WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World, Season 2, Episode 6, "The Maiden's Gospel," now streaming on Crunchyroll.
Foresight is a powerful tool, one that Subaru often uses to his advantage in order to avoid critical failures -- i.e. his own grizzly murder. In “The Maiden's Gospel,” his Return by Death ability has once again provided him with insight, but it proves to be just one small piece of a much larger puzzle.
Waking in the Witch's Graveyard post disembowelment by Elsa at Roswaal's Mansion, Subaru finds Emilia undergoing the Trial of the Sanctuary. This time, as he holds her, instead of calling out for Puck, she only says his name. Unlike the first time around, the meeting held to discuss the result of the Trial is also attended by Emilia, who is somewhat offended when Subaru reveals that there are actually three Trials and that he would like to take them in her stead.
Much to his surprise, Garfiel reacts negatively to the suggestion as well, in spite of literally telling Subaru that he would like that to happen when the half-beast transported him to the edge of the barrier in his previous life. Taken aback, Emilia's doubling down on her own ability to pass the Trial leaves Subaru with no choice -- he must return to the Mansion much sooner than he had before.
With little time to spare, Subaru confides in Roswaal that he will be leaving -- and reveals that the patriarch might know a lot more than he lets on. When Subaru mentions that leaving later will not work “this time,” Roswaal repeats the phrase, though Subaru doesn't elaborate. Roswaal suggests bringing Ram with him as he smiles slyly, further questioning whether or not Subaru should place his trust in him, or if he, in fact, has an idea about Subaru's Return by Death ability.
Leaving the Sanctuary two days prior to the last time, Subaru and Ram speak with Garfiel before heading out. Whatever happened between Garfiel and Subaru prior to being gutted like a fish seems to have not occurred in this new life as before they embark, Garfiel seems reluctant to hand over his own necklace, a protective stone that he readily gifted to Subaru previously. Exploiting his affection for Ram, he eventually hands over the stone and the pair head off.
While traveling, Subaru makes an executive decision to tell Ram about her sister, Rem. The conversation proves to be lengthy as it reaches its conclusion the moment the pair arrive at the Mansion where they are surprised by Petra. Subaru expresses his happiness to see her and when they enter, he brings Ram to see her comatose sister. Ram requests to be left alone with her, and so Subaru instead leaves to speak with Frederica.
Frederica had been suspected of being an ally to the Conservatives, a faction of Sanctuary residents who wish to keep the barrier intact. When asked about the stone and why it was given to Emilia, Frederica seems surprised to learn that it had such power. But when Ram returns, she manages to get Frederica to admit that she cannot speak any further on the matter due to having taken an oath.
The interrogation is cut short by Elsa, who also seems surprised that Subaru had arrived earlier than expected. As the maids and Subaru go on the attack, Elsa proves a powerful foe, injuring both Frederica and Subaru as they make a leap-of-faith-escape from the window.
As if Subaru needed any further proof that there exists no memory of Ram, Rem suggests leaving her and Beatrice to die so that the four could safely escape, proving that the power of the amnesia is absolute. But morality prevails, as Subaru is backed by both Frederica and Petra.
The four decide to go on the attack yet again. As Frederica transforms into beast mode, the trio heads off to retrieve Rem only to be confronted by a mabeast. Now with two threats in the Mansion, and with no time to question why a mabeast is roaming the halls, Ram rushes off to procure transportation as Subaru and Petra run for their lives. The pair is seemingly safe until an explosion renders Subaru unconscious. The next moments are ripe with violence until eventually, Subaru regains consciousness to find that he's clinging to the disembodied arm of the young maid Petra.
As Elsa returns, Subaru is left bloodied and near death. He questions her motives but she remains rather mum on the details. Thinking that he will die, Subaru rushes to enter Rem's room and is unfortunately rescued by Beatrice, a horrifying turn of events for the hero who relies on death to save himself and others.
The bloodiest episode thus far of the season has proven that the series still has the capacity to shock. With Petra meeting a gruesome end, Re:Zero has entered new territory wherein safety is a thing of the past and tried and true tactics are challenged, if not erased entirely.
New episodes of Re:Zero premiere Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. ET on Crunchyroll.