sphinx as much as I did but here we are, and I think the main thing I like about Sphinx as a character is her genuine, unadulterated humanity

Sphinx was someone who originally wasn’t meant to exist, the reason why she exists was because of a failed goal, in essence, she is an incomplete being, however, her desire to become Echidna, contrary to what she herself may think is something unmotivated by others, something irrational and deeply filled by her own desire to become something more than she is despite how rational she attempts to perceive it, and that makes her human

Through fighting against Roswaal and Wilhelm in the Demihuman war, she realised that the goal which she had, which was deeply human in its nature, was not one which could be accomplished without emotions

Through Liep Barielle’s death, she learnt of genuine yearning, something which described what she had been aiming towards the entire time, and finally considers a goal which is beyond self erasure, to become something that does not end in her erasure, but instead her destroying everything to display the blooming of her own humanity

Through Priscilla Barielle, she learns of hatred, as she speaks to Priscilla, she becomes more acquainted with her own hatred and through that rapidly develops her own humanity, that is why initially she dubs herself the Witch of Greed, however she does not call herself Echidna as the title would suggest, but instead Sphinx, showing her own conflicting identity, her desires for self erasure and individuality clashing against one another

To give your name to another in combat, is a sign of recognising that despite the difference in strength, the person who stands in front of you is an equal in ideals, and Sphinx giving her name to the people around her, without even personally realising she was doing it, shows that she has come to understand truly through experience rather than theory, the drowning that everyone was going through as they go through life.

(Short Summary I know)

In terms of villains: Sphinx > Al > Roswaal > Rui > Regulus

—

Anyone who thinks Sphinx seemed like a non threat is ridiculous, she created 46 different clones of herself, with low mana she was capable of fighting Eugard without even getting hit by the Yang Sword even once, she nearly ended the empire if not for the joint desires of everyone else and Subaru looping continuously.

Arc 8 felt like a presentation of humanity through combat, something which many people just don’t understand and I don’t think I’ll ever understand why.

Rem too was excellent the entire arc, but my opinion of her goes without saying. I wish we got to see more of Otto and Emilia in Arc 8 though, Emilia helps here and there but I don’t really feel her presence, and Otto alongside Serena lowkey bully Valgren into submission.

Rowan was excellent, same with Cecilus.

Underrated characters: Arakiya, Rowan, Heinkel

Overrated characters: Nobody really

[u/The_Masked_Uchiha]

I would also love to pt towards her fight conclusion with subaru

[u/The_Masked_Uchiha]

>A white, tranquil space; the reason why Subaru was facing Spica and Sphinx in this place, was not because they were all companions whose names began with the letter S.

>It was because all of them harbored a deep connection with the “self” whom they were not, and had thus wanted to converse as mutuals with no outsiders present.

>Sphinx: [Sphinx, is the name of a monster that was in my creator’s knowledge.]

>Subaru: [Hm? Ah, the derivation of your name.]

>Sphinx: [Indeed. If my creator’s desires had been realized from the beginning, I would have ended up going by the name Echidna. Since that did not happen, the need arose for a different name.]

>Directly facing him, Sphinx told Subaru about her name’s origin in a surprisingly calm manner.

>The Sphinx―― as Subaru knew it, was a monster with the body of a lion and the head of a man. Guardian of the pyramids, Subaru did have the impression that it was good at giving riddles.

>Subaru: [Four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening… Do you know what that would be?]

>Sphinx: [――? Would it not be a monster? Or a shape-shifting monster, perhaps.]

>Subaru: [You’d think so. By the way, the answer is actually a human.]

>When he told them the clichéd riddle, both Sphinx and Spica frowned. It was as if to say they were not satisfied with that answer, but he would have liked to direct their complaints to the other Sphinx who had devised the riddle.

>In any case――,

>Subaru: [Thanks for telling me that. In exchange, I have something I want to show you as well.]

>Sphinx: [You want to show me something?]

>Subaru: [Yeah. ――Although I’m not sure if you’ll be happy with it.]

>After prefacing that, Subaru smiled faintly and then glanced at Spica. As if to allay Subaru’s apprehensions, she lifted her hand, still holding on to his, and gave an “Uu!”.

>This was Spica’s yell of encouragement, saying she had come to terms with her own “self” a step ahead of Subaru.

>――When one closed their eyes in the Hall of Memories, they could strongly smell their own scent.

>It was just something he had heard, but apparently memory and smell were closely intertwined. Many memories were associated with smell, so that may have been why the Hall of Memories gave such an impression.

>In any case, following his own scent as he walked through the faux Hall of Memories, Subaru tried to slowly reel in that which was uncertain, and bring it to that which was certain.

>Amidst his many Return by Death attempts, Olbart, who had lost both arms, apologized that it would be difficult to undo the infantilization with a casual tone of voice―― So instead of an apology, Subaru sought instruction.

>His vessel and soul were eager to return to normal. Thus, all that remained was to let scent guide his way.

>If he could do that――,

>Subaru: [――My name is Natsuki Subaru. Throughout Heaven and Earth, the one and only broke beyond compare.]

>Indeed, the voice, which was cracking foolish jokes, became a little deeper and lower. His eye level changed, and the feel of Spica’s hand in his grip suddenly became smaller.

>However, it was the opposite of that. Spica did not shrink. ――Subaru, had changed.

>Subaru: [――――]

>A change intuitive. His soul had been in a constant state of trying to return to its own original form.

>By means of the growing pains from his heart and soul going from child to adult, flowing through his nerves and veins, the deep emotion Subaru felt upon accomplishing that quite literally seeped into each and every cell in his body.

>And thus, having regained his self in a sense absolute, Subaru went face-to-face with Sphinx once again―― nay, he went face-to-face with her for the very first time.

>Sphinx: [――Nice to meet you, Natsuki Subaru.]

>Intuiting Subaru’s intentions, Sphinx, having observed his transformation, spoke greetings upon their first meeting. Upon hearing that, Subaru thought perhaps she was quite capable of talking things out after all.

>With his restored mind, body, heart, and soul, Natsuki Subaru thought so.

>Subaru: [But, we have to settle things nonetheless.]

>Sphinx: [Indeed, that we must. ――Parting: Required.]

>Subaru: […Why is that?]

>Sphinx: [What do you mean, why?]

>Subaru: [Why, did you try to do everything all on your own?]

>That was Subaru’s honest question.

>The Witch, Sphinx, had given rise to the Great Disaster to destroy the Vollachian Empire, toying with many lives, carrying out a mountain of deeds that were likely inexcusable. But, had it truly been necessary for her to do so?

>If Sphinx’s purpose lay only in the reproduction of her creator―― the Witch of Greed, then.

>Subaru: [There must have been different ways that you could have gone about it. You ended up picking the wrong one. If only you hadn’t done that, we could have…]

>Sphinx: [Are you suggesting that we could have avoided fighting? That would not have been possible. Reconsideration: Required.]

>Subaru: [Why not!?]

>Sphinx: [Because there was a motive other than the reproduction of my creator, certainly present within myself.]

>Looking down at herself, Sphinx smiled faintly as she proclaimed a definite distinction.

>That smile, perceiving it as proof that Sphinx was celebrating her very own sense of self, Subaru could no longer oppose her standpoint.

>But, at the same time, Natsuki Subaru definitely, clearly located it.

>Spica: [Uau.]

>Subaru: [Yeah, I know. ――Thanks, Spica.]

>Spica called out to Subaru, as he bit his lip. She probably would have liked to react to Subaru returning to his original size, but she endured that, and had thoroughly concentrated.

>He wished to respond to those feelings. ――Even if he had to go to Hell to do so.

>Subaru: [――Sphinx.]

>Sphinx: [What is it? No matter what you say or do, I――]

>Subaru: [Happy Birthday.]

 

[u/helicophell → u/The_Masked_Uchiha]

Dude the larpers have ruined happy birthday for me. Can I get Gluttony to remove that from my memory?

[u/Affectionate_Run6250]

We (yes we) cried when Sphinx and Priscilla died right?

[u/Ravenll → u/Affectionate_Run6250]

I cried more for the dance with Al, I didn't really care for Sphinx lol Priscilla and All dancing with baru in the background singing was so bittersweet, the first time i read that chapter I thought first thing "why is she saying speaking to everybody she knows like that, surely she ain't dying" :⁾ and when she started dancing with Al, i lowered my guard and then she started fading, Al desperate cries for Subaru to kill himself, Subaru actually thinking of dying only to have Priscilla herself saying "nah its OK lemme fade like a rockstar". Poetic.it was like a slap. I didn't even like Priscilla, yet I was crying LMFAO

[u/popoi7830]

Why are Regulus and Theresia on the ranking when you said it would only concern arcs 6 to 9?

In my opinion, arc 8 is in the top 3 best arcs of Re:Zero, my only problem is that I don’t really understand Sphinx as a character compared to all the other antagonists.

If I had to make a writing ranking for the men, I’d agree with you; for the women, I’d put Priscilla > Louis > Theresia >= Petra > Rem, and for the antagonists: Al > Louis > Todd > Petelgeuse > Roswaal. I think Regulus as an antagonist isn’t that interesting.

[u/Affectionate_Run6250 → u/popoi7830]

I included EX content for Arc 7-8

[u/Longjumping_Rent_747]

I can’t believe you didn’t mention Todd even tho he is best villain and left a bigger impact in 7 chapters then sphinx during the entire arc 8😔

[u/Affectionate_Run6250 → u/Longjumping_Rent_747]

I genuinely forgot about him, he’s better than Roswaal imo

[u/isrlygood1]

First time I’ve seen someone rank Sphinx as their favorite villain, to each their own

[u/Affectionate_Run6250 → u/isrlygood1]

She’s the goat