With the epic cliffhanger--hangtimer?--of the latest episode of Re:ZERO potentially leading us to the conclusion of the current subplot, we find ourselves at a great moment in time to look back to a discussion between Ram and Subaru which has framed the develpment of the story at Roswaal's estate. Subaru, during what may just be the greatest single scene of this season, recounts a tale from his own word called The Red Ogre who Cried. For those unfamiliar, this short story is a popular Japanese tale written in 1933 by children’s author Hamada Hirosuke, which has become known for its numerous appearances in other works. Most notably, you may recognize it from the beginning of MY Love STORY!!, where it acted as an allegory for Takeo’s love life.

Considerably less moe

Put simply, the story is of two friends who just happen to be ogres, one red and one blue. The red wishes to befriend the people of the nearby village, but they fear him and see his attempts to befriend them as tricks. The blue ogre comes up with a plan in which he pretends to attack the village, telling the red ogre to rush in and save the day by chasing him off. It works perfectly and the village welcomes the red ogre, who becomes very happy. After some time, the red ogre begins to wonder what became of the blue ogre, so he travels to his house and finds a letter left by the blue ogre, who has gone away so the village won't discover the two ogres friendship. Realizing his friend has left forever, the red ogre weeps.

ANGRILY!

In the context of Re:ZERO, Ram and Rem obviously fill the roles of the two ogres, with Subaru being very Subaru by acting as a bizarre but somehow complimentary third wheel. The stage is set with the twins being born into hatred, despised among ogres since each only gets one horn of the pair possesed by ogres. Twins typically killed at birth, but Ram and Rem were allowed to live, alone but for each other as friendless ogres. The specifics of Ram losing her horn have yet to be revealed, but the hints so far indicate that Ram got into some sort of trouble with the witch’s cult which may have resulted in its removal. The loss is as symoblic as it is literal, allowing Ram to pass as a human by losing the thing which was unique to her and her sister.

I still haven't figured out the relevance of the spoon and the pen...

If Monster has taught us anything, it’s that children’s fairytales are bottomless wellspring of existential horror, but this particular story has a fairly simple interpretation. It’s a cautionary tale of the cost of assimilation which is, unsurprisingly, poignant to such a collectivistic society. From my more Western perspective, I can’t help but feel it’s a warning to appreciate what you have before looking to what you want, a storybook version of the classic “the grass is always greener” proverb.

Uh... Bluegrass?

In either case, it’s easy to see why the red ogre wept. He had lost the one friend who had accepted him unconditionally, where the villagers had to be tricked into believing they were saved before they would give the ogre a chance. Ram and Subaru both express unique perspectives of the story which not only provides us with a more complete picture of their personal characters, but also places each of them in a position to further explore the narrative of The Red Ogre who Cried as events drive them down a similar path.

Hey

Ram’s interpretation was that the red ogre was selfish for drawing the blue ogre into his desires rather than having the bravery to break off his own horn and join the humans, causing the blue ogre to suffer for the red ogre’s benefit. Ram has complex feeling about the loss of her horn. Personally, she claims to be satisfied with being rid of it, claiming she has gained much by its absence. The only sticking point, appropriately, is her relationship with Rem. As a source of power for ogres, its loss left her weakened and forced her to rely on Rem to the point of dependency. The two are no longer equal and there is an implicit disagreement between the two regarding who ultimately suffered the greater loss. Since excessive use of the horns power can damage its own host, Ram fears for Rem's well being and carries the guilt of having forced her sister to use that power to protect them both.

I'm guessing that fire wasn't started by natural causes

Although Rem has not discussed the story directly, her protectiveness of Ram is demonstrated at many points in the series, in particular when she accuses Subaru of being a member of the witch’s cult and indicating that they had something to do with the loss of Ram’s horn. Her heroic sacrifice saving Subaru from the rockslide, willingness to kill in order to protect the Roswaal estate, and the lengths she goes to protect the children of the nearby village indicate her altruism extends well beyond her sister. Ram's fears for Rem appear to be legitimate as Rem is more than willing to endure suffering for the sake of others, including using her horn. Returning to the forest in a desperate gambit to save Subaru implies she may be willing to go so far as lose her own humanity to protect others from harm, an act which mirrors that of the blue ogres sacrifice for the red, disappearing in the forest so the red ogre may never find her.

I'll go ahead and add "howling maids" to my list of worst nightmares

Subaru’s interpretation may be the most revealing of his character. While he claims that he is the type who likes to have his efforts rewarded, he admires the blue ogre for sacrificing so much out of true selflessness. Given the choice between befriending one ogre, he chooses both, which is not altogether surprising since his own circumstances allow him to appreciate both of their positions. He’s an outsider, a self-described shut-in even in his own world, now in an unfamiliar land, and carrying the scent of the witch upon him.

Even the dogs hate him

Each encounter he experiences begins with suspicion which he has only managed to overcome through tremendous personal sacrifice, losing life and limb repeatedly to earn their trust and admiration. Although the worst consequences can be reversed, there have been moments which revealed the tremendous psychological toll this has taken upon him. Tragically, even the two characters who should be most able to empathize with his plight are not immune to the same prejudice.

Rewatch this episode at your own discretion

The nature of Ram and Rem’s differing perspectives regarding the loss of Ram’s horn, as well as the new roles they have adopted after being made inequal, divides characters who are otherwise so close that they mirror each other's speech. In episode 10, we find Rem lost to her demonic nature in the woods while Subaru and Ram desperately search for her, creating a second act to the original tale in which the red ogre searches for his lost friend, made possible by the inclusion of Subaru’s character, who can empathize with both.

Seriously though, this scene was amazing

We now hang, suspended, waiting to see if Subaru will be able to mend this rift between the sisters and, in doing so, create a new ending for The Red Ogre who Cried. Hopefully that will also involve discovering the circumstances behind the loss of Ram's horn, but at the very least we can appreciate the layered context of their personal conflicts and enjoy the tremendously good writing of Re:ZERO.

Or don't





Any theories on how Ram lost her horn? What lives has she saved because of its loss? What's up with her and Roswaal? Share your theories below so you have proof you called it this Sunday! NO CHEATING!

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Peter Fobian is an Associate Features Editor for Crunchyroll, author of Monthly Mangaka Spotlight, and streams on Crunchyroll's official Twitch channel. You can follow him on Twitter at @PeterFobian.