Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu Episode 18 Discussion

Stargorger said:


You must love Game of Thrones. It's so GRITTY! So positively DRIPPING with realism! Really it's dripping with what you just described: vindictive, bitter spite and a desire to prove to people that 'there are no heroes. Life sucks. Everyone is evil. Etc. You want to read fantasy and be a hero? FUCK YOU!" Yup. We get it. I'm tired of it. Real life doesn't work that way. If you can't see it, I'm very sorry for you.

But to the episode:

Yup, that’s it I’m done watching.
WHY you ask? Well before I give my reasons I need to give a bit of background/explanation, and I’m gonna start by saying: if you’re just going to reply to criticize, insult, etc…me or what I say, piss off, I don’t care. I’m never going to read this thread (seriously I’ve never in my years of using Myanimelist visited the forums and I’m only doing so now to offer some thoughts for people who might feel like I do. So keep the discussion civil so that other’s reading aren’t bored of your immaturity.) This is going to be a LONG post (tried to cover everything since I won't be back lol. Just food for thought).

So. Why am I done watching? Is it because I’m disappointed that Rem/Subaru didn’t happen? Yes, in a VERY SMALL sense. But there’s a lot more to it and I’ll get to the real reasons below.

First. What makes a good story? Classics are generally considered classics because they are timeless. How are they timeless? They communicate truths and realities that all people in all cultures can relate to in some way or another. Not to say that non-classics are less valuable, not at all.
But that’s what makes a ‘good’ story good. The characters are TRUE. Relatable, realistic, and reflect REALITY. What about fantasy? I mean, it’s a fantasy right? Nope. Fantasy is great because while it IS an escape, and can explore new lands, ideas, and people, it is still grounded in reality. The more alien a fantasy is, the less we can even comprehend it, much less sympathize with or care about the characters. The human people at least must be realistically human.
Unfortunately, fantasy has been going through a rebellious phase lately. In the last 10 years or so, all those authors who grew up reading light fluffy high fantasy like Tolkien and McDonald (I’m being sarcastic) decided “fuck that shit! Life isn’t happy! Life SUCKS! And I’m going to make sure EVERYONE KNOWS IT SUCKS!” And so they did! They decided to right realistic, gritty, ‘dark’ fantasy. Where the heroes aren’t impervious to danger, bad things happen, etc etc. Because that’s how real life is right? RIGHT?!
Well, no not really. And here’s the background for the first reason/problem. Deconstructions only work when they are communicating something new, and ONLY at that. Otherwise they must be Reconstructions. That is, you can’t just say ‘fuck swords! Swords are unrealistic, so there are no swords in this world!’ forever. You have to eventually REPLACE swords with something. “Instead they have…SPEARS! Spears are realistic!” Or better yet “BUT some people use them anyway because theyre SUCH GOOD WARRIORS!” Eventually, it has to come full circle.
But sadly right now we’re still stuck in the rut. Go look at all of the most popular fantasy of any medium (games, shows, books, anime) and you will see that all true fantasy (IE, not Magical Girl or Magical Realism) is dark, gritty, ‘adult’ themed stuff. Thanks George RR Martin. >.<
Which brings me to my reasons. Because they’re the same reasons I stopped reading Game of Thrones. “But wait stargorger, why did you watch 18 episodes before quitting if you REALLY didn’t like it?!” Well, because honestly I love Japanese media and so I was hoping that Re: Zero’s author would pull a REALLY unexpected trick and go AGAINST the grain. Nope. Silly me.

1. It is so dark and realistic that it is unrealistic.
This is kind of an overall critique. It alone wouldn’t make me stop watching/reading. But this is the root of the main problem(s). What do I mean by this? I mean the characters are such ASSHOLES, the monsters are so DEADLY and impervious to damage, the city is so CORRUPT, etc…that it’s RIDICULOUS. Remember my background of what makes good writing? Relatability and realism. And in order to be realistic, something has to speak to a truth that people can relate to in their daily lives. I’m sorry, but unless you are a child soldier living in Sudan, MOST people can’t really relate to this kind of darkness/grittiness. I have NEVER in my LIFE met so many assholes and just general bastards as seem to exist in modern fantasy worlds. Including Re: Zero. It’s dark and the characters are flawed to the point of being ridiculous. I’m sorry, but the reality (which authors seem to have forgotten, living in their dark little shacks under bridges or wherever), is that most REAL people are nice, normal folks. They act kindly towards strangers, or at least politely, they don’t want to hurt or kill anyone, and you won’t get raped/mugged/stabbed just walking down the street. Again, except in extreme circumstances. But somehow I doubt the author was writing specifically for those Sudanese child soldiers O.o
Specifically in this episode: WTF with Puck? He’s going to destroy the world because Emilia died? Uh…ok. That’s really forced. Emilia’s been in trouble/dead/etc… before and suddenly the author pulls this out of his hat. *shrug* ok, he’s a spirit. What the hell. Sure. And are there really sadistic people like the Cultists? Sure. But Roswaal? Dude’s a creepy as fuck insane killer for no discernable reason, flies off the handle at the drop of a hat…have YOU ever met someone like that? If you have I suggest you call the cops or move to a safer country. Have we all met gruff asshole vendors like the apple-shop guy? Sure. But is that the ONLY type, or even the majority? No. So why pick him? Just to be dark and gritty. It’s too forced. Life is TOO miserable, too dark. I at least can’t relate to it. Which brings me to my next point.

2. …and it isn’t unrealistic enough.
Especially when it comes to the characters. Subaru is the Everyman. So he’s supposed to be the character we cheer for, sympathize with, judge, and see reflections of ourselves in. But WTF, is everyone else a friggin alien? Subaru seems surrounded by absolute monsters and general selfish dickwads. I mean if everyone in this fantasy world is so distrusting, so ready to stab you if they don’t like the look of YOUR EYES, well damn Subaru, you’re screwed.
And more specifically with interactions, and Subaru’s interactions. And here’s the main reason I’m done. Remember how even fantasy needs to be somewhat relatable? Reading the alien gibberish of a talking banana plant may be amusing for a few minutes but if we can’t understand or relate we won’t care. I have spent the entirety of this show trying desperately to determine WHAT THE FUCK is wrong with Subaru. And no, I don’t mean “he’s such a dick!” I mean, everyone ELSE seems to think he is. Why? The author is clearly trying to get across some point (or I sure hope he is). But I can’t comprehend it at all. And I’m pretty sure it’s not cultural…I lived in Japan for a couple years and have asked my Japanese friends to explain the show…they don’t get it either. One moment he’s being stabbed (punished by the hand of fate? Random chance? WHY?) when he goes to save Emilia, the next minute…he’s saving a bunch of random villagers? Why did THAT work out? So many questions. In some ways, yes, that is realistic. It mirrors the reality that sometimes life doesn’t make sense. I guess?
But the problem is this: Fantasy is NOT realism. It must be realisTIC, but it is not realisM. In order for fantasy to be different from scifi, magical realism, etc…it has ALSO offer something more. Most people would say ‘an escape’. I prefer to say ‘an ideal’. Fantasy has to present some kind of idealization or ‘dream’ to strive for. In Re: Zero we know so little about the world and other characters that, clearly, that ‘escape’ can only come in the form of Subaru and what he does/experiences. He has to get better, become a hero, etc. And yay, this episode ends with him promising to do just that!
But he isn’t, really. Because he’s so ‘realistic’ as to maintain this crucial character flaw that I’m tired of watching. It’s just unpleasant and emotionally draining. And what is that? Reason 3:

3. The writer’s ‘goal’ for Subaru is ‘selfishness’.
Through all the episodes leading to now (I just finally realized it this episode), the author has been trying to deconstruct and build Subaru into a certain type of character. All the while he takes potshots at certain personality traits or cultural problems he deems problematic. All well and good. But remember #2? Fantasy has to go beyond pure realism and give us something to hope/strive for. In Re: Zero it’s Subaru. Except nobody should WANT to strive to be like him. Why? Well, because unless you’re blind, or selfish, or just stupid, you can see that Subaru’s behavior is destructive both to himself and to others, and he can’t get past it. At the root of it all is: Subaru is selfish. He’s too selfish. I don’t mean “he cares about himself”. I mean “he cares too little about others”. “Oh but wait he’s a hero! He loves Emilia! He saved Rem etc etc”. Yup. Yup that’s true. And WHY does he do/want those things? For himself.
And this is why I said it is yes, partially because of the end of Rem/Subaru. It’s not that they aren’t together. It’s not that there’s no harem. It’s not that he turned her down.
It’s that THAT was the author’s chance. That was the opportunity to NOT go down the Game of Thrones path. But nope. He skipped it. Subaru missed the chance. Because he’s selfish. He’s going to ‘be true to himself’ (oh fucking goody) and ‘tell it like it is’ and ‘be straight with her’ that he only ‘loves Emilia’. That’s bullshit. He doesn’t love Emilia. That’s a construct the author’s decided to force because he wants it that way. But really, NOTHING has occurred between Subaru and Emilia to create a love bond. Did he ‘love her at first sight’? Sure. But that’s not the same thing as true love. Sorry. And here I guess I’m getting into my own beliefs. A crush can lead to love. Infatuation can lead to love. Admiration, desire, lust, protection…those can all be part of and lead to love. But TRUE love is selfless. True love is willing to love even when it’s hard, even when the other person doesn’t love you back.
And this episode DOES have true love. Rem clearly, truly loves Subaru. And if your heart doesn’t break for her, you’re either a child or a soulless monster. Nobody should have to go through the pain of unrequited true love. But Rem does. Why? Because Subaru is SELFISH. Fuck he’s so selfish I want to jump through the screen and stab him myself. I seriously hope he dies in the end. But nope, because the author will continue to steamroll his way towards the conclusion he wants without trying to get out of the rut.
Subaru has been through hell and back. He’s died over and over. Trying to save MANY people (NOT just Emilia. In fact I’d kind of forgotten about her until the end of last episode). And all that time, Rem has been there. First suspicious (gets back to my first point…she’s fucking MURDERS HIM because he’s ‘SUSPICIOUS’?! Are you kidding me? So unrealistic. No person on earth does that normally.), and then lovingly. She’s there supporting and caring for him, especially in these last 5 episodes. What does Subaru do? Ignore her. Blindly continue on, selfishly, trying to make things work the way HE wants so he can have WHO he wants (Emilia). And at this point it’s really just ‘want’ because he knows absolutely nothing about her. Dude’s known her for a whole week at this point. Good for him. He’s hardly been with her for half that time. Most of the time he’s trying to save her (seriously dude, maybe she is SUPPOSED to die?) or being with Rem.
If Subaru can hear Rem’s words, have that realization about what he’s gone through, stop being arrogant and realize his flaws and finite-ness, and STILL selfishly throw Rem aside to go woo Emilia…I’m sorry, but I hope they both choke and die. Rem’s going to remain brokenhearted so Subaru can get what he wants (without even knowing if it will work out). Is that being ‘true’ to himself? Yup. Sure is. And many many people on earth do that and act that way. Is it wrong? I dunno. It’s certainly realistic. But, and here’s my point again…
It’s TOO REALISTIC. So realistic as to be un-swallowable. Sorry. That’s too bitter a pill for me to swallow. I’ve made mistakes like that in my past. I don’t relax on the couch watching anime to relive them. Fantasy needs to go beyond reality and provide an ideal and escape. Subaru has flatly failed. Which means the show has failed as a true fantasy. It’s now just ‘dark fantasy’. Ok fine. Not what I want to watch.

My experience in life has been that there ARE real heroes. People really do behave selflessly, and it DOES have good effects. There are 'good guys' even in the midst of wars, murderers generally suffer horribly and then die, and most folks are nice normal people who want to be happy and want others to be happy. Seeing as stuff like Re: Zero seems so dead-set on destroying those happy ideas, I'm done.

chilangomhs said:
Awesome episode!!! My second favorite of the series so far! 17 mins of straight dialogue and it was entirely engaging. The transgression of Subaru's state o f mind in just a single episode was masterful in my opinion. The way his emotions seem to stabilize little by little every time he retorts and listens to Rem was amazing! Had never been a complete supporter of the RemxSubaru ship , but I was fully on board with it by the end of the episode !(Only to have the ship literally seconds later :P)