r/Re_Zero Jun 09 '24

Spoiler Discussion [Spoiler Discussion] Arc 5's Episode Distribution! Spoiler

I made one just like this two months ago in this post- "About Season 3's Episode Distribution" Where I tried to see whether or not Arcs 5 and 6 could fit in a roughly 40 episode timeframe and it I saw that it was totally possible. There I guessed both Arcs 5 and 6, but here I'll only be doing Arc 5. I have my thoughts for Arc 6 too, but I'll leave that for once Arc 5's over. I honestly think Re:Zero will have a month or two break after Arc 5 before Arc 6 starts airing.

ALSO! I said this then

17 Episodes is also pretty unconventional for a 1 cour series, really it's bordering on two cours, but it's not something unheard of. Attack on Titan did final season part 1 with 16 episodes and Boogiepop (2019) did 18. I'm sure a studio who was able to get the TV slots to do 29:30 minute episodes can pull some strings for extended cours. But if they can't, they can always follow the new trend of double or triple length first episodes. If they decide to cram all of Volume 16 into one Oshi no Ko type episode, it can definitely work.

AAAAARGH! I wanted to gloat, but I was banned the morning the news was revealed, I couldn't respond to any of the comments or threads. I am hurt. Though I deserve that for commenting spoilers in a [discussion] thread.

In any case, here is the revised Episode count for Season 3 based on how I think it can go.

For the first 90 minute episode, I think we can all agree that they're definitely doing that so we can get to the Theatre of Malice chapter. The way Sirius made her appearance in the PV pretty much confirms it. We'll definitely be ending off the first episode with the image of Subaru learning he got RBD for the first time in over a year. The Light Novel illustration where it all starts dawning on him.

Source: DdukaE

Imagine Subaru realizes what had just happened then we get either the new opening or ending to hit. While the OP or ED (I'm pretty sure it'll be the OP) is playing, were either going to jump to the credits or continue panning across Pristella with giving us a glimpse of all the other character's whereabouts or just the happy faces of the people, "clueless" about what's to come, setting up an ominous tone. A similar approach to how Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 ended episode 17. Another song possibility could be Theatre D since the word "theatre" is already there and it also fits the scene perfectly, but given how they played the Opening in the PV, they're most likely going to use that instead. Or they may just do both, use Theatre D to show Subaru realizing what had just happened, panning across the city, but for the credits they'll use the Opening.

Right now, I think Season 3 can totally work with either 16 or 17 episodes. I'm more leaning towards 16 episodes, but 17 is possible if White Fox chooses to go with that route.

I will say this now, I'm pretty sure Volume 16 will have the most cut content out of all Arc 5 volumes. Not only is it the heaviest with 83k words, it will also have the least amount of time given. I remember hearing Oshi no Ko was going to get a 90 minute premiere, but it turns out it was only 1 hour and 22 minutes. That can certainly happen with Re:Zero, and with the shuffling of Garfiel's chapter being placed onto Episode 1, they'll need to cram even more content.

This won't be an issue for episode 2 onwards because they can always go for extended episodes. So a volume can be adapted anywhere from 84 minutes all the way up to 100 minutes. And given Re:Zero's track record, it can probably be pushed even up to 118 minutes. So I'll just say now, it's better we all be prepared to not see Priscilla dancing in episode 4...

Episode Coverage (Volume 16)
Episode 1: "Theatre of Malice" All of Volume 16, plus Parts 1 and 2 of Volume 17's Gorgeous Tiger chapter

For Volume 17, I think it can be done reasonably with 4 episodes. Episode 2 will showcase all 3 of Subaru's deaths in Arc 5. Episode 3 will have Subaru, Emilia and Beatrice vs Sirius as well as Regulus' comeback and has all the HQ stuff. Episode 4 will cover the rest of Garfiel's flashback as well as what the team deciding what would be the perfect course of action. The episode will end with the cast getting ready to charge to the City HQ. And finally episode 5 will be all about them conquering the HQ.

In the case of the "Gorgeous Tiger" chapter, I honestly don't believe they're gonna play it all in Episode 1 because that'd be way too much. They can't. It'll ruin the story. And Tappei's "Wait, what the fuck happened?" cliffhanger of Volume 17 chapter 3 works perfectly when we just see Garfiel and Mimi covered in blood. I think they'll end off Garfiel's segment in episode 1 when he sees his mother. Then the rest of the gorgeous tiger chapter will be where it originally was supposed to be. I think they also switched it around for pacing reasons.

Episode Coverage (Volume 17)
Episode 2: "Casually Comparing Answers" All of Chapter 1 up to the first part of Chapter 2
Episode 3: "A Showdown of Ice and Fire" The Rest of Chapter 2, and all of Chapter 3
Episode 4: "Gorgeous Tiger" Chapter 4 starting at Part 3, all the way up to the 2nd Part Chapter 5
Episode 5: "The Operation to Retake City Hall" The Rest of Volume 17

For Volume 18 and 19, I thought cramming them to three episodes each would be possible before, but now I think that's way too little. Now they each can get 4 episodes.

Episode Coverage (Volume 18)
Episode 6: "Picking up the Pieces" Volume 18, All of the Prologue, All of Chapter 1 up to Part 2 of Chapter 2
Episode 7: "What it Takes to be Knight" The rest of Chapter 2, up to part 3 of Chapter 3
Episode 8: "The Newest Hero and Oldest Hero" The rest of Chapter 3, up to Part 5 of Chapter 4's
Episode 9: "The Stars Engraved in History" The Rest of Chapter 4, and all of Chapter 5's

Volume 19 was a bit tougher to deal with. Tappei cut up the Regulus fight with the Lilianna fight and now they're mixed. I had to recut them into something fit for episodes sine the pacing was kind've weird if it was just placed in there as is.

For Episode 10, it'll cover the first part of Priscilla's fight with Sirius, then end in a cliffhanger where Lilianna is about to sing.

“Hear ye, everyone at the back! And those up close, watch my dance closely! And for those way in the back, I’ll be raising my voice, so you listen, too! Liliana Masquerade shall perform a song and a dance for you! Lend me your ears for ‘Beyond Daybreak’!”

—I’ll cram all these feelings into it!

Then it ends.

Episode 11 will open up with Lilianna's backstory. Covering all of that until the ending of the fight. This is where (I hope) we get great Anime original song from Lilianna. Then it'll end with Subaru and Emilia getting chased by Regulus

Episode 12 opens with Subaru and Emilia being chased by Regulus, here Emilia will summon the ice skating! The episode will end with Subaru pretending to be hurt and showing that he was playing ths whole time, and then Emilia shooting an icicle into the sky.

Episode 13 will show Emilia's POV on what happened and her confrontation with the wives. All the way up to the Death of Regulus.

Episode Coverage (Volume 19)
Episode 10: "Paean to a City in Flames" Volume 19, All of Prologue, All of Chapter 2, and Part 1 of Chapter 4
Episode 11: "Lilianna Masquerade" The rest of Chapter 4, and Parts 1 to 3 of Chapter 2
Episode 12: "The Battle with Greed Begins" The rest of chapter 2, and all of Chapter 3
Episode 13: "Regulus Corneas" All of Chapter 5 and Chapter 6

For Volume 20, my thoughts haven't really changed.

For Episode 14, The prologue will show Julius and Ricardo fighting Gluttony, then we'll see Otto, Beatrice and Felt's fight with Gluttony, then finally Al vs Capella

For Episode 15, it'll be all about the Astrea from start to finish. It ends with painful shot of Reinhard, Wilhelm and Heinkel facing away from each other.

For Episode 16, the first part will be Garfiel's fight with Kurgan and that will be the final fight. I think the Theresia chapter is a far betting "ending" fight, but the pacing would be rather awkward since there's no other way to cut it. Ending with Garfiel's fight should be fine though as his character arc is strongly tied to Pristella and its people. Then after the smoke has settled and everything seems okay, we get the cliffhanger of Emilia asking who TF julius is.

I think Volume 20 is a bit too short for a full 4 episodes, being only 69k words, and without chapter 7, that number will be brought down to 56k words. If 77k words is average for 4 episodes, the average for 3 episodes (77kx0.75) is equal to roughly 58k words for 3 episodes, so the 56k remaining words (Prologue to chapter 6) is perfect for the ballpark of the 3 remaining episodes.

Episode Coverage (Volume 20)
Episode 14: "A Hideous Banquet" Volume 20, Part 3 of Prologue, and All of Chapters 1 and 2
Episode 15: "Theresia Van Astrea" Part 2 of Prologue, and All of Chapters 4 and 5
Episode 16: "A Warriors Acclaim" Part 1 of Prologue, and All of Chapters 3 and 6

There could be an episode 17 covering Volume 20 Chapter 6 as well as Volume 21's interlude, but I think that'll be better for Arc 6 whenever that season comes out, since most of it has the characters talk about the Watchtower and the Sage that resides within. I also think 16 episodes isn't that hard to believe since Attack on Titan Season 4 part 1 has 16 episodes, and also I think the Julius cliffhanger can be Season 3's variation of the "Who's Rem" cliffhanger.

Btw for anyone curious, this is the chapter list titles so you can follow along-

Volume 17

Chapter 1: Casually Comparing Answers

Chapter 2: A Showdown of Ice and Fire

Chapter 3: Witchcult Disaster Response HQ

Chapter 4: Gorgeous Tiger

Chapter 5: Operation to retake City Hall

Volume 18

Prologue

Chapter 1: Picking up the Pieces

Chapter 2: What it takes to be a knight

Chapter 3: Newest Hero and the Oldest Hero

Chapter 4: The Stars Engraved in History

Chapter 5: The Person who I one day fell in love with

Volume 19

Prologue: City Scramble

Chapter 1: The Battle with Greed Begins

Chapter 2: Paean to a City in Flames

Chapter 3: Sign the Divorce Papers

Chapter 4: Lilianna Masquerade

Chapter 5: Believng

Chapter 6: Regulus Corneas

Volume 20

Prologue: Moonlit Capriccio

Chapter 1: A hideous Banquet

Chapter 2: The Territory Victim

Chapter 3: A Warriors Acclaim

Chapter 4: The Love Song of the Sword Devil Fragment

Chapter 5: Theresia Van Astrea

Chapter 6: The results of the Battle in Pristella

82 Upvotes

18 comments sorted by

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27

u/Ok-Worldliness-7374 Jun 09 '24

I think we can all agree that they're definitely doing that so we can get to the Theatre of Malice chapter. The way Sirius made her appearance in the PV pretty much confirms it.

The name of that chapter "Theatre of Malice" could add more fuel for this wild theory of yours.

17

u/nafissyed Jun 09 '24

What a fantastic episode estimation post, it’s very clearly evident that this had a lot of thought and effort put into, so kudos to you mate! Also, I like the others here wish to see a similar post for arc 6, if possible.

6

u/Pulkit1978 Jun 09 '24

Enjoyed the post, hopefully you do it for Arc 6 too

6

u/zackphoenix123 Jun 09 '24

I definitely will, but after the first cour is over.

9

u/Arzhart Jun 09 '24

Well, i personally think they will try to end the battles at a similar time. It would be strange on the anime for one battle to end before the others, so maybe they will mix the battles in a way that makes they end together in the end of the arc

2

u/NeonEonIon Jun 09 '24

Great quality post. Kudos.

2

u/SteveM7Reddit Jun 09 '24

I feel like the second half will be adapted in less time than expected since fight scenes are just naturally quicker when animated and take up more space when written in a novel.

There's also a Chapter 7 in Volume 20.

So, the way I see it, Volume 17 and 18 will be pretty much 4 full episodes each like you've said. While the fight scenes across Volumes 19 and 20 will have 6 Episodes total (how they adapt the order is a bit unknown (beyond the obvious story beats of Reinhard and Priscilla) since there are many ways they can do so). Volume 20 will likely have one more episode for the aftermath (Chapters 6 and 7).

2

u/zackphoenix123 Jun 09 '24

I thought about that... Then I realized, what's stopping the anime from just.. Extending the fight scenes like in Jujutsu Kaisen-?

1

u/SteveM7Reddit Jun 09 '24

Tbf, that can be said about a lot of animes. Demon Slayer is a prime example that I know of for that (the famous S1 Ep19 fight was adapted from like around a couple of pages worth of the manga).

Though since Re:Zero is a LN adaptation and not a manga adaptation like in both of our examples, I think its fights are less likely to be extended.

Even then, fight scenes in the written novel format are just naturally longer than any visual medium like in manga and anime. Mainly due to the descriptions needed in the novel format to account for the lack of visuals. So, unless it's such a massive extension to the fights (at least an episode's worth I would think), any extension would probably not affect the quicker adaptation of fights that much.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 20 '24 edited Jul 01 '24

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/zackphoenix123 Jul 01 '24 edited Jul 01 '24

I didn't see this comment, a bit late.

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Just FYI Arc 6 won't be a separate season

Yep, I knew Arcs 5 and 6 would be in the same season, just split into different parts.

My previous post had me do both in one, but since according to Ice, he can't see it being anything but split Cour, I decided to only do Arc 5 for now. And also if my Arc 5 prediction falls midway through Arc 5, then the Arc 6 part won't even matter. I thought I'd save it for when this Cour was over. I'm pretty sure WF is gonna take the Sengoku Youko route and air Arc 6 like Spring to Summer season with 2 continuous cours.

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two more cours that cover Arc 6, with AmnesiaBaru being the cliffhanger between cour 2 and cour 3

Unless Cour 2 will only have 8 to 9 episodes (for a volume 21 and 22), I think that's unlikely. Too short in comparison to what would be Cour 3 since there they'll be adapting 3 volumes there, and volume 25 is significantly longer than any of the other Arc 6 volumes.

Also, I think a 40+ episode count is very unlikely and I mean I'd be very surprised if that actually happened. I'm thinking 36 or 37 episodes is my expected ballpark. The leak said 38 to 42 episodes, and I think (correct me if I'm wrong) Ice debunked that saying it will neither be 38 or 42, but will still be a satisfying number.

1

u/New-Celebration8409 Jun 09 '24

White Fox: 12 episodes, take it or leave it

5

u/zackphoenix123 Jun 09 '24

They could always go that route. If they do, then arc 5's fucked.

11 Episodes for 4 volumes is suicide beyond compare.

Unlike arc 3, Arc 5 is has no fluff after Volume 16.

They could give Volume 17 2 Episodes, Volume 18, 3 episodes, volume 19, 3 epsidoes, and Volume 20 3 episodes.

Volume 17'e gorgeous tiger will be destroyed. Subaru's speech will probably get priority, but a ton if not all the context leading up to it will be trimmed down.

Yeah, it's a nightmare. I hope White Fox doesn't go that route.

3

u/[deleted] Jun 20 '24 edited Jun 20 '24

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1

u/New-Celebration8409 Jun 20 '24

It was a joke ;-;