Good Loser

Today, September 16, is the birthday of Re:ZERO’s Roswaal L. Mathers! Every year, the flowers that arrive for Roswaal’s birthday make me think, “Those colors can be paired together!?” They really fill me with excitement. Thank you, as always! https://t.co/3pQfPEx4xo

All right! It’s time for Re:ZERO again this week! Last time, we had the episode titled “Natsuki Subaru,” tackled one of Arc 6’s major themes, and at last, our protagonist has returned! From here! Can he turn things around!? Let’s enjoy this week’s episode too!

From that nostalgic self-introduction to Emilia-tan’s sobat kick. The two have finally reunited, and since Emilia’s question comes after she has understood what happened, that Subaru will surely be properly rewarded too.

Our protagonist has regained both his “memories” and his bangs. Even so, the situation remains urgent… a Magical Beast stampede, “Gluttony” and Reid roaming about, Shaula going berserk—and it’s not as if they’ve found a way to deal with all of that. Or at least, that’s how it seems—but is it really?

Still, it’s moving that we’ve finally reached the point where we understand almost everything in the OP visuals, which initially contained so much we didn’t understand! …With two episodes left, will the OP still play? Today may be the last possibility. And what will happen with that, too…?

For Beatrice, the Subaru just before this was the Subaru who had become unable to move after repeatedly Returning by Death, so she must have been truly shocked to see him come back healthy like this. Including the fact that she doesn’t recognize the Emilia beside him.

Emilia had her “name” eaten and was forgotten by those around her, but the fact that Subaru remembers her has an extraordinarily huge effect. It must hurt that Ram and Beatrice have forgotten her, but she feels, “We can do something about this… no, we will!” That’s how powerful Subaru-power is.

Emilia searching for signs that let her feel Subaru has returned is adorable.

The condition for Shaula to enter her berserk state is that someone has broken the rules of the “Trial,” and the greatest rule-breaker in this situation is Roy Alphard’s takeover of Reid. Taking Reid out of a place he normally cannot leave is a clear violation of the rules.

From Emilia-tan’s kick, it’s straight into a direct showdown with Shaula. Along with the unexpected reinforcements—the Horse King—it’s battle, battle! This development really shows just how ridiculously overpowered Meili-senpai’s “Divine Protection of Beast Taming” is.

Meanwhile, it’s Julius vs. Reid, and the fact that Reid is holding chopsticks in both hands here is proof that Julius is putting up a better fight than in their first battle, at the very least. Though perhaps it’s less that Julius is fighting well and more that Reid is simply in the mood.

Since Reid is, in a sense, still bound by the rules of his role as examiner for the “Trial,” he cannot lay a hand on Emilia, who cleared the “Trial,” even if her “name” has been forgotten. That said, if Emilia did something like charge in and punch him, I think he would properly defend himself and strike back.

With that one remark from the current Echidna, Julius correctly realizes that Subaru has returned too. What an elegant man.

As I mentioned once before, Reid’s eyepatch does not mean he actually cannot see out of that eye. It’s a handicap he gives himself because “if I don’t at least keep one eye covered, nobody can be a match for me, and that’s boring.”

The camera shifts to Lye Batenkaitos. Waiting to meet him is Ram, acting on Subaru’s instructions—“Squeal like a pig and die” is a line I really love.

Reid’s eyes can probably see how much an opponent is capable of and how much potential they have. Julius still has plenty of power he can draw out. That’s why Reid comes after him every time, in every loop.

Reid’s view is that you should cast aside who you’ve been, break out of your shell, and shed it all. Julius’s view, in contrast, is that he won’t abandon himself or break his shell—he’ll wear it and grow stronger.

Julius had his “name” eaten and was forgotten even by the quasi-spirits, but although their memories were gone, the bond of their contracts remained alive. This left them in a highly unnatural state, but by deliberately ending those contracts once and then forming them anew, Julius was able to move forward.

“Now then—” “Whatever.” “—Here I come!!”

Julius, who normally commands all six attributes, comes into his own by enhancing his own abilities with Yang magic, lowering his opponent’s with Yin magic, manipulating terrain and nature through each attribute, and cleaving through everything with an unrivaled strike that unites multiple attributes. This battle is him throwing all of that at Reid with everything he has.

Anastasia and Eridona’s meeting was briefly depicted in the mini anime as well. The two met inside a dragon carriage when Anastasia was young, so the inner landscape here is also inside a dragon carriage—indeed, a refrain of when they first met. It’s such a wonderful piece of direction.

Just as Eridona said, the reason Anastasia had stayed shut away inside herself and never emerged was so that, under the influence of the Authority of “Gluttony,” she would not forget Julius.

The battle between Julius and Reid ended with Reid’s full power proving too much for none other than Roy Alphard’s body to withstand, preventing him from showing his true abilities and allowing Julius to get away with the win.

After uttering the words that gave Julius his final strength, Anastasia, too, forgot Julius. But no matter how many first meetings they may have, Julius will surely never waver again. The first “Sword Saint” remembered his name, he renewed his bonds with the quasi-spirits, and he resolved to become worthy of his lord.

And at last, what Emilia saw upon reaching the first floor was an utterly unexpected presence—someone she never imagined would be there. That being introduced itself by name, and its existence alone had been hinted at ever since Season 1. Now, it is time to be tested. Bring it on.

Julius Juukulius is not the Juukulius family’s original rightful heir, but the child of the current head’s sibling, who ran away from home. After his parents died in a disaster, Julius was taken in by the main family and, in place of the frail Joshua, was educated as the eldest child, leading to where he is today.

And with that, the battle with Reid is settled! The hardships and recovery of Julius Juukulius, depicted from the end of Season 3 throughout Season 4, have at last been told for the time being! Of course, problems still remain, but as you have seen, his heart has become an unbreakable sword. What a truly wonderful episode it was—!

Well then, thanks for joining me again this week. Only two episodes of season four remain. There are still obstacles to overcome, but I can really feel the end drawing near. So let’s get ourselves ready to watch a climax that’s sure to be full of power and intensity! See you next week!! Next week’s going to be incredible too, you know?