Introduction to Re:Zero 2 Episode 34 (or 9)
In Re:Zero 2 Episode 34, “Love Love Love Love Love Love You,” we have some good news and lots and lots of bad news. The good news? Echidna grants Subaru a rare second tea party invitation! There, he learns something absolutely critical about Return By Death.
She also tells him that he “just might have a knack for seducing witches” (03:52). But guess what? Satella is a witch.
The news goes down hill from there.
So, Subaru might have a “knack for seducing witches?” I wonder what it means for a witch to be seduced? Why am I thinking of a black widow spider? Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
So what happened in this episode? What did Irina (from I Drink and watch Anime) and I think about it? Since it’s Irina’s turn to host our collaborative review, you’ll need to head to her site and find it! Please click here to read our review.
I’ll give you a hint: We finally get to meet a character who has been critical to driving the story forward. As the title of the episode suggests, she’s just a bit obsessed. And by the end of the episode, not even Roswaal seems to know how Subaru’s going to get himself out of the latest mess.
Reviews of the Other Episodes
- Re:Zero 2 episode 1 – Like Dejà Vu All Over Again
- Re:ZERO 2 episode 2 (ep 27) – The Lost Forest of Clemaldy
- Re:ZERO 2 episode 3 (ep 28) – The Long-Awaited Reunion
- Re:ZERO 2 episode 4 (ep 29) – That Should Not Have Worked
- Re:ZERO 2 episode 5 (ep 30) – Once More Unto the Breach
- Re:ZERO 2 episode 6 (ep 31) – Knifey and the Three Maids
- Re:ZERO 2 episode 7 (ep 32) – Beatrice’s Reasons
- Re:ZERO 2 Episode 8 (or 33) – Before I Heard You, I Saw You
- Re:ZERO 2 Episode 9 (or 34) – Natsuki Subaru and the Magical Maniacal Menagerie
- Re:ZERO 2 Episode 10 (or 35) – The Witch’s Tears and the Apostle of Greed
- Re:ZERO 2 Episode 11 (or 36) – Fridge Horror
- Re:ZERO 2 Episode 12 (or 37) – Evil Rem and the Uninvited Guest
- Re:ZERO 2 Episode 13 (or 38) – What is Taken Shall Be Returned
I too love the aspect of Re:zero that requires you to pay attention of all the little details. After rewatching episode 33 and getting additional context from episode 34, I now believe I understood what happened in episode 33. Episode 34 had Echidna saying that the only evidence the Great Rabbit leaves behind is a deserted field, and Subaru put 2 and 2 together and realized that the Sanctuary trial structure being destroyed and the building with the empty clothes of the Arlam villagers means that the rabbit mabeasts ate everybody and even drank all the blood too. The speck of snow from episode 33 before Subaru got teleported must have been an indication that Emilia had been killed by the Great Rabbit, leading to Puck growing huge and making it snow. That Puck was nowhere to be seen while all the rabbit mabeasts were alive show that the Great Rabbit even devoured something as huge as Puck. That is a scary thing.
“That Puck was nowhere to be seen while all the rabbit mabeasts were alive show that the Great Rabbit even devoured something as huge as Puck. That is a scary thing.”
I think I should nominate you for “Biggest Understatement of the Week!” For the rabbit to consume Puck… Damn!
The way I see it, the Witch’s Cult are only supporters of Satella. They simply somehow have the other witches’ powers. I mean not once have Betelgeuse, the guy that represents the Authority of Sloth, brought up any witch except for only Satella. He only talks about planning to revive Satella, not any other witch, not even Sekhmet, the Witch of SLOTH herself. On the topic of the witches themselves, I think some of them truly believe that they are doing something good. Problem is, their blue and orange morality tends to cause more harm than good.
On another note, I can’t help but zone in on when Typhon asked if Subaru is a ‘bad guy’. I am also reminded by how Echidna had described her as the witch “who, out of youthful innocence and cruelty, judged criminals one after another”. I think this is an implication that Typhon, like a child, sees the world in black and white. You are either a good guy or a bad guy and those who she see as bad she punishes. That would also add to the idea that the Witches are not necessarily evil, just twisted in their wish to do something good.
Another random note, Typhon noted that since Subaru does not feel the pain of her power, he must not be a ‘bad guy’ then, but she also notes that since Subaru broke into pieces anyway, she reasons that Subaru believes that he is a ‘bad person’. I don’t have much to add, its just interesting to know that Subaru still potentially hates himself.
Btw, the sound editing on this episode is top-notch! If you watch the “I love you” scene wearing headphones, Satella’s voice sounds like she is whispering in your ear. It is amazing. Furthermore, we see more proof as to Satella showing her very sin. When she is separated from Subaru, she immediately heads towards the mansion (presumably) to kill Rem and Petra for loving Subaru. I saw an interesting theory that the reason Satella makes sure Subaru can’t tell anyone about RBD is because she wants to keep it as an intimate secret between the two of them that no-one should know almost like a lovers’ secret.
I really like how much interesting discussion this show generates!
” mean not once have Betelgeuse, the guy that represents the Authority of Sloth, brought up any witch except for only Satella.”
I think you’re right. I don’t remember any of them bringing up the witch of a particular sin. So they have an allegiance to the sins themselves, and the witches aren’t part of that equation?
“I think some of them truly believe that they are doing something good. Problem is, their blue and orange morality tends to cause more harm than good.”
Blue and orange indeed! I got a real sense that Daphne honestly tried to feed the world. It’s just that her sense of justice demanded she tweak the food so it could defend itself. I can even understand that logic.
I don’t like it, but I understand it!
“That would also add to the idea that the Witches are not necessarily evil, just twisted in their wish to do something good.”
They’re going good as they see it. Which isn’t how we’d see it.
“I don’t have much to add, its just interesting to know that Subaru still potentially hates himself.”
I’ve gotten that impression through the series. Do you see signs his self-hatred might be diminishing? I don’t have anything concrete to point to, but I’m getting that sense.
“If you watch the “I love you” scene wearing headphones, Satella’s voice sounds like she is whispering in your ear. ”
Oh, yeah! I forgot to mention that in the review. I was wearing headphones during that scene, and it was absolutely amazing. Just a little disorienting, too! In a good way. If there is a good way to be disorienting.
“she immediately heads towards the mansion (presumably) to kill Rem and Petra for loving Subaru.”
Oh! That’s a scary interpretation. It’s scary because a) it’s plausible and b) it doesn’t bode well for Petra or Rem.
“an intimate secret between the two of them that no-one should know almost like a lovers’ secret.”
That makes sense. Again, in a scary way.
In the scene where the embraced him in this episode, I half expected him to ask her how he could possibly relate to her; how he could return her love. It really looks like she loves the guy. We have no more an idea why than he has an idea of how to respond — without getting everyone killed, anyway.