Episode Summary
- Subaru and Emilia devise a clever strategy to outsmart Regulus, rescuing his wives and thereby weakening his powers, ultimately leading to his defeat with Reinhard’s assistance.
- Utilizing her ice magic, Emilia is able to halt the wives’ hearts while Subaru leverages Sloth’s Authority to destroy Regulus’ heart, securing their victory.
- Through astute observation, Subaru identifies Regulus’ weakness linked to his nickname, exposing a critical vulnerability.
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Title |
Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World, Season 3, Episode 12 “Regulus Corneas” |
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Studio |
White Fox |
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Air Date |
February 26, 2025 |
Warning: The content below contains spoilers for Re:Zero, Season 3, Episode 12, “Regulus Corneas”, which is now available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
The storyline transitions back to Subaru after the previous episode’s climax, where Priscilla and Liliana triumphed over Sirius, the Archbishop of Wrath. Subaru’s encounter with Regulus, the Archbishop of Greed, intensifies as he boldly taunts him about his overwhelming powers while Emilia remains absent from the scene. The church, a significant symbol in their past, looms in the background.
In “The Crusade Against Greed”(Re:Zero Season 3, Episode 10), Subaru uncovers the nature of Regulus Corneas’ Authority, known as “Lion’s Heart, ”which grants him the ability to freeze time for his physical body, rendering him seemingly invulnerable. The crucial question remains: Can Subaru devise a successful plan to counteract this power, especially with Reinhard still incapacitated from his previous encounter with Regulus?
Although the preceding episode faced animation inconsistencies, Episode 12 impressively restores the visual quality that fans have come to expect from Re:Zero. Despite the omission of some captivating action sequences from the light novels, the animated content remains engaging and stylistically impressive.
Liberating the Little Kingdom
The King’s True Worth
Subaru surmises that Regulus’ true vulnerability lies within his “Little Kingdom, ”comprising his harem of wives. While Subaru engages Regulus directly, Emilia takes the initiative to return to the church—their intended venue for matrimony. The atmosphere remains unchanged, with Regulus’ 53 wives motionless, awaiting his return.
Emilia’s empowering moment, where she encourages the wives to embrace their agency and reject their submissive roles, resonates deeply, encapsulating one of Re:Zero’s most poignant themes.
“I know you are all kind. I know you are all really earnest. I know you are all crying out for help. Your entire being is crying out for help. Your eyes, your voice, everything about you. That’s why I’ll help you.”- Emilia to Sylphy and the other 52 wives
Realizing that Regulus’ heart resides within Silphy, Emilia understands that any harm to her would shift Regulus’ heart to another wife. The wives, willing to sacrifice themselves to weaken Regulus, present a dire scenario, but Emilia deftly employs her ice magic to freeze them, stopping their hearts and setting the stage for their next confrontation with Regulus.
The Strategy of Sloth
A Strategic Checkmate
Rejoining the battlefield, Emilia charges at Regulus but quickly realizes his temporal invulnerability remains intact. Subaru, having employed spirits to gather intel, confirms that Regulus’ heart is connected to Emilia. Despite Regulus’ taunts, claiming Emilia must perish for him to be defeated, he underestimates Subaru’s resolve. Remembering he possesses Sloth’s Authority, Subaru uses it to destroy Regulus’ heart, finally exposing him to attack.
The ensuing scenes highlight Emilia’s spectacular onslaught against Regulus, all beautifully animated. At the climax, Reinhard descends from the moon—because why not?—to deliver a final thrashing to Regulus, launching him high into the sky as an act of vengeance. Regulus’ humiliating downfall culminates in him being buried in a shallow grave, drowned by water, echoing the disinterest the world had for him even in death.
Unraveling Regulus’ Authority
Some viewers may feel perplexed regarding how Subaru deduced the specific nature of Regulus’ time-stopping powers. Initially, he observed that no outside force could affect Regulus, as despite being struck multiple times, Regulus remained unharmed and pristine, with even his clothing untouched by the battle’s chaos. This perplexed Subaru, leading him to hypothesize various possibilities, including a potential force field or time reversal.
To validate his deduction, Subaru had Reinhard assess for a pulse, which confirmed Regulus was essentially motionless. From this, Subaru concluded that Regulus’ body was frozen in time, a revelation that would prove critical. The connection to Regulus’ nickname, “Little King, ”provided further insight; connected to the brightest star in the Leo constellation, this suggested that Regulus must guard his most valued possessions, revealed to be his multitude of wives.
For those looking to continue following the series, Re:Zero Season 3 is currently available for streaming on Crunchyroll, Muse Asia, MeWatch, and other platforms. Mark your calendars for the release of Re:Zero Season 3, Episode 13, set to air on March 5, 2025, at 7:30 AM PT.
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