Weekend Pick or Pass: Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- (2016) on Moviebox

Disconnect for a little and join us for the weekend. If mindless fluff entertainment is not your idea of fun and you are looking for a series that makes you think and feel then get ready for, Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-. This story is not just another ‘isekai’ story. It is a complex psychological study behind the impact of such a drastic transport. Behind a mystery that will thoroughly entertain you.

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Our story begins with the protagonist of the narrative, Natsuki Subaru, being abruptly taken from an ordinary high school students’ life and thrust into a fantasy world. He quickly finds himself in a dangerous situation and wouldn’t have survived if a beautiful and mysterious character with silver hair hadn’t intervened. Deciding to help her in her search, Subaru unknowingly starts a chain of events that begin to explain the mystery of the world, while becoming even more complex and unpredictable. The mystery deepens as we begin to learn about the world’s cultures and how the inhabitants behave and the mysteries of its social order. The world is filled with rich and interesting characters that lie behind the the curtain and help form the narrative and have interesting personal motivations and plans, unlike other fantasy backdrops. This complexity is what has captured the minds and hearts of many critics, and one in particular noted that the series had a “culturally complex” world with characters that had “their own plans, faults, and motivations.” One of the most interesting aspects of the main character is that the world has shown to be hostile with complex systems that keep people like him who believe they are “the least special person in it,” at the bottom, and his struggle to become important in the world is expertly shown.

At first glance, it’s understandable that Re:Animation would be mistaken for a power fantasy. After all, the protagonist has a very vivid inequality that would eventually become very problematic. Despite that, we see early on that Re:Animation is crafted in such a way that it isn’t an outright power fantasy. Our "Hero" is at times incredibly unlikeable, but is the most relatable of characters and brings painstaking progress to the world of Re:Animation, including some spectacular failures. Subaru is a complex character with some problematic traits such as being hot-headed, child-like, and repeatedly failing more out of need than out of self-pity, but in all, his relatability makes up for these character flaws. Sometimes he’s even character flaws that you’d want to shake him out of. Once again, Subaru proves that he is a complex character. As one critic put it, Subaru’s characterization is such that he manages to attract sympathy and empathy from the audience, but for all his naivete, they occasionally feel the need to "cheer him and despise him." in equal measure. Re:Animation is not a show that you can just have playing in the background. Once you start to notice the layers begin to peel off the main plot and the rules of the world begin to show themselves, everything unravels. Because of how clever it is with things, it can be rewarding to do a rewatch, and do it you should, to catch all the things the creators have placed in the world. The animation in general is good, creating a sense of dramatic urgency, especially during the more exhilarating scenes.

The depiction of Subaru’s journey is not complete without the attention to detail regarding the moods and tones of the scenes. Subaru’s skill in maneuvering the royal courts is matched by the skilled use of color and detail in the backgrounds. In many of the scenes he encounters large and dangerous threats, but the backgrounds are often detail rich and beautifully drawn.

Subaru’s long and arduous journey involves a number of side quests, most notably the monster investment fund venture.

So, is Re:ZERO worth a Saturday watch on Moviebox? If you're looking for something on the more dramatic side to ponder and appreciate, then Re:ZERO may just what you need. Don't let the ‘heavy’ drama label deter you though! This isn't a show to throw on in the background while you're on your phone. This is a show to appreciate fully and probably devote a good portion of your Friday and Saturday to. It's worth noting most reviews agree the first few episodes will have you hooked, but after that it’s a “quite heavy” ride. Some users even described the last few episodes as a bit of a disappointment, feeling rushed with unsatisfying conclusions. This is an ongoing series with a long-form narrative though and with that in mind, if you embrace that the journey will include the struggle, you will love this show. With critics actually ranking Re:ZERO as one of the top series of the year and fans voting this series as a top choice, you know it will offer you a great Sunday on the couch! This show is proof there are still shows that will keep you engaged and interested in plotlines that are complex and unpredictable.

Once you start playing this game, no snacks will be safe, you'll be way too invested to move!