Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu 2nd Season Episode 9 Discussion

QcDiablo said:

1) If one person finishes the trials, the whole Sanctuary is free.
2) Roswaal tried the trials without the qualifications.
3) Apparently, any half-human... and Subaru.
4) Explanation should come later.
5) Apparently, not that it would matter much.

fullofregrets09 said:
Wow, I was expecting a chill episode after such an action-packed one, but we got so many reveals, it was just as exciting and thrilling.

Alright, first big reveal, I guess there really isn't a limit on how many times he can RBD. Which makes sense, can't have the protagonist really dying on us,
so if we know that he has to get past something in a limited amount of attempts, it takes away from the suspense. This way, we will never know how many times Subaru will die to save everyone. Now Subaru can confidently say that he will die as many times as he needs to to save the people he loves (from the OP). The mystery served its purpose for making Subaru wary of dying too many times. This is all assuming Echidna was right. I believe she was.

Delusion? Does that mean that Satella has to continue to be delusional in her infatuation with Subaru so that she will keep on bringing him back?

Dang, hardcore Rem fans are going to be triggered, Rem really is a blip in this whole story, heck, nobody else is part of Subaru's destiny but him alone, but Rem is even less so because she was the first to go.

Echidona is so insecure, I love it.

Wow, so it's one of the three Great Mabeasts made by Daphne herself. I wonder what the ulgarm and the mansion beasts are then. Were they made by the Archbishop of Gluttony? I can't see Ley doing something like that. Maybe those were made by Daphne too, but they weren't important enough to be called Great Mabeasts. White Whale is dead, Great Rabbits are in Sanctuary, we still haven't seen the Black Snake yet, though I think I saw a glimpse of what looks to be one in the OP if I'm not mistaken.

Dang, so I guess the bunnies ate everyone. I thought that wasn't the case because there weren't any blood stains. Subaru about to throw up knowing everyone had to go through what he did. I wonder why the bunnies just randomly showed up? There must've been a catalyst.

Looks like I was right in thinking that they had some sort of duplication power like the White Whale kind of had.

Kill every last one at the same time? Can't Puck just flash freeze them all? Or are they impervious to snow/ice attacks? Well, Puck is AWOL anyways.

Looks like barrier is becoming top priority now. But what keeps the bunnies from going outside the barrier too? Are they bound to the area because Daphne is?
But if that were the case, then the White Whale shouldn't have been able to leave either. Are they bound by the barrier? Are they somehow considered half-blood?
Maybe they were drawn to the mana stored in the Witch's Graveyard. I mean, there are 6 Witch Souls there. I'm still worried that by breaking the barrier, they
will be letting out great evil. But they have no choice.


Wow, so looks like we are going to meet another Witch. I was thinking he would have to find other Witch Graveyards to talk to them, but looks like they're all here!

Oh, so that was Typhon. I was thinking that was Daphne. I kept on telling Subaru not to look at her or touch her! I thought her arm scrunchies were her restraints. She
reminds me of Mimi. I guess all the Witches are going to be lolis or waifus.

Subaru fell to pieces. Well, I guess he's an invalid now. Can he reset if he becomes brain dead?

Wow, Minerva, didn't think the Witch of Wrath would be so kind, even though it seemed like she was a walking paradox, always contradicting herself. She's cute. Are we going to be cycling through all the Witches? Hype! I wonder how they were able to get through instead of Daphne.

Looks like they're all going to have cute nicknames for Subaru and Echindona. I'm here for it.

Well, did not expect Daphne to have an iron maiden. That's a lot of restraints for a soul without a body. I guess eye contact would be impossible with those
blindfolds on. Does she have some sort of Medusa power?

Wow, so I guess there's one person who likes the Witch's miasma.

She is creepy. Those teeth give me Gluttony from FMA vibes.

They are drawn to mana. Does that mean that they were attracted to the Witch's miasma, just like Daphne is, is that Satella's mana? Is that why Puck disappeared, because he knew that the bunnies would be attracted to a huge mana source like himself?

Wow, I'm so glad Echidna stepped in there. I'm so glad to see her, we just got three new faces and I'm exhausted. I thought Daphne was going to break free right then and there.

Ah, so he doesn't have unlimited time with Echidna, his body is still being affected on the outside, time hasn't stopped.

Uh oh, before Subaru couldn't care less about Echidna and her knowledge and was more concerned about Emilia. Now, he knows that Emilia is going to be in a panic in a few moments, but still chooses to stay with Echidna and even wants to go back seeking her knowledge, just like it always is with Echidna apparently.
I can't shake the feeling he's been baited into a trap.

So that's the qualification. I don't know what feeling would be stronger than wanting to know why you were just eaten alive by bunnies. So it looks like he'll have to beat the trial.

Funny how he's saying now that he was always going to be taking the trials when before he was adamant about Emilia taking them and told Echidna to expect Emilia.

I wonder who makes up all the rules of the trials and administering them. It doesn't seem like Echidna is fully in charge.

The handkerchief? Wow, if he didn't have that, he wouldn't have been able to pay her. Thanks Petra! I guess she took the memories and feelings that the handkerchief
represented.

I can't wait to see what Echidna wanted to tell him.

Oh my God, he can remember everything now!

Where's Emilia? Oh no, looks like he was abandoned.

That must be the witch's miasma, wow, did he die too many times? I missed Satella's creepy OSTs.

OMG IT'S SATELLA! WE FINALLY SEE HER AFTER ALL THIS TIME! GREATEST REVEAL!

Guess that explains the title. Why does she love him so much?

Garf! He's coming to the rescue! Hopefully everyone else is safe. Please don't tell me Satella has taken over Emilia's body or something.

OMG she's turned into a Giant Hollow.

Bite off that thing's head? Did he only say that because he's a beast with sharp teeth, or is that the Black Snake that transforms? Because when I think of
killing a snake, I think of crushing the head. Besides, if that was really Satella, she wouldn't be able to leave the Sanctuary, because she's a half-elf, right?
Or maybe the rule doesn't apply to her, because she created the barrier. And why isn't Garf that surprised to see her? Does he see something different.
He also seems like he doesn't fear her as much as he should. Maybe Subaru was wrong and this is another Witch or being that loves him?

Looks like everything is drowning in miasma, maybe it wasn't the rabbits who ate everyone, maybe this miasma sucked everyone up. Roswall included.

I knew it! Roswall had the other copy of the Gospel. That's the connection between him and Beatrice, and how he knows so much about Subaru, his power, and future events. Was he talking to Satella in the last scene or Subaru? Is the miasma turning the world into Hell? What is Hell in this world? And why does he want to follow Subaru so far? This is turning into something of a love for him. Maybe after seeing his tenacity in the Gospel. And if he has the only other copy (assuming he's correct in saying there are only two copies), then he's become even more suspicious of being the one behind the mansion events. Either that, or its an Archbishop with a defective Gospel. Since Roswall gave his word, and knowing how much someone's word means in this world that even Echidna thinks its shameless to go back on it, I trust him. Or maybe he's just following what's in the book, and the real culprit is the one who wrote it.

Roswall basically implying that Subaru made a ton of mistakes, even though he just made it back. Was it because he died too many times? Or did he spend too much time with Echidna and the other Witches and he wasn't responding to her call, so she got too envious? Will a simple reset fix this? This loop is waayy too different from the first one.

Maybe Subaru can lure her back by telling Garf about RBD? Or by saying he loves her too? Why does she want to go to the mansion? Only Beatrice is there.

So many questions! Great episode!

R3inn said:
after ep4 of re zero s2, re zero might be anime of the year.
after ep8, re zero is anime of the year!
after ep9, this is masterpiece!

___Greed said:
I seriously don't get why some people hate this anime.
some people giving 1/5 rating to this amazing episode..like seriously?

Shueisha said:
Not sure if the screenwriter itself really knows where the plot goes. First the series introduced the goal as saving Rem, then a trial for Emilia (started with only one test then three), then saving everyone at the mansion, then killer rabbits, now Satella... Gosh, there's only 4 episodes remaining, will this season be able to fall on its feets? Can it just stand with one goal for two episodes in a row? I'm dubious...

I was really excited for this season, especially with episode 05, but lastly, it seems to go nowhere and ends up to be pretty disappointing. Hope the following episodes will be more convincing.

(Witch of Wrath was pretty cool. A shame for the other witches character designs tho)

Araphaenon said:

You do know that the "season" is not just this 13-episode-long half, but that together with the second half, coming out to 25-26 (?) episodes in total, right? (The season was split due to pandemic-related production issues, based on what we know.)

SPIDEY_rockzzzzz said:
Thanks for clearing up the whole sanctuary thing. However I've some final questions.
1) Does a person need to go through the trial every time to come and go from the sanctuary or is it just a one time thing?
2)Why is Roswaal extremely injured trying to get through the barrier?
3)Currently, who all can attempt the trials and free up the barrier for the villagers to leave?
4)What was the exact purpose of the crystal Fredrica gave to Subaru?
5)If I'm not mistaken, then there is only one main entrance to the Sanctuary and the trials chamber is on the other side of the village?

Franz_Kuznetsov said:


1) For what I understood the trial it's necessary to break off the barrier forever, because if you are a demi-human (like Emilia o Garfiel) you basically are trapped there, but if you are a human (like Subaru) you can leave the Sanctuary.
2) Because of the barrier or because Garfiel beat him up don't remember... ;P
3)Only some chosen individuals can take part in the trials.
4) I think its primary purpose is to locate the Sanctuary, because it's hidden, but apparently that gem has other properties, like teleport or something, has we saw in the previous episode.
5) don't remember mow sorry...

Sury said:
The handkerchief will come at a high price, won't it?

SPIDEY_rockzzzzz said:
Thanks alot✌ Also, how did Frederica escape the sanctuary in the first place?

Killerb96 said:


Its on episode 7 or 8 I think!

Killerb96 said:


Its on episode 7 or 8 I think!

kidlat020 said:
this 4th "run" if you could even call it that is just... wrong. I don't even know what's happening anymore. why so many changes this time around? what... what caused this huge divergence from the original timeline?

EDENisLD said:
I need a 10 hour version of Satella asmr. Best rezero girl.

Kanedgy_ said:

I was wondering if that was the case, the little we saw of her face looks similar to her too, and we already knew she was also a silver haired half-elf.

HMMMMMMM....

SongstressSL said:


I sit in a discord with people who hype this show up to no end, calling every fart that subaru makes "character development" and every exposition that doesn't move anything along "plot". So to be honest, I actually understand why people might hate this show -- I myself am actually put off the more episodes I watch, though I wouldn't say I hate the show or the episodes. (I've seen way worse writing, way worse premises, and way worse shows)

To better explain it to someone who loves this show, I guess it could be said that those who criticize the show feel their (often valid) criticism gets ignored by (sheer) fanboyism.

Here's an example:

critic: "the problem with this show is, the main character never learns the most important lesson with each of his deaths -- he never trains to become physically stronger to better handle threats and he's basically repeatedly dying until he bruteforces the outcome that is least undesireable. It's like watching someone play Fate Stay Night, the visual novel and if you know something is the wrong choice to pick, you just pick the next one the next time you load the save file. Thus, pretty much any inserted character in his place with return by death can move the plot along and accomplish the same thing he's done. The show's not terrible, but you can't write an epic if your main character is a self insert pleb."

fanboy: "but you're wrong! He's awesome and it's all because of him that the plot moves at all! And he's relatable! Also, the premise is one of a kind and the side characters are soooo coool! Like, I love Emilia, and Echidna! How can you hate on this show??"

critic: (man, you just ignored everything I said...)

Mich666 said:
Also, he didn't ask the most important question - what actually SAVES his progress. Really, Subaru?

SongstressSL said:


I sit in a discord with people who hype this show up to no end, calling every fart that subaru makes "character development" and every exposition that doesn't move anything along "plot". So to be honest, I actually understand why people might hate this show -- I myself am actually put off the more episodes I watch, though I wouldn't say I hate the show or the episodes. (I've seen way worse writing, way worse premises, and way worse shows)

To better explain it to someone who loves this show, I guess it could be said that those who criticize the show feel their (often valid) criticism gets ignored by (sheer) fanboyism.

Here's an example:

critic: "the problem with this show is, the main character never learns the most important lesson with each of his deaths -- (A) he never trains to become physically stronger to better handle threats and he's basically repeatedly dying until he bruteforces the outcome that is least undesireable. It's like watching someone play Fate Stay Night, the visual novel and if you know something is the wrong choice to pick, you just pick the next one the next time you load the save file. (B) Thus, pretty much any inserted character in his place with return by death can move the plot along and accomplish the same thing he's done. The show's not terrible, but you can't write an epic if your main character is a self insert pleb."

fanboy: "but you're wrong! He's awesome and it's all because of him that the plot moves at all! And he's relatable! Also, the premise is one of a kind and the side characters are soooo coool! Like, I love Emilia, and Echidna! How can you hate on this show??"

critic: (man, you just ignored everything I said...)

Maruseru93 said:
damn every of those witches is hot waifu material especially minerva and we finaly see satella at last her voice maybe we gonna see her face to next episode

Emillian said:
Holy sh*t her appearance made me freak out so hard lol. For you headphone users I hope u got the best ASMR in your life haha. Also everyone make sure to watch even after the credits.

fullofregrets09 said:
Wow, I was expecting a chill episode after such an action-packed one, but we got so many reveals, it was just as exciting and thrilling.

Alright, first big reveal, I guess there really isn't a limit on how many times he can RBD. Which makes sense, can't have the protagonist really dying on us,
so if we know that he has to get past something in a limited amount of attempts, it takes away from the suspense. This way, we will never know how many times Subaru will die to save everyone. Now Subaru can confidently say that he will die as many times as he needs to to save the people he loves (from the OP). The mystery served its purpose for making Subaru wary of dying too many times. This is all assuming Echidna was right. I believe she was.

Delusion? Does that mean that Satella has to continue to be delusional in her infatuation with Subaru so that she will keep on bringing him back?...

...I knew it! Roswall had the other copy of the Gospel. That's the connection between him and Beatrice, and how he knows so much about Subaru, his power, and future events. Was he talking to Satella in the last scene or Subaru? Is the miasma turning the world into Hell? What is Hell in this world? And why does he want to follow Subaru so far? This is turning into something of a love for him. Maybe after seeing his tenacity in the Gospel. And if he has the only other copy (assuming he's correct in saying there are only two copies), then he's become even more suspicious of being the one behind the mansion events. Either that, or its an Archbishop with a defective Gospel. Since Roswall gave his word, and knowing how much someone's word means in this world that even Echidna thinks its shameless to go back on it, I trust him. Or maybe he's just following what's in the book, and the real culprit is the one who wrote it.

Roswall basically implying that Subaru made a ton of mistakes, even though he just made it back. Was it because he died too many times? Or did he spend too much time with Echidna and the other Witches and he wasn't responding to her call, so she got too envious? Will a simple reset fix this? This loop is waayy too different from the first one.

Maybe Subaru can lure her back by telling Garf about RBD? Or by saying he loves her too? Why does she want to go to the mansion? Only Beatrice is there.

So many questions! Great episode!

Mich666 said:

Yes, but the question is if Satella knows what needs to be done to rescue her from the stone prison and if it's her who creates it or if it happens automatically when triggered based on her essence of power residing in his body.

Either way, she would need to have the power to read the future to determine if current situation is ok or not, even when some irrelevant characters are dead (btw - it was hinted Rem is irrelevant for his destiny but a) she's still not dead only forgotten and b) her saving may just be the challenge he need to overcome). Also, Echidna remembered her which makes me wonder how erasing of existences actually works.

Another question is what is the destiny and how it can be perceived. We were told it's intense delusion. But is it tied to Subaru alone, to Satella alone or to both? Somehow I wonder if Subaru's RL chuunibyou problems may be reason for it.

Also, the end goal - either it's for Subaru's sake to save him (or sort of journey to reject his deluded fantasie and accept normal life again), or for Satella's sake to free her. Now, Subaru has to be someone very close to her to give him such power and she should know him well. Who knows, maybe in the end, Satella/Emilia is the one who needs to be saved (and I wouldn't be really surprised if she turned into good guy in the end).

Araphaenon said:

Just in case the "critic" here is you, or the statement used as example is something you would agree with:

(A)
1. Subaru has been literally jumping from one crisis to the next. Not counting the resets with multiplicity, very little time has passed.
2. Being able to do 100 push-ups won't help Subaru much when up against people that are physiologically/magically leaps and bounds beyond anything he could possibly do. Wilhelm even comments something to that effect (Subaru: "Are you telling me to get stronger?", Wilhelm: "No. I am telling you to be strong."). His main tool is information gained by RbD, which he can make clever use of, for example by relying on it to move other people.
3. That said, he did try to train his body in what little downtime he had (with Wilhelm). But that is not, and should not be a high priority objective.

(B)
1. You can even write a good story with only completely ordinary people in it. The genre is called "slice of life".
2. Nonetheless, Subaru does have a very special ability called RbD. Saying he is like an ordinary guy who has been given RbD is not really a valid criticism when he is supposed to be an ordinary guy who has been given RbD. That was the main idea to begin with. It's not "he's not anything special, he just has RbD", but instead "he is special because he has RbD". The story hinges on the core conceit of RbD, not on the protagonist being exceptional in any other way.

foxyahoo said:


So... People judge a show by its fans and not the show itself, that makes them look worse than those fans.

swirlydragon said: