In the anime series Re:ZERO, Subaru Natsuki possesses a unique ability known as Return by Death, which allows him to revert to a specific moment in time just before his demise. Anime viewers may note that this power resembles the concept of dying and respawning at checkpoints found in video games, making it particularly appealing to gamers.
Nonetheless, for Subaru, Return by Death is a double-edged sword. It provides him with the chance to avert or rectify certain events for a more favorable outcome, yet it comes with the heavy toll of experiencing excruciatingly brutal deaths, along with the haunting memories of each fatality.
Throughout the timeline of Re:ZERO—including seasons one and two, as well as the currently airing third season—Subaru has met his end around 20 times, at the hands of both allies and foes alike.
Overview of Subaru’s Deaths in Re:ZERO
Within the first two seasons of Re:ZERO, Subaru Natsuki’s death tally stands at 17. When we include the three fatalities he encounters in the first two episodes of the ongoing third season, it brings his cumulative death count to an astonishing 20.
It’s pertinent to mention that this total encompasses all of Subaru’s deaths from the pilot episode of Re:ZERO season one up until the second episode of season three. Therefore, as of the second episode of season three, Subaru Natsuki has perished 20 times.
Given the current developments in the anime, it seems likely that Subaru’s subsequent deaths may escalate in intensity as the show progresses. As viewers prepare to witness the deterioration of Natsuki Subaru’s circumstances, let’s take a moment to review all the deaths he has suffered thus far.
Comprehensive List of Subaru’s Deaths in Re:ZERO
Here is the complete rundown of all deaths encountered by Subaru Natsuki in the Re:ZERO anime up to season three, episode two:
- Death 1: Slain by Elsa Granhiert (Season 1, Episode 1)
- Death 2: Killed again by Elsa Granhiert (Season 1, Episode 1)
- Death 3: Stabbed by a group of thugs and left to die (Season 1, Episode 2)
- Death 4: Dies in his sleep from a puppy bite (Season 1, Episode 4)
- Death 5: Succumbs to a magical curse at the hands of an unknown foe (Season 1, Episode 5)
- Death 6: Tortured by Rem and subsequently killed by Ram (Season 1, Episode 7)
- Death 7: Takes his own life by jumping off a cliff (Season 1, Episode 7)
- Death 8: Frozen to death by Puck (Season 1, Episode 15)
- Death 9: Frozen and decapitated by Puck (Season 1, Episode 15)
- Death 10: Frozen and crushed by Puck (Season 1, Episode 18)
- Death 11: Mercy-killed by Julius to free him from Petelgeuse’s control (Season 1, Episode 23)
- Death 12: Commits suicide with a broken sword (Season 2, Episode 1)
- Death 13: Murdered by Elsa Granhiert for the third time (Season 2, Episode 5)
- Death 14: Killed by Elsa Granhiert for the fourth time (Season 2, Episode 7)
- Death 15: Eaten alive by a horde of rabbits (Season 2, Episode 8)
- Death 16: Dies by suicide using Petra’s Handkerchief (Season 2, Episode 10)
- Death 17: Bleeds to death after a Great Rabbit attack (Season 2, Episode 11)
- Death 18: Killed by Sirius Romanee-Conti (Season 3, Episode 1)
- Death 19: Killed again by Sirius Romanee-Conti (Season 3, Episode 2)
- Death 20: Accidentally slain by Reinhard van Astrea (Season 3, Episode 2)
The list above highlights all the demises faced by Subaru Natsuki in the Re:ZERO series thus far. It is highly probable that this total will increase as the story progresses in the upcoming episodes of season three.
Concluding Thoughts
Taking into account the immense suffering that Subaru Natsuki has endured throughout the series, it is fair to say that he ranks as one of the most tormented characters in anime today.
What captivates fans even more is that despite facing relentless adversity from foes much stronger than himself, Subaru continues to rise time and again, relentlessly fighting for a better future for himself and his companions.
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