Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu 4th Season Episode 8

This episode was another rough one. I didn’t know what to expect after Subaru lost his memory, but this felt somehow feels much worse than what he experienced at the start of the series. Despite being reverted back to his over the top energy and people pleasing self, things went so much differently. Comparing this Subaru and the Subaru from episode 1 of the first season, the season 1 Subaru essentially had a clean slate so he had the chance to reinvent himself because no one knew him. Not to mention that he felt like he had a purpose after meeting Emilia. Here however, everyone already knows him and holds him in high regard and because of that, they can’t really count on him to help in their current situation. This leaves him directionless and probably feels more alone than he did when he first arrived because everyone knows him as someone he doesn’t even remember. He most likely feels like an imposter of sorts. Subaru literally respawned as a level 1 character in a dungeon that has lv 100 monsters.

Okay, so it wasn’t the stairway that caused his sudden amnesia. It really wasn’t clear from the previous episode but at least they seemed to confirm that it was because something happened in the library. Which was definitely something that had to come back into play considering the OP and it seems like that place was a lot more important to not be addressed again. Though it does make you wonder what even caused the amnesia in the first place. Was it something he saw in a book? Did someone come in and cause it? Was it because of Gluttony? Since we all know that Gluttony HAS to come into play due to being prominent in the OP. Considering Gluttony’s power has to do with memory loss, this could have something to do with them. But that also begs the question of, how did they get into the tower? What are they planning?

I legit cried out in agony upon seeing how absolutely DEVASTATED Julius looked upon finding out the last person who actually remembered him freaking lost his memory. That was probably the part of the episode that hurt the most. Not to say what Subaru went through wasn’t bad, but I just have a really big soft spot for Julius and the guy has been going through it emotionally since the start of the season. I can’t even imagine what must be running through his head right now. Especially with the awkward tension they left off on before Subaru lost his memories. Without Subaru, he essentially doesn’t exist, which is something Julius has been terrified of this entire time.

However, Julius isn’t the only one severely affected by this. Just as Subaru was the only one served as Julius’ lifeline, he’s also one for Rem. Which caused Ram to flip out HARD. On the surface, Ram was acting incredibly uncalled for. And just like Julius again, she is also desperate to get back an existence that was taken from the memory of the world. Despite not remembering her, she probably feels like something is missing and figures that Rem is the key to that hole in her heart and memories. Which is probably why she can’t even imagine Subaru forgetting Rem since she probably views him as her last hope. Though I admit I was a bit miffed when Ram says she feels sorry for Rem after the terrible state of new Subaru was in. Like gurl, he’s going through the ringer mentally and emotionally right now, show a little more compassion. Where did that episode 2 Ram go??? TAT

And just in typical rezero fashion, it went from 0 to 1000 real fast. Like that first push ending things quickly so he didn’t have to suffer, but that second push… gosh, I did not need to see that amount of graphic gore. I had to look away just like I did in episode 2. I can’t even blame Subaru for just freaking out after that second push. Though it was sad to see that Emilia putting a hand on his back triggered such a strong PTSD reaction. Even going as far as to slap Beatrice in the face. That probably hurt her more than just physically… I think they did a good job in demonstrating just how different this Subaru and the season 1 Subaru’s experiences really shaped them. Season 1 Subaru’s first deaths gave him the determination to confront the situations fueled by purpose and his sense of justice. However, here, it feels like he’s being hurt and tortured for no reason. Things are just happening to him and he doesn’t understand it. The others are looking down on him with disappointment because of his memory loss and he probably feels helpless. As he said, he was literally just living a normal life with his parents before being thrown into terrible circumstances where someone is trying to kill him and he doesn’t know why. He’s lost his connection with the others and at this point feels like he can’t trust any of them since he doesn’t know who pushed him.

Speaking of which, I really want to know who the heck pushed Subaru off the edge of the stairs… TWICE. Out of everyone in the group, it does feel like the most likely person would be Meili considering she was an enemy previously. Not to mention, during the POV of the one who pushed Subaru the second time, the camera was low. The first time he gets pushed, we can see most of the top half of him. If it were someone taller or around his height, they would have pushed him from his shoulder length. So it would have to be someone quite a bit shorter than him if it didn’t even show. In the second timeline, she is also shown walking off separately from the group. So she could have easily just hung back and waited for the opportunity for Subaru to walk a little too closely to the edge. I’m hedging my bets on Meili being the one who pushes him… unless it’s literally a character that we haven’t met yet that spawned out of nowhere. Though I think it’s also important to note that there is a little bit more of a focus on Meili during the ending compared to everyone else during the part where blood is pouring down on them with the light passing over her. So that makes her the biggest suspect at the moment. Though I guess we can’t rule out a sudden Gluttony appearance as I mentioned earlier.

As if him falling down the stairs twice was enough. He fell down the stairs a freaking THIRD time after Reid essentially tenderized his insides. Which made me super uncomfortable and I had to look away because I did not need to see an up close and personal show of how someone uses chopsticks to prepare their raw meat. I’m honestly surprised Subaru didn’t die after all of that. But of course Satella had to make it even worse for him mentally by scaring the literal crap out of him by feeling up his heart. At this point he is lamenting over the fact that he is suffering this much for essentially not washing the mug his mom wanted him to. It was honestly heartbreaking seeing just how much this Subaru lamented for not being more grateful to his parents and the life they gave him at home. Especially since pre-memory wiped Subaru had already had closure for that.

Also looks like Crunchyroll messed up their translations again because Subaru apparently wasn’t looking to die when he stepped out of the tower. He was trying to find a way to not get killed apparently. But since no one told him about the rules, him leaving the tower is 100% getting him and everyone else killed. We all knew that this would happen eventually, I just didn’t realize it was because of amnesia. Looks like the first few moments of the next episode is gonna get BLOODY. And while I do not like Shaula, I did really like the scene of her pact being activated and her just tweaking out because she’s about to kill everyone in the room because the rules were broken. It felt so eerie and is just the calm before all hell breaks loose. But why didn’t anyone explain the rules or have someone stay and watch him??? I feel like a lot of what happened could have been avoided if at least one person keep an eye on him DX. Like… come on. He didn’t need to suffer like this….