The Men of Re:Zero - How Not to Suck

[@e-male896]

In isekai quartet there's an episode where they give all of reinharts powers in a wall of text and one of them I kid you not is having the ability to never confuse salt and sugar

[@brom3004]

Hence why he is too op

[@monochromeart7311]

even sending him to space won't defeat him, he won't stop thinking

[@e-male896]

@@monochromeart7311 Is that a jojo reference

[@day6stan]

The first attack that targets Reinhardt misses, and so does the second, and so does any attack after the second.

[@cseijifja]

Thats a gag because emilia actually constantly confuses those too, hence she sucks at cooking.

[@Oh_Phoenix]

I’m really happy with Subaru’s character growth. He’s is becoming a better person, but the authors know that you can’t just instantly switch up your whole personality, so his growth is slow and steady. He’s a much better person in s2 but he still has his classic Subaru mistakes from time to time, because he’s a human.

[@goldenangel158]

I agree at first I hated him but I started liking his character later on

[@yoshistover5881]

I really wasn't expecting the author to make a big issue out of Subaru not asking for help. But honestly I'm glad they did. I really appreciate that the author broke Subaru by making it seem like all he has is his return by death. Then proceeds to break him by making him have faith in himself, and the others around him.

[@goldenangel158]

@@yoshistover5881 yea it was great and can't wait to see more

[@crapcase3985]

I do feel like he's more mature in the WN as its explained that it takes a lot more to get him physically angry and hes better at reading between the lines which is especially the case with roswaal in the sanctuary.

[@goldenangel158]

@@crapcase3985 oh yeah

[@Vasharan]

You guys did Julius a disservice with this video. He is considered the "knight of knights", a paragon of chivalry even above Reinhard, a hard-earned title that Reinhard openly acknowledges to Julius. Julius didn't engage in a duel with Subaru simply to punish him or to uphold the honor of the knighthood. He also did it to prevent any other knights from seeking their own vengeance against Subaru, as he was afraid that they might go too far and actually kill him. This was one of the reasons he deliberately went too far himself in punishing Subaru, turning the act of chastising Subaru into a shameful display of unwarranted violence so that no one else would think that it was "honorable" to seek revenge against Subaru. His actions caused his own honor to be sullied, and he was punished by the knight commander as a consequence. He even declined to defend or explain his reasons for doing so to protect the honor of the knighthood. So yes, Julius does like to needle Subaru from time to time, but he is a character who is willing to sacrifice his own reputation to protect an obnoxious upstart as well as his own underlings. He does this without the self-serving justifications that Subaru uses to rationalize his actions, and when the time came, Julius immediately offers his help for the greater good (putting down the Witch Cult) without hesitation. Compared to Reinhard, Julius thinks and cares about upholding his station and protecting the men under him far more. Reinhard couldn't understand why Julius challenged Subaru to a duel, because he didn't think that far ahead, and even after the duel, did not understand Julius' motivations for doing so. Reinhard being Reinhard, he of course tries to patch things up between Julius and Subaru afterwards, but again, Reinhard being Reinhard, doesn't try to understand the parties involved, and makes a right mess of the attempt. One thing I love about the books is that they imply that Reinhard actually has a lot of personal shortcomings and regrets, he is not himself a perfect being despite his OP stats.

[@tirzakharisma3566]

Haha "Reinhard being Reinhard". I love that.

[@akshatdwivedi2675]

Great answer. This actually summarises what kind of person Julius is, and also giving us an insight of how Reinhard also has his shortcomings. I wish I could save this answer

[@thanglongnguyenvu3815]

I knew I was not wrong about that man. A straight man, I may be but only Julius I dare call my husbando.

[@eugine3055]

He loves life so much that he can't stop clicking the replay button.

[@yphoenix5957]

Like a loop, the 69th like!

[@EtamirTheDemiDeer]

It’s rewind time

[@hellblaze10]

its more like restart button is broken and he can't make it stop

[@imliterallygarfield]

He's stuck on a graphic video, sure it starts out nice but everytime it ends its something that haunts his soul, but it keeps repeating.... Poor guy

[@StarryxNight5]

It's just that the replay button is in the back of his throat and only can be pressed with a knife!

[@Toporshik]

Well, Julius beats up Subaru not only because of his own desires and willingness to defend the institute of knighthood. Julius does this acturally for Subaru's sake. Beacause openly defying one of the society's foundational institutions means that a lot of people will be pissed and a lot of people would want to take revenge on that person. That's why Julius battles Subaru in public - he wants to make it so everyone feels that transgression have been punished by someone with proper authority. In Julius' eyes he saved Subaru's life. There was an entire sociall class of people (heavily armed and trained from the childhood to kill people) who wanted Subaru's death. Beating him senslessly and publically was the only way to let him get away with what he said.

[@npc6817]

now I don't think a knight would've stooped so low (julius _was_ reprimanded after all) but yeah, no doubt he did that for his sake

[@mathiasrosier660]

@@npc6817 In the light novels, it was mentioned by multiple characters including Ferris, Julius and his boss that the newer younger knights would have stood so low.

[@gsgaming6976]

Yeah I paused the video and scrolled down to the comments just to make sure this was noted. Makes Julius just that much better of a person that he actually really stopped enjoying it when it became apparent that Subaru was just sincere, stubborn, and incredibly naive.

[@greeniedi6287]

But why would Julius try to save Subaru at this point? They barely knew eachother.

[@Toporshik]

​@@greeniedi6287, I'm not sure myself. I think that the reason is an inherit "goodness'', maybe even a hint of altruism (or knighthood?) of Julius's character. Reinhard didn't know Subaru as well in the first ark, but he still helped him with those thugs. I know, altruism and beating does not stand together in one sentence well, but it's my working theory. And also helping someone does not neccessary exclude your enjoyment. Julius might have thought: "Someone has to punish this kid. If I do it, I get to enjoy wiping his arrogant smile from his face. And hey, at least I make sure that he does not die, because anyone else might kill him."

[@DireConsenquences]

But you will learn that many of the men in the series have their own issues. Reinhard is, for example, obsessed with fate and heroism. Everything he does is only because 'that's what a hero should do' - he has no personality of his own. " You are a true hero" " And a hero is all you can be!"

[@Featheryfaith7]

Spoilers Thank you! And he has psyche issues if you have read arc 1 web novel. He sounded stressed out since he has a high reputation for being related to sword saints. The high expectations from people around him. I pretty much said it himself, kind of like Shinji from Evangelian. Rein is just good at hiding it. Calm and collected like a OP hero. In pride route, the only way that Subaru broke Reinhard was his reputation and expectations of him.

[@Featheryfaith7]

@Tum Tum I don't know if they will in the anime. Maybe in the light novels. I didn't know the side light novels existed besidee the main story. If I had money, I would buy them.

[@voice-less]

He is not really obsessed with heroism, but his will is the will of what the people want him to do, if he was obsessed with heroism he would have already killed the great mabeasts, destroyed the witche's cult, saved tye country from any danger really, but he doesn't, he doesn't do anything, he never did anything, the only time he acts is when trouble presents itself in front of him, as long he isn't observing it, it doesn't exist, he only killed puck after puck destroyed more than half of the world. Well this is just the character he is, obsessed with what other people want him to do, that he ends up not doing anything.

[@castleofshadows]

@@Featheryfaith7 Omg that makes sense! It's like reinhard is not what he wants to be but what he should be, what broke him is not that Subaru burned the world it's that he destroyed reinhard's whole purpose and everything he cared for, and everyone who acknowledged him

[@Featheryfaith7]

@@voice-less Knights do as their told. Heros do the same. Knights are seen as heros. So yeah. The knight culture is just plot armor. He is obsessed with being a hero. He mercy killed Theresa when he was a child. He just couldn't do what he wanted because he had orders as a knight. Plot armor.

[@ernestotorelli1209]

You completely botched Julius and Reinhardt's characters by focusing so much on the heriarchy aspect. Julius beating Subaru and hurting his own reputation is purely for the sake of Subaru, not the kingdom. He didn't want all the other knights to punish Subaru even more than he would in the mock duel. He always sacrifices his knightlyhood for his own personal honor code, which is what paradoxically makes him the knightlies of knights. Reinhardt on the other hand feels the huge burden of his heritage and admires Subaru for the spontaneity of his intentions, so he's not an univocally better foil for Subaru, and his best qualities don't actually come from his heritage anyway, but from his good natured character that keep him virtuous and loved by all in spite of his responsabilities.

[@tangytarter8674]

I noticed this channel tries to insert politics and buzzwords into stories instead of just talking about them way too often, and that makes him end up creating miss conceptions about characters.

[@Melonese]

Agreed, had Julius not beaten the shit out of Subaru there he would have been killed

[@tangytarter8674]

@jocaguz18 How is giving a youtuber criticism being a tool?

[@RedrumZombies]

@jocaguz18 nah you are the tool

[@swordyshield]

@jocaguz18 buddy. U are the tool.

[@franciscobaltazarlabranago6248]

4:06 Hol' up, I disagree with this point here. Sure, Subaru was pretty much outclassed by everyone involved in that battle, but he didn't just hide in a corner during the entire fight, in fact, he was a pretty big asset in it, saving Felt's life two times and saving Emilia in the end, Reinhard even praises him while he's getting healed after the fight is over

[@thantus9315]

You should take a look into the novels if you want to continue this topic in a second video (probably with this new season), as there is content sadly not adapted to really flesh out the characters. Wilhelm, of course, has an entire spinoff series, so there's a lot to look there, but even with Julius there's a deeper reason as to why he beats the shit out of Subaru besides defending his pride: he wants to save Subaru too. He explains to Ferris and the knight's captain in an epilogue set after ep 13 that the reason he attacked Subaru publicly in front of knights was because he knew Subaru had attacked the pride of all the other knights, and he was afraid that those knights would eventually attack Subaru in retaliation in an alley or whatever place and potentially harm him even further or maybe even kill him. Instead, Julius acts in all of the knights' stead by dueling with Subaru, and winning brutally, so that he can take the burden of his actions against Subaru instead of the knights (and Subaru himself). I dont remember this episode too well, but in the books at least, the fight starts with all the knights cheering Julius on to beat the crap out of Subaru, but by the end the novel specifically points out how they feel pity for Subaru and how they think Julius has taken it too far, and they leave the scene with more shame and guilt rather than anger at the peasant Subaru. In turn, Julius's actions to hurt his own honor was done in favor of damaging the honor of the other knights and to save Subaru from a worse fight that probably wouldn't have involved wooden sticks. (The epilogue then goes off to have Ferris and the captain of the knights reveal they both figured out Julius's plan early on and let it happen anyways, and that's why the captain only suspended Julius from active knight duty for a week, but that's not here nor there).

[@TheOverlordEND]

Yeah, I mean think about it if it was let out that a group of knight beat up innocent man in some alley or the reverse a nobody insult a prideful group of knight and they just let it be. So dueling Subaru there at least save the knight pride, but also to teach Subaru not to disrespect other people and saved him from future complications with the group.

[@poporipopes4876]

@@TheOverlordEND You can really undertsnad Subartu's actions if you rewatch the anime after watching or reading episode 4 of the second season, you can understand why his eyes light up after gettin transported in another world, you can see how he tries to prove to everyone that he's worth something, how he insults the white knights out of pure anger for beeing able to do anything other than that, how he tries to explain to Emilia that has been saving her countless times. this continues on to the point where he thinks he has no worth what so ever and that the only thing that he has is Return by Death, the only way that he can save everyone that's important to him by giving up on his own life. Because in his mind, no one would miss him if he were to die, in his POV he's just trying to find a way to be useful to anyone, like when he would just do stupid things as a kid to prove to everyone that they could only have that much fun with him around. I just realised that talking a bit about this show make me write more than I wanted to, I just really like the psycological horror and loneliness of this anime

[@youngecujoh855]

That's really fucking good, I wish they would have kept it.

[@Neddyhk]

@@TheOverlordEND @Thantus I'm pretty sure he says it during their ride together to the white whale, explicitly. But that doesn't mean that what Explanation Point says isn't also true. He's not just doing it for Subaru's benefit, but his own - also because he doesn't mind smacking around Subaru because he's a little pissant.

[@someguywithabirdface2583]

Betelgeasse pretty much anakin Skywalker .

[@poporipopes4876]

I think that Subaru is one of the most realistic MC in anime, at least in the ones I've seen. He just has an unnatural determination and an extremely low self-esteem

[@johnrockwell5834]

Unnatural determination is necessary in his position.

[@josh8012]

There's Araragi Koyomi from Monogatari series, which deals with a lot more complex personal problem. It might be hard to get into that series but boy it's one of the best I have ever seen

[@metamonogatari3139]

@@josh8012 I support this statement

[@user-zu5sp7wx2g]

I keep saying this. It's realistic, but it would have to be a great person. I don't care how nice you think you are, at least 95% of you would give up and choose the sloth route if you could even get far enough to get someone like Rem to fall in love with you.. Realistically it would be a sloth route that would suck a whole lot more than what Subaru got to choose and it would have happened before you even got to meet Rem of Ram or anyone in the mansion

[@poporipopes4876]

S yeah, I’m not saying that he could be someone that existed here in the real world. I guess I just think that the way he acts for most of the time is pretty relatable. Or maybe not, idk. But still, I think that he’s a realistic character in general, idk how to explain it

[@e-male896]

I absolutely adore explanation points integration of his sponsors in all his vids

[@markusandrew3680]

7:25

[@bor445]

Other than internet historian, he is the best.

[@DaNNteNewst]

dunno, annoys the hell out of me after the first time.

[@e-male896]

Subaru is actually known as a good person and liked by many people which can be seen in the aftermath of what happened in season 2 ep 12 (cut content) in how they mourn for him as well as in how the villagers from season 2 risk their life for him to protect him from the Furry monster

[@GuitarHeroHardyMaste]

I thought they were just confused that tony the tiger was here but they weren't getting any frosted flakes

[@themadichib0d]

Yeah thats cause Subaru doesnt remain the shitty person he starts out as. He makes improvements, and in S2 we start seeing some of those improvements and the results of those efforts.

[@android19willpwn]

For all his personal faults, he's still helped a lot of people, and he can present a charming, if weird, impression to those who only know him casually and aren't concerned with class or propriety. He's got a number of big hero moments thanks to RBD and that's enough to be generally liked by the people you were saving. But the more people know him, the more sides of him they see beyond him saving people, the less weight that carries. Few characters actively dislike him at this point when he's done so much (and has gotten a lot better than he was when starting out), but few think of him the way he wishes they would.

[@edcaous]

@@themadichib0d Honestly, Subaru wasn't even all that shitty at the beginning. He's definitely flawed and had his own personal problems that he needed to overcome, (but chose to put them aside) but even then he throws away the possibility of living an easy and comfortable life in the new world and chooses to pursue the harder route (Emilia.)

[@Ravensgale]

Of course, as stated at the start, the best thing Subaru does is provide an example of what NOT to be.

[@mr.applejuice8546]

I think a good point to add to julius is the fact that out of every other male character, he's the one that subaru is most reflected and contrasted in. Julius is a man who is Just, a nerd to help others, has respect, and for the most part lives up to the expectations placed by him for being his father's son. Subaru on the other hand sees a reflection of exactly what he wants to be in Julius. From what we see in season 2, Subaru felt constantly pressured to be like his father (intentionally or not) until he eventually just gave up entirely to not only be a man like his father, but to be his own person.

[@poporipopes4876]

You can really undertsnad Subartu's actions if you rewatch the anime after watching or reading episode 4 of the second season, you can understand why his eyes light up after gettin transported in another world, you can see how he tries to prove to everyone that he's worth something, how he insults the white knights out of pure anger for beeing able to do anything other than that, how he tries to explain to Emilia that has been saving her countless times. this continues on to the point where he thinks he has no worth what so ever and that the only thing that he has is Return by Death, the only way that he can save everyone that's important to him by giving up on his own life. Because in his mind, no one would miss him if he were to die, in his POV he's just trying to find a way to be useful to anyone, like when he would just do stupid things as a kid to prove to everyone that they could only have that much fun with him around. I just realised that talking a bit about this show make me write more than I wanted to, I just really like the psycological horror and loneliness of this anime

[@haze8588]

Popes XD This is really relevant with episode 13 of season 2 being out. Would love to get your take on that episode too.

[@poporipopes4876]

HaZe7 I guess episode 13 is just more of what I said, the difference here is that he finally understands that there are people who care about him. In the light novel it’s said that the second trial wasn’t to make him see how many people he had left to die , it was to show him how many people cared about him, now that I’m reading the light novel Ivan really say how much stuff was cut out just from that episode, everything, every emotion was much detailed, you could see what Subaru was thinking. I think that’s a cool touch

[@lastmanstanding7155]

@@poporipopes4876 That's why books imo are generally one of the ultimate mediums as their comtents can only be constrained by the author. Not that they don't have down sides but I was just agreeing with that notion of a more comprehensive plot because there is enough time to explain what is needed.

[@EmperorPylades]

@@poporipopes4876 what does it matter how many people care about him? All he can do to protect them IS RbD

[@brendalee1215]

There's nothing I hate more than people just interrupting Subaru's affection for Emilia as "oh he's just horny he just likes pretty girl" it's an extremely screwed interpretation of Subaru and his connection to Emilia

[@WokeandProud]

This guy is just an idiot projecting his own faults unto Subaru.

[@ligtningdog6399]

You may not like it, but he isn't wrong.

[@namoma4922]

@@ligtningdog6399 it s more that the two coexist: the anime went out of his way to show him in the harshest light possible(probably due to the media limitation) but even the manga shows that his action at the time, while still wrong and not thought through, were not those of a deluded incell but that of a misguided lovesick person, whose deeper problem could not be expressed due to the witch's curse and who tried to save face rather than actively disrespecting the knights skills

[@WokeandProud]

@@ligtningdog6399 Yes he is wrong on almost every lvl possible lol.

[@ligtningdog6399]

@@WokeandProud Spoken like a true Subaru.

[@airyless8851]

Julius challenging Subaru was for Subaru's own benefit. If Julius never did that Subaru would have likely been attacked by all the other knights and possibly even killed (Felix states this directly in the LN) Julius' selfless behaviour and consideration for others is what really contrasts against Subaru's overall pride and selfishness in this arc.

[@curvingfyre6810]

I feel like theres nuance in the show that this series hasn't covered properly. Sure, subaru is protrayed as woefully inadequate for the circumstances that he's in, and there is a peak of rising action in the first season where his impact on the people around him is measurably negative, but I'd argue that his first impressions on the villagers has been positive, and remained so, and that since that low point for him, he has maintained broadly positive appreciation. Specifically that is to say that what made him have these positive first interactions was the core of his personhood, the bit of potential that everyone has to grow on, and it's made very clear that every non life threatening blunder he's made, and hardship he's endured, were squarely his fault for being a little shit, and THEN he improves after that point further to become a person capable not only of endearing himself, but of enacting net good, and that's the point where he goes after the whale. Him beating his past is mostly us seeing how he became shitty, through no fault of his own, even if his shitty actions are his fault, in what is a very VERY realistic take. Him overcoming that is the thematic tie off of the events of the first season. Shittiness over, now he can pick how he develops and work towards that. Old bad subaru gone. New subaru: select your fighter.

[@beyondtrash1627]

I definently agree. Subaru has a lot of bad traits at the start of the show, but he also has some good ones. Is it not genuinely heroic of him to risk painful death over and over again to save some people he barely knows? He even considers running away, but can't bring himself to let Felt, Old Man Rom, and Emilia die. He can be entitled and impulsive, but he can also be heroic and kind.

[@yoshistover5881]

This is something that comes up in the latest episode of the second season. (I'm gonna put this as vaguely as possible. But still Spoiler warnings?) (You sure you're okay with possible Spoilers?) Alright anyway. People that know of his issue tell him that he's basically the crazy one for trying to shoulder quite literally EVERYTHING alone. (In the second season there are two separate incidents occurring. Basically a handful of people important to Subaru will die no matter what Subaru does.) Each run in this season he finds out something EVEN worse and makes his situation EVEN worse. It gets to the point where he is almost driven mad on a few different ocassions. By no means is Subaru a bad person. But it's also true that Subaru has issues that he needs to iron out. Like when to realize that he needs help. (Which is ironic. You would think after he got help from Krush and co, he would learn that he's incapable of tackling everything himself especially considering that he's up against a monster that is kinda on par with the whale.)

[@Sketchy_Dood]

If you wanted to see the shitty Subaru you might as well read the what if stories, oh boi are those way worse outcomes for him

[@beyondtrash1627]

@@Sketchy_Dood To be fair, thsoe characters aren't actually Subaru. They are similar people (at the start, at keast), but given that they all make different choices and live different lives than him, they're essentially different people.

[@Sketchy_Dood]

BeyondTrash I mean there called what if stories, they are all Subaru just different versions like a time line split for the different things he does. Basically like a multiverse version lol

[@xcelentei]

Honestly dude your takes on the men of the show and how they contrast to Subaru are valid, but you have the worst takes on the MC. Despite all his bullshit with Emilia, EVERY side character learns to respect him and his bravery. The dude is legendarily persistent and as the series goes on his accolades more than make up for his bluster in the throne room. A lot of your anger at his character is directed at how Subaru acts regarding Emilia specifically; his actions with every other character depict him as genuinely caring of other people even if he disregards social decorum. The way he earned his most ardent supporter, Rem, did NOT come from the hard process you claim is necessary to make his character. Subaru earned Rem's trust by learning about the twin's situation and doing his damnedest to understand Rem's complex and support her however he can. Which is NOT much, mind you. He doesn't need to change or suffer or redo anything to make his speech about tomorrow genuine. In Rem's speech during ep 18, the most pivotal point in Subaru's entire life, the thing that shakes Subaru's self-hatred is the line "What do you know about the Subaru I've seen?" The thing which convinces him is when she says he saved her through acts that came naturally to him: Caring, Persistence, and Bravery. He didn't understand what he'd done because he never had to learn that. It was there from the moment he first died but reached out to touch Emilia's hand to comfort her. It was there when he decided to do the painful, unselfish thing and turn back to save Emilia from the Loot House. It was there when he risked his life (he didn't know how many resets he had!) To save someone that had tortured him but who he wanted to understand. Subaru's self-hatred is the source of his pride, and his need to be affirmed is what makes him such an incel to Emilia. But he succeeds BECAUSE he fosters that innate goodness within himself, not because he "lets the old Subaru die" as you put it in your last video. I don't know what you've been through man, but your hatred of Subaru's character isn't supported by the text. The take of "Subaru is weak and cowardly and has to rely on others and HAS to be better" is repeated by Subaru AD NAUSEUM in the WN and it is ALWAYS framed as a sign of Subaru's weakness and inability to properly assess himself, never as the necessary pain for his self-improvement. Satella at the end of season 2 tells him to love and be kinder to himself more and she is understood by everyone to be correct. Rem tells him to pick himself up and straight up says, "No, radically changing your personality and values based on the trauma will not bring you peace or help anything." (and I know Subaru understands this, because he says to Carmilla "Rem was hardest on me, she would never tell me to relax.") Subaru never improves by kicking himself or drastically changing his personality when he makes a mistake. Never. Positive punishment flat out does not work at any point in the story, and only ever drives him to be more desperate and wallow in his worst instincts. In fact, what causes him to ace the first trial, the trial of confronting his past (what you've spent two videos claiming Subaru never does,) is the unconditional positive regard of Rem, Emilia, and his parents. ALL of which is directed at a Subaru he never had to become, but already was. Hating Subaru does not fix Subaru, and former incels like us hating our past selves (or representations of them,) doesn't make us better men or people. It only shows that we still fear that past self, and how it might taint what we've worked so hard to become. "When are you going to learn, that you should also be among the people you want to save?"

[@pineapplejuice6339]

You posted this comment during the time it took me to write my own comment, and you said a lot of the things I wanted to say, in a way better way than I managed to. Honestly, I'm glad to know that someone did it, and I admire your eloquence.

[@xcelentei]

Pineapple Juice Thanks, I hope it didn’t come off as too flamey. We can’t understand anything about ExP because we’re on one side of the parasocial relationship, but they way his content is just completely unapologetic to Subaru makes me think he went in with a lot of bias about what should happen to the incel strawman. The fact that He calls Subaru a failure of a man without addressing the ways Subaru fosters community (Playing with Arlam Village), overcomes trauma (see: The show) Works to protect his loved ones (See: The show) Works hard to earn his keep in his chosen community (the mansion), and strives to support others in the ways he can (He’s not a combatant, but strategizes to protect however he can,) shows an actual DISinterest in Subaru’s masculinity. The dude’s actions are traditionally manly as hell, he just has a complex around Emilia specifically. I think discussions of Masculinity in Media usually need to discuss trauma, given that how we deal with trauma is so important to the social construct, and that goes double for fantasy series which have legitimate PTSD influences. To discuss Subaru’s masculinity but OMIT his Trauma makes the entire argument fall apart. I give credit where it’s due tho, talking about Subaru’s trauma and how it affects his masculinity is a much longer video with many more sources needed, and I don’t think his Zero-Punctuation video format is very conducive to that video essay. I appreciate ExP’s verbalizing of the general interpretation of Subaru as deconstruction.

[@fbiuzz]

@@xcelentei Yeah. Its actually commented on by characters and the narrator in the LN that despite calling himself a lazy NEET he's practically a workaholic. I mean the guys response to being offered anything by Roswaal is that he wants to work as a servant, which Emilia calls him out that he could have just decided to become a guest.

[@EmperorPylades]

For the most part Exp is comparing Subaru at the point where all his worst traits are on display at the one grotesque moment: the Royal Selection. And to be fair, before he gets Isekaid and at the Royal Selection, Subaru is a failure of a man. He's a shut in with no friends, no prospects and no direction or goals at the start; and makes a complete ass of himself, disgraces his patron and insults everyone else at the Selection.

[@erikho6936]

@@EmperorPylades He should make a new video on Season 2 Subaru

[@namoma4922]

Your whillem comparison is a little strange.Not that it is not waranted or that it invalidates your broader point but about subaru devotion being one sided, but i find i bizarre to compare a man's devotion to his dead wife to a someone's crush on a real person(whether or not that person reciprocicates. When his wife was alive, whillem had an antagonistic relationship with her.Yes it was partly due to him not being mature enough on his own feelings at the time, but initially whillem felt 1)disapointed of having a need to be saved and be useless at protecting himself 2)insulted that someone who genuinely dislikes battle and swordmanship, who only does so by duty outclass him beyond what seemed like an impossible wall(and possibily emasculated) By growing up in various way he surmounted that and the rest is history.But I think Whillem example to subaru doesn't lie so much toward his revenge but more towards his own journey to becoming the man who surpassed and married the late sword saint: his immaturity, while not of similar nature than of subaru was one of the thing that dragged him down, and he suceeded in getting past that, much like subaru showed a more mature persona(or rather stopped to let the worst part of himself to get the better of him) that also set him on the track to actively help emilia in greater ways and develop a less unequal relationship between them

[@GR20000]

I think by the end of season one they are certainly on more friendly terms. Frankly, Subaru, by the nature of his powers, comes off as a lot more competent than he actually is, which is some small benefit given his power also fundamentally isolates him from other people. But, that is beyond that point. The last arch, after not running away with Rem, is the point at which Subaru turns into a more traditional hero. His desire to save the Mather's realm is just as much about protecting Ram an the Village as it is about saving Emilia and he shows a great degree of Constance in organize the whale hunt, a competence that plays to Subaru's actual strengths those being, ironically, having some fairly astute people skills. The great comedy of Subaru is that, when he get's his foot unlodged from his asshole, he's actually very capable of determining what other people want, and we see this more in season 2. By the end of season one Subaru sees emlia more as a person than a thing, after all, all the pieces to understanding who she is he already knew from his two months at the domain, at least to some extent, and this capacity for self improvement is shown by the fact that he actually is happy to get the chance at doing the first trial, to face the crippling fear and anxiety that made him into the pathetic dick he was to begin with. By the end of season one he's no loner an Incel. He has friends that love him dearly between rem, Emilia and Bee and a support network beyond that of people like Julius and Wilhelm, ram and others. Emilia takes seriously Subaru's love to him, and in return Subaru takes seriously more who Emilia is. So instead of the second season retreading old ground it deals with the fact that Subaru, by all accounts, should be happier, but he can't be. The loss of Rem is too much, and his inability to rally cope with it is crushing him. Emilia helps (this being the first time, really, that Subaru allows Emilia to help him really, a mark of his growth), but there's only so much talking about Rem can do when you see her own sister sacrifice her body as an expedience only a few days later. This is a bind he doesn't know how to fix, beyond the vague prospect of running down Gluttony with Wilhelm, and in a context in which the part he can explain to people will be utterly lost on them and the part he can't being a welling emotional baggage that started death one. Subaru, really, just became a functioning human just in time to have one of the most important people in his life ripped away from him in a context where the only two people he can even begin explain what happened to are both maliciously motivated to use and abuse him in a similar way he wanted to emotionally use Emilia before his character growth.

[@frankwest5388]

Kebab in a way that means that Subaru and Emilia’s relationship is not based on mutual experiences and friendship. It is incredibly one sided towards Subaru. Subaru gets to experience everything great and bad about Emilia. He gets to really know her. But it isn’t the other way around. Since Subaru gets basically an infinite amount of social attempts, he can cheat her perspective of him. He can easily hide everything from her that he doesn’t want her to know about him. That time he spent a month angsting and crying in a room? No need to mention that. The dozens of times he died pathetically because he does something dumb? Never gets mentioned. He only has to show her, what he wants her to see. Since he can basically attempt anything until he gets his desired result. This basically means that the only reason that she cares for him, is because she only knows his best sides. If she ever would get to know the real him, flaws and all, she would definitely not care for him as much. In a way he is a stalker, who studies his target until he knows everything about her, without her knowing. And since he knows all about her he can force himself into the best possible light. Kind of creepy. I am aware that the time loop prevents him from telling people about what is doing, but the principle doesn’t change.

[@ognotapussyslayer5917]

@@frankwest5388 The time loop preventing him from disclosing that information changes that completely. He's not hiding information, he's unable to give her information. And on top of that, if he could, how could he explain it? He already tried. This is why Subaru feels so alone, because he cannot relate to anybody and share his experiences. He's lonely. That's the consequence of his powers. He is the only one that remembers anything, and that must be a super lonely feeling. Not being able to tell anybody anything. That's why when he gets to tell Echidna everything, it's such a big moment.

[@WokeandProud]

He was never an incel to begin with lol he was just an awkward kid that didn't know how to make freinds.

[@GR20000]

​@@frankwest5388 I don't really think that's true. Subaru is incredibly honest about how weak he is at the start of Season 2. More over, Emilia is KEENLY aware of Subaru's failures as a human (that public freak out at the election the absolute scummiest he has ever been, that's cannon, his peculiar obsession is something she finds to be something of a self destructive tendency and parasitic, it why she forces him out afterwards). Subaru can't hide his personality flaws (or at least is completely unable to), the fact that he can't is a major theme of the show itself. His acts of heroism aren't fake, nor are they for show. His efficacy in those acts is certainly helped by his ability, making him appear at least as competent, but none of that masks the person underneath. We already know that he would tell everything about his power to Emelia if he could, and he doesn't use it to try and appear as something he is not besides, again, as more capable than he really is in an absolute sense. Even season 1 Subaru is a character defined by at least one virtue that being a legitimate desire to see innocent people to safety. He may be too emotionally stunted to really understand why, or what that means, but it's a real, actual impulse towards heroism that is driven by a selfless desire. Subaru, outside of the royal selection meeting, never attempts to push himself into a better light, and when he does it fails and he can't use his powers to help him. Instead, his interactions with her certainly reflect what he wants to be and is actively striving to be. Getting up and facing Elsa still took bravery, rescuing Rem and Ram took guile and self sacrifice. Those are real qualities he has even before he fixes his shit and becomes more understanding of the people around him. In short, he neither tries nor is able to actually pass himself off as something he isn't except, maybe, as actually competent , but even than Subaru is competent in many areas, just not killing shit. And, again, all this becomes significantly less true as season 2 goes on. In the beginning he finally lets Emilia see his wretchedness, his almost terminal loneliness he chooses to be weak in front of her because, even if he wants to be strong, even though he IS strong, even strong people are weak when someone they love has been taken away from them.

[@brendalee1215]

Season 2 shows that Emilia does care about Subaru

[@pineapplejuice6339]

This analysis completely misses what Re:Zero is/seems to be saying about the concepts of masculinity and heroism (read: its criticisms of them). The message of Re:Zero definitely isn't "haha look at this dumb incel, now here's how you can be more of a man than him (also by the way hierarchy and traditionalism are super cool)". Subaru is a flawed character, but I think you're misjudging what those flaws are. Subaru struggles to understand others and form healthy relationships, but he obviously cares about those around him in a way that goes beyond just wanting to get in Emilia's pants. He repeatedly dies for people he doesn't have romantic/sexual interest in. The way it looks from my perspective, many of Subaru's flaws and failures stem from the sort of "traditionalist mindset" that he has (though, that interpretation of his mindset comes from me as an American--I, admittedly, don't know if the context is similar in Japanese culture). He believes that he should be ashamed to receive help--especially from a woman, because as a man, he is supposedly meant to be stronger. He views his emotions as a weakness, so he tries to bury them, and uses his life (and by extension, his mental state) as an easily-sacrificed tool. It's hard to fully articulate my thoughts on this stuff, though. I'd probably have to read the novels--or at least rewatch the anime with more focus on putting my thoughts into a coherent set of words--to feel like I can really explain it properly. And maybe my opinion would change to some degree. But, uh... not to this, probably. 5:40 was gold though. Just for that one, I find it hard to be too annoyed.

[@siginotmylastname3969]

You're right and you should say it! Also the novels and later arcs definitely continue this.: Spoilers kept to a minimum, most of what I spoil is from a few earlier side stories and doesn't interrupt the main plot. The kingdom of Lugunica is deeply oppressive to demihumans, Wilhelm despite being called a hero for his actions in the war looks at his younger self regretfully as pretty awful(HE'S RIGHT), Reinhard being controlled and treated like a weapon by the kingdom is traumatised and repressed which fuels the Astrea generational trauma, the leader of the knights actually hates their system, Julius is so hung up on heros and knights because the brother in the family he was adopted into pushes it as a disabled child treated as a replaceable heir who wants to live his ideal noble son life vicariously through Julius and realises it's impossible later, in fact when Julius first meets Joshua he ends up crying about how everyone said his parents were heroes for protecting other villagers during an evacuation but he just wanted them to live. A lot of these messages are completely lost on OP.

[@thayersportfolio8866]

“you’re clearly two Armsmasters in a trenchcoat.” I love this. I simply love this.

[@catsukisubaru3715]

I generally enjoyed your videos, but I feel that everytime you touch re: zero you're somehow misguided about it, like how you think Subaru has no positive traits and believe that only by destroying everything about the him that he is he can become better(which the show clearly shows isn't possible, because Subaru tries to separate himself from his old self and fails because he is still that person, and while sure that means he has flaws it doesn't mean he is a bad person, or that he has not redeeming qualities) and this really annoys me seeing as it's my favorite show.

[@daneverharen1694]

He has some positive traits, namely a bottomless well of determination but he seems to overestimate himself for most of the series

[@catsukisubaru3715]

@@daneverharen1694 not really, he just acts prideful because he's got awful self-esteem issues

[@icelandicfaeinPNW]

The problem is, is that his "positive traits" are truly nothing special or noteworthy, besides some sort of eventual half hearted turn around with no real reconciliation. It's just like, he *could've* been good, but he wasn't.

[@Ltmqt]

@@icelandicfaeinPNW but he got a lot of good trait and it very special and he good tho

[@iamthepersonwhoasked5639]

@@daneverharen1694 check out the season 2 subaru the youtuber only mentioned subaru at his worst the royal selection but check the season 2 subaru an better yet the arc 6 subaru

[@TheSaintMystic]

I can only assume you misrepresent Subaru so much because of comedy. As funny as it is, it's misleading. And several of the things you pointed to about Subaru are false. Probably the worst one is that Subaru might just need to leave Emilia altogether. If you have seen season 2, then you should know that's clearly not a good idea. (Granted, in season 1 if he just ran off then Emilia and that entire village full of children get wiped out. Or she gets murdered in a loothouse.) But there seems to be no reference to season 2 in this video, so I guess I should assume you just haven't watched it. The main thing to address is that Subaru in season 1 is not defined by Emilia. Very quickly we learn his motivations by his actions. In the loothouse, if all he cared about was Emilia, he wouldn't have risked his life to save Felt, he wouldn't have made her run for her life to escape. He wasn't aware she could get help. He is a guy who wants to be happy and make everyone else happy. He wants to save people's lives because letting them die when he could stop it is morally wrong. Whether he is good at it or not, his heart is set on being a hero. Even if he won't recognize it fully. Briefly, he considers that he could just walk away from the whole situation at the loothouse, but that would mean letting people die. He has a brief flash of Emilia at that moment and reflects on how she saved his life. This isn't debt, it isn't just him simping for someone. She inspired him to be better, to help others. He wants to be like her. He wants to be a hero. This continues further into the whale arc. We never see Emilia's dead body in that arc to my memory. He is horrified by the deaths of the people in the village. He wants to save them. He CAN save them. It's why he tries so hard, to put himself through hell to save others. This dude is a hero. He isn't superman, he isn't some overly powerful, perfect person like Reinhart. He is a guy with one power, to try again and again as long as he has the will to do so. And damn it all if he isn't always trying his hardest. EDIT: Just placing an edit here for people who want to see, what i think is, a much deeper look into Subaru's struggles through the story. It's a video called "The Loneliness of Re:Zero" by the youtube channel Kyle Robes. I was rewatching it just now and I think its a better look into a major theme of what the story is about. There aren't as many jokes, but its very well made.

[@NipahAllDay]

Yeah, I kinda don’t like how he represents Subaru as a bad/an unlikeable person. He is just an awkward person and don’t know how to express himself. He’s definitely a good guy, but just don’t know handle these situations. It’s kinda why I don’t enjoy hearing him calling Subaru an “incel”.

[@brendalee1215]

I hate it so much he makes Subaru out to be this completely dumb asshole that is only motivated by his lust for Emilia when that's not Subaru's character

[@WokeandProud]

He's just projecting which is sad never realised explanation point was such a douch.

[@estelle6528]

That's what I dislike about this video. Many seem to criticize subaru's negative traits while also calling them relatable, I find that pathetic they choose to ignore his heroism in favor of keeping him presented as this asshole incel which he grew out of as the series progresses.

[@WokeandProud]

@@estelle6528 He was never even an incel to begin with that word has lost all meaning and is just used as a catchall insult to attack any socially awkward male, it's a worthless buzzword now. Subaru was just a lonely awkward teenager who didn't know how to make freinds and was looking for a place to call his own in the world. Remember he idolized his father (like most young men with good fathers do) but he did it to such an extent that he never developed an identity of his own. This among a few other things is the basis for most of his struggles throughout most of the series. This is not a series about a woman hating incel becoming a better person this is a series about an ordinary teenager desperately looking for his own place in the world and finding it in another it's a coming of age story, an awkward teenager with identity problems growing into a diligent, wise, kind, loyal, and strong young man.

[@AmonTheGodofWrath]

"I am Defiant" "You are clearly two Armsmasters in a trenchcoat" I see you were away reading "realistic" superheroism.

[@blackjesus-kun9341]

>Realistic >Worm Kek

[@shadowtheimpure]

Hey, I'm glad I'm not the only one who got that reference.

[@AbuKaliAchBar]

Glad to see its spreading.

[@joelsasmad]

Oh my god. That went by so fast I didn't realize he made a worm refernce.

[@rubenburrell5434]

I just started worm this last month and I was so psyched for this reference.

[@literallyme6365]

Don't take Reinhardt at face value. That guy life is a total mess. Dude has everything while having nothing. Astea family drama is a great part of Re:zero's lore

[@TheManUnderTheSun]

I feel bad for Reinhard. Dude literally gets blamed for his grandmother's death and his own grandfather doesn't even acknowledge him. Everyone views him as a weapon too and he was forced to become a knight.

[@vivian-alexandrarivers897]

This is legit some tactical power play between Explanation Point and Mother's Basement to get me to watch Re:Zero and you know what!? Might... actually work.

[@oceanplanet8160]

You seem to have a personal grudge against Subaru's character. Or maybe it's just for comedy. But man, your Re:Zero takes are always way off.

[@daneverharen1694]

I dunno Subaru seems like a pretty shitty person

[@oceanplanet8160]

@@daneverharen1694 He was, but not because he's an incel. That's not even close to being right.. And he does improve.

[@daneverharen1694]

@@oceanplanet8160 it sounds like you are responding to being called out

[@oceanplanet8160]

@@daneverharen1694 Ha, so you're one of those. Sure, dude. Whatever you say.

[@mellamojeff458]

@@daneverharen1694 thats not even a counter point

[@luisreynamboarcos2958]

I love how much Subaru has grown in the last season, yet there's still the shadow of his old vices. He is a far better person, but he still needs time to mature.

[@mdraj5655]

He really becomes a great person after this season trust me

[@AlastorNahIdWinRadioDemon]

The fact that that Betelguese take aged so badly is hilarious tbh

[@patronofdragons]

Didn't Julius dual Subaru in order to save him from the knights? I vividly remember that part.

[@nikhildominic1565]

Yes

[@olafgurke4699]

I can't help but feel like you're bashing Subaru because you don't understand the complexity of his character. He is deeply flawed and fucks up along the way, sure. He has his low moments. But if we consider the absolute shit he goes through, I find his actions and decisions to be extremely understandable and relatable. There are so many layers to him, that make him feel human, and this video seems like pointing fingers at one or two moments - his lowest at that - and claiming that as his entire character. It does him, the series, the author, the audience, and you a great disservice. That being said, I still liked the video. I love your style. However, I have to agree with Goeff: Re:Zero IS a masterpiece, f*** you, fight me.

[@rrtkddigimon0]

So... Fun thing... Yesterday Mother's Basement made a video mentioning your Re:Zero video, and I watched it 1 hour after it was uploaded. Today you made a video mentioning Mother's Basement's Re:Zero video and I clicked to watch it 1 hour after it went live.

[@adriandavis9439]

Actually in the ln he despises himself to a massive degree so he knows what he’s doing wrong

[@r.k845]

Yeah this guy doesn't actually understand Subaru at all lol.

[@Ravensgale]

"If Subaru Natsuki's good for anything, it's making other men look good." You could literally just stop the video right there.

[@night1952]

Or other people in general.

[@e-male896]

@@night1952 Hence why I have any self confidence

[@Tankerrex3]

I raise you Kazuya from rent a girlfriend,

[@joulian]

@@Tankerrex3 nah Kazuya not only manages to make himself look bad, he also makes other people look bad by extension, just by being the same gender.

[@Ravensgale]

@@Tankerrex3 Ooh, that IS a good point. Though at least Kazuya's shittiness doesn't cause as much misery for other people.

[@BunnyLove5763]

Oh dear that whole part about Betelgeuse not being a person outside of his devotion to the witch sure did age badly LOL Jk, from a meta narrative perspective that reading still works fine. Especially since there’s a huge difference between Betelgeuse and “Betelgeuse the Archbishop of Sloth.” He was previously a well rounded individual who was part of a more chill and moderate faction of the witches church. But became obsessive and hollow after being successfully indoctrinated into the more extreme parts of the cult. Actually, he was seemingly forming a healthy romantic relationship with Fortuna beforehand as well, which could actually play into this sort of reading for his character. It’s not terribly uncommon for some people to start off having more healthy views of love and relationships, only to turn sour later on. Wether it be due to an outside influence like a bad role model, or just someone coming to their own messed up conclusions.

[@pianoguy2747]

Haven't watched RE Zero yet but I'm having the video play in full with ads to support you. Love you work and I'll watch for real once I watch the show!

[@smegmalasagna]

Hey it’s the guy that got me into magic and now he’s talking about my favourite anime :)

[@carstan62]

Now, I'm not saying Julius wasn't personally invested in putting Subaru in his place, but at least one of the other characters thought Subaru was going to by lynched by the other knights until Julius stepped in. The idea being that the other knights let Subaru off the hook because they were satisfied with the punishment given by Julius.

[@brnk2]

Two Re:Zero videos back to back from Mother's Basement and Explanation Point?!?!

[@DeadmanWalking789]

And they're both bouncing off of ideas the other brought up in previous videos about the same series. It's like something good actually happened this year.

[@agostoangosto9442]

Is this a crossover episode?!

[@imliterallygarfield]

i would love to hear you yell about kazuya from rent a girlfriend

[@ExplanationPointAnime]

Been liking Rental Girlfriend so far, but I'm only a few episodes in.

[@mr.smithsgovermentclass4556]

Agreed

[@johnmcauliffe8824]

@@ExplanationPointAnime rent a girlfriend is one of those shows where the main character is so cringe but in a way that is very believable. You don't go 'f you you asshole' when he fucks up, you go 'oh baby what is you doing' which is such a fine line.

[@imliterallygarfield]

@@johnmcauliffe8824 Mhm! Great way describing it. Even though some scenes were super awkward or uncomfortable, I couldn't help but keep watching.

[@WaterYaDune]

@@ExplanationPointAnimeThat says a LOT lmaooo

[@pie10188]

seeing Subaru grow in the LN really gives you goosebumps. His comeback is probably next season but I'm willing to wait for that amazing speech he gives.

[@trisramhughes9935]

12:57 What do you mean they're barely friends? Subaru has saved her 3 times by the end of the first season (assuming you count dealing the curse thing in arc 2 saving, only twice if not I guess). There's a month gap between arcs 2 and 3 and it seems like they hung out a good bit in that time, even going out on a date, watch the Memory Snow OVA. s2 spoilers below Emilia has definitely reciprocated some of the affection by the time season 2 starts, she was crying over his death when we get the flashbacks to the failed timelines in the second trial. There's more stuff like that in the novels too apparently but I haven't read them. Edit: That nitpick aside great video as always! I always love seeing your stuff in my sub box

[@ThatNBAguy123]

he saved her 3 times but the interaction before was emilia literally cutting him off for being a weirdo

[@kawong3975]

"Maybe The Real Treasure Was the Friends We Made Along the Way" is not a joke in this anime. Subaru's friends are literally the strongest in this world

[@johnarryn1777]

"Not a Person" Man you're gonna have a hard time when the second half of the season starts

[@dipperpines4037]

Rip my nigga Geuse

[@pizzamafioso9191]

Subaru is honestly a very good MC and i don't get the hate he get's. He acts with kindness, support, positivity etc not only in the end of an arc bit even in the beginning of an timeloop. Sure he has some flaws but they show mostly when he feels cornerd or broken. And those are not his main traids.

[@kylemiro9363]

I don't get how anyone like anime

[@buffysnart]

This is such a great video! I can’t believe I haven’t found your channel before today. Your voice is super easy to listen to and the flow of the video is really well put together. Can’t wait to see more!

[@redgiant2617]

7:25 That transition to ad was flawless. It took me a few seconds to realise he is talking about the sponsor of this video.

[@maiaharlap]

Great video! Makes me wanna, ahem, actually watch Re:Zero... Also just wanted to say I'm astounded by the consistent quality of your work, the personal reflection and sensitivity you put in and I hope you're doing okay despite the shitstorm that is reality right now. And that if it means anything, you're an inspiration to me as an aspiring content creator. Love your work!

[@johnf.cawkwell9840]

You should make a video talking about Subaru's character in the second season. Especially episode 13. I feel like that episode specifically is really the true "end" of his rollercoaster of character development.

[@huynhvuongviet2410]

lol. wait until arc 6 when shit hit the fans.

[@johnf.cawkwell9840]

Are the rumors true? Does Subaru die more times in arc 6 than in all of the previous arcs combined?

[@huynhvuongviet2410]

@@johnf.cawkwell9840 yeah. Spoiler... . . . . . . . . . . . . . He lost his memories and there are many more enemies here in this arc. Stronger too. And he had to trial and errors like 15 times and without the experiences he had from his journey up until then, it's increadibly difficult to win.

[@MorphRed]

@@huynhvuongviet2410 Every times I though that Tappei couldn't do better but every arc tops the others, it's unbelievable

[@MrFelblood]

8:00 Julius didn't get in trouble for beating Subaru too hard. Julius got in trouble for not beating Subaru *all the way to death*. The punishment for disparaging the honor of the knights is death, and Julius declared their duel to be Subaru's execution. Having been "executed" and survived, Subaru is off the hook, but Julius has lost the respect of his fellow knights.

[@MaxRavenclaw]

Didn't Julius only duel and beat the shit out of Subaru to satisfy other knights that might have killed Subaru outright? I.e. he risked his own honour to save Subaru's life. I don't remember where I read that. I think Reinhart suggested it.

[@fbiuzz]

Pretty much. The Knights were gonna shiv him the moment he walk out the door but took pity on him when they see how bad Julius was beating the crap out of him.

[@NotSoGoodDark]

found your first video yesterday and this one today. i am almost convinced this is satire. almost. the part that isn't convinced of that is convinced that your mouth and rear end are swapping places during these videos.

[@Sovann_the_Mighty]

You forgot a point about Julius, he had to give subaru such a hard and humiliating beating to deter other nobles/knights from simply killing him as a result of him mocking their chivalry

[@elegantoddity8609]

This reminds me of a Steven Universe line actually. "Your soulmate is your complement, not your other half." The negative aspects of the "devotee" characters in Re:Zero come from them clamoring after the object of their affection like a zombie craves flesh, purely as an object they need to fill a personal hole in their being without consideration for what happens to them or what they think about that. Another example that comes to mind is the "toxic love" of Nurgle towards Isha in 40K; he does not give any level of concern for what Isha wants, he just wants to possess her as a literal trophy wife, another shade of sickly green to paint the world the way he sees it should be (although being what he is it's also more complicated than that).

[@astyutechick7980]

You'll probably never see this comment but if you do, know that I'm being serious. In your previous video, you said "Some will watch Re:Zero and fail to see its message entirely, watching it in bed... cheering Subaru on...". Although I realized a part of what the series was trying to tell me, I fit into this category and it's videos like these which make it clear for me. When I'm watching a show I tend to completely immerse myself in that show. But sometimes, not seeing these main messages of a show make me think that I haven't really watched/understood the show. I really liked your "Turning your brain off - media analysis" video. So, how are you able to see these things. Does it come with age? How to "keep your brain on", if you will, when watching? You can be harsh when replying, cause re-reading this comment I'm thinking I may lack the ability to think critically unless asked/told to do so lmao. I just hate it when, watching analysis videos like these ones, I feel that "damn, maybe I should just re-watch/read the entire anime/manga" despite really, really loving that anime/manga, and despite being deeply, emotionally moved by them.

[@frosty_haze3935]

while I'm not the guy you want to hear it from it's completely okay to think of anything critically after you watch it or when someone asks you for it, some people thinks critical naturally and some don't, also critically thinking about a show after you've watched it can be good because you would be able to evaluate the experience and find what you liked about it without taking from the enjoyment of it by thinking too much or find that the show isn't as good as you thought and you wouldn't fall for the seam tricks again which would make you know what you like by virtue of you knowing what you hate. also there is no shame in loving a show and being emotionally impacted by it without thinking critically about it, anime and other media are entertainment so as long you are entertained it's good for you.

[@astyutechick7980]

@@frosty_haze3935 hey that's a cool response. Thanks man!

[@frosty_haze3935]

@@astyutechick7980 your welcome

[@littlepullaz4875]

Thanks EP love your stuff and your videos are the reason I am making it through college right now, looking forward to your future vids.

[@abdqs853]

The Irony is that this is exactly what he becomes by the end of arc4 and basically proves it during arc5 and arc6 by self reflecting and learning to accept himself warts and all

[@MrNo0p]

*Creating the worlds biggest sashimiplate that nobody remembers eating* my man. Thats a line to be remembered, or not

[@jebes909090]

Subaru kinda got a crap stick. The first bad guy he meets literally survives an attack from the most op person in the world. An attack that was able to obliterate one of the most powerful being in that world. Thatswho he has to fight for his first encounter.

[@namoma4922]

yep.Author really wanted to hammer home that they were writting a subversion. He could have chosen to run and find a waifu that no one wats to kill.That s was not his thought process.He wanted to repay the debt and genuinely save them.Which sets him up for failure latter as he essentially strapped himself unto an unequal relationship to the emilia and matters clan.

[@DoReMi123acb]

Subaru wanted to be his father but his father ALWAYS wanted him to be himself. He finally understood that in the dream episode.

[@danthelowblood2653]

Says he is reveiwing all Re:Zero chads *doesn't talk about Aldebaran* Pointman wtf you're supposed to clear the fatal front!

[@MrTheellis]

Al is the biggest simp. Not just that, he simps for freaking worst girl.

[@danthelowblood2653]

@@MrTheellis Respect

[@johnf.cawkwell9840]

The real issue is that he didn't talk about Ferris. He's the true chad here.

[@danthelowblood2653]

@@johnf.cawkwell9840 Respect

[@danthelowblood2653]

@Tum Tum RESPECT

[@Ratchet00001]

For that Prof's incrustation "Let's look at it", you have my absolut respect. Excellent video !

[@tuumef1799]

What's striking about this video is not only it's astuteness in character analysis, but the wordplay. You effortlessly highlight each attribute, whether positive or negative in a creative way. When it comes to the negative, it is like stomping on the balls of a downed opponent. Hilarious.

[@QuinSkew]

It is quite funny when the video misses a lot of points. Then again I actually try to understand the characters and world of a series.

[@justinthompson6364]

Interesting analysis, makes me think the problem at the Royal Selection Ceremony really was a lot about presentation. You can't completely blame Subaru for his outburst; It might have even worked if he had played his cards right, illustrating how discriminating Emilia for a purely coincidental resemblance to the Witch is not only unfair but fundamentally illogical. Instead he made the whole thing personal, demanding apologies and lashing out at Julius for daring to call him out and alienating just about everyone present in what might be the cringiest scene I've ever experienced. Of course Emilia would have to distance herself from him after that.

[@HeckleJeckle87]

I personally consider Re: Zero a satire deconstruction of current iseki stories. Going to another world wouldn't be immediately awesome, it would suck. Anyone in this situation wouldn't automatically become a hero because they lack the, well everything honestly. These stories aren't just wish fulfillment, they are bad wish fulfillment.

[@Tonatsi]

Forrest Hecker-Johnson I’m sorry _i don’t consider endless suffering and torture_ a satirical deconstruction. This is an Isekai Horror Story

[@HeckleJeckle87]

@@Tonatsi Re Zero USES HORROR TO make a satirical deconstruction of Isekai in order to show that being isekai'ed would probably suck. WHY you think that horror and satire not compatible?

[@starburst98]

You don't need to be all the way to one extreme or the other. Like smartphone is super blatant gets all power handed to him on a silver platter, and re:zero has it's mc beaten on constantly. My story has an MC on that middle path, not instantly strong. But also not a punching bag. He is training like a mofo to master the rather weak powers he has. Like first power he gets is the ability to move dirt, not rock, just dirt.

[@contown731]

I don't think you know what the word "satire" means.

[@HeckleJeckle87]

Satire: a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn. Re: Zero, as a work of fiction, goes out of its way to ridicule the MC and the assumed power fantasy of standard Isekai. The MC is brought into a new world, but instead of getting some cliche fantasy powers he gets his ass kicked. Instead of everyone around him fawning all over him (and giving him a harem) because of MC plot powers, the story goes out of its way to scorn him by showing how awful he is.

[@tickytickytango5634]

In the light novel, the only reason Julius beat Subaru up so thoroughly is because he was worried that if he didn't, some of the other nights would and they might not show the same restraint he did.

[@toetapanter9]

Honestly one thing I loved about Reinhard is what Puck said to him once he was trying to freeze the world, something along the lines of "You are a true hero, and a hero is all you can be." because it shows the downside of having that much power. Reinhard can never be anything but that hero because his power allows nothing else. People would never accept him deciding to do anything else but be the hero of the kingdom. At this point of the story he is no longer really a person but a human shaped weapon of mass destruction in the hands of the kingdom, with the name "Reinhard" stamped on the side. His freedom of movement and action is greatly limited because of the things he could do (intentionally or by accident) if he's not kept on a leash. It's really interesting to see because you normally don't really see the many effects it would have to have one person with that sheer amount of destructive power walking around.

[@huynhvuongviet2410]

yeah. that's what Reinhard doesnt have but Subaru has. The freedom to choose the way you want to live, the role you want to take in this world. Remember by the word of uncle Ben: "The more power you have, the more responsibility you have to take". And this applies strictly to Reinhard since he's a human with morals, emotions and feelings and since he has so much power, he can only be a hero eventhough he did not choose it. His future is set in stone the moment he was borned into the world. He is already at the finishing line when he opened his eyes. He doesnt have flaws, makes no mistakes and all around perfect which stop him from growing as a person. He is a god bound by humans flesh and emotion which make him failed as a human being. this can be clearly seen when he straight up showed no remorse over his triumph of his battle against the revived courpse of his grandmother because in his grandfather eyes, his grandson just killed his beloved wife for the 2nd time. He is unable to comprehend people's feelings in occasions. he doesnt understand Wilhelm's pains and sacrifirces. therefore, wilhelm disowned him, refused to accept him as his family any longer. And I will be honest, I think Reinhard should lose his blessings, he should face challenge and accept defeats once in his life for his own developments.

[@vvrgo]

oh god i think that’s the first time i’ve ever seen a worm ref in a youtube video nice nice nice

[@thescarlethunter2160]

Kazuma is probably the only person that subaru can feel better

[@skeletor8951]

I love how you and Geoff both uploaded ReZero videos on back to back days and in both referenced eachothers' previous videos in the series. ExPoint/MB OTP, Fuck you fight me

[@MangoMuffin]

I never watched Re:Zero but now this video has me interested lol

[@tasin2776]

This wasn't covered in the anime but the reason why Julius went so hard is because he had to make sure no one else dueled with Subaru in case he accidentally dies which is completely possible with how weak he is. Since he's the most skilled fighter and the most skilled healer is right there he was able hurt Subaru in a way Ferris could heal him up with no scars and not kill him.

[@parkour_tnt1331]

I honestly think you really should read the light novel instead of watching the show due to how much you're incorrectly interpreting the characters. Like seriously, Emilia and Subaru are barely friends at the end of the first season? They're friends from the moment they met and it only grows stronger. The only reason why Emilia acts harshly to Subaru sometimes is for HIS sake, she left him because she knows if he continues to follow her he'll be hurt even more and that's also the primary reason why she didn't want Subaru to come with her to the meeting (and you can see the result). There are way too many false interpretations that it feels like you've watched the show, forcefully put your beliefs in the story, and ignored everything else that doesn't fit with your interpretations. For example, Subaru's flaws aren't that he's a pathetic loser with a complex of wanting to get with a girl, it's that he loathes himself to a great degree simply because he isn't "good enough". It's apparent when Rem gave her speech to Subaru that he should stop believing himself to be complete trash, he's a hero who saved her someone who will continue to fight for the ones he loves and never give up he's a true hero from the start to the end. I'm a bit disappointed at how many people call Subaru a loser and ONLY later on in the story he improves, from the start he's a hero. The actions he showed in the first few episodes are heroic, he literally died multiple times to save someone simply because of how kind they are, if that's not something heroic then I don't know what is, and not to mention the sick moves he's pulling to fight off Elsa. My main problem is just with how many people act like he was the absolute trash at the start of the serious then he improves, he wasn't trash, he's a hero with flaws that continues to improve. But let me be clear, the point of the several people mentioned having some kind of contrast to Subaru is still correct it's just that the interpretations and the examples aren't good. And that's my quick sentence on the video.

[@locxle]

Lets be real here, people hates subaru because he's similar to them

[@geraltissuperman1749]

I think Subaru is more related as he has no power but I think the continuous suffering, sacrificing for his friends, forgiveness for the people who actually killed or tried to kill him makes more Chad than the people who are mentioned, Even Satella told him to love "himself" more, the people who are mentioned are born op , belongs to that world, trained from start,or received several blessings but Subaru really train and tried to become strong tho, and the reason Subaru acted like incel because he is just a kid in compare to us

[@nomukun1138]

People hate subaru criticism because he's similar to them

[@tungsten8332]

@@nomukun1138 Both your statement and op’s statement are true. Cause no one likes to look in their inner shadow and no one likes getting criticism .

[@thevioletbee5879]

I mean I kinda used to be, but same with Tomoko from WataMote. And I adore her. I love Subaru (as an interesting character, not as a person) once the second cour starts, but up until then, I just thought he was fucking obnoxious. They seriously needed to tone down the creep factor.

[@olafgurke4699]

Really? I rooted for him because he's so similar to me. Just about everything he's done, every reaction he had, I could imagine coming from me if I were in his place. Just generally doing worse. And in the end, he worked hard to realise his potential, which I... haven't. Yet.

[@TheKrigeron]

Subaru is a good person. His shortcoming are not a big deal at all, only that they tend to stem from self loathing and so they are amplified.

[@absoul112]

0:55 I could still hear the “fuck”

[@Troloze]

for those who didn't read the novel, every single one of these characters gets developed, a lot, so yeah, we should be seeing a sequel of this video in a few years

[@Merkureus]

I never really watch anime anymore. But I still make sure to chatch every video you upload. The editing, the mtg memes, I cant say how much I enjoy it. Thank you good sir.

[@Furugeru]

i cant wait for arc 5 and 6 to come out and completely shit on how you view reinhard, julius, and subaru. initially i thought this was gonna be a good video about how underappreaciated the male re:zero characters are, because they really are. but its just another video dunking on subaru because the anime somehow hasnt done a good enough job at showing that the story is about amending for flaws. Subaru is a flawed character, yes. but so is julius, and reinhard. Julius is flawed in how he thinks he is nothing but what people think of him, and reinhard has a complex because of how overpowered he is. And you know who helps them change? Subaru. The one you regarded as flawed beyond repair. You get so stuck on subaru's love for emilia and his faulty actions in arc 3 that you completely disregard his change. The people who hate Subaru are the same people who love Rem, and it shows.

[@whateverwhatever4476]

He's actually read the novels. He's talked about he's talking about this video from the POV of a anime only and tbf arc 3 doesn't really touch on any of that with Julius and Reinhard only arc 5 for both and side stories do

[@Furugeru]

@@whateverwhatever4476 oh then fair ig. did he state that he's talking from an anime pov? it's been a while back and I'm far too stoned to care nearly as much as I did back then abt all this but I'm still curious cuz like... he's not wrong but anime-only's tend to be hella ignorant😭

[@JetZV]

0:36 I was not prepared to see my boys Jory and Riley on this channel. I see you are a man of culture as well.

[@damesayo4656]

I liked the video,but as many pointed out, not knowing the novel, hurt it. Subaru and Emilia know each other better by the end of the first season, spend way much more time together at Roswaal's mansion and are way closer.

[@shishison4095]

That worm reference at 6:57 threw me for a loop, aside from that this was a very well done video. Thank you.

[@placerofobs5020]

TL;DR, EP's take on Subaru is nowhere near as unreasonable as some people in the last two videos have made it seem, and look like they're mostly angry because they're projecting themselves on Subaru. Subaru particularly fascinates me in how whenever anyone starts criticizing his behavior and/or actions a billion people blast out of the woodwork to defend him. Like. Guys, the man DOES start out as a schlub. Keyword: Start. And it's a common convention in criticism to describe character traits in the present tense; you can say "Subaru is an entitled little git" when referring to specific parts of the narrative without negating his character development later. I don't see EP denying that Subaru improves, but to acknowledge he improves you have to acknowledge he starts out less-than-stellar. That's how improvement WORKS. It depresses me that so many people deny Subaru IS a deliberate deconstruction of isekai protags. Most protagonists are static, and are rewarded basically for saying cool things and being highly skilled for reasons the narrative only tenuously justifies. For example, Kirito's gaming skills? We never really see him earn them, we're just told he played a lot of games to the detriment of his social life... but then magically his social skills prove enough to attract extremely loyal friends, a tag-along harem, and a freakin' wife. With Subaru, we see each and every moment of his struggle to be a better person. The other characters don't see what we see-- they see a man who stumbles a little but always lands on his feet, a brilliant strategist. We see someone who needed a billion do-overs to get things right. He comes into himself as a strong, decent character, but it took a lot of time. Subaru is a dagger in the heart of the idea that if the people around you can't stand you, there is something wrong with THEM. People come to love and appreciate Subaru because he CHANGES. Sometimes you have to look at yourself in the mirror and admit what you see there is lacking, because otherwise you will never change. And EP made that point in the previous video. I see so many people who just project themselves on to Subaru like any other protag and refuse to entertain the idea that the reason he finds acceptance is by rejecting who he was at the start of the series. People take it as a personal attack because they've already hitched their egos to Subaru. Bluntly it reminds me of Catholic fundies throwing fits if you criticize their favorite saints. Fandoms basically ARE religions at this point, and that's not doing anyone any favors, least of all people who try to critically engage with media instead of passively consuming it.

[@kylemiro9363]

No one reading this. You really went out of your way to defend a show with an unrealistically unbalance gender ratio where like 65% of the cast are women. Surprising just like every other anime. They didn't even bother to explain why the mc is in the word. Imagine defending a anime where the main character is transported to a world without any explanation, only to be surrounded by a bunch of cute girls, that show some interest in him, and they are all damsels, and the protagonist feels like he should only suffer, with an unrealistic mental toughness that isn't explain because it plot convince, and the main protagonist has the biggest plot armor that makes him immortal, and he an otaku that's somehow fit, and lives in a mansion. Anime is trash. Sao, Aot,Fairy Tale everyone one of them are trash.

[@doorsmenu4050]

Couldn't agree more

[@TheManUnderTheSun]

​@@kylemiro9363this is a comment not even worthy of paying attention to. As soon as I read "plot armor" I stopped right there 😂

[@nathangehman7018]

Ok that mid-segment sponsorship segment has to be my favorite sponsorship segment ever. Hilarious, well integrated, and over before I knew it was started.

[@TetrisChemist]

Was it just coincidence that you and Geoff released videos mentioning a previous video by the other of you in new videos this week?

[@diegonunez3492]

Ay uh exp it was said at some point that while part of julius beating subaru was personal desire, a good part of it was that the other knights genuinely wanted to kill subaru and by beating him that badly he could stop subarus death from happening while still not letting him off the hook entirely

[@Abtron]

I don't know but for me Subaru is one of the strongest characters in anime.

[@pokemaniacqolem6495]

I love how by the end of any of your videos, when I'd normally move to instinctively leave a like for such great content, here I find it already clicked around first half of the video

[@Stuugie.]

Oh boy isn't Geuse a little different these days

[@notmeirl]

Righnheart's voice sounds like a protagonists

[@Babyluigikarting]

Praise be ! He has posted !

[@m.v.1335]

This is how my Wednesday went from good to PERFECT!!! Every one of your videos gives me life in this bleak landscape we call 2020.

[@mooshiros7053]

The whole thing about Betelgeuse being empty other than his love for the witch of envy is really funny in hindsight after watching season 2. Betelgeuse is an amazing character.

[@elcatrinc1996]

Seeing how much dedication and love you put in these videos, i cant wait to see what would you talk about in regards of Goblin Slayer or Demon Slayer

[@George_Gogo01]

Way to completly miss the point of re:zero.

[@ijustdocomments6777]

Man I didn't know nothin about this show but I sure am gonna go watch it now.

[@andromeda0388]

This all makes sense until you read Arc 5 of Re Zero.

[@nikhildominic1565]

It doesn't the guy missed the point of all the characters he mentioned.

[@r.k845]

@@nikhildominic1565 pretty much. It's not terrible but this isn't a good picture of why Subaru is like he his.

[@kylemiro9363]

@@nikhildominic1565 ofc he did he nitpicked this whole video of an trash anime. Anime is trash

[@soupsoup296]

Your Re:Zero videos are really making me want to watch it finally

[@Ad_Astrum1121]

I just want to say I love how a large portion of people treat it like Subaru liked Emilia only out of love in the beginning because he loved her before he knew her, this is also why I hate the "love at first sight" trope, you can not make an argument that it is over the personality or with any good reason other than looks and while that can develop into true love(someone I consider as my Honorary Sister is in that kinda relationship[anime helped] and they have been happy together for 2-4 years now) but it isn't true love until it is made into true love. Now before I get a couple hundred's of pissed-off comments note I specified beggining for a reason, He made his a true love for Emilia as he talked to her and followed her but saying that he truly loved her since the beginning is wrong. Just so you know I also hate how people say his love is only because he's horny you can fall in love with how someone looks and not be horny cause otherwise anytime a person liked how someone else looked it was only ever driven by them being horny and as I said my Honorary Sister is in a relationship built on just liking how someone looks and anime, they actually bonded cause she was in Toga cosplay and he was wearing a Fairy tail hoody. If you try to argue that they only met cause of the anime clothes yeah you're likely right but is that not based on looks if they didn't decide to wear anime clothes they would have never gotten to know each other and her nor me would even be alive cause he really helped her with some mental issues and she helped me with my own. Also, them actually falling in love was based on looks cause it's not like they stayed in those clothes everyday hell it was at a camp so they met again no longer wearing anything anime related funny part when they actually got together they weren't wearing anything anime related and just saying he adores her. However, that's all personal experience based but everyone's personal opinion on someone else they have never spoken to or heard about is based on how they look and how the viewer interprets that cause you have nothing else to go on. [Read before commenting] general point saying he only loved her because he loved her as a person is wrong and saying he only loved her cause he was horny is wrong. Surprise, Surprise, they have a mostly realistic relationship where multiple things can be the cause of one feeling who could have guessed, the things that caused him to love her were, she looked good, in their small interactions she was nice, and she saved him which is probably the most important part that everyone conveniently forgets.

[@Ad_Astrum1121]

I'm commenting this rather then replying it but it is a reply to seeing many people talk about it.

[@EnemyToad]

Any video with The Professor is a video I like. Also the Anowon deck is one of my all time favorite precon purchases.