The Demon Maid in the Dog Forest (Re:Zero is brain-damaged)

[WARNING: SPOILERS]

There is a particular kind of incompetence on display in Re:Zero. A popular 2016 isekai anime in the mold of Sword Art Online, Re:Zero adapts a light novel series of the same name, and indeed its particular incompetence is frequently found in light novel adaptations, though I cannot imagine that it is improved in the original work. It is the incompetence of a story that has no idea what it is about but is determined to continue anyway. Re:Zero is notable for being among the worst offenders in this category of incompetence, because it is not wholly a disaster on an episode-by-episode basis, making its ultimate failures all the more glaring. There are moments of effective storytelling and touching characterisation, but all of them are wasted on this show. There is no catharsis for the viewer, no development with stakes or serious implications. Why? Because Subaru loves Emilia, obviously. At best, Re:Zero tells a story no one wants to hear.