The archbishops of Sin are like the bogeymen of Re:Zero universe. Whenever something horrible happens, their heinous organization, the Witch Cult, is always at the center of all the death, blood, and destruction. Their latest target appears to be the idyllic landlocked town of Priestella, whose rivers now run red with the blood of innocent victims. Subaru Natsuki finds himself at a moment where one wrong move can tip the scales in favor of the bad guys, because the fate of his beloved Emilia remains unresolved.

With so many players on board, Re:Zero Season 3, Episode 4, “The City Hall Takeover,” has a piece of every pie, or in this case, stories. The sad thing is that wherever the story goes, it seems disastrous for Subaru and his friends. The more the cult of witches tightens its grip on the city, the more corpses accumulate in the streets. Chilling bloodbaths follow every thrilling action scene, constantly reminding the audience that these are powerful enemies that Subaru faces in this anime. All the pain and suffering brings a heartbreaking emotionality to the episode. Yet, despite the characters’ grief and anger, the plot moves slowly, leading one to wonder if Re:Zero Season 3 drags its heels to leave the best for last.

Re:Zero Season 3, Episode 4 is slowly emerging from its self-made purgatory

The episode gets bogged down in tedious work

Just like his predecessors, Re:Zero Season 3 has followed Subaru every step of the way and remains faithful to showing each new development through his eyes. SO, it comes as a surprise when episode 4 opens from the perspective of others, teasing the audience of the many narratives bubbling to the surface. While one subplot shows Garfiel and Mimi preparing to face two Archbishops of Sin, Reinhard watches his father take his master hostage in the other. The tension is palpable, and it only gets worse as the episode progresses. The tale marinates in a concoction of mysteries yet to be revealed. From Mimi being mortally wounded to the revelation of Priestella’s story, the episode juggles a lot of questions and hides this narrative struggle well with shocking twists and bloody action.

Garfiel reaches one of the lowest points of his life in Re:Zero Season 3, episode 4. Directly engaged in combat after a melancholy encounter with his biological mother, Garfiel finds himself facing two archbishops out for blood. Unfortunately, the worst happens when Mimi gets injured and time suddenly stops. The episode relays this through a flashback, simultaneously juxtaposing the young boy’s current state of mind to evoke an emotional reaction from the audience. Episode 4 uses these moments to keep the story from becoming too political, in the most literal sense, even though they are too few and far between. Despite the high stakes and dire situation, Subaru and his friends stand around a table and weigh the logistical options of mounting an operation, like bureaucrats would, for most of the episode. While there are a number of cool fights, the amount of time wasted going in circles makes the pacing of the episode arrhythmic.

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It’s one thing to drown the story in exposition, but it’s another to create an echo chamber where everyone praises Subaru and cares about him more than their own safety. In its mission to introduce Subaru as the protagonist, Episode 4 goes a little too far with the sugar coating. Fortunately, the climactic moment comes at just the right time and leads to explosive action. As Subaru and his friends flush out Capella Emerada Lugunica and his archbishop’s lackeys, the counter-offensive begins in earnest. The adrenaline rush brings new thrills and pushes the episode out of the meandering, depressing hole it dug itself into, with the plot still moving very slowly.

Re:Zero Season 3, Episode 4 takes care of its characters

The episode maintains and builds on previous casting development

With Priestella confined and people battling their own demons, the pressure begins to mount on Subaru. The archbishops hold Priestella hostage in exchange for the witch’s remains, and as time passes, Capella’s demands begin to resemble fingernails scraping across a chalkboard. Suddenly, all eyes in the episode are on Subaru, including those of the viewers who are watching intently to make his next move in this twisted game of chess. Instead of backing down under the pressure of duty or going after Emilia alone like he would have done a season ago, Subaru rallies everyone behind him to save the city. This is a marked change from his usual self, showing growth that inspires hope. In previous arcs, he would recklessly drive himself into the ground, dying over and over again before falling into despair. Now this time it’s different, as he relies more on his trusted friends than his cursed powers.

Even though he maturely deals with the carnage around him, Subaru can still feel the pain Garfiel is going through. Not long ago, he turned into a train wreck every time he saw his loved ones in imminent danger. If anyone can understand the roller coaster of emotions brewing in Garfiel’s mind, it’s Subaru. Likewise, Episode 4 shows a vulnerable side of Garfiel as he recovers from his apparent failure to save Mimi. The situation worsens when he sees her bleeding profusely from an irreparable wound, pushing him into fight or flight, of which he chooses the latter. Garfiel’s voice actor, Nobuhiko Okamoto, plays the character using the full range of his voice, becoming more gentle and emotional when he has a nervous breakdown without compromising his flamboyant side.

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Re:Zero Season 3, Episode 4 finally gives a face to the name of Capella Emerada Lugunica, but not in the way viewers might have expected. After being a passive observer when the archbishops arrived in the city, Subaru takes an active part in the assault against the witch cult, which forces him to come face to face with hostile characters. One of them is Capella, who has been constantly taunting the powers that be about Priestella and, as far as first impressions go, she makes a very worthy entrance as the villain. Although danger remains a constant companion in the story, given the power of the enemy, what really sets off alarm bells is the arrival of the greedy Archbishop of Sin, as it introduces a personal angle for Subaru.

Re:Zero Season 3, Episode 4 Gets Top Ratings for White Fox Animation

The episode allows White Fox to spread its wings through animation

Re:Zero Season 3, Episode 4 begins and ends with action, letting the animation do all the visual heavy lifting. Garfiel and Mimi’s fight against the Archbishops of Sin is quick and flashy. Although it is cut in the opening moments, the sequence unfolds later with well-choreographed shots. The real spectacle of the episode is the climactic fight between the Capella Archbishops and Subaru’s team because of its magnitude. Usually, the more people in a setting, the less attention to detail. However, not only is the animation in episode 4 exciting to watch, but the details in each frame are also remarkable.

Re:Zero always retains its pearly afterglow despite violence. There’s quite a bit of blood and gore in this episode, which seems out of place compared to the picturesque town of Priestella. From heads rolling on the ground to blood gushing from limbs, things get complicated every time the archbishops appear on screen. That said, it doesn’t all look depressing, especially with the bright colors everywhere. Special effects bring frames to life, even when it comes to garish things. The scene where Capella’s face regenerates is a superbly well-executed, complex animation.

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Whether it’s real life or isekai, every world has its dangers, and Re:Zero Season 3, Episode 4 just revealed his. Subaru has always been a magnet for danger, but this time he brings hope as the heroes finally launch a counter-offensive to combat the Witch Cult and its minions. However, that’s easier said than done, as Subaru soon realizes he’s got a bit more than he can chew with his defiance. It’s always the shock that fans have been waiting for since the start of the season. Re:Zero Season 3, Episode 4 ends on a cliffhanger, reaching an exciting moment thanks to its many storylines.

Re:Zero Season 3, Episode 4 is now streaming on Crunchyroll.

Re:Zero Season 3, Episode 4 – “Operation Takeover City Hall”

Release date

April 3, 2016

Cast

Yûsuke Kobayashi, Rie Takahashi, Yumi Uchiyama, Chinatsu Akasaki, Yuichi Nakamura, Inori Minase, Rie Murakawa, Takehito Koyasu, Satomi Arai, Kōhei Amasaki, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Kaori Nazuka, Aimi Tanaka, Maaya Sakamoto, Marika Kouno, Mugihito, Kenta Miyake, Hibiku Yamamura, Koki Koyasu

Benefits

• The confluence of stories makes it a strong episode.
• Garfiel’s moving story gives depth to the episode.
• The action adds a good dose of excitement.
• White Fox’s animation adds color to the world.

Disadvantages

• The brutal plunge into despair bogs down the plot.
• The interactions between the characters go around in circles, slowing down the pace.

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