Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu Episode 14 Discussion

AmejiHunter said:


The thing is, it doesn't seem like the author wants us to like Subaru, but to pretty much hate him. To be honest, I prefer despising a character because of what he does than liking him, because I feel like it brings more entertainment.

I'm not sure if I'm being clear enough/if I'm able to explain correctly, but the main reason why I've loved those past episodes is because I came to react to the way Subaru does things and to actually hate him for being such an annoying prick. Also makes the other characters show another side, with everyone (even Rem) being against him instead of always taking care of him.

Also shows how he changes and how the ''I'm immortal'' thing makes him feel like he's god or something. He thinks everyone needs him while he did almost nothing at all.

HikariGo said:
Based on the OP and what I have watched so far, my guess is that the reason Subaru is so drawn to Emilia is due to the Jealous Witch presence/hold over him.

I assume the Jealous Witch wants to take over Emilia's body, as hers is sealed away, and that Subaru is her unwitting pawn to make that happen.

Who knows, I may be completely wrong, but just trying to make sense of Subaru's utter devotion to Emilia and a few events in the OP and anime.

HikariGo said:
Who knows, I may be completely wrong, but just trying to make sense of Subaru's utter devotion to Emilia and a few events in the OP and anime.

AmejiHunter said:


Also shows how he changes and how the ''I'm immortal'' thing makes him feel like he's god or something. He thinks everyone needs him while he did almost nothing at all.

Jagd84 said:


She save his life+give him a home and then feel for her. It's because of her kindness he found a place in this world to live when everybody tried to either rob or kill him.

wakka9ca said:
I guess if you made character too perfect then it becomes "wish fulfillment". I find it funny some viewers thought Subaru was a "wish-fulfillment" character. Oh boy they were so wrong.



I interpret Subaru as actually going insane from the stress of his death experience and suffering. I really don't think he even likes Emilia that much but more of an obsession like a stalker does. I think he will get worse and worse until an epiphany will make him a much better character to redeem himself. It seems the author wanted to go a different and harsher route in character development.

MetaphyskalHuntR said:
My opinion on the matter concurs with those who say that the past few episodes the MC's "annoying behavior, out of nowhere" are NOT out of nowhere.
In fact, it's quite the contrary - and perhaps this is the purpose of the show:

Given how MC's ability of rebirth after death, which can admittedly significantly reduce the conflict, tension, death and tradgedy (since the viewer knows we can reset - for now at least )- it is my opinion that this recent behavior, and possibly main theme throughout the show, is to illustrate just how traumatic psychologically witnessing the horrors of the dark side humanity is for anyone, but especially our MC. I believe that the emphasis of the show is not politics or fantasy, but of psychological exploration of the highs and lows of humanity. I agree with those who say this is about escapism - to a degree. However, I would add that this is about witnessing the psychological evolution, the lack of understanding mental illness, the isolation it can bring even between you and your closest relationships, and perseverance needed to keep moving forward even while having your hopes crushed.
I don't think I have articulated fully this assessment, so look at these points below which are what I'm using to base this claim on:


He was a NEET (so he has not assimilated socially to say the least, so his past is likely complex but we can conclude he was probably isolated),
who has been plucked from his home into a fantasy world (so no friends/ comfort zone),
Though he thought his familiarity with video games he would be able to master/ predict/ succeed in parallel world (a sense of hope and new high of starting life in an environment he prefers and is familiar with),
The idea that he will encounter and win the true love of a damsel in distress (a high of being given an escape from his isolation),
The opportunity to matter and make a difference via his helping Emilia and the lost child in the beginning (a high of having a sense of self worth, value, and mattering in this world),

But then from that point on of building up hope and restoring the MC's confidence while also his character's false sense of believing he is no longer isolated or insignificant: it has been an ever increasing in severity- in the gradations, the damage and assault on his Ego, identity, and psychology.

So after the initial highs, it is important to remember that he had a cause/goal/faith in Emilia that keeps him going. Nevertheless, here are the lows that take him to his previous psychological depths and beyond:


Being unable to save himself or someone he cares for, repeatedly (weakness and witnessing horrible brutality and tragedy),
Having once reached the (presumably) new heights for the first time of being close to Emilia, and building other friendships (this is a NEET, they matter a lot) , yet no one remembering and still not trusting you,
been given a power/curse of revival, but not allowed to tell anyone about (further isolation AND having being forced to face not only your shortcomings but their dire consequences),
Having the stench of the witch (being discriminated by those he cares for, and not understanding why),
Not understand your circumstances, no one to help you, and no one trusts you (another obvious low),
Being helpless to the curse, and witnessing everyone being killed due to his own self preservation (another horrible low),
Seeing twin sisters suffering past and witnessing their deaths in his place,
Having children attacked and being again, powerless. Though at the same time your friend suffers to save you(this must be hard),
I'm sure there are more but you get the picture, this guy has been through and seen so much...those images likely haunt him, as does the sense of powerlessness.

Yet through all of that the pillar that kept his sanity was his relationship and hope of a future with Emilia.

But then the breaking point is these past few episodes, which IMO explains perfectly his recent unpleasant behavior - his thinking is obviously skewed- because his pillar Emilia doesn't understand him in this time line the way he prefers, and she chose to abandon him. This is what leads to this psychological break and why he is now selfishly acting like an annoying ass. But the poster who said this was due to his delusions and skewed thinking is spot on for the above mentioned, and many other reasons.

That's why, IMO - this shows main theme is dealing with the psychological evolution of not only war, politics, and romance but also adolescence, isolation, and mental illness.

bigpoppa said:


so you watch stuff u dont like just to criticize it? sad life

MetaphyskalHuntR said:


That's why, IMO - this shows main theme is dealing with the psychological evolution of not only war, politics, and romance but also adolescence, isolation, and mental illness.

AnimeFan1022937 said:
What i wanna know is why the witch cult just surrounded him and then let him live? Any one explain confused aff

AnimeFan1022937 said:
What i wanna know is why the witch cult just surrounded him and then let him live? Any one explain confused aff

FononZero said:


if you count shinimodori as still being alive? :P

Though I guess the possibility of her living is still there... but I'm pretty sure Subaru's going to reset soon so he can get to the village/mansion in time.

FononZero said:


I don't think killing himself is going to make him less crazy (but we know he's gonna have to do it sooner or later anyway). I kind of wonder if he's going to get worse tbh. This episode, he also seemed a lot meaner / colder towards some people (especially Reinhardt).

Fappa said:
I'm surprised that some people don't see how Subaru not grasping the situation he is in nor learning from last episode is a sign for his mental illness. He is literally mentally broken right now which results in this lost sense of reality.

He has become fanatic in his idea of reality, his idea of truth that he rejects everyone who tries to deny that truth.

On the one side the words of Emilia resonate in his head and keep bringing him down to reality but on the other side Subaru lives in denial towards the truth. This clearly show us that this whole obsession with Emilia is no mere quirk in his personality no it actually has reached a scale where you can call it a mental illness. He rejects anything that goes against his own truth and even the people themselves. He interprets others' attempts at trying to keep him safe as shortsighted or that they think nothing of him. And not only that, he justifies it all by reasons that no one else will ever trust. No one can believe in that or even cares enough about Emilia to be her ally. Note how every person who tried to talk against his own beliefs got majorly rejected by him. Reinhard…Kadomon ( Apple merchant ), Crusch & Ferris and at last Rem. Personally I love that development or rather the negative development as this is how humans are sometimes, especially in a mentally unstable condition. They become stubborn and don’t give up on their belief until they have to pay a prize for it. Of course this is taken to an extreme level in anime but it replicates a natural development.

You can actually see how he starts to develop some kind of escapism when he walks through the village. Subaru opens the door the first time how there is a corpse sitting in the chair but Subaru just stares at it and closes the door. The second door he opens bumps against a corpse. You can hear the foot steps walking through blood. In these very first seconds Subaru lives in denial to what actually has happened here. He started to develop some sort of escapism but got knocked out of it once he physically interacted with one of the corpses and perceived the horror around him completely.

ParadoxicalNocte said:

Red_Ranger_Wien said:

3) People watch stuff they don't like all the time. It's called being a critic. Well-rounded people don't live in an echo chamber where only things they like are allowed.

worldeditor11 said:
I would like to know what kind of torture our characters will be facing in the next episode. Like the physical kind. Chopping your fingers off, rape whatever.

Kaizo16 said:
Who are theses guys with masks?