Although I'm going to write a review that might be a bit unfavorable, or at the very least, very much less rose colored than some others, there can be no denying that Re:Zero is full of gut wrenching scenes moments after I laughed my heart out.
STORY: 6/10
Let's rip the band-aid off immediately. You could argue that this is a show about knights, sorcery, dark fantasy, kingdom politics, or any and all of the above. You would be wrong. Re:Zero is a dark romance dressed up in all the frills of all of those things, but it is not, at any point, any one of those things in truth. The show lies to you. It pulls at your heartstrings and promises a great many things, but it never once delivers on any of them.
It tries to do way too many things at once. Overpromise, underdeliver.
As spoiler free as possible, you have Subaru/Emilia, Subaru/Rem, Subaru/Knights, Subaru/Betty, Subaru/Crusch, Subaru/Subaru, Subaru/Betelguese, Subaru/Wilhem. It's all well and good to have a connected character with lots of side plots and overarching storylines and where everyone has their own individual past and history, but this show is rife with unnecessary information that provides no benefit or bonus.
It spends a very long time building your hopes and then crushing them, as acutely and precisely as possible.
ART: 9/10
Nothing negative here. The show is gorgeous. It's fluidly done, the scenes are well composed and thought out. The attention to detail is really wonderful.
SOUND: 8/10
Again nothing negative. Great music and effects.
CHARACTER: 7/10
There are a lot of them. There are so many. And I care about and am interested in all of them. But none of them will ever be treated with any dignity or respect. They spend maybe 3-4 episodes on each (with the exception of one or two of them) and then you NEVER see that character again. Nothing ever comes of being introduced to anyone. They are only briefly useful and then they cease to exist. So while I really like them when they're around, they aren't around long enough to matter. It makes for a lot of loose ends.
ENJOYMENT: 8/10
I know I've done nothing but complain, but I did really enjoy the show. It was engaging and kept me desperate to learn more. I kept wanting to see everyone's storylines wrap up or become something. The only sour note is that it ends. It ends and there isn't any satisfaction in it.
OVERALL: 7/10
You need to go into this anime knowing that you will not get a satisfying ending. None of the loose ends will be tied up. Nothing will ever be clarified. Nothing will ever come of any of Subaru's interactions with anyone but Emilia.
Like I said at the beginning of my review... this anime is a love story. It's a dark romance about Subaru and Emilia, everything else in between is fluff. It's the story of his journey to become a man worthy of her and her love and affection. Everything else is just bonus.
