Re:ZERO season 3 episode 1 review: A lively and hopeful beginning that concludes with a sudden dark shift

Re:ZERO season 3 episode 1, titled Theatrical Malice, premiered on Wednesday, October 2, 2024. One of the most beloved isekai series has returned with its third season as part of the Fall 2024 anime lineup.

Kicking off with a time skip, the first episode opens on a peaceful and lively note before taking a sudden dark turn by the end, involving one of the Witch's cult's Sin Archbishops. With the excitement generated by the 90-minute-long premiere, this Re:ZERO season 3 episode 1 review delves into the episode's overall appeal.

Let's take a look into key aspects such as production quality, narrative progression, animation, cast performances, and other essential elements to evaluate whether White Fox is meeting the high expectations for the new season of this beloved anime.

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Re:ZERO season 3 episode 1 review: White Fox's top-tier production continues the grim twists in Subaru's adventures

Re:ZERO season 3 episode 1: A brief synopsis

Re:ZERO season 3 episode 1 begins with a one-year time skip from the events of season 2. The episode opens on a peaceful and lively note as Subaru, Emilia, and their group travel to the city of Priestella, following an invitation from Royal Selection candidate, Anastasia Hoshin.

The purpose of the visit is for Emilia to obtain a catalyst that will allow her to recall Puck. Upon arriving in Priestella, Subaru meets Liliana, a bard, while the rest negotiates for the catalyst.

However, misunderstandings arise, prompting them to postpone their efforts until the next day. On their way back, they encounter Regulus Corneas, the Sin Archbishop representing Greed, though they fail to recognize him.

Subaru and Liliana in this episode (Image via White Fox)

As the group continues their journey, they meet other Royal Selection candidates and discuss the Sin Archbishop representing Gluttony. The episode also introduces a conflict involving the Astrea family.

However, the tone shifts dramatically in the final scenes, as Subaru finds himself in a deadly encounter with Sirius Romanee-Conti, the Sin Archbishop representing Wrath, from the Witch's Cult. The encounters end with Subaru getting killed and traveling back a few moments earlier when he was still with Emilia and the others.

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Re:ZERO season 3 episode 1 review: A brief synopsis and narrative criticism

Emilia encounters Regulus Corneas (Image via White Fox)

Studio White Fox continues Subaru Natsuki's adventures in his isekai world with masterful storytelling. The 90-minute premiere maintains the show's unique, captivating charm through expert narrative direction, delivering an unexpected dark twist at just the right moment— the conclusion.

While Re:ZERO season 3 episode 1 begins at a slower pace with a lively and hopeful tone, the story remains engaging through interactions among the Royal Selection candidates, political intrigue, and familial drama. It culminates in a suspenseful, dark twist that completely catches viewers by surprise.

The episode keeps the audience thoroughly entertained with a well-balanced narrative, offering a range of emotions— from bubbly, humorous moments to sudden, shocking turns— setting the stage for future plot developments.

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Re:ZERO season 3 episode 1 review: Production, animation, soundtracks, and voice acting: A criticism

White Fox returns with another captivating and thrilling installment in Re:ZERO season 3 episode 1, under the direction of Masahiro Shinohara and featuring Haruka Sagawa's character design.

The premiere highlights the studio's exceptional production, meeting the fandom's high expectations and maintaining the series' top-tier quality. As always, the animation is outstanding, with impressive character design and beautifully rendered landscapes.

Emilia and Subaru in Re:ZERO season 3 episode 1 (Image via White Fox)

The voice cast continues to deliver remarkable performances, enhancing the show's charm, while the music composition further elevates the overall experience, making this another standout episode.

The opening theme, Reweave by Konomi Suzuki, is used as the ending theme for this episode, while this season's original ending theme, Nox Lux by Myth & Roid, is absent in the premiere.

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To sum up

In summary, Re:ZERO season 3 episode 1 serves as a great start to the highly anticipated third season as part of the Fall 2024 anime. The premiere delivers a compelling and immersive experience.

The narrative effectively captures the audience's attention, keeping them entertained and engaged from start to finish, and then concluding on a suspenseful note, which leaves viewers with a cliffhanger that makes them eager for more.

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