Re:ZERO season 3 episode 3: Subaru fails to save Emilia as even more Sin Archbishops arrive

Re:ZERO season 3 episode 3 was expected to continue to focus on Subaru Natsuki’s confrontation with Sin Archbishops Regulus Corneas and Sirius Romanée-Conti. Officially released on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, this was certainly a part of the episode’s focus, but much less so than fans initially expected.

Re:ZERO season 3 episode 3 instead spent its time fairly evenly between current major developments. These are Subaru and Beatrice’s struggles against Sirius and Regulus, as well as Garfiel grappling with the reality of being reunited with his mother. The episode then ended on a shocking note, seeing even more Sin Archbishops invade Priestella.

Re:ZERO season 3 episode 3 sees the Attack Arc up the stakes as Emilia is kidnapped by Regulus Corneas

Brief episode recap

Beatrice and Subaru come up short in Re:ZERO season 3 episode 3 (Image via White Fox)

Re:ZERO season 3 episode 3 began with Subaru Natsuki confronting Sin Archbishop of Greed Regulus Corneas, who also had Emilia in his clutches. The two spoke briefly, with Regulus showing his self-absorbed personality throughout the conversation. Sin Archbishop of Wrath Sirius Romanée-Conti interrupted by launching an attack at Emilia, despite the fact that it meant attacking Regulus also.

Focus then shifted to Otto Suwen, who was buying pastries in Priestella. While walking home, he stumbles across Sin Archbishop Gluttony, specifically the Gourmet aspect of Gluttony, Lye Batenkaitos. After Lye killed a guard, he turned his sights on the nearby Otto, who was paralyzed with fear.

Re:ZERO season 3 episode 3 then showed Regulus easily nullifying Sirius’ attack, with Emilia also safe. The two argue about revenge and anger, with Sirius essentially saying it’s her right to kill Emilia since that’s what “he,” presumably Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti, gave her. Subaru then put Lusbel down and asked him to escape on his own, promising to save his friend Tina in his stead.

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Sirius and Regulus’ fight continued, but Sirius was unable to damage Regulus. Subaru and Beatrice got involved but were unable to do any meaningful damage despite their best efforts. Regulus and Subaru discussed why Regulus wanted Emilia as her bride, which he said was because she had a pretty face.

Re:ZERO season 3 episode 3 saw Sirius intervene once again, with Tina now having disappeared. However, after seeing Subaru use his version of the Unseen Hand, which Subaru calls Invisible Providence, she believed him to be Petelgeuse. Unfortunately, this belief wasn’t enough to allow Subaru to convince her to stop hurting innocent civilians.

Regulus then departed but not before attacking Subaru by kicking a rock at him, which gouged out a majority of the outer half of his right leg. Beatrice healed him immediately, but she then realized that everyone else suffered the same injury due to Sirius. Speaking of Sirius, she then left Subaru and the others behind because she had to, adding that they’d all be reunited soon as Subaru passed out.

Otto is also shown to have troubles of his own in Re:ZERO season 3 episode 3 (Image via White Fox)

Re:ZERO season 3 episode 3 then shifted focus to Garfiel Tinsel and Mimi Pearlbaton, who were on their way back home. Mimi asked Garfiel if he’d go see his mother again, but a flashback made it clear that he felt uncomfortable due to her not remembering who he was. The woman’s subconscious clearly drew the connection with Garfiel, but he seemingly didn’t want to allow it to progress further based on leaving in a hurry.

After leaving his mother’s house, visions of Elsa Granhiert, the Bowel Hunter, plagued Garfiel as he ran ahead of Mimi. As she caught up with him and asked what was wrong, Garfiel’s mother’s new husband caught up to them and wanted to thank them somehow. Garfiel asked him if Liara was his wife’s real name, asking if her real name was Rishia instead.

Re:ZERO season 3 episode 3 saw the husband say she had already lost her memory when they met 15 years ago. This confirmed that she was indeed Garfiel’s mother, with the accident erasing her memory. The man asked Garfiel what his relationship with his wife was, but Garfiel clearly didn’t want to discuss it. Liara/Rishia then appeared to offer Garfiel and Mimi gifts, forcing Mimi to act since Garfiel was speechless.

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Mimi later confirmed to Garfiel that Liara/Rishia was indeed his mother given their similar scent. Mimi comforted Garfiel in an attempt to show him it’s okay to cry, also revealing that she’s in love with him. Her efforts eventually proved successful, with Garfiel letting his emotions out as she held him. The next day, he remained resolute in his decision to not see his mother again.

Re:ZERO season 3 episode 3 saw the pair snack on the sowaries that Liara/Rishia made for them, but were interrupted by an announcement for the city. The person introduced themself as the Sin Archbishop of Lust, Capella Emerada Lugunica. Subaru then woke up in a room with Al and Felix Argyle, who explained that they found him and Beatrice before healing him.

Felix explained that because she used her mana to its limits, Beatrice was now in a sort of suspended animation due to her healing everyone else in the square. Lusbel was also present, being responsible for getting Al and saving Subaru likewise. Felix then explained that Beatrice won’t wake up until her mana recovers, meaning that if they can supplement what she needs, she’ll wake up.

Garfiel struggles emotionally in Re:ZERO season 3 episode 3 (Image via White Fox)

Re:ZERO season 3 episode 3 saw Subaru try to take action, but Felix reminded him of his injury and inability to do anything meaningful likewise. Subaru, Al, and Felix then went to join Crusch Karsten, Anastasia Hoshin and Wilhelm van Astrea for a strategy meeting. This revealed that they were inside the Muse Company and working with Kiritaka and other important Pirestellan citizens.

Subaru was then informed of Capella’s broadcast, which they began taking seriously given his encountering other Sin Archbishops. Their plan was suggested to be flooding Priestella and killing everyone within. Anastasia then revealed their goal is to recover the witch corpse which still remains in Priestella after its inception. The episode ended with Garfiel racing to Subaru’s side, but finding his mother asking him for help finding her children and husband.

In summation

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While Re:ZERO season 3 episode 3 did focus on Subaru’s efforts to rescue Emilia, this mainly served as set up for the episode’s larger events. Likewise, it seems both all of Subaru’s allies and all of the Sin Archbishops present in Priestella are set to soon clash. Fans can expect the next episode to focus on Emilia, also revealing how the Witch’s Cult plans to maintain their dominance in Priestella.