Re: Zero: Echidna What If + Breaktime Shorts S1&2
Added 2025-03-21 01:00:06 +0000 UTCExplore Echidna's innocence with Echidnut's YouTube video on the What If path, followed by a deep dive into Creeptime Shorts where we explore Otto's ascent to chad, Fredrika's guilt, Rem actually existing, Elsa's innocence (not evil), and much more.
YouTube Link (same video but maybe easier navigating):
TIMESTAMPS
Greed What If?
00:00 - Reaction and Echidna fanboying
Breaktime shorts season 1:
29:37 World 1-1
32:07 World 1-4 Side A
34:33 World 1-4 Epilogue
37:10 World 2-1
40:55 World 2-2
43:23 World 2-3
46:14 World 2-4
48:46 World 2-5 Side A
51:15 World 2-5 Side B
53:52 World 2-5-3 Side C
56:25 World 2-5
Breaktime Shorts Season 2:
59:05 Otto's Diary
1 1:03:09 Otto's Diary 2
1:06:07 Otto's Diary 3
1:09:10 Petra's Maid Struggle Record
1:12:12 Otto's Diary 4
1:15:09 Otto's Diary 5
1:18:06 Otto's Diary 6
1:21:57 Maid-san Days 1
1:25:56 Iron Fang Report 1
1:29:04 Maid-sans Days 2
1:32:23 Assassin Sisters' Dark Diary 1
1:35:29 Maid-san Days 3
1:39: 47 Otto's Diary 7
1:43:15 Untitled
1:46:33 Iron Fang Report 2
1:49:33 Otto's Diary 8
1:52:34 The Witch's Tea Confectionary
1:57:56 Days Waiting for the Gospel
2:00:54 Otto's Diary 9
2:05:00 Diary of the Dark Work Sisters
2:08:17 Otto's Diary 10
2:11:20 The Glinstone to the Miracle
2:15:18 The Witch's Tea Party
2:18:26 Meili's Diary
2:21:28 Otto's Diary 11
Comments
You will be happy to know that the author actually does something interesting with Petra's character eventually! It will probably be a good amount of time before we get to that part in the story tho lol
Starky
2025-03-22 21:30:18 +0000 UTCJust finished watching the Break Time shorts. I'm glad you liked them. Yeah there's a good amount of fluff, but there's also a good amount of non fluff. Otto's behind the scenes arc, the bits on Elsa, and the Witch's tea party are all pretty interesting viewpoints that aren't really touched on that much in the main series. Now for the Season 3 Break Time's. They're intended to be watched after the main episode, as they get released (unsubbed) a few hours after the main episode on Kadokawa's YouTube channel. Personally, I'd prefer that you include them at the end of each episode (especially if you're going to record them that way), since it'll make the most sense to us like that. But you do you. As a Re:Zero fan, I don't mind waiting. Heaven's know that I've done a lot of it for this show (hopefully it won't be another 4 years between seasons). I do also hope that you check out the other Echidnut IF stories later on. They're all just as good as the Greed one imo (though maybe not for you, as they lack Echidna). PS, there should be some news released about Re:Zero tomorrow or so at AnimeJapan (almost certainly a continuation announcement). Not that it's relevant to you, but people are pretty hyped for it.
baseballlover723
2025-03-21 23:36:37 +0000 UTCThe video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcfrahkdGmM Headphone warning, this is the best version that exists on the internet, and it's still terrible quality (it is after all, filmed in a casino).
baseballlover723
2025-03-21 23:21:28 +0000 UTCJust wanted to mention some other things I liked/noticed in the Breaktimes. I really like getting to see some of Roswaal’s more quiet moments throughout, seeing him alone in that room. Really drives home how truly alone and depressed he is during this time. I also loveee getting to see more Frederica. She’s a very subtle character, and unless you watch her body language and the particulars, you won’t pick up on a lot of it. A bit that wasn’t mentioned in the anime, Garf mentions that he thinks Frederica is ashamed of her Demi-human heritage while they’re in the sanctuary. There is a tell for this, and it’s that every time she laughs, she covers her mouth instinctively. It’s great getting to see Ram being genuinely kind. I mean she always is, but more overt showings of it are always great. Due to her horn being cut off, she’s pretty much always in pain and has to be given healing mana by Roswaal, I think her kindness is a byproduct of that, as well as her harshness. I mean, having basically insanely painful magical migraines everyday would probably make me a little meaner, but I’d imagine I’d have to put extra effort in to being kind and understanding of others emotions. So no wonder she’s so keyed in on people. It’s also great getting to see bits of the Anastasia camp, they really do feel like a tight knit family unit. And finally, I am absolutely convinced that Otto is in love with Subaru. You can’t tell me otherwise. Half his diary probably reads like a kid writing about a crush lmao.
Vali Sippola
2025-03-21 16:46:59 +0000 UTCThat's interesting. If Subaru goes the Greed path he's enabling Echidna's addiction (arms outstretched while spinning motion intensifies)
Alex G
2025-03-21 13:15:17 +0000 UTCI wonder if, just as Subaru acquiescing to Echidna's deal brings out the worst of him, Echidna having access to Return by Death brings out the worst of her? Because when you think about it, all of the Sins the Witches represent have their positive aspects to them. With Echidna's greed, I think it would specifically her refusal to stagnate. By definition, Greed cannot be satisfied by what is has, but at the same time, it pushes people to greater heights and enables progress of all kinds. But Return By Death, through how Echidna/Greedbaru utilizes it, instead channels Echidna's flaw of hoarding knowledge into a type of mental stagnation, no?
BirthdayParty
2025-03-21 12:23:05 +0000 UTCFor sure and the implicit message that he sends himself in that decision. One of the cool things about the story that sells it so well is that Subaru himself feels miserable about it from the onset. Cause he knows it's not what he wants and now he's broken the seal down that path of making terrible compromises
Alex G
2025-03-21 10:44:33 +0000 UTCYeah one of the touches I love in this story is that Roswaal is thrilled with the whole thing lol. Misery loves company
Alex G
2025-03-21 10:42:00 +0000 UTCI've only watched Greed:IF thus far, but I love the comparison and the contrast on the theme of choices. It's one that I don't see many people bring up, but I think you're right on the money with it. Subaru has everyone make their own choices from themselves and so forth, and Greedaru (and the others) are having their decisions fed to them by external sources. To me, it's not the result that's the key difference. It's the willingness that comes with making your own decisions. Also I agree the production in the Echidnut videos is just incredible. The edits in particular are so well placed together that it doesn't feel like he's grabbing scenes from all over the place. And the voice acting is good too (and even has different voice actors for different people, which is kinda uncommon for these sorts of things) Also no worries about skipping the cut content for now (or indefinitely). Like you mentioned, some of it will be safe to watch and won't be relevant again, but others won't, and very well might get reintroduced. And you can't easily tell which is which.
baseballlover723
2025-03-21 09:28:20 +0000 UTCDamn. 100 Mio deaths, even if each death only took place an hour after respawning on average, means he lived for over 11,000 years.
Coree
2025-03-21 08:19:44 +0000 UTCJust watched the Greed if part of this video. He is very Roswaal in a way. I can't quite put my thoughts into words but believing in solving every little problem by such extreme means and doing everything perfect shows a lack of faith in those around you.
Sage
2025-03-21 05:42:35 +0000 UTCJust finished the Breaktimes, I love Otto’s arc he goes on. Obviously when you’re adapting a novel, you can’t show every single pov in an episode, but I really like how the Breaktimes give these perspectives that got cut out that round out the characters in small, but key ways. I also adore the Elsa stuff. She’s such a memorable character, despite her short screentime. I think that’s one of Re: Zero’s strengths, each character leaves an impact, and it feels like their lives go on beyond the story. Also found your Petra hate hilarious lmao. I love her, but she really has no business being anywhere near this stuff. At least not now. This was awesome though. Little tidbits of lore and worldbuilding, character details and rounding out, and plenty. Great thoughts as always, especially given the unconventional episodes. Super hyped for S3, I think you’re gonna love it.
Vali Sippola
2025-03-21 03:32:36 +0000 UTCIt seems they're just not a good fit haha. And Subaru definitely avoided a huge trap, not just because of the outcome but because Echidna herself is trapped by her outlook and Subaru can do better. It's been helpful for me to watch. I've often felt somewhat critical of an overemphasis on DATA, as if it's a goal in itself as opposed to a tool. But having been forced to reflect on my similarities with Echidna, I've realized that I was falling into the same trap in a different way. And in fact I think the limitations of the "experience everything" approach have been borne out for me over the last few years
Alex G
2025-03-21 02:50:37 +0000 UTCYeah you make a good point, i think im mostly thinking about the outcome of the route instead of the context of the route. While Echidna doesnt outright try to ruin it for Subaru its just a shame that it did turn out that way, i mean having infinite knowledge at your side cant be all bad xD
Snor
2025-03-21 02:44:46 +0000 UTCYeah in "hindsight" the Greed path was definitely a bad path for Subaru. The distinction I want to make is that one way to look at it is that the "bad" element of starts earlier than all the terrible things that happen. It starts with Subaru acquiescing to a choice that he himself feels is wrong and acting counter to his conscience. One way to look at it is him giving up on himself vs what actually happens which is him not giving up. Another element is it's him deciding to think in terms of outcome rather than in terms of values (maybe love which includes love for himself). Echidna herself probably has elements of both good and bad moment to moment and is not neutral as a person. At the same time, I think the specific focus of the route, the "what if we what if everything to eternity" is just a tool. It has no clear larger goal behind it. It's not necessarily for some larger nefarious plot or for some greater good, it's just a tool for the sake of the tool. And that itself I think is somewhat neutral, it will depend on what it's applied to! ☺️
Alex G
2025-03-21 02:39:05 +0000 UTCLets go, glad you got around to watching the greed if. Interesting take you have on Echidna being more of a neutral than just outright being bad or good but from my pov i still think that Echidna wasnt a good help as you saw the only diffrence between season 2 and the greed if story was echidna stepping in and thats where it went south. If someone's help gets you the desired outcome you seek yet causes misery to everyone else around you including you was it good or neutral help in the first place? Yes ur right that Subaru is the one making the decisions and if Subaru was a little more tough he would learn to stand up for himself a bit more instead of doing everything Echidna tells him but the whole point of accepting the deal was that he would listen to her, i mean theres no point in Subarus mind accepting her deal and then not listening to her. Idk thats just me but i totally see your viewpoint on why you think Echidna is helpful, and tbh i respect it, had she reached her hand out to me i would have a hard time refusing aswell xD Great reaction and commentary I really enjoyed it. Cant wait to see your reactions to S3 and hopefully the other If routes down the line? (Keep in mind some of them are spoilers even after s3 so if u do go that route then please make sure you know which ones to watch)
Snor
2025-03-21 02:18:48 +0000 UTCEyyy, finally reacting to Greed IF. The author expanded this little story into an entire light novel volume, most of which has been translated, so if you ever feel like checking that out in your own time you can find it on the Witch Cult Translations website. Iirc they've yet to finish translating the epilogue, but most of the story is there
Kieran
2025-03-21 02:04:18 +0000 UTCLet’s go! Super excited to hear your thoughts on this stuff. Fun fact, for the Greed IF video, they got Subaru and Echidnas official English VA’s to do the voiceover. I also like how taking Echidna’s hand isn’t inherently a bad thing, but it is bad for Subaru. Now time to watch the Breaktimes.
Vali Sippola
2025-03-21 01:37:25 +0000 UTCLol the tease with it is crazy, someone did post it to YouTube if you want to watch it. It's short and mostly just Subaru and Emilia goofing off lol
Kimats0548
2025-03-21 01:25:58 +0000 UTCThat's wild. At the same time, missed opportunity to go all in with the "we will show you closer and closer to the date but never the actual date" thing
Alex G
2025-03-21 01:22:17 +0000 UTCThat would also work lol, Re: Zero is kinda notorious for putting extra information in weird places. For example the Subaru and Emilia date from early season 1 did actually get animated but was only accessible through Re: Zero themed slot machines lol
Kimats0548
2025-03-21 01:19:52 +0000 UTCIn that case what I might do is watch them alongside but release them all as a separate video when I'm finished
Alex G
2025-03-21 01:17:20 +0000 UTCYou can really do it either way, you could do it all in one video like this one or just add the corresponding break time with the episode. Whichever way is easier for you is what I'd recommend but you don't have to worry about it affecting the experience of the show.
Kimats0548
2025-03-21 01:14:24 +0000 UTCWhat I'm trying to figure out is if I should watch them along with the corresponding episodes or if they're meant to be watched after the fact
Alex G
2025-03-21 01:10:55 +0000 UTCSuper excited to dive into this long one but I want to say now that once you finish season 3 make sure to watch the break times for it because there's some very juicy information that was cut from season 1.
Kimats0548
2025-03-21 01:09:48 +0000 UTCTWO HOUR THIRTY MINUTES?!?! “Thank you for the feast!” — Gluttony
Hailan
2025-03-21 01:02:42 +0000 UTC
