This is such an interesting take on Subaru as things have caused such a distinct difference in how things affects Subaru mentally and emotionally. The version of Subaru we see here is like trying to feel his way in the dark without direction. Not only that, but I think what really effected him was while in Season 1 there was a clear antagonist that he could focus on and he found someone he wanted to protect. However, here, the issue is that Subaru has no idea who it was that pushed him and because he doesn’t know any of the others anymore, everyone is a suspect. It’s honestly sad to see the bonds he spent several seasons building is just gone and he can’t trust anyone. With the paranoia that anyone could be out to get him and the trauma of his previous deaths, it does make sense why he seems so much more deranged than how he started in season 1. Even going as far as to warp his perception of them. There has been so much fear ingrained into him in a short amount of time, I can’t blame him for lashing out despite it being really sad to see.
I feel like this season I just cannot for the life of me predict anything that will happen. While something bad did happen, it did not go the way I expected. I thought Shaula was about to go on a killing spree, but it looks like something else ended up happening. Especially since Subaru ends up finding her dead body on the ground along with the others scattered through out the tower. Though it is a bit concerning that we didn’t see Emilia or Beatrice. What happened to them? And if Emilia does end up being killed, would that trigger Puck’s destruction of the world plan again? Or would that not happen anymore because he broke his contract with her? Or would Satella come into play again? Either way, it is both concerning and suspicious why Subaru never saw her after a massacre. However, the biggest wth is probably “Rem” appearing behind Subaru and killing him. Though I’m pretty sure someone is either pretending to be her or possessing her body since we did see Ram hunched over the empty wheelchair.
When Patrasche ended up sacrificing herself to save Subaru again, this was the first time someone went out of their way to protect him after his memory got wiped. So of course Subaru was gonna attach himself to the one person or creature in this case he knew he could trust. Though I will say it made me so sad and distressed to see Subaru’s first response upon seeing Emilia was to try and choke her. The fact that this was the girl season 1 Subaru desperately wanted to protect at all costs, only for the memory wiped Subaru to want to kill her is just heartbreaking. But I guess seeing him afraid of everyone else he built strong bonds with is equally heartbreaking. Especially when he literally needed Shaula in the vicinity to even talk to Julius because he was afraid of him. Just rip out my heart and throw it to the floor why don’t you DX. Granted, that bond is already strained at the moment due to unfortunate circumstances despite the two having grown closer literally the day before. UGH, it was going so well and now it’s awkward again T^T. Just let these two be friends gosh dang it.
Though the thing that also has me confused as to why Subaru seems to be “glitching” where he’s ended up in random places without continuity. Such as when he was transported back to the tower after he got stuck in the miasma filled tunnel. And then again at the end where it cuts off after his talk with Meili to her strangled to death seemingly by him. Like what is going on in this episode???? Is he also getting possessed at random intervals now too??? Especially with the reveal of someone cutting “Subaru Natsuki was here” on his freaking arm. Are there two Subaru’s inside him? Is the old one trying to come back? Or is there another entity at work. There are so many things happening and I just really want to know what in the world is going on.
