Every turn you take these days leads you to a new Isekai title. And you’ll always find the same overused combination of harem, power fantasy, and a subpar or even outright boring protagonist. With how Isekai has evolved as a category, you wonder if Re:Zero ever even belonged to it? Re:Zero might be an Isekai in its spirit, but it is so much more refreshing and unique as an experience.
For that reason, it’s not surprising when a fan says that Re:Zero is their favorite Isekai. There’s simply no better candidate for that, except for maybe… Overlord! Despite being one of the first Isekai series, Re:Zero doesn’t follow a lot of the conventions, and carves a unique path by letting the characters weave the story. That’s precisely what makes it so appealing.
Subaru is important for Re:Zero to be unique
From the beginning itself, Re:Zero doesn’t follow the conventional path of an Isekai. Subaru teleports to this new world as himself, along with all his experiences. He expects this new world to be his reign, and it doesn’t take long for that illusion to crumble. He realized that he isn’t merely just a part of this new world; he’s also very helpless and wouldn’t survive very long as his current self.
That’s where his journey begins. Subaru’s weaknesses push him to find allies who make this journey easier for him. However, his opinion of himself creates conflict. We see Subaru overcoming his ego, while growing more vulnerable and self-aware as the story progresses. The deaths play a huge role in his character development.
His introduction and the episodes that follow make it clear that he’s ordinary and unlikable. Yet he has plenty of room to grow, and that’s what you need to be patient for. Subaru is not like other Isekai protagonists who wield great power or knowledge in the new worlds, where in every interaction, they surprise people with how ahead of their age they are.
Subaru is very real, relatable, and the best part is that he takes action. He fails more than he can ever win. He knows that he’s always more likely to fail. So, he finds people who can make his battles easier and help him survive and grow. Now, these characters and companions have their own stories to tell.
Re:Zero lets the characters dictate the story, but with limitations
The new worlds and their power system are a central focus in most Isekai anime. That’s true for Re:Zero as well. However, these elements have been partly shrouded in mystery for a long time. We learn something new at every turn, but the grand allure of mystery is always there.
It’s the characters and their internal struggles that keep you hooked to the narrative. Isekai protagonists are like puppeteers; their knowledge allows them to manipulate the other characters to some extent. Subaru doesn’t have that luxury, and the characters end up navigating through each other’s struggles.
Re:Zero’s genius characterization gives the anime a personal and grounded touch. It’s not aspirational or fantastical, but relatable. It evokes empathy and admiration for the characters and their struggles, and Subaru leaves you fascinated with his growth. It’s all perseverance, and not some random Isekai hack.
Re:Zero is currently available to stream on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
