Re: Zero episode 19

Last week's episode featured a pretty tremendous level of emotional interactions (WTF does that even mean really?) and this one brings us actual plot development. Where last week we saw Subaru at arguably his lowest point, in this one he is truly a protagonist, leading the charge using his brain and the gifts he has been unwittingly given, turning disadvantages into advantages.

Let's break it down briefly scene by scene.

At the beginning of the episode Subaru , after the very long discussion with Rem in the last episode, decides to enlist Crutsch (The most worthy candidate to the throne in my opinion) to help him defend against the Roswhal Mansion raid in the near future, in order to do this he uses the accumulated information from the previous cycles to, basically manipulate Crutsch in a very well-written scene that shows Subaru finally making use of his gift (Return by Death).

It culminates with a decision to strike down the White Whale which we know is "Gluttony" possibly linked to Satella, The Jealous Witch (Yet to be revealed).

What is interesting to note here is the progression of the protagonist, Subaru has gone through many phases but he finally seems to be maturing , through use of his knowledge of events and the character of those around him, he is able to orchestrate the situation to be in his favor. This is what we call 'character development' and 'good writing' since all that is necessary for these to occur is for a character to act differently in the same scenario , using a toolset acquired from prior experience. That is Subaru.

Anyway, once this is done, we begin a small semi-montage of Crutsch's army and Crutsch herself gearing up for the fight against the White Whale;

Subaru will also go, as he remembers the time that the White Whale struck his party down two episodes ago, using his cell phone (plot point) he marks a timer that will tell the army when the enemy will appear.

Crutsch gives a boring speech.
They go through some boring travel scenes.
etc.
etc.

Eventually they reach the Jibril tree... I mean Flugel tree.... I wonder if "Flugel" means something significant in Japanese... prior to the encounter, Subaru and Rem talk some more where Rem triggers flag after flag cementing her status as "Best girl"

Subaru being dumber than a sack of bricks doesn't get the message that Rem wants the D.

Anyway, the time finally arrives, the cell phone plays a strangely playful but ominous melody and the army see's nothing.... for a moment we're left to wonder if the White Whale will truly appear or if Subaru will come off as a complete jackass, having failed so terribly, leading to being exised from Crutsch's council and having failed to rouse a resistance force to defend Roswhal Mansion. This 'blank time' was a brilliant move by the director, building suspense and a fantastic atmosphere of doubt, dread and potential failure.

Then suddenly....

We end on a promise for battle in the next episode.


Basically this episode is the culmination of the past 4 episode story-arc where Subaru basically acts like a jackass and fails, over and over. This time he prevails using his fore-knowledge of events and characters, finally taking his role as shijinko (Protagonist) and using his power accordingly. The episode suffered from severe pacing issues (As if that wasn't apparent by the incredibly brief overview of this episode which covered pretty much everything). The only thing I omitted was some slight Crutsch and co. character development (Ex: Astrea bodyguard backstory) but they have so little to do with the main plot that it really doesn't matter. Also worth noting that several characters displayed hatred of the White Whale for consuming other people which contradicts an earlier plot point where everyone except Subaru would forget about victims of the White Whale, was this Satella's doing? who the fuck is Satella? we still don't know and we seem to be going nowhere fast (Horribly slow pacing); I suspect the last episode will be the reveal.

Anyway the pacing issues have been cropping up , but were especially bad last episode and this one as well. The thing they're covered by fantastic character development and interactions (I.e. Episode 18 Rem/Subaru talk) and in this case plot development (Raising an army against the White Whale) , pacing can suffer if they give us something in return which in this case, they did.


So carry on Re: Zero, you've built up a fabulous scenario, let's see if the pay off is worth it.