Since its debut in 2016, Re: Zero – Starting Life in Another World quickly captured audiences with its dark, unique take on the Isekai genre. Due to the anime being adapted from a light novel by Tappei Nagatsuki, rather than a manga, Re: Zero had more narrative freedom, but at the same time, it faced greater adaptation challenges.
In bringing this series to life, the creators made some bold choices, which meant altering some of the crucial details from the source material. These risky decisions raised opinions about the anime that it wouldn’t have continued past its first season, especially with a condensed storyline that left the Re:Zero anime feeling more self-contained than open-ended.
The Bold Adaptation Choices in Re: Zero’s First Season
The first season of Re: Zero – Starting Life in Another World consists of 25 episodes with the second season being of 25 episodes divided into two parts. However, In the second cour of season 1, the anime covered twice as much content as it did in the first, forcing it to omit significant character arcs and background details that were present in the light novel.
One of the biggest omissions involved the revelation that Subaru Natsuki wasn’t the first person to be transported into the fantasy world, an element that added complexity and intrigue to the story in the novels. This reveal hinted at a larger narrative, suggesting that Subaru’s experience wasn’t unique and grounding his journey within a grander world history. Without it, the anime left viewers with a narrower understanding of the story’s potential scope and Subaru’s predicament.
The anime adaptation of Re: Zero had to give some arcs more attention than others in order to present a cohesive plot in the few episodes available. Deep lore and character-driven backstories that didn’t instantly serve the climactic arc were either shortened or completely removed. Because of this, the anime felt more complete by the end, leaving viewers with fewer unresolved issues and reducing the need for another season.
Looking Forward To The Newest Season of Re: Zero
Despite those alterations and crucial issues the second season of Re: Zero was released in 2020, although it was a bit delayed. One of the reasons for the delay was that the creators didn’t expect the success of the first season. It further solidifies the fact that another season wasn’t planned at all and Re: Zero anime was supposed to be ended after season 1.
However, from season 2 onwards Re: Zero had kind of caught up with the source material. With two seasons under its belt, Re: Zero has laid the groundwork for deeper storylines and more expansive world-building. Season 3 has the opportunity to delve into plotlines that were previously hinted at or omitted entirely.
Re: Zero’s anime adaptation made some unconventional choices in its first season, crafting a story that felt almost conclusive yet left enough mystery to merit continuation. Now, with Season 3 ongoing, the anime has the chance to dive into the rich, complex narratives that were set aside in the initial adaptation. By exploring Subaru’s origins, deepening character relationships, and expanding the world’s lore, Season 3 could give Re: Zero the epic scope it deserves, promising fans a fresh chapter in Subaru’s relentless, emotionally charged journey.
Re:Zero Season 3 is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
