English Dub Review: Re: ZERO ~Starting Life in Another World~ ”The Beginning of the Sanctuary and the Beginning of the End“

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Roswaal tells of his tale of romance from four hundred years ago with Echidna. Their happy days in the Sanctuary end with the arrival of the Devil of Melancholy, Hector. They don’t have the strength to fight the man, so Ryuzu Meyer offers to be the core of the Sanctuary’s barrier to keep Hector out. While Roswaal battles Hector, he loses, and Echidna steps in to give Beatrice and Ryuzu Meyer time. Beatrice and Ryuzu Meyer get to the crystal of the barrier. Ryuzu Meyer thanks Beatrice before becoming the core of the barrier as Beatrice sadly parts with her friend.

In the present Subaru tries to get Roswaal to surrender but fails as Roswaal refuses to let go of his goal. Roswaal comments on how bringing Otto into the picture and getting Garfiel to side with Subaru won’t change his plans. Roswaal and Subaru clash on their belief in love and its strengths and weaknesses. Subaru admits that they’re alike when Roswaal comments on forcing their ideals on the women they love. Roswaal claims to still have the advantage in their wager as Subaru leaves with the others.

Our Take:

This episode does a great job of explaining Roswaal’s love for Echidna and how much it drives him. There’s also the creation of the barrier, and Roswaal and Subaru’s belief in love when the episode returns to the present.

From the start, we get Roswaal’s first meeting with Echidna. She helps him with his magic release period by kissing him to draw out his mana. Even with the gray filter Roswaal’s blush breaks through it emphasizing his budding feelings for the witch. Even in the happy days with Beatrice and Ryuzu Meyer, Roswaal claims his love for Echidna even as a student under Echidna’s mentorship. It’s quite effective at showing why Roswaal is willing to go through such length in the present.

The arrival of Hector ends those happy days as the group has to consider countermeasures to fend off the Devil of Melancholy. Roswaal later takes Hector’s mannerisms after his defeat by the gloomy man, who appears to have a connection with Echidna. Re: Zero does have a thing for not showing the character’s eyes in crucial moments. It works well to hide Echidna’s emotions as Ryuzu Meyer makes her choice to be the catalyst for the barrier. The method also maximizes the emotions of the characters through their voices as it did with Beatrice when she has to say goodbye to Ryuzu Meyer.

Now Beatrice and Ryuzu Meyer’s parting was heartbreaking. The music with Beatrice’s realization that Ryuzu is going to sacrifice herself to become the barrier’s core further emphasizes her emotional turmoil. The fact that she tries to figure out ways to prevent it by going to Echidna or using her Door Crossing to run speaks volumes about her desire to not part with Ryuzu Meyer. Beatrice even uses her promise to teach Ryuzu Meyer to read and write as a last attempt to convince Ryuzu Meyer not to go with the process.

Unlike Beatrice, Ryuzu Meyer refuses to run. She considers that she’s had enough happy memories to sacrifice herself and create a place for everyone to stay. Her choice repays Echidna, Roswaal for their care, and Beatrice for her friendship. Ryuzu Meyer even says her nickname for Beatrice which makes their goodbye even sadder.

Roswaal and Subaru’s debate on feelings and their belief in love was good. Roswaal stubbornly holds on to his belief that a person can only cling to one desire. They can’t obtain anything else if they truly want that desire to happen. It speaks volumes about how his fight with Hector changed him. His comment on Garfiel’s feelings and how easily he changed sides merely shows that their feelings are weak in comparison to his love for Echidna. Garfiel and Subaru try to convince Roswaal that it’s okay to let go of his plans with their experiences. In contrast to Roswaal’s belief, Subaru’s belief in the strength of feelings helps him overcomes the challenges with the others.  However, they fail to convince him and the discussion comes to an end.

Overall the episode gives more detail to the creation of the Sanctuary, Roswaal’s love, and Beatrice’s friendship with Ryuzu Meyer. It does a great job in hitting those emotional beats in the conversations.