Whenever we talk about Re:ZERO Starting Life in Another World, the first thing that comes to mind is that whirlwind of emotions the series has delivered since 2016. Back then, when Subaru showed up all lost in that strange world and discovered his “Return by Death” ability, it felt like we had found the perfect isekai: intense action, plenty of psychological suffering, and charismatic characters like Rem, who to this day is worshipped as one of the best waifus of the decade.
However...
Now, with the arrival of the third season, it’s clear that not everything is sunshine and roses on Subaru and company’s journey.
And here I don’t just want to “bash” the anime and say everything is bad. The purpose of this post is to make a constructive critique, because yes, the season has clear problems, but it also has points worth praising. So let’s talk like we’re having a casual bar conversation about anime.
The pacing that feels stuck
If there’s one word that defines the third season, that word is:
Way too slow.
It’s not just a matter of a calmer narrative, but of feeling like the episodes don’t move forward at the same pace as in the previous seasons.
While the first season was a punch in the gut one after another, full of deadly loops and breathtaking plot twists, and the second dove into heavy (yet still exciting) arcs, the third chose to lean heavily into politics, long dialogues, and faction intrigues. Not that this is bad by itself it’s actually very valid to expand the world and give deeper layers to the story but when it’s done without balance between action or impactful moments, the audience ends up feeling dragged along. The fans who waited years for this comeback wanted explosions, wanted emotions, and got… a Roswaal condo meeting.
Another point that can’t be ignored is the absence of popular characters, especially Rem.
I know, I know.
The light novel story is like this, and the adaptation can’t just “make things up.” But we can’t deny that her absence weighs heavily on the season’s charisma. A huge part of the fandom fell in love with Re:ZERO precisely because of her charm and how her relationship with Subaru was built. So when she’s sidelined for so long, frustration is inevitable.
That doesn’t mean Emilia or the other characters are bad on the contrary, Emilia has been getting more and more development, and Subaru also shows growth but there’s still that sense that something is missing. It’s like watching Naruto without Kakashi showing up: the experience just isn’t the same.
Too much exposition, maybe?
Another recurring problem in the third season is the amount of exposition. And I’m not just talking about explanations of how the witches, the world, the factions, and the cults work. I mean entire episodes where it feels like nothing happens besides talking.
Of course, these explanations are important to build the story’s future, but couldn’t it have been balanced better? In many scenes, it feels like two or three lines could’ve been condensed into one.
And let’s be real: Re:ZERO has always been about emotion, despair, suffering, and unexpected twists. When the anime forgets this and focuses on endless dialogues, it loses part of its identity.
The strengths are still there
But hold on, it’s not like the season is a total disaster. There are strengths worth mentioning.
First, the faithfulness to the light novel. White Fox didn’t cut huge chunks and kept the essence of the story. For those who follow the source material, this is a huge positive.
Second, the visual consistency. Even though we don’t have battles as memorable as before, the animation quality is still solid. Subaru’s expressions, the settings, and even the direction of some of the more tense scenes maintain the franchise’s standard.
Third, and maybe most important: Subaru’s development. He’s no longer that lost kid who just panics and runs around. Now he thinks, calculates, and tries to find solutions more rationally. This evolution is something many anime ignore, but Re:ZERO fully embraced it.
Expectation vs Reality
Here’s probably the big point: the audience’s expectations didn’t match what the season delivered. We waited years to see what would come after the second season, which ended on a high note, and in the end got something far more political and dense, almost philosophical, but without that explosive charge that made so many fall in love with the series.
It’s almost like waiting for a rock concert and, when the lights go down, discovering the artist decided to do an intimate acoustic session instead. It doesn’t mean it’s bad, but it’s completely different from what the crowd imagined.
The third season of Re:ZERO isn’t bad, but it’s definitely the most divisive so far. While some fans appreciate the faithfulness and the depth of the narrative, others are frustrated with the slow pacing, the lack of action, and the absence of key characters.
The anime remains relevant, still important within the genre, but it needs to find a middle ground so it doesn’t lose its essence.
In the end, maybe this season serves more as a bridge to something greater that’s coming, and I hope that really proves true in the next arcs. Because deep down, we still believe Subaru, Emilia, and this crazy universe still have a lot to offer.
And you, what did you think of the third season?
Was it a disappointment, a surprise, or just a “necessary chapter” in Subaru’s long journey?