HORRO

Re: Zero Season 4, Episode 9 - Spoiler Warning HERE WE GO. NONE OTHER THAN THE FAMOUS AURA MONSTER EPISODE. I am sure that's the first thing people want to know about. Let me just say, I LOVED THAT SCENE SO MUCH. IT WAS DIRECTED TO ABSOLUTE PERFECTION. It's not at all like the Tiktoks (and thank god for that), I'll explain later in the summary. First of all, I'm unfortunately going to have to start with some criticism, purely from a novel reader's point of view. I promise the following two points are the only things I am critical about. The rest of the episode is sheer, utter peak. The first thing is, the portion where Subaru sinks under the sand happens during daylight in the anime. This differs from the novel, where it happens under an unfamiliar starry sky. I was not fond of this change, it misses the gut-wrenching feeling conveyed when Subaru realises he was abandoned by his own constellation. The second thing is, there appears to be a mistake (?) in the episode's script, where it makes it look like Subaru was only able to get through three doors, and not a fourth. This seems to be because the novel explains Subaru was able to go through a fourth door in its narration, and the script did not translate that across. So the foreshadowing that Subaru has the Gluttony Factor here is completely missing... Anyways, with that aside. The rest of the episode was fucking incredible. First of all, I LOVE the effect they use to show Rui taking over. I won't spoil it, but man, it's so subtle and genius in direction. And then the build up when he's teleported back to the tower. Wow. Just wow. AND THEN THE AURA MONSTER. Thankfully, the focus is on Subaru's murderous intent, and not the stairs. It flashes back to how he fell to his death, as he climbs the stairs, and thinks of all the people who might be responsible. It's so damn good and captures the essence of the scene perfectly. Both the boarding and direction here was insane. And with the direction ramping up the pace, the moment where Subaru comes across Shaula's butchered body is fucking incredible. The gore is not censored at all, of any of the characters he comes across. It's just so, so, soooo good. I couldn't have asked for a better adaptation here. And then man, Subaru's emotions as he stabs Patrasche and breaks down hit so hard. THEN WOW. WOW. WOOOOW. THE "SEE IF YOU CAN TAKE A GUESS NEXT TIME, HERO" LINE. WOW. I AM UTTERLY STUNNED. GENIUS DIRECTION. WE SEE IT PAN TO REVEAL REM'S FACE BEHIND SUBARU. AND NONE OTHER THAN INORI MINASE, REM'S VOICE ACTRESS, DELIVERS THE LINE AS SUBARU IS DECAPITATED. 10/10. Then, Subaru of course Returns by Death and we get the conversations that follow, where he decides to conceal his amnesia. Including confronting Julius, all the way up till he blacks out after Meili asks him about last night. And my god, was this also so fucking good. The way he comes to in a panic and then sees "Natsuki Subaru was here!" carved into his arm. Just incredible. Once again, insane direction and boarding. And that is where the episode ends. Opening and ending play as normal. Not an extended length episode. Title: Ruins My rating: 8.95/10