I feel like the typical things people praise Re:ZERO arc 3 for just don't work. People talk about "flawed human MC" as though it was something he needed to correct and "grow up" when I'd say he just got brutalized for deciding to stick up for himself and not put up with Emilia's highly disrespectful attitude toward her camp's savior and her friend. The constant good-for-nothing child treatment he got, repeatedly ignoring his queations and desire to connect, the coercing the promise out of him ("Give me a reason to trust you, I'm not asking much" – straight up disrespectful and manipulative, no?) without ever conveying properly the weight of it (like... she should have just framed it as an order... but she's too "nice," which is so messed up). In my view it was Emilia's arc and her not learning to take Subaru's kindness for granted, but the suffering is so unbelievably asymmetric, and you wonder just lesson this story is going for where it's saying a guy and benefactor not putting up with a girl being highly disrespectful and suffocating is this some huge moral failing. I like your analysis because it's one of the few I feel actually engages with just how problematic Emilia is as a character in arc 3 and later on. Somehow people insulting her and Roswaal's ruse never gets brought up, Subaru always gets ragged on for that one moment, and I'm like, ok just what lesson is supposed to be here? Because I'm just rooting for Subaru in the light novels, against Julius and Emilia. I am truly hoping (and I wrote a recent analysis on Christian themes in RZ) that this is for an intentional breakdown later, because in my view this is one of the longest gaslighting projects in fiction lol
I’d push back against the idea Subaru got brutalized for sticking up for himself because that’d imply intentionality on his behalf lmfao.
The boy literally stumbled into not getting any cultural nuances (coupled with Subaru’s inherent natural tendency to misread) and thus promptly fell flat on his face infront of the Council which then led to the whole …saga that was the Conference.
Now. As for the Emilia stuff here. Mmmmmmmh. I agree w/ you on it being problematic how Emilia didn’t particularly explain even relatively basic things to Subaru/tell him of things that directly concerned him (example, Felix healing his Gate) but I think the Arc being about Emilia and learning to not shit on Subaru’s kindness isn’t particularly the point.
My belief is that the Arc is about Subaru and his inability to properly read others around him and getting the consequences for his limited view of the world.
And, of course, finally peeling away the flimsy ass mask Subaru has of this all being a fantasy world which was a coping mechanism but it was still part of Subaru’s thought process.
Now. The promise thing. Hmmmmmm. Well. This might be a bit of what truly nasty things I’ve seen of humanity tainting my view so I am perhaps a bit biased to reach what is most probably a warped conclusion by normal societal standards buuuuut…
Are promises not inherently coercive and manipulative within the context of 2 or more people interacting?
The reason I have this viewpoint is that I think about it like this. A promise is something that is cajoled out of someone to another person, often upon request. That means the promise often wasn’t made for ones own sake but to appease another’s mind and heart.
Now promises could be good if making them to oneself but that came out of something one did for themselves rather then another impressing upon them this proverbial chain that is what a promise in the end ultimately is no matter how fluffy society tries to paint it as.
That’s actually why I think in the end Emilia’s line here is a good answer from her POV because it is NOT distinctly some promise. It’s Emilia (imo atleast) being open and honest in communicating that she needs a reason to trust Subaru rn due to being unable to muster up one and her considering it “not much” to ask for is because Emilia considers trusting Subaru to be very easy so instead of that “not much” being more manipulative it comes across as Emilia being factual to me.
Also. Thanks for your appreciation of my analysis on Emilia’s more murky sides in Arc 3 and after lol. I do feel like Emilia is either whammied between people whom utterly dislike her (of whom I think you fall into that Camp? Pardon me if I’m mistaken though) or people whom adore her and just.. don’t really look at what the story is subtextually dropping.
Emilia is one of those characters where I think there is nuance to them where the Author didn’t intend there to particularly be and it’s caused this confusion amongst the fanbase on how to view her as instead of simply taking the subtext as being what it is, analyzing it, and acknowledging it as you continue to keep an open view on where Emilia is as an individual.
You would think Ichijou is the character I find hottest in Kaiji. He’s perfectly crafted me-bait sitting pretty doing his eyelashes and nails in his shady casino. I’m betraying my brand here. Kaiji is looking a little too fine retroactively. I’m charmed by his butch styling, chivalry, sensitive nature, and resilience under torture. I’ve known him for a week and I already miss him.
learning that self deprecation isnt cool and just makes the people around you uncomfortable unironically improved my mental health a lot. like if you just stop saying negative shit about yourself you will genuinely like yourself more and other people wont be repulsed by your attitude and you will have more friends. it's true.
quirky fourth wall breaking character but theyre just fucking. wrong about the medium theyre in. they keep making references to cinematic techniques and directorial styles and the other fourth wall breaking character is like "dumbass we're in a fucking comic book" and they are in a video game.
snowghoul
vaporwave
romaincrisis
baratheonpilled
jacobvanloon
