ReZero 4 Episode 16 Gets Slammed by Fans Over Subaru’s Wasted Moment
Episode 16 of ReZero Season 4 didn’t sit well with a considerable portion of fans. Many were seriously disappointed with how the anime adapted the scene of Subaru confronting Rui, among other important moments from the episode.
For anyone who’s lost in the loop, Re Episode 16 shows Natsuki Subaru reading his own Books of the Dead and remembering every death he has experienced throughout the story.
During this process, he ends up meeting different versions of himself and recovers the memories he had lost at the beginning of the arc.
The Episode Divided Fans
However, we also have the confrontation with Rui, who falls into despair after witnessing everything Subaru has been through.
I watched some reactions from people who only follow the anime and, yeah, many of them were confused about what was happening.
Some fans who haven’t read the novel really enjoyed the episode, giving it scores between 8 and 9/10 and especially praising the Corridor of Memories, the episode’s concept, and the part where Subaru confronts himself.
On the other hand, some complained about the pacing, saying the first third dragged on for too long. Others were simply confused by what was going on with Rui.
The interaction between the two Subarus was also pointed out by some viewers as a scene that could have had much more emotional impact.
For Novel Readers, It Was a Different Story
Now, among novel readers, things were much more complicated.
Many said the episode was carried by the original material itself and that the direction, storyboarding, and, most importantly, the emotional impact fell short of what they expected.
Some even said White Fox wasted one of the best moments of Arc 6, while others were simply disappointed because they expected to see the famous “aura monster Subaru” in all his glory.
Of course, there were also readers who defended the episode with everything they had, saying that even with the adaptation’s problems, it was still easily a 10/10.
And Some Fans Took Things Too Far
But then we have the more extreme fans, who went after White Fox. For the most part, Chinese fans became so aggressive that the studio’s official X account ended up closing its replies after receiving threats.
On X, the complaints were even harsher.
Several fans accused White Fox of not understanding what makes Subaru so important to ReZero, complaining that the very episode focused on his reconciliation with his own past was given what they considered a “low-priority” adaptation.
Among the main criticisms were the excessive use of reused scenes from previous seasons, characters standing almost completely still during dialogue, and direction that, according to many fans, failed to convey the emotional weight of the scenes.
Some fans even compared the result to a kind of “radio drama.”
Why Did Fans Get So Angry?
The biggest outrage, however, came from comparisons with the action episodes.
Many readers questioned the decision to apparently concentrate more resources on fights involving side characters while what they consider one of Subaru’s biggest character-development moments received a much simpler presentation.
Read more: Some claimed that White Fox has been cutting or diminishing important moments for the protagonist since the first season, and that the same thing is happening again now in Arc 6.
Still, not everyone joined the hate train. Some fans defended the studio and pointed out that it’s possible to criticize an adaptation without attacking the staff members responsible for it.
In the end, the most common feeling among the critics was simple: this wasn’t just another episode. It was one of the most important moments in Subaru’s story, and they expected much more.
Just like with Madoka, when I had no idea people shipped Homura with Sayaka, I also don’t really follow the ReZero fandom that closely.
So I’ll admit that I never really understood this whole “aura monster” meme.
I read Arc 6 normally and, for me, my favorite parts have much more to do with the mysteries about the world that it raises than with the conflicts and Subaru himself.
So, honestly?
I thought the episode was good.