English Dub Review: Re:ZERO ~Starting Life in Another World~ ”STRAIGHT BET”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Otto knocks some sense into Subaru on reaching out for help. After Subaru tells him what he could, he goes to Roswaal for a final confrontation. They make a bet that he’ll be able to save both the people in the mansion and the Sanctuary. Roswaal then gives him information on when both attacks will take place: three days from then. Subaru then goes to Ryuzu Alma for more information on Garfiel. Afterward, he goes to Emilia who discusses a memory before Puck rescued her from the ice she was sleeping in. She doesn’t remember her parents but had someone like a mother. After Emilia reveals her reason for being in the Royal Selection to save those villagers encased in ice she falls asleep.

Subaru then gets Puck’s attention to ask about what happened in Emilia’s past. Emilia wakes up and Puck admits that he’s been trying to break the contract between them. Once their contract breaks, the seal of her memories will break as well as Puck consols her. Garfiel talks with Ryuzu Shima on Emilia while Subaru stays with Emilia at her request. The next day Garfiel sees that the people are looking for Emilia and he searches for Shima only to encounter Otto at the crystal where the original Ryuzu is encased. Subaru finds Emilia in the trial’s graveyard and he says that they need to have a talk.

Our Take:

Re: Zero starts off with a bit of information gathering from Subaru after a good talk with Otto. He makes a bet with Roswaal to save everyone and lays down the groundwork for getting Garfiel’s trust and getting Emilia to open up about her past. Each event in the episode is quite nice with Subaru gathering information.

Otto pick-ups Re: Zero from the last episode and he goes on how Subaru should rely on his friends and asking him specifically for help. Furthermore, Otto believing in Subaru’s words like a true friend is great. I did find it amusing with him hiding in the trees while holding two tree branches when Subaru confronts Roswaal. Then there’s his role in confronting Garfiel at the Ryuzu crystal for a few questions. I enjoyed how Otto got a bit more screen time even as a minor character. On a minor note, it’s great that the show doesn’t going back to explain the events of the first half and opts for an off-screen explanation of the situation from Subaru to Otto.

Then there’s Roswaal and Subaru’s bet on their wishes. Subaru’s condition against Roswaal is that if he wins Roswaal will part with the book and for his corporation in the future for Emilia’s run in the Royal Selection. It’s a simple demand which Roswaal has some disbelief over, but Subaru doesn’t intend to forgive the older man for planning the deadly tasks. Subaru burying those emotions to get what he wants is mature and greedy of him to expect that everything will go his way which Roswaal points out. That comment has Subaru recalls Echidna before he gets Roswaal’s agreement to the bet. He even gets Roswaal to remind him that he has three days to stop the attacks.

Emilia confiding in Subaru about her memory was touching and it’s nice to see Subaru having a moment with her. Even though we don’t see Puck and Subaru talk we get Puck’s comment on being happy that Subaru’s relying on him. It works in emphasizing Subaru’s actions on relying on other people in this loop per Otto’s advice.

Then when Puck breaks his contract with Emilia and that it’s utterly heartbreaking for Emilia. He says that he’s entrusting her to someone who cares about her almost as much as he does: Subaru. Kayli Mills does a great job when Emilia calls the people that claim to love her liars for not keeping their promise. The detail on Emilia’s past memories with the ice around the edges in those scenes and the way the voice of Mother Fortuna spoke when Puck break the contract was good. It’s small things like that which bring Re: Zero on another level from most isekai animes.

Then there’s Garfiel who’s scared of the outside despite his desire to see the barrier around the Sanctuary broken. Subaru gains a bit of information on his family history which appears to be the key in getting Garfiel’s help. However, Garfiel’s trial in the graveyard is still unknown and a huge factor in his fear of the outside. Hopefully, Subaru will find a way to connect with Garfiel for the upcoming battles.

Overall this episode picks up after the last and doesn’t let go of the stakes at hand with the investigation. I look forward to seeing how Otto will go against Garfiel. Hopefully, Subaru and Emilia talking in the graveyard will help her to continue with the trial even without him nearby.