Re:Zero Season 4 Episode 3 – Return by Death Returns, Brutally
Overview Episode 3 of Re:Zero Season 4 is where the "Loss Arc" earns its name. The party reaches the Pleiades Watchtower, only for a wave of dragon-miasma to descend. Anastasia is sliced in half. Ram's head is crushed by what fans describe as "the sound of dragon teeth grinding bone." Subaru, with Beatrice, can't do anything but flee. Return by Death has been quiet for most of Season 3 — and Episode 3 makes it clear that the comfortable tension-free era is over. Japanese 5ch reactions split into a few clear camps. Many were thrilled that Re:Zero felt "back" — the gore, the helplessness, the genuine dread. Others noted production choices: the desaturation effect during Anastasia's death scene struck some as "respect for the gore," while others argued it was just lighting changes since Ram's death scene stayed in color. There's also a chilling observation that ended up going viral within the thread — the moment Anastasia begs not to be left behind, she's no longer Echidna. She's Anastasia herself, fully aware, terrified. Multiple commenters called this "the kind of detail you only catch if you're really paying attention."
Japanese Fan Reactions (22)
Okay so I just realized something terrifying. After Echidna gets sliced in half, the one begging Subaru "I don't want to die" — that wasn't Echidna. That was the REAL Anastasia. If you look carefully there's a blood-soaked white fox corpse (Echidna) in the foreground. Once you notice, it's pure horror. Re:Zero is brutal.
WAIT WHAT. You're telling me that whole time she was begging "don't leave me alone" she was lucid Anastasia?? That's insane. Re:Zero really is on another level.
She was bisected — her organs falling out as she's clinging to Subaru, getting flung aside, and STILL crying for help. The desaturation during the gore probably gets undone on Blu-ray. And god, the sound of Ram's skull being crunched by the dragon's fangs was something else.
Episode 2 watched. Viewers might think "well, no real stakes since he can just reset, right?" — but no. The deaths are vicious. Beatrice crying. No mercy. The tension is back and I missed it.
For real. S3 had Subaru basically completing arcs without ever dying. The brutality being back feels nostalgic in the worst best way.
Subaru's right arm and right leg look zombified now. Is that permanent even after a death-loop reset? And how is this story going to land — Subaru ending up with Emilia or Rem? Going home? Rem's been popular for years and they're still keeping her asleep. It's like Hunter x Hunter benching Kurapika from Greed Island through Chimera Ant.
Quick note: he's in this state because of the miasma, not his usual injuries. Whether it heals through Return by Death depends on the next loop.
You can really tell this is a "team without combat ability" trap. Specifically those three plus the dragon. If Emilia or Julius had gone insane from the miasma and attacked, Subaru would've been dead before he understood what was happening. The setup oozes with author malice.
I've always preferred Ram over Rem, even knowing how unpopular that is. This episode hammered it home — the way Ram and Subaru exchange snarky banter is just way more fun to watch than Rem's unconditional adoration.
They're identical twins — Ram's and Rem's feelings for Subaru are functionally the same. The difference is expression and which role (older/younger sister) and chest size. Each one suppresses her feelings to "protect" the other.
Eight-bit-era retro game vibes from the Pleiades Watchtower. Almost no info on it. Even Reinhardt with his cheat-tier blessings couldn't reach it. So why does the calculating Anastasia (King candidate #1 in the race) decide to participate? Why not throw money and manpower at intel first? It's like Takeshi's Castle.
In her case it has to be HER body that goes — Anastasia can't just send proxies. That said, joining a "no info, no return" expedition still feels like a contradiction.
Why does only Subaru remember while everyone else gets their memories of him erased — and yet none of the locals find anything weird? Convenient writing. Also Meili and other early-arc characters somehow still being alive feels like retcon. The cracks in the world-building are starting to show.
Question: how is it that in S1 E1 Subaru figured out "isekai transfer" almost instantly, but it took THREE deaths to figure out he'd looped in time? Is there a reason in-story for that slowness?
There's a thing in the LN where Subaru tries writing it down instead of saying it, and it doesn't work. The "no telling anyone, ever" thing is hard-coded by the witch's power, not a choice he's making.
Roswaal knows Subaru can redo his life. So why don't the others know yet? If Subaru can't say it himself, Roswaal could just tell everyone. Sharing info would be hugely strategically better.
For people wondering why Subaru can open the iron door three times: Subaru carries three witch-factors right now. Seven would let him open every door. Behind those doors? The sealed Witch of Envy. The Watchtower's actual purpose is to guard her.
The miasma during the gore scene — when the screen desaturates, I think it's just lighting. The lamp went out and the room went dark. If it were really for gore-censoring, Ram's eating-scene wouldn't be in color either.
And about Subaru never going home — the LN already covered this in S2. It was kind of like a dream sequence. The "back to Earth" arc is done.
Honestly the reason Subaru's "Return by Death" actually feels like a return-to-Re:Zero now is because we got too comfortable for too long. Brutality is the brand.
A funny detail nobody mentions: Subaru's perception that his Return by Death is his own ability is wrong. The death-loop is the Witch of Envy's power. Subaru's actual personal "factor" is Pride.
Brutal AND well-paced. After two cozy seasons this was a slap to the face. Welcome back, Re:Zero.
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