Re:ZERO season 3 episode 5: Priestella floods as Subaru and co are overwhelmed by Sin Archbishops

Re:ZERO season 3 episode 5 was expected to focus primarily on Subaru Natsuki’s fight against Roy Alphard the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony’s role in Rem’s current state. Officially released on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, the installment instead saw Julius Euclius convince Subaru to abandon his desired revenge and focus on the task at hand.

This likewise led Re:ZERO season 3 episode 5 to have a wide focus, even putting Emilia in the spotlight for two different sequences throughout the release’s runtime. Anastasia Hoshin, Garfiel Tinsel, Reinhard van Astrea, and more characters also appeared as the Sin Archbishops made their move to turn Priestella into a war-torn battlefield.

Re:ZERO season 3 episode 5 sees Subaru brought to death’s door, but not quite killed

Brief episode recap

Re:ZERO season 3 episode 5 opens with a focus on Emilia and Regulus Corneas (Image via White Fox)

Re:ZERO season 3 episode 5 began with Sin Archbishop of Greed Regulus Corneas asking Emilia if she is a virgin. He apologized for such a brash question, but nevertheless demanded an answer. However, she had never heard the term before and was likewise confused. This led Regulus to get excited, but also wonder if she had a virgin soul as she did a virgin body.

He then introduced himself as her husband, elaborating that she would be his 79th wife. He then called a servant, whom he referred to as number 184, and told her to change number 79’s clothes, with 79 being Emilia. Regulus then left, with the girl introducing herself as Number 184, or Regulus’ 184th wife.

Re:ZERO season 3 episode 5 saw Emilia argue her own status as a wife, but Number 184 said as long as that was Regulus’ opinion, her thoughts didn’t matter. She introduced him to an evil king while revealing his epithet of “Little King.” Focus then shifted to Subaru, who was fighting one of the Sin Archbishops of Gluttony, Roy Alphard.

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Julius then reminded him of their true purpose here, trying to get Subaru to resist Roy’s taunts. This prompted Julius Euclius to head into battle while Subaru and Crusch Karsten broke into the government building. There, they faced Capella Emerada Lugunica once again, seemingly taking her down and freeing a child who was being held hostage.

Re:ZERO season 3 episode 5 then saw Suubaru open a door to find a room filled with giant flies. As Subaru backed out of the room, the hostage was revealed as Capella in disguise. Subaru immediately attacked her brutally with a rock and his whip, but she immediately regenerated the damage. She was then revealed as a dragon who takes on human form, with various draconic limbs growing from her as she said this.

Subaru was totally overwhelmed by this partial transformation, with Capella then revealing herself as the Sin Archbishop of Lust. This was seemingly related to her power, which seemed to be disguising herself in any feminine-presenting form. Capella then explained that the dragon and the flies were people she transformed, which Subaru called disgusting and repulsive.

Capella's powers of transformation are on full display in Re:ZERO season 3 episode 5 (Image via White Fox)

However, Re:ZERO season 3 episode 5 saw Capella revel in this, calling her creations too grotesque to love. Subaru told her to hurry up and kill him, but she rejected this, saying she wants people to live and love her as long as possible since it’s her wish. Capella then argued that Subaru had lusted after Crusch, which he denied. This prompted Capella to lecture on him taking carnal desire and dressing it up as love.

She then transformed into Emilia and approached him, essentially squandering their emotional bond and asking if he could love her if she became a fly. She asserted he couldn’t since it’s disgusting, which he even said himself. Capella’s arm then turned into a lion’s head, suggesting her powers went beyond the draconic, and ripped Subaru’s leg off, putting him on death’s door along with Crusch.

Re:ZERO season 3 episode 5 saw Capella approach Crusch and pour blood on her face, saying she wanted to see what they turned into. Crusch cried out in pain as the blood made contact, with Capella explaining she had dragon blood as she did the same to Subaru. The dragon they had fought earlier then arose to confront Capella as the focus shifted to Garfiel Tinsel, Wilhelm van Astrea, and Ricardo Welkin’s fight against the two Witch Cultists.

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However, they were interrupted by an explosion from the room Subaru and Crusch were in. Focus then shifted to Anastasia Hoshin and Kiritaka Muse, where it was revealed the other Council of Ten members were unreachable and likely dead. However, Sirius Romanée-Conti then appeared and began targeting them until Tivey and Hetaro Pearlbaton intervened.

Re:ZERO season 3 episode 5 saw the pair buy time for Anastasia to escape, with Kiritaka staying behind with his own fighting forces. However, his final request of Anastasia made it seem like he planned to sacrifice himself. Focus then shifted back to Reinhard van Astrea and his father Heinkel, who still had Felt hostage. However, a beetle landed on Felt’s face, causing her to react and give Reinhard a moment to apprehend his father.

Sirius Romanée-Conti and the other Sin Archbishops drive Subaru's group into a corner by Re:ZERO season 3 episode 5's end (Image via White Fox)

He and Felt then restrained him, as it was revealed Otto Suwen was the one who assisted them via his powers to speak with insects. Otto then explained his run-in with Lye Batenkaitos, with Felt ordering Reinhard to lend Subaru his full strength. Rachins’ other two companions then appeared, also in Felt’s employ, ensuring her safety and Heinkel’s capture while Reinhard helped Subaru.

Re:ZERO season 3 episode 5 then saw the city of Priestella begin flooding as the dragon flew away with a yet-transformed Subaru and Crusch in its legs. However, it dropped the unconscious Subaru who fell into the floodwaters. Focus then returned to Emilia, who saw the ultimate state of the city following all this destruction. The episode ended with Capella ordering the Tome of Wisdom, the artificial spirit, and Emilia to be brought to her.

In summation

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Re:ZERO season 3 episode 5 puts Subaru and co in a fairly tough spot heading into the Attack Arc's final episodes. While it’s clear a reset is coming for Subaru at some point, he’ll most likely be suffering for another episode at least before getting there. Likewise, his current life will likely reveal significant information about the Sin Archbishops’ goals in Priestella, especially with respect to the new demands Capella made in the cliffhanger.