The Incel Hero - Re:Zero as the Ultimate Otaku Horror 

Dude what a toxic video hahaha, i don't understand how the people that has watched it doesn't feel dissed. Using words like incel and forever alone places the story in a western context. Manga and anime is made solely and entirely for a japanese audience. In Japan there are no "incels" or "forever alones". In Japan predates a permanent sense of dread and loneliness that is not just limited to "people don't like me" no, it's something more akin to "people don't care about me" and "i don't care about others or want to bother them". Something that every body has learned to live with over there. Many women getting desperate to get married when they hit 27, so much that many even marries guys whom they've known for barely 1 month and men that don't wan't to even talk about dating because they can barely keep up with work. Anime and manga in general is the perfect escapism tool for the cold and lonely enviroment that is Japan. If you who're watching this video thinks that what he says only applies to those that like isekai, boi oh boi you might be mistaken. "I'm not like that, i watch top quality anime like Banana Fish, Cowboy Beebop y Psychopass" hahaha yeah, keep telling that to yourself. If you enjoy anime and manga in general you might wanna do some selfchecking of your surroundings... "loner" xD

Good analysis of Subaru's problems, but I think it misdiagnoses his root issue (which, to be fair, is easy without aid of the second season). Subaru doesn't simply want companionship, he wants to be special. He's trying in vain to be someone else because his self-image is utterly loathsome. His love for Emilia begins as self-serving because, in part, it reaffirms that feeling of importance he's been chasing. In reality, he's already a much better person than he believes himself to be, and we can see this in how he almost instantly begins acting like a real human being as soon as *anybody* believes in him. He's not an incel, he's a depressed kid with an identity crisis, whose utter shame in having been a NEET has eroded his self-image to the point where he makes grandiose attempts to act 'heroically' to prove himself, not recognizing what good qualities he already has. Anyway, thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

The one thing I disagree with in this video is saying that Emilia's actions in the show are purely out of transactional interest and that her having good intentions is falsely construed by Subaru. Pretty much all interactions Emilia has in the beginning episodes where these "transactions" take place are thought of retroactively. Particularly when they help the girl who's lost find her parents and in turn get information from the guy selling appas. Emilia was not thinking ahead in that situation whatsoever, she did not have the information to construe that there was anything to realistically benefit from helping the little girl. it was out of the goodness of her heart no matter how she tries to deny it. This did, however, contribute to Subaru feeling entitled to be loved by Emilia for the reasons you mentioned and how he wasn't willing to change or acknowledge the person themselves.

Childhood is when you relate to Subaru. Adulthood is when your brain trembles.

The revive effect also puts a focus on the need to change by eliminating the concept of inevitability. The way the characters act towards Subaru changes. The opportunities change. The problems change with each cycle. But literally only one variable changes:Subaru. Everyone else starts the same and every event starts prescripted. Only Subaru changes. And thus the difference between a person treating you like a nice stranger, spitting on your face, or being willing to fight with you and trust you is how he interacts with them. When he does not change he becomes friendless and everything he wants us ruined. When he changes he has friends, allies, relationships, and becomes a member of society. He gets what he desires not because of where he is be but because of how he acts. So is horror. But also hope. You can't stay as you are. You can't change the world to make it fit you because you just won't fit there either. But you CAN change yourself. And you will still be you. Subaru is still Subaru even when he's acting different. There is hope for you. It won't be easy. But it can be done. Though if you do please treat your maid waifu better.

One of the most painful things i ever watched was that one episode where subaru simped for emilia in front of a whole ass room of knights , not because i related to subaru (thank fucking god), but because at that moment i was relating to everyone else in that room who had to witness subaru delivering that cringie ass speech with such confidence, SPECIALLY emilia who was being directly put on spotlight by this simp. And in any other isekai , the protag would either not be viewed as cringie by anyone other than the actual real life non incel viewer, or they would rewind time if they had subaru's powers. And for once i hate the fact that rezero isn't a typical isekai and at the same time like how it opens up interesting opportunities on how one can redeem themself after such a huge fuckup

"It's Explanation Point with a P" Me over here having a mental breakdown having assumed it was Exclamation Point this whole time

Oh hey he didn’t die Edit: ok he just killed me with this video instead...sent help

I really appreciate the nod to aces and aros! So often we are ignored for the sake of convenience and it's nice to be acknowledged.

"our biggest fears is being alone, unloved, unwanted, forgotten, misunderstood, unappreciated and powerless" that line fucking hit me home

Okay but can we just acknowledge how he was literally brought to another world by Lugnica's closest equivalent to magic Hitler?

"Cringing himself straight to the offline meeting" is such an exceptional euphemism.

Finally! Finally someone expresses something I've said so often. The core reason so many people liked or enjoyed Re:Zero but hated Subaru with a passion was, simply put, that it reminded them of themselves, either past, present, or both. We hate being confronted with how a lack of effort and social graces are a real problem, and not the "world treating us unfairly."

The episode of Re:Zero that came out today touches on this a lot. Not sure if that's a coincidence or not.

This is the take down of everything I hate about Iseikai in a single nicely wrapped up video.

I found Re:Zero like, the second after I finished going through the changing yourself thing that he did, and I could identify almost every behavior that he did when he was shitty in myself, which was kinda crazy to think about. Now I have friends and all it took was for me to not be cringey in public, which truly was a lot harder to do than it sounds, but now I am well adjusted enough to have real, close, intimate friendships and relationships even with people who don't fervently share my passions, which personally I think is extremely important, to be able to make friends outside of a very narrow niche of people who find everything you find interesting, interesting, I was basically one bad video away from becoming a nazi a couple of years ago, and now I am a well adjusted member of my community who most people in my age group know and at least tolerate, it is a great feeling, and while it is work, it is worth it to do and it is really fulfilling

This is why everyone says Rem is best girl. She's the only one who fills the core of the isekai fantasy, and I think it's smart how the author has Subaru stubbornly pursue Emilia anyways, driving the message you discussed in the video home.

I'm 3 years late but still gonna say this. First, Emilia *is* just a really good person, and those "transactional interactions" between them was Emilia being embarrassed for being a good person instead of looking for her insignia. Puck even calls her insincere in that interaction, showing that she is a hopelessly good person. Second, Subaru is a kind, good dude who just wanted to help Emilia. The issue was that he was too obsessed, disregarding others and Emilia herself, paralleling Petelguese (note: his name is pronounced like the star Betelgeuse but with a P. It's actually one of the three biggest mysteries in Re:Zero why Petelguese's name is spelled differently from the star according to the author). What needed to change was his obsession with Emilia, mindset about it all being a game, and disregard of others' intentions, not really anything about himself. Third, when he did finally change, he wasn't fully fixed. His self-worth was still at rock-bottom. He believed that the only thing he could offer to those he cared about was his life, or rather his death, and he forced himself to believe that those he cared about didn't care about him in order to be able to die for them without guilt. However, despite believing himself worthless, he also believed himself the only one able to solve all of the problems, that he would eventually be successful if he died enough. This third point is addressed by season 2, but his self-worth and confidence issues still remain. What was fixed was his respect for the autonomy of himself and others.

Personally, I don't think Subaru is an incel. He's just a shut in. Maybe if he had tried again, but in the right way he could have made some good friendships and possibly even a romantic relationship. He was too busy either wallowing in self hate or escaping with anime or Manga to try to make genuine relationships. He wouldn't even try to fix things with his parents, the people who are the closest to him.. which shows a lot about his mental state. Subaru is a good guy, his true heart shows many times throughout the series.. it's not all about sex for Subaru, even though it's part of it, I'm sure. He geninuely wants people to love him, romantic or not and thats why he repeatedly saves them. You can see this with his interactions with Ram, Otto, Petra and the other villagers. I love Re:zero because i got to see someone, just like me, grow through the suffering that life can deal out. That's the best thing.. it reminds me not to shut the people, who are closest, to me out.. and even though I can't restart like he does.. I think we can always fight to fix things. Subaru and the rest of the cast, help give me the courage to do so.

"former incel" good job king you made it

Something very similar to this happened to me. Not the Isekei part, but the belief that things would get better if I was in a different environment. When I was 13 years old, I, a small, scrawny white boy with autism (although I wasn't diagnosed at the time because my father was an ass) in a predominantly African-American neighborhood was bullied. A lot. I was considered to lame and very annoying. I had no friends and my step mother was awful and my dad never gave me the time of day. I hated my life and was constantly depressed. Only playing videogames and reading Harry Potter and Percy Jackson allowed me to escape from this, along with the Sunday visits to my Grandfather's house. Any friends I thought I had usually ended up being one-sided relationships with me desperately believing that someone gave a shit about me. Often I was grounded for the smallest of things, making my life worse. Life between 9-13 sucked. But I always hoped and prayed that one day my mother would regain custody of me and give me the love I deserved and bring to me a more "white" neighborhood where I wouldn't be bullied as much and would be considered "cool". I honestly believed that I would be considered cool in a different environment and wouldn't be bullied and would easily get a girlfriend. When I was 13, I got my wish. My mother regained custody of me and my little sister and we moved to a more traditional Midwestern neighborhood. I was excited. I was CONVINCED everything would go right for me. I don't think I even need to say it wasn't. Within one year, I got expelled/relocated from three schools, had plenty of fights with my stepfather (technically my mom hadn't married him yet, but they were engaged and we're about to), and still had no friends. I was just as lonely as ever. I did gain friends, but they only hanged out with me at first because their moms told them to. Around this time I was diagnosed with Asperger's/Autism, so I was dealing with that knowledge as well. I continued to be an angsty little shit for about three years, never really realizing that my issues were typically my own fault and always making excuses for them and crying into my pillow going "why me?" After one practically bad day, I asked my self "why me?" For the first time, I actually thought about what happened and what I did wrong and came to the conclusion that *I* was the reason why I was always miserable. I may have autism, but that is no excuse for what was happening. I decided the and there to change. It wasn't easy. I became very aware of how awkward I truly was and the highschool program I was in helped showed me what I was doing wrong. I started actually paying attention to what other people were saying and what I was doing wrong and why people gave me wired looks. I changed. Near the end of Highschool, I was somewhat popular (in a nerdy way), and even dated a girl out of state for over a year. I am in college now and have friends there as well. However, I still make mistakes in social situations and still sometimes feel low and helpless, tho it is a bit more rare now. But I am always improving and working on my issues and flaws. It's frustrating constantly improving oneself as as soon as I feel like I fixed one issue, another rears its ugly head, or worse, turns out I haven't gotten as far as I thought I have. Self confidence is something I still struggle with to this day, especially with women. I know I am not alone in those issues, but that doesn't mean it's not something to work on. I am getting better tho. In short, I thought I wasn't the problem, but my environment was, only to be brutally told it was actually me all along. Hell, even upon reflection, half of my problems when I was a preteen were either overly exaggerated or completely my own fault. I wasn't even bullied that much, it felt like I was because of how much it a little shit I was and that I had a huge victim mentality. The phrase "you're perfect just the way you are" was told to me and I absolutely bought that to a cancerous degree. In reality, we should always strive to be the best versions of ourselves that we can, as lame as that sounds. It's harder to improve yourself, and you never really stop, but it's a lot better to recognize what flaws we have and improve upon them then to just stagnant and get worse.)

I think one of the reasons some fans get so mad a subaru for choosing emilia over rem is because at face value rem is the "isekai promise" of a cute girl who will love you no matter what, and she kinda is, but this also fails to see that she doesn't love subaru no matter what (well kinda, but) the reason she didn't want to run away with him is because that wouldn't be the subaru she loves, the only reason she likes him is because he earnestly helped her and made her feel better for the sake of doing a good thing, he wasn't pursuing rem romantically or looking for emotional compensation from her, you could argue he was doing it to get recognition from emilia, but he was also honetly wanting to save the kids and rem, rem loves subaru because she saw him at his best and he still loves him at his worse but she wouldn't let him indulge on that because she doesn't want him as a tool for easy emotional gratification like he wants emilia to be

Reminder that incel wasn't originally a derogatory term, and was in fact a term a group chose to use for themselves. It just became one due to said group containing so many truly awful and entitled people with deep-rooted issues. And then outright hatred and heinous views.

The funny thing about this is that Subaru (unlike most isekai protagonists, but like most real people) actually has some endearing character traits that would make him nice and fun to be around if only he could get rid of his toxic attitudes.

People who feels lonely and depressed just need a little of philosophy in their lifes.... This comment is half serious, half joke.

The breakdown of an incel mindset probably shouldn't have hurt as much as it did :'( The truth can be painful

God, this video cuts deep. For context, I'm Autistic and struggle to do the stuff required for people to live independently. But I finally decided that I was done just doing the same routine of absolutely nothing day after day- I got a therapist, I got a social worker who would help me make personal progress, I volunteered at a Goodwill, and most importantly, I was on-track to get into a state-run, no-cost career institute that would teach me job skills and how to live on my own by putting me in a dorm. And then COVID happened.

The script for this was so tight, but ultimately it was the Scrub's janitor's story arc that swept me off my feet. Great video.

This is what I needed. I need moar Re: Zero analysis. It is such a fantastic show in so many regards that it really needs more attention than it gets. It is a beautiful deconstruction of the genre and it makes my heart go doki doki when Subaru's hearts stops the doki doki. Thanks Explination Point!

If only Ram could’ve shown this video to Rem before Subaru ended up in her world, and BECAME her world.

"You are not really trying to improve, you are only going through the motions"

Hmmmm. Iunno, this video kinda misses the mark in some ways. When Emilia insists that her good deeds are for her own self-interest, she only says that so people don't think they have to owe her for it. Emilia *is* actually a kind and compassionate person at heart and she did help Subaru purely to help him, and that deeply moves Subaru enough for him to imprint himself on her and seek out validation from her, which is why he's so desperate to help her out any chance he gets. The problem is that Subaru extrapolates deep meaning from a random act of kindness that Emilia probably didn't think much of. And also, "incel" is kind of a strong word that doesn't apply to Subaru all that well, because it implies his entire behavior stems from wanting companionship, when that's only a moderate reason for his behavior. Episode 18 and most recently 29 (Ep 4 of S2, which only came out a few hours ago so unless you made this video in an hour, I can't imagine you've seen it yet) clearly spell out why he is the way he is and why he behaves the way he does.

I feel like this video represents the message of Re:Zero in a negative, "you are a worthless piece of shit who needs to become something else" way. Also these problems are not really incel specific even though they are indeed common to incels. In fact Re:Zero teaches these lessons in harsh and subtle ways. First, no relationship works when you put someone on a pedestal, you will either not acknowledge them as human themselves or will desire your own pedestal making any relationship a shallow shell. He gets shattered when he realizes that his altruistic deeds do not mean that people will automatically like him. He then has to deal with the fact that he was in part doing them so he'd be liked not just for the sake of helping people. Second, you can be loved for who you are, but to be loved is not to stay in your comfort zone with no progression, love is effort. Rem exemplifies this perfectly when she says she would like to start a life with him but she knows that is not who he is, and that if she allowed him to run now, he would never stop running. Rem loves subaru not for who he is in that moment but for who she has seen him to truly be. When someone loves you or you love someone you want them to be them best selves, and not always for your sake but because they themselves will be happier. The truth this show teaches is that who you are is not the loner who you are painted out to be or who you believe yourself to be. You are choosing to be that but there is another choice, and like any change their will be growing pains. In Subaru's case, as seen in season 2 he regressed into that stage partially due to him seeing himself as a failure in his life, to not living up to his Dad's example, and to putting too many expectations onto himself. At the end of season 2 though, they really hammer home that Subaru is holding back any connection he has with everyone because he only thinks his life has value if he is saving others. As you pointed out to truly love and to be loved you must love yourself and to ask yourself if you love yourself is to look deep into your mind and heart.

I know you play Magic, but the companion bit with Lurrus actually killed me.

The aromantic and asexual pride flags? Validation?? From my favorite talking punctuation mark???

You are way off dude. The reason why Subaru clings to Emilia is much simpler than that. She was simply the first girl to do something good for him and appreciate him in one of the first lives, but then he stupidly continued to act as if all that happened when those realities were deleted (or those version of Subaru are dead). He just refuses to let go off that girl that was nice to him despite the fact that only he remembers it.

Alright I disagree a bit, like subaru had some really bad points in season one (to the point that I found it hard to pick up the series). I don’t believe he is an incel, cause he doesn’t give a shit about himself. His main reason for helping people, is to both help them and to be valued or needed (not really to be loved). Hell he doesn’t even consider the achievements under his name something to be proud about, to the extent that others are concerned about that.

Surprised there wasn't much mention about Season 2's parents episode. That one takes a deep dive into the source of his depression and how his desperation to be recognized basically led to his own self destruction. To which this anime is basically Subaru going through the universe's most intense therapy session. Also, this is probably why I love Re:Zero so much. It goes back to the root of the "to another world" concept being part of the Hero's Journey, and that the goal for such a story is meant to change the character. At the journey's end and they return to the normal world, they are suppose to be different from the person they were when they left. By the anime's end, Subaru should be a better version of himself. If not, I will riot.

The main theme of Re: Zero is that Subaru has all of the tools that he needs to improve his life; he just has to learn how to use them properly*. Return by Death emphasizes this beautifully by forcing him to relive critical moments over and over until he has learned not to be such a fuckup. And generally the key moment that allows him to succeed where he previously failed is where he reaches and works with other people, rather than trying to do everything alone. * This is really just a rephrasing of what you said: the problem isn't the environment that Subaru is in, but Subaru himself.

4:21 Akane in a fedora is something I didn't know I needed, but now that I know it exists, I can't live without it.

Exclamation Point is ba- **video is about Re:Zero** **backs up because I have seen it** Unfortunate but glad you're back all the same

I have stumbled through life not exactly as an incel, but as a deeply miserable person who had no real belief that life could get better unless some kind of magical thing happened and my problems evaporated and I became a superhero or something? It was never about wanting other people in my life, but wanting to not be so scared and unhappy 220% of the time. So take what I'm about to say with a grain of salt, because it might not apply to your situation. I have a massive tolerance for social isolation compared to most people. Whenever I heard people talking about needing to change to win other people's approval, my mind used to immediately jump to needing to, you know, figure out how to look and talk like everyone else and sandblast all your own interests and personality away. Sounded super gross. But the thing is, the kinds of people who will be fooled by superficial shit like copying someone's personality and dressing up like a pop star aren't the kinds of companions you'd actually want. Trust me, you can't beat the original. You will always be a pale imitation if it's not coming from a genuine place. The changes that ARE important are how you see yourself. If you don't like yourself, or like the world around you, or like something about LIFE ITSELF, you will be a chore to be around. You will drag everybody else down just a little, and only be tolerated by those who also suck the fun out of life. I know when you're depressed and always have been happiness just isn't a thing that exists anymore, and you can't just decide to be happy. But happiness is a neurological muscle. You can train it. You can teach yourself to enjoy the taste of your Cheetos for real instead of just knocking them back. You can train yourself to feel like standing tall when you see yourself in the mirror, not shrinking away from all the things you think are intolerable. When you like yourself enough that every little perceived rejection in the grocery store checkout isn't sending you into a spiral, you won't lash out at people or disregard them or find yourself flailing around in incoherent anger. You will be able to be honest about the parts of yourself that frustrate you, and then you can change from a genuine place. A place where every change makes you proud as hell. Figure out how to like yourself before you ask anyone else to do it. Not only will you not be waiting for someone to come fix all your problems--way more Princess Peach than Mario, my dudes--you will have developed a life skill. Maybe you even learn some real confidence and get to make other people's lives better just cause you smiled at them and gave them a high five. And maybe don't hate on yourselves too much for being miserable and having a couple of coping mechanisms to drown out the pain either. Enjoy your goofy isekais and waifus and even the terrible mobile games. Just don't let them control you, or numb you out to the point you stop fighting.

What if i tell you....Emilia did care about him and that wasnt him imagining it

What a coincidence. You post a video focused (kinda) on Subaru, when a new episode that's important for his past and characterization also just released today.

I hope you don't mean to say that someone who is not in a relationship and is depressed in part due to this fact is automatically an incel/ a shitty person who is 100% at fault for everything wrong in their life, because that's a hell of an accusation, and that sounds like what you're saying.

This video hits me. I'm not even an incel, I just have a lot of demons. Change is fucking terrifying. One quote that has stuck with me even though I haven't headed the advice is "You can't love someone until you learn to love yourself". It's kind of a hard pill to swallow that just lamenting how shit your life is won't solve anything. You have to actually change something. Sometimes I hate being extroverted though. It means that when at social gatherings I'm completely fine and everyone loves talking to me. But while alone all those demons can haunt me again, it's why it was such a shock when I told my mom how many times I had skirted with wanting to off myself. I look completely fine when interacting with someone else but alone I'm a wreck. I wonder if there is an opposite to a hikikomori, someone that rarely goes home and spends all their time conversing with others. It's a genetic thing though with my want to always be talking to someone. My grandfather and my uncle have the same trait. We can literally talk to anyone about anything. And if you uncork the bottle and let us start talking we will talk your ear off for hours on end. Most times when trying to leave my grandparents because the 3 of us can't stop talking to different family members, just getting out the door and off the porch to the car takes an hour.

damn bro we get it, you hate past yourself which isnt gonna provide positives and completely missed on the "analysis"

No one... Literally no one... ( ! Barges in the room) "re:zero is about incels!". I love this channel

7:36 Looking at the latest episode of Re:Zero I'm not sure this aged that well :p. He's been like that since he was a kid, going to another world didn't cause him to act all that different than he had done in Japan.

You mention 2 options for an incel: Change yourself, or remain forever wanting what you can never have. Personally, I feel I've chosen option 3: Acceptance. Without going into too many details, I recognise that my life and my mental condition leave me Thoroughly unsuited for a romantic relationship. And I have accepted this. Could I change? Sure, if I changed. Self worth is needed to have the drive to do so, and I lack that. That's why so many incels are "Trapped" in their situation: "I could work out, but I'm not worth the effort." And I feel I have, thanks to therapy and my own thinking on the subject, just... Accepted things. I've gone from "Why am I so awful I cannot get a date?" To "I'll take this one for the team. I don't belong in a relationship." And begun to seek happiness elsewhere. I'm still not in the healthiest state, I look at porn almost every night, and if someone offered me a relationship, I don't know if I'd have the will to say "You're better off not doing that." But I think recognising in the calm moments that that IS what I should probably say is a big step. PS: I loved your chapter on the Worm Audiobook, EP.

Seing subaru from the incel angle is interesting and your observation of how the animators materialized it in subtle way sounds convincing enough, however while it's a very intentional framing from the creators(or one that is convincing enough) it's one narrative among other itentional ones: Subaru is an otaku, and one who lives by his sekai fantasies.He is also not the most insighful person, although he is surprisingly good at observing nd quick thinking when he wants to.His incell flaws really come to light in the election arc, however i do think the animators grossed the trait up: reading the manga version of him whiteknighting emilia both in front of the knight and then later when he recovers, you can see that the anime did amp up his grosser traits while the manga show us his more conlicted, less arrogant side(for instance his ranting comes across as more of a embarassment bravado than a blinf pride spectacle).I didn't read the ln so i don't know which interpratation is more true but that's irrelevant for the discussion. Even when his "incellness" is laid bare for all to see, the reason that him getting his shit together, correcting his mistakes felt powerful for me was that it was not him developing a new clean personality but rather weeding out the most toxic part: Indeed in the first and secon arc, while the election inform us t was partly fueled by his obscessiveness that was never truly hidden, his actions and even his desire were mostly heroic: Trying hard to save someone who is a genuignly kind person, as well as getting to understand two sympathetic thieves, voluntarily putting himself in a servant position rather than trying to ride on one good deed, working hard to earn the mansion and village's trust,and forgiving rem who repeatidly wronged him because he understood there was more to it than what he saw:Those actions were all fueled partly by obscessiveness and desperate want to feel loved but at the same time the most far gone incells wouldn't go to such great length for something they would feel is owed to them: His redemption work because his flaws, while deep had not yet eroded the valuable parts. But still great video and congrats on going through this cycle yourself

Another fantastic video! Honestly man, I always look forward to your uploads, you're one of the best video essayists around I was definitely in the second category when I first watched it a few months ago, missing the deeper implications entirely. So while I can wish I had gotten this message years ago when it actually applied, I doubt it would have got across.

As someone who waffles between "I Don't Need a Relationship to be a Complete Person" and "Forever Alone!" I can relate to the resistance to the idea that you need to work on yourself, despite being at least somewhat aware of my character flaws; I am emotionally detached, critical, chronically avoid conflict and act as peacemaker if only to avoid anxiety, and shut people out rather than let them see my weaknesses and insecurities. I drove away my last boyfriend with cold indifference, in part because I was dating him so that I was not alone and so that I had a "good" excuse to reject a work friend. That work friend is now married to a close friend of mine but has admitted (as recently as last year) that he still has lingering feelings towards me, and while I will always rebuff him (because I don't return those feelings whatsoever) instead of giving me assurance that I am "likeable" it has largely made me think "he knows me, and knows what I'm like; how could he still want me?" On the flip side, I have matured enough and have enough awareness to know that I should put distance between us not only because it would hurt my friend A Lot to betray her, but also because I think that what he still wants is actually the idea of a relationship with me; that my tsundere exterior would melt and inside would be a sweet waifu, and the reality is that I am not a cute anime girl; I'm the annoying villain with the noblewoman's laugh. At least for now.

As someone who could almost certainly be described as an "incel", Re:Zero was a wake up call but not in the way you described here. To me it helped me realize that I want to change for the better while staying "me", but if I do what I can and nothing changes, there's no reason to be sour about it. I accept that there is a good chance I wont find happiness this way, and that's perfectly fine because I will be just as happy playing games with my friends.

"It assumes that someone, specifically a cute girl, brought him here for a reason" But that's exactly what happened tho

Real talk, I used to be like this too. This video really hit home for who I was a few years ago, my mental health is still bad but the escapism has been enough to keep me entertained, though with more positive media in my life I ended up changing my life, noticing I was unhealthy (and still am but its a work in progress) I was able to work on myself enough where I am able to be active, I am comfortable with my appearance and have even done better hygiene routines, spent more on products to make myself look/smell/feel better. I got involved with my mental health and was diagnosed as autistic which helped me and my family work on me as a person which made a positive change as well. Your analysis is 100% correct, RE:Zero as an anime has recurring themes about self reflection and changes to your negative aspects. Showing ways to be wanted and desired by people, to learn to be selfless and not always think of yourself but also think of others in a healthy and non controlling way. 10/10 would recommend this video to anyone who has personal delusions about their life and how love is found. I've been in and out of relationships for years now and I noticed that as I got better with my mental health the people I interacted with seemed to like being around me more often, the little things you do to work on yourself will pay off in the end, i'm a living example. To anyone who see's this comment I hope you're doing well in life and you can move forward from any negatives.

Great video man! In times like these it's good to see one of my favorite content creators talk about one of my favorite anime! Keep the good work :)

this is a nice video analyzing re:zero and subaru as a person, but part of this sounds like you're saying fantasies where you're loved for who you are without changing anything appeal specifically to people who have something wrong with their behavior who want something they haven't earned because they don't make themselves better(like incels, who typically neglect to take care of themselves so much that it's difficult to stand but are also typically unkind people past the surface too), when that could appeal to literally anyone who's faced intolerance for just being different or perceived as "lower quality"(read: not fully functioning or are neurodivergent)by society in general, bad OR good.

Nice video... but I personally think that while some of our shortcomings and their consequences (like loneliness) are our own fault, life is too complicated to throw everything under the rag of "you are sole responsible for your own misery". It is just as absurd as blaming the world around you for all that troubles you. Life is full of events and happenstance that shape us and our lot in life, sometimes despite our best efforts. Some people have a hard time getting back on their feet after loosing their job or your kid may end up making friends with the wrong kind of people. The point I want to hammer down is the following: if you're supposed to do everything on your own to better yourself, what's even the point of reaching out for companionship ?

I really enjoyed this video, and it was interesting hearing you talk about something that popped into my head a while ago. Where is the line between being your self and striving for self improvement? Do we choose to be able to live with and accept ourselves to be happy or should be seek to become better people and in that journey to become a better person are we rejecting who we are and feeding our self hatred. I think this video kinda helped with explaining that. While learning to love ourselves is important we must also recognise our flaws, we can't love ourselves if we disregard the bad parts. So by improving or achieving self betterment, we are expressing that love to ourselves. Our journey to become a better person is being yourself since becoming a better 'you' is becoming 'you'. Thanks again for the great vid

Just taking a moment to warm-and-fuzzy appreciate the aro/ace shoutout at 3:09. I've spent the evening rewatching my favorite videos of your content and though I enjoy your videos, sometimes the relentless assumption that sex and romance are ubiquitously sought after, particularly moments of so-called "fan service" and even the marked absence of such scenes, becomes so soul-crushing as to make me feel like a distant alien looking into human civilization and wondering which of us went wrong.

I appreciate that your avatar is wearing a mask

I like that author of this video consider that environment around can't be reason for loneliness.

Dude, you rarely make videos, but when you do they make my day, I love your writing style, your visual comedy, take as much time as you want with the next video, I'll wait, just keep up the quality.

Always happy to see you upload

Damn that's a brick to the head when you put it like that. I gotta start watching the series. As for my perspective, it's not so much as I don't acknowledge my flaws, it's more like course correcting after a lifetime of lack of self-direction and confidence is fucking hard. But hey, growing pains are worth it after all, just gotta take the steps to actually grow, however slow the process might be.

Bro! I've been looking for your channel since Feb! Great vid to come back to.

Man I’ve been waiting for a new vid for months...totally worth it

Straight up. Hardcore related to everything you said on a personal level. And you're completely right. I was the "Incel" type, the forever alone. Hell I've deleted so much off of my FB and other social medias about how lonely I was that I'm extremely embarrassed about now. After soul searching and realizing exactly what you said. That my own personality (Which was VERY close to being the M'lady type) made me less of an option to others and that was my cause of my loneliness. After a few years of self reflection and work I'm now married with a 2yo. I'm nowhere near perfect but I was able to change to the point where Women (Which is my preference of partner) were more attracted and willing to give me a chance. Straight up. You're exactly right. Change is scary but necessary when you see and recognize your faults in your personality and lifestyle. (PS. I've been subbed since your breakdown of Sword Art Online abridged and normal love your videos!)

4:22 I see that Worm reference you glorious bastard. I like it.

Hell yeahhhh! More Explanation Point!

Wow you really nailed this one! Especially with the way you explain the POV of Subaru, it was decidedly insightful!

He’s back!

what ? Since when subaru was a incel, he is juat a NEET, big differences

My man. Your content is great. Please don't stop making it 🙏🏼

Excellent! I feel like you nailed it and today's new ep confirmed it. Definitely sharing this.

Is it me or did he sound terribly condescending? Like an ex-smoker looking down on smokers? The old "If I can do it, anyone can" bs? Aren't you completely ignoring the individual circumstances that get people into a mess like that? I quit smoking fairly easy, while my girlfriend is still completely hooked. Life ain't fair even when talking about the same problem. Don't be so naive and arrogant at the same time. It pisses me off.

Didn't think I was an incel until I got 4 minutes into this video. Wasn't ready to be hit with "every other animal can do it without trying", and "even serial killers are desirable". Big sad

You make some really good points. I think your analysis on this theme of the series is right on point. I love this series for many things.

Man, it feels so surreal seeing someone make a Worm reference, I've never seen that in the wild before! I always enjoy your videos, and this last one didn't disappoint, thank you!

man i came into this kinda pissed, i was like "dude, subaru's a great person by the end of it. why are you calling him a basement dwelling nightmare?" and then you got into it and i realised i read it wrong. you got me brotha, i have been baited and im fine with that. good vid, take my sub.

I really relate to this issue, but not in the same way. I am currently friendless, companionless, unemployed, and deeply depressed. With the 2 years I’ve been like this, I’ve had a lot of self-reflection, but... self-reflection can only take you so far. Sure, if you can accept that you have flaws and work to fix them, you can become a better person and escape your personal pit. The real problem comes when you know you have problems, but either you don’t know what they are or you just don’t know how to fix them. I know that I’m a knowitall. I know that I’ve never been a good friend to those around me. I know that I’ve pictured this romantic ideal without knowing what it takes to be in a real relationship. But I don’t know how to fix that about myself. How do I stop my competitive need to be smart born from a past of being deemed lesser than everyone around me? How do I become a better friend if I have none? And how do I learn what it takes to be in a relationship if I’ve never been in one? All the other bad things about me: my weight issues, my laziness, my lack of any sort of physical ability, the fact that I can’t bring myself to come out and be who I am outside of the anonymity of the internet, and my deep rooted depression; I know how to fix them, but it’s hard. I got a job, but going from no job to 40 hours a week is so mentally exhausting that I can’t ever make it past two months of work without being unable to continue. I made friends at my job, but losing the job and being terrible at starting conversations or conversing over text in general distanced me from them. I try to work out, but I lose the motivation and my apathy draws me back down every time, dooming me to failure. I try to diet well, but I’m a slave to my cravings, failing to control myself. And I literally can’t come out to my family or even admit it out loud because my father literally said he would kick me out on the street if I crossdressed, let alone came out as a trans lesbian. This all just fuels my depression even more. My problem isn’t seeing the road to improvement and not taking it, and it’s not being too self-absorbed to see that I need to improve in the first place. The truth is, I’m a failure, I know it, but I either can’t see the road to improvement or I can’t bring myself to put my foot on the gas due to apathy or fear. All I really need is a hand, someone to help me take the first step and to walk with me while I improve myself, but I have no-one in my life except for my parents, and I can’t trust them to help. Sure, I could take my car, drive to a new city and try to work myself up from being homeless, but - 1 - there’s a deadly plague right now, and - 2 - that’s fucking terrifying. So, please, if you have any wisdom for that, I’d be ecstatic to hear it.

First off, absolutely well done analysis. I loved this show and it was one if the first shows that started to change they way I act around others and how I viewed myself. You described my feelings around the show spot on and gave me words for what I was going through. Second off to anyone who has seen the show and is a shut in, there is hope. I started listening to Jordan peterson and he discusses all of these things. But you have two roads ahead of you, one leads to glory, and the other to solitary confinement. You hold everything you need to become a glorious being if you act

Nice video. Hope next one will be sooner.

I think the best about Subaru is that his anxiety makes him an incel before he changes but he definitely has a duality with how he treats everyone as his equal (except Emilia until after Rem gave him an alarm clock), his natural ability to be a goofball, and his kindness. These things are present like anyone else dealing with the issue of an incel they don’t realize that if they can become better their character can be flipped as positive.

As a former forever alone I really LOVE this show. Looking back there are so many times when I should have woken up but it hit me really recently that I'm running out of time to have a life. My little brother the real bro that was always there for me even in my forever alone phase is getting married and wants me to be his best man. It all just hit me right there that I was still in our folks home paying off college. I started working out investing applying for a better position at work and talking more to that one cute girl at work. It can hurt like a bitch sweating my fat ass off or not getting that better position. So when I see this stupid car getting the shit kicked out of him but FINALLY making progress. Feels great man.

Eeeey, your alive again! Keep up the great content my dude.

I've missed your content. Its good to see you making videos again.

3:05 Just wanna say as an aroace that I really apprechiate this, inclusivity is such a simple yet meaningful thing. Proud to be a fan of you and your channel!

In my personal experience, both I and the environment used to be the issue. It's a death spiral, really: if your character is bad people start disliking you, and even changing doesn't always help with the prejudice.

my boy is back and my day is saved. Great to see another video of you !

It's so satisfying to watch pictures keep laying on top of each other as he speaks.

*Explaination Point, for 4 months:* _Doesn't upload_ *Explaination Point, today:* "I have returned by death!"

Good timing especially after today's episode T_T

Dude! I love your vids. What a brutally honest and vulnerable essay! Thanks for this man!

Your videos are always a treat.

While I love your videos EP this one was...a bit hurtful in certain ways. You do only have your experiences to go off of, but there are some who have tried change (doing a 180 degree shift) and it not make much of a difference. I agree change is necessary for these things but unfortunately it is not always that simple.

Man, everyone is getting deep and philosophical about the show and how thet saw themselves inside them and shit. I just liked because I thought it was cool lmao.

Hey, ExPlanation point. You are enough as you are now. Keep it up. The people who love your content REALLY love it, and always look forward to it. Visual humour is my jam and you nail it.

Awesome video as always, Expoint!