Re:Zero - Character Discussion - Rem
 

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Rem is love, Rem is life... best character in the series hands down, no contest.

Yeah, Rem best girl.

I find the lack of glorious fanart disturbing.

There is no lack of, there is a glorious overabundance of it.

Where in the heavens are you looking?

I meant in this thread ;)

The joke.
My head.
:eyespin:

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On a more serious note, as much as Rem is lovable and loyal, I find her relationship with Subaru rather disturbing.

We know Rem has confidence and self-worth issues because of her history with her sister: When they were young, Ram helped her with everything and was better than her at everything. In a moment of weakness, Rem felt relief that Ram having her horn cut off meant that Rem would no longer be overshadowed by her sister. As penance for her weakness and for repaying Ram's help, she more or less dedicated herself to helping Ram.

Her relationship with Subaru seems almost like an eerie replay of what happened with Ram. Of course, Subaru did not do nearly as much for Rem as Ram did, but she seems to greatly value what he did--trying to save her and affirming her worth as an individual. And her behavior seems at least partly attributed to her moment of weakness--when Subaru pushed her from the dogs, she thought she could have pulled him to safety, but she hesitated and did not. It was penance for that act that drove her to go into the forest for herself, and I do not think she ever let go of that--which was why she identified Subaru as the reason for her to die when she entered the cult headquarters.

In effect, Rem simply acquired another person she felt that she had to dedicate herself to. it is quite similar to what happened with Kaede in Shuffle, and it is about as unhealthy, even though she has not shown any yandere actions toward Emilia.

As for Subaru, Rem dedicating herself to him seems to reinforce the notion--whether he really believes it or not--that he is owed something for saving them. In a way, the argument between Emilia and Subaru at the end of episode 12 was perhaps less a meta discussion about RPGs giving the hero the heroine as a reward than a warning about Subaru and Rem: Their relationship is not heartwarming romance; it is actually unhealthy co-dependence.

Given Subaru's mental state, I wonder if he will try either of the following this loop:
1. Save only Rem and drive the 2 apart when he reveals to Rem that he deliberately abandoned Ram.

2. Try to use Rem as a living weapon.

^
I believe that it's not the case with Subaru. I view their relationship more like love (in a man/woman way, and not sisterly) and the things she did for him showed that. That was not guilt nor regret or anything negative like that.

It clear that Rem idolizes him now to like she does her sister. I don't view that as necessary a bad thing though as long as isn't taken too far. It's not dissimilar to how Subaru idolizes Emilia as both were born from the same thing; gratitude. Even if they have manifested a little differently.

Kaede as comparison is so wrong.

Unhealthy co-dependence is a really good way to describe their relationship. Though in a certain sense, it's actually an improvement compared to how they were before. After all, before Subaru was only obsessed with Emila and Rem with Ram. Now they are splitting that into two, Subaru with Emilia and Rem, Rem with Subaru and Ram. If the managed to split it into 5 or more, they will start to become more balanced people.

I don't know whether Rem dedicating himself to Subaru reinforces his belief that he should be "awarded" the heroine he saved. Emilia disabused that notion already. Even if that didn't stick, I doubt Subaru thinks about Rem in the same way. Rem killed him twice, torturing him beforehand the second time. Well honestly, I'm not sure what he really thinks of her.

Rem isn't simply a "sweet waifu", despite how she has acted since the mansion arc. You can see this in episode 15 when she's talking to the cultists. Her voice gets rather ugly and is full of hatred and rage.

Also, Rem tells Subaru that she stays with him "because she wants to", and tells Crusch that to her "he is special". These things really take a different meaning when she described him later as her "reason to die".

The Subaru being her "reason to die" line had quite an impact on me when I first saw it. Compared to the usual romantic "reason to live" line it sounded horrible at first, but thinking about it more deeply I think it's far more indicative of a purer love or selfless love vs obsession or dependence. "A reason to live" line could be utilized in the latter situations. Subaru being her reason to die shows the depths of her feelings in that she's willing to sacrifice everything for him. Its not just empty words either given her actions in Ep. 15. I also think it means more because there's a very high chance she's aware of Subaru's feelings for Emilia. It seems highly probable from her commenting on being happy that she got him to herself in the capital to everyone else seeming to realize (I mean come on Crusch picked up on it within a day) it save Emilia herself. (I'd normally chalk this up to denseness, but I think she's just been so despised being similar to the witch that she doesn't even think it possible for someone to love her)

One theory I like myself is Rem becoming the witch in the future + her hopping back in time to ensure Subaru comes to the world/save him/reunite with him if he died originally without Return by Death. If she starts becoming envious of Emilia and mind breaks like everyone else and their mother in this series so far, I wouldn't put it past the author to have her desperately attempt to appeal to Subaru including, by say, using magic to take on an appearance similar to Emilia. Return by Death could also stem from her intense desire to safeguard Subaru's life too, especially if he's offed in a bad end and she snaps because of it. The only thing questionable is why would the cultists would attack her village, but they're all bat shit crazy anyway, and you try 100% controlling a bunch of nut jobs. Plus she might be totally mad by then too.

On a more lighter note, is it just me or has Rem only gone into her oni mode so far because of Subaru? Queue "horny" jokes. :heh:

I feel like her love for Subaru and her desire to die for him are two separate things.

Pretty sure that Rem knows that Subura loves Emilia.

In episode 14 where she said him to save some of that love for her (talking about Emilia) it pretty much showed that she knows his feelings for Emilia, which made her actions and feelings for him all the more heartbreaking since he up until now had eyes only for Emilia. Hopefully with her latest actions towards him, Subaru now knows of those feelings and the ultimate sacrifice she made for him *SubaruXRem FTW :D*

Well it came as a shock to Subaru at the end of episode 15 but it's not like there's any doubt in her feelings to Subaru. Even if she doesn't remember it, Subaru knows how far she's willing to go for him.

The most Subaru's ever got from Emilia is the desire to be accepted and treated as an equal friend. He really should just go for Rem. The show can end happily with a Subaru/Rem couple with Emilia as a queen and Subaru as a trusted friend. ;)

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REM is so cute.... i think.. i like her!

Considering how many times she keeps dying for him, I'm really thinking the author has that as the planned ending.

I'm really curious were Rems devotion going to end up tbh. Emilia does seemed to be set up as the main love interest, but Rem sooo devoted and clearly a important secondary character...

Probably a set up for more suffering latter? :heh:

Curious in a lot of ways. Seems like it is set as well for some potential surprises. Sure, Subaru presumed when he got there that Emilia was his "main heroine" but maybe that's not the case.

Could end up the situation where Emilia turns more into an important friend than necessarily his love interest. And instead things develop more with Rem. But, who knows. It very much depends how the latest events surrounding Rem play out.