English Dub Review: Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World “Stand Up”

Overview

Subaru decides to study Reid’s book of the dead in hopes of finding a way to defeat him…

Our Take

Picking up from the previous episode, Re: ZERO delivers another strong chapter that keeps the tension high while giving its characters plenty of room to shine. The story proceeds to balance intense moments with some excellent dialogue, particularly Subaru’s conversation with Julius. The extended runtime also gives the story more breathing room, making the episode feel especially substantial without an opening or ending.

The biggest highlight is easily the emotional character work, with Subaru once again finding the motivation to keep moving forward. The episode also gives several other characters memorable moments, while the animation, sound design, and voice acting remain consistently excellent. The performances in particular deserve praise, adding even more weight to some of the episode’s most emotional scenes.

Overall, this was one of the strongest episodes of the season so far. It delivers excellent character writing, some fantastic action, and an emotional moment that longtime fans have been waiting years to see. There are still plenty of confusing elements surrounding Subaru’s situation, but that mystery only makes the episode more intriguing. With its extended runtime and consistently strong presentation, this felt like Re: ZERO firing on all cylinders.