Anime

Re:ZERO Season 2 Part 2 Episode 47 – A Little Too Far and the Unthinkable Present

Quick Summary of Re:ZERO Season 2 Part 2 Episode 47

In Re:ZERO Season 2 Part 2 Episode 47, “Happiness Reflected on the Water’s Surface,” Garfiel continued his furious battle with Knifey/Elsa. It seems the “Bowel Hunter” felt pretty impressed. But Garfiel would rather hear compliments from someone else. Subaru tries to convince Beatrice to come with him using his usual Subaru charm. Unfortunately, a little can go a long way. While all that is going on, Emilia started the second trial, “the unthinkable present.” What does Echidna have in store for Emilia this time around? Can Emilia get past it on the first try? And what’s going on with Ram and Roswaal

Re:ZERO Season 2 Part 2 Episode 47: My Turn to Host!

Welcome to our collaboration review of Re:ZERO Season 2 Part 2, Episode 47. Irina from I Drink and Watch Anime and I have teamed up to give you twice thoughtful insights. And that’s a good thing, because I would not want to venture into the world of Re:ZERO with my insights alone.

That out of the way, Irina, before we get to the review, any opening thoughts about the episode?

I wonder if they are saving everything up or if there’s a budget reason that they keep not showing any of the actual fights. If they are saving it up I suspect we are going to have nothing but action for the rest of the season.

Review of Re:ZERO Season 2 Part 2 Episode 47

Introduction

This episode split roughly between three battlefields. First, Garfiel is holding his own against Knifey, who seems to be really getting into the fight. By that, I mean I’m not sure she’s going up against someone as far or capable as Garfiel since her fight against Reinhard back in the first season. This section includes Subaru once again learning the truth of that saying about plans surviving contact with battle. Next, we follow Emilia into the “unthinkable present.” It was a much more subtle trial than the first, but it had its own type of dangers. Third, we see what happened when Emilia emerged from her second trial. Apparently, Garfiel had left instructions before he left!

Irina, as usually, If I’ve missed anything, please do jump in wherever you think best!

Irina’s in bold this week. There will be spoilers. 

Garfiel vs. Knifey

The episode opened with some dramatic light/dark shots of Garfiel and Knifey going at it. The animation captured just how fast both of them are. In the past, we’ve seen that trait in Elsa. We’ve also seen Gariel’s raw power. This episode drove home his speed, too. Little dude done good, going so far as managing to grab the back of Knifey’s head and, driving her face into the wall, sprinting down the corridor.

Of course, that’s not enough to do in the “Bowel Hunter” (seriously, couldn’t she come up with something more marketable?). But it impressed her. She tried a couple of times to praise Gariel, but he was all like “Hearin’ that from anyone but Ram don’t make me happy!”

Garfiel is serious about winning this fight! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Any prediction on who will eventually win, Irina?

I’m going to say Garfiel. I think that was my call last episode as well. 

reZero is more classical plot wise, so I would be really surprised that they would bother to give Garfiel a redemption arc and even a bit of development just to get rid of him now. Besides, he’s only 14!

So my money goes on the named character. Besides, I don’t really see a reason why that knife lady would be that much of a challenge to fully transformed Garf from what I remember from part 1. I’m sure they’ll make it seem like a close fight cause that’s more exciting, but that’s just Garf acting for the camera.

Subaru vs. Beatrice

Meanwhile, Subaru tried to convince Beatrice to leave. Seeing this scene after learning Beatrice’s back story added a much-needed feeling of authenticity. Back in our review of episode 36, I got the distinct impression that Beatrice’s emotional antics with Subaru didn’t quite work. I got the impression based on her statements like “Now, I love Beatrice, but not so much melodramatic Beatrice.” 

That was clear even to me!

But with the added dimensions we’ve learned, knowing that Beatrice is at heart a lonely child who misses her mother, this scene worked a lot better. Irina, what did you think?

Subaru tried to push Beatrice our of her comfort zone. Looks like he succeeded in that, at least! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

I really miss season 1 Beatrice, she was my favourite character. This one is fine, too, just a bit less interesting to me.

The scene felt melancholy as Beatrice realized who had betrayed the secret of her doors spell to Knifey. She realized it was Roswaal. That had to hurt.

Subaru and Peak Sarcasm

That said, I thought it was funny how Subaru was at Peak Sarcasm. That worked well when he used it to convince Beatrice that she might have misunderstood Echidna’s intent and the purpose of the blank book she’d treasured for the last 400 years. Unfortunately, when she tearfully asked if he was “that person,” he tried Sarcasm. It was completely ineffective. In fact, she blew him out into the corridor and slammed the door. Win some, lose some, I guess!

Once in the corridor, Subaru immediately realized something was wrong. Otto and Petra were still there! Subaru asked what was up, and Otto said that they’d run into a mabeast that the crystal he’d given Petra couldn’t control. As they talked, something attacked the floor beneath them, and before they knew it, Frederica had snatched them from the collapsing floor and had pulled them to the temporary safety of the courtyard.

Subaru vs. Meili and Her Rock-Piggie

I say “temporary” because they saw what had damaged the mansion: It was an enormous hippopotamus ridden by another character we expected, Meili (Maylie in Crunchyroll’s translation). 

She looks so innocent! You’d never know she was trying to start a murderous rampage. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Putting aside the fact that Meili called the mabeast a “rock-piggie,” my favorite part of this scene was Petra trying to bluff her way out or danger. “Y-yay!” she said, pretending to be glad to see her old friend. “I’m so glad! If we’re really friends, you could even let me go, you know.”

Of course Meili didn’t fall for it. Frederica told them to run for it while she held off the mabeast, and she and Petra shared a touching scene (and it was right decent of Meili to wait to attack until they’d finished). 

Any thoughts on that scene, Irina?

I thought her rock-piggie was a hippopotamus. Didn’t he look like a hungry hungry hippo when he opened his mouth? It’s a cool mount. If there’s a chance they can save it and have it on their side, I hope they do so!

The last scene on this battlefield was Otto, Subaru (with a Rem backpack, courtesy of Frederica), and Petra coming face to face with the “guiltylowe,” which was the uncontrollable mabeast. To be honest, it looked pretty intimidating. Looked, but not sounded. Irina, did you notice that the monster roars, both here and with the rock-piggie, seemed to be lacking a certain dynamic range?

I did not notice that at all. Good ear, Crow!

Emilia vs. the Second Trial

Now we joined Emilia on the battlefield of the second trial. At first, it almost looked like the first trial. Fortuna was brushing Emilia’s hair as she sat at a table. She wasn’t in the treehouse we’d seen in the first trial. This looked more like a cottage. And then it hit me: Emilia was an adolescent. Another second later, I realized what the second trial would be. The “unthinkable present” was a project of what would have happened had Geuse and Fortuna and the rest of Fortuna’s people had survived unscathed after Pandora’s visit. 

Since this Emilia looked younger than the present Emilia, it took me a moment to realize what was going on. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Geuse even came to visit, and Fortuna, carrying a picnic basket, met him at the door. As they walked through the unfrozen forest, they passed some of Fortuna’s people, all of whom seemed to be delighted at seeing Fortuna with Geuse. As they ate tasty picnic fare, Emilia boldly said that Geuse should just move in with them. I have to say that Fortuna is very cute when she’s embarrassed! 

Geuse, for his part, tried to say he wouldn’t dream of causing rumors about Fortuna. Saying something only a bright adolescent could get away with, Emilia said it was a bit late to worry about that — the two were already the source of much happy gossip!

Was the Approach Effective?

This scene felt less heavy-handed than some of the others in this season. In fact, it felt nicely bitter sweet — a worthy second trial, especially since Echidna had said Emilia could probably pass it easily in her current mindset. What’d you think, Irina?

Ah see, I thought it was the opposite. As in it felt more heavy handed. But then again this season has not really been going for subtlety. They are advancing the plot directly!

Emilia seems to be holding onto the courage she found in recent episodes. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Emilia excused herself and went to the top of a cliff. She didn’t see Archi come up behind her. But it wasn’t Archi. It was really Echidna come to administer the test to see if she’d passed the trial. In biblical fashion, Echidna offered Emilia this warm, happy present, including Fortuna alive and happily being with Geuse. She offered Emilia all of her people alive and well in a thriving forest. 

I loved seeing Emilia’s reaction. Citing the lessons she’d learned from Fortuna, Geuse, Archi, Ram, Otto, Garfiel, and even Subaru, she said basically that her mission was incomplete. She wanted to finish it and become someone the people important to her would admire. 

Irina, this is more like the Emilia you like to see, isn’t it?

What This Says about Emilia and Echidna

Emilia’s personality changes all the time. I really liked Echidna’s out of character reaction, though. Sheer disgust. That was a very striking moment and by far my favourite scene in the episode. It’s a cool set up, I do hope it has a pay off. It sort of resounded with me. Like some part of me agreed or at least understood what she was trying to say, but that part is not my brain cause I can’t explain it at all. In any case, I really liked it. 

I’m still trying to figure out how to talk about Echidna, tears in her eyes, saying how much she detested Emilia. I’m not sure why she hates her so much. Does it have anything to do with Satella? I kinda hate seeing Echidna cry, but if I have to choose between her and Emilia… Hmmmm. Well, maybe it won’t come to that!

I’m with Irina on this — I want to see more about why Echidna reacted this way. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Emilia emerged onto the last battlefield (is this metaphor wearing thin yet?) after completing the trial. The sight of the townsfolk gathered to cheer her own shocked her. Turns out that before he had left with Subaru on their mansion saving adventure, Garfiel had had a talk with the town. It was heart-warming seeing how much they were willing to support her.

Garfiel Had Gotten Around!

They weren’t the only ones Garfiel talked to. Ryuuzu showed up with a lot of Sanctuary’s beast people. They, too, pledged their support for Emilia. As with the end of the second trial, I enjoyed seeing their support touch Emilia and inspire her to succeed. I could see she wasn’t afraid of the challenge; she wasn’t afraid of accepting their support and the promise that implied.

Irina, I had a sense that there was some significant to the beast man voicing his support. Or am I imagining that?

As you know, I have some weird type of reZero amnesia, and I’m afraid I don’t really remember that guy at all. He was the elder of the town so I guess he must be important in some way. 

Emilia seemed determined to honor everyone’s trust in her. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Closing Thoughts about Re:ZERO Season 2 Part 2 Episode 47

The episode wrapped up with Emilia heading back into the graveyard to “Face the disaster that is yet to come,” the third trial.

Any closing thoughts about the episode, Irina?

It was a lot calmer and slower than I expected. I was gearing up for a full fledged tense fight at the mansion, kind of like what we saw in part 1, but we got away with mostly dialogue which was surprising. 

I hope we find out what happened to Ram next time. 

Me, too. It looked like her fight with Roswaal was just starting to get exciting!

Re:ZERO Season 2 Part 2 Episode 47: Other Posts

This Collaboration (I Drink and Watch Anime and Crow’s World of Anime!)

tcrow
Copyright 2022 Terrance A. Crow. All rights reserved.
https://www.crowsworldofanime.com

13 thoughts on “Re:ZERO Season 2 Part 2 Episode 47 – A Little Too Far and the Unthinkable Present

  1. I am amazed at how much Emilia has grown in season 2. She is finally becoming more confident and taking a stand for herself. This show is truly an epitome of character development. I haven’t seen a single character that has been irrelevant to the plot till now.

    1. That kind of character development makes the show a lot more fun to watch. I’m not slighting the action — it can be a lot of fun, too. The character development makes it so much more memorable.

  2. I do want to see more on Echidna’s background. Is she a tortured character too ? Maybe her long life and being a witch has really made her feel emotionally isolated . Not sure but would love to find out more ✨

    1. I’m wondering the same thing about the other witches, too. What’s it like to be a witch? Do they even have a day to day life? It doesn’t seem like they get together too often. I guess the narrative is doing a good job if it makes us want to know more about this kind of thing!

  3. That’s such a transitional episode that I wouldn’t have known what to say. You did a fairly good job with it. If I binge a show, an episode like that can only end a sitting if I’m running out of time. I remember Echidna saying that Emilia wouldn’t have much trouble with the next two trials, and well, it looked like she was certainly right for this one. Which made it sort of not very interesting to watch. And the appearance of that final mabeast wasn’t exactly welcome for me either. Maybe they’ll do something with this, but if it’s just so we have everyone fighting something then I’d rather it’d be not there. Ram and Puck vs. Roswaal would have been the most interesting thing on the plate, just because there’s something going there beyond the fight. Pitting Garfiel vs. Elsa is moderately interesting, because that’ll put their strengths in context with is at least something. I do really like how much Petra and Frederica have bonded, though. That’s really cute to watch.

    1. “And the appearance of that final mabeast wasn’t exactly welcome for me either. ”

      I’m hoping it’s not tacked on, too. I can’t bring to mind any previous shortcoming Subaru would have to overcome to fight it, so I’m not sure what they’re going to do with it.

      “I do really like how much Petra and Frederica have bonded, though. That’s really cute to watch.”

      If it’s there to increase sympathy for Petra and Frederica, it’s working! I’m really hope both of them pull through this. For their fight, there’s a feeling of consequence — they didn’t make it before.

  4. I am certainly glad i watched the episode before reading this post!

    Emilia’s test is quite Biblical. I don’t expect her to be crucified in the end but it does remind me a lot of the Temptation of Christ. When she is tested by the future I expect her to see some very bad stuff.

    1. “I am certainly glad i watched the episode before reading this post!”

      I hope the spoiler warning was prominent! Did it kind of blend? Because I worry about that…

      “Emilia’s test is quite Biblical.”

      You know, I hadn’t thought of it in those terms, but now that you mention it, there’s a lot of thematic overlap, isn’t there?

      “When she is tested by the future I expect her to see some very bad stuff.”

      Yeah, even though Echidna said she thought Emilia would breeze through the next two tasks. Unless she’s messing with Emilia, which she might well be.

      Thinking back across so many of Subaru’s timelines, if Echidna even showed Emilia one of those, it would be a real test for Emilia’s new-found confidence.

      1. Sometimes when I’m reading quickly I can skip over important things like spoiler alerts. I knew there’d be spoilers because I know the reviews you two write, so I waited to watch before I read.

        I still think Echidna and Emilia might be related.

        You may remember a movie called “The Last Temptation of Christ.” That’s what popped into my head when I saw the Test of the Unthinkable Present. Or maybe the 40 days in the wilderness from the New Testament. Emilia has the potential to be a sort of messiah in that world.

  5. They are saving the fights for the end. The novels do it the same way, there is a lot of build up and then the climax is all action. I can’t wait to see Roswaal vs. Ram fully animated…

    As for why Echidna was crying, even people who read the web novels don’t know that 😂 If I had to guess, I’d say she’s jealous of Emilia. Echidna has been trying to become immortal for 400 years now, but she’s manipulated or sacrificed everyone important in her life to achieve it, and still all she can do is exist inside her little dream world. Then she sees Emilia, who rejects the thing she wants the most (her old family) because she wants to save the Sanctuary and help her friends. Neither of them can get what they want most, but Emilia is at least strong enough to let go of her past and move forward. She’s achieved more in just a couple days (not counting all the time loops) than Echidna has in 400 years, and maybe that gave the Witch of Greed a rare moment of self-reflection. But that’s just me fan-wanking, I’m not sure if even Tappei Nagatsuki knows what he’s doing at this point lmao

    1. “I can’t wait to see Roswaal vs. Ram fully animated…”

      That could be seriously cool!

      “If I had to guess, I’d say she’s jealous of Emilia.”

      I really like your train of thought. Comparing Emilia’s success with her own lack of progress, despite being a powerful witch, would have to be intensely painful.

      “I’m not sure if even Tappei Nagatsuki knows what he’s doing at this point lmao”

      There are times characters just do stuff, even when you’re the writer. Maybe Echidna’s doing that to him!

Please let me know what you think!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.