by The fourth season of Re: ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- has finally reached its dramatic conclusion, and the 45-minute finale has left fans with a mixture of tears, shock, and countless questions about what comes next.
Episode 85, titled “Shaula / Hero,” aired on September 30, 2026, as a special extended episode. The finale brought the Pleiades Watchtower storyline to a major turning point while delivering emotional moments involving Subaru, Beatrice, Julius, Emilia, Shaula, and Rem. The official Re: ZERO website confirmed that Episode 85 was broadcast as a 45-minute extended special rather than a regular-length episode.
The ending immediately sparked passionate reactions from viewers, particularly surrounding Shaula and the final scene involving Rem. Comments such as “I’m so glad Fairouz Ai played Shaula!” and “I cried twice in 40 minutes” reflected the emotional impact of the finale.
Episode 85 brings the Pleiades Watchtower battle to its climax
The fourth season has followed Subaru Natsuki and his allies as they entered the dangerous Pleiades Watchtower in search of a way to save those affected by the Authority of Gluttony.
The journey has been filled with dangerous witchbeasts, mysterious trials, lost memories, and revelations about characters and events connected to the distant past. The official series information describes the Watchtower as a destination associated with Shaula, the mysterious “sage” who possesses extraordinary knowledge.
By the final episode, Subaru and his companions had already overcome numerous obstacles. However, the last stage of their struggle brought two major confrontations to the forefront: Emilia’s battle with the Divine Dragon Volcanica and Subaru’s desperate fight alongside Beatrice and the others against the witchbeasts.
The official synopsis confirms that Emilia discovers a black monolith and six handprints on the highest floor of the tower. After regaining consciousness, Volcanica addresses Emilia as Satella, the Witch of Envy, before attacking again. At the same time, Julius arrives to assist Subaru and Beatrice as they continue fighting the witchbeasts.
Emilia faces Volcanica
One of the most mysterious sequences in Episode 85 involves Emilia and Volcanica.
After reaching the upper floor, Emilia encounters the Divine Dragon, one of the legendary figures connected to Lugunica’s history. Volcanica’s words immediately create another major mystery because he refers to Emilia as Satella, the Witch of Envy.
The discovery of the black monolith and the handprints adds another layer to the mystery. One of the handprints appears to correspond closely with Emilia, raising questions about the connection between the current events and the people who previously explored the tower.
Volcanica’s fragmented statements also point toward the distant past and the legendary figures associated with the tower. Rather than providing simple answers, the confrontation leaves viewers with even more questions about Emilia’s identity, Satella, and the history surrounding the Pleiades Watchtower.
Emilia ultimately responds with overwhelming magical power, turning the confrontation into one of the finale’s most spectacular sequences.
Julius makes a dramatic return.n
While Emilia is fighting Volcanica, Subaru, Beatrice, and Meili continue dealing with the enormous threat on the ground.
The situation becomes even more desperate when Meili is seriously injured during the battle involving Shaula in her giant-scorpion form.
Then Julius Euclius arrives.
His dramatic entrance and confident attitude immediately became one of the most talked-about moments of the episode. His line, “Sorry to keep you waiting,” was particularly memorable for viewers.
Fans quickly compared the moment to the kind of heroic entrance associated with Reinhard, while others simply celebrated seeing Julius return to the battlefield at such an important moment.
For Subaru, Julius’s arrival also carries emotional significance. Their relationship has changed considerably throughout the series, and the two characters now stand together despite everything they have experienced.
The finale further emphasizes this connection through the injuries and scars visible on Subaru and Julius.
Subaru and Beatrice continue to grow closer
Another emotional highlight of Episode 85 was the relationship between Subaru and Beatrice.
Their partnership has developed enormously since the earlier seasons of Re: ZERO. What began as an uncertain relationship inside Roswaal’s mansion has gradually become one of the series’ most important bonds.
Even in the middle of a deadly battle, the two characters share small moments that show how naturally they now work together.
Viewers particularly enjoyed the small comedic details between them, including moments where they react to the same situation at almost the same time.
These lighter scenes provide an important contrast to the much darker events surrounding them.
Shaula’s heartbreaking farewell
The most emotional portion of the finale, however, belongs to Shaula.
After her transformation into a giant scorpion, Shaula is unable to return completely to her previous form. Subaru and the others desperately attempt to save her, but their efforts ultimately cannot restore her to normal.
Shaula’s connection to Subaru makes the scene particularly painful.
For centuries, she had remained connected to the Watchtower, waiting for the person she regarded as her master. The weight of that long wait becomes clear as the situation reaches its conclusion.
Subaru is visibly devastated by what is happening.
Rather than allowing him to remember her only through sadness, Shaula gives Subaru an emotional farewell. Her feelings toward him remain unchanged, and she expresses the love she has carried throughout her incredibly long wait.
Her final words become one of the defining moments of the episode.
“I loved you even while I was waiting!”
For many viewers, this scene was almost impossible to watch without crying.
Social-media reactions included comments praising Shaula’s devotion, while many viewers also highlighted Fairouz Ai’s voice performance as an important part of the emotional impact.
The official series website also published a Season 4 finale comment from the cast following the broadcast, with Yusuke Kobayashi and Inori Minase reflecting on the conclusion and the characters’ journeys.
A tiny scorpion offers a glimmer of hope.
Just when the situation appears completely hopeless, Re: ZERO provides one final surprise.
From the remains of the giant scorpion, a tiny scorpion emerges.
The small creature approaches Subaru and eventually settles into his hand.
For viewers who had just watched Shaula’s heartbreaking farewell, the appearance of the tiny scorpion immediately created another emotional reaction.
Was this truly Shaula?
Is some part of her still alive?
Or does the creature represent something different?
The anime does not provide a simple explanation at this point, allowing the moment to remain both emotional and mysterious.
This small appearance became one of the reasons many viewers ended the season with hope rather than complete despair.
The biggest shock comes with Rem
The finale does not stop with Shaula.
Even after Subaru and his companions overcome the immediate crisis, several major problems remain unresolved.
Emilia’s memories remain intact, while the situation surrounding Rem and Julius is still complicated. Subaru and his allies continue searching for a way to restore what was lost through the Authority of Gluttony.
Then another unexpected event occurs.
A new anomaly appears, involving the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony and Louis Arneb. The situation suddenly changes, and Subaru and Rem find themselves separated from the others and transported to an unfamiliar location.
The story then delivers one of the biggest cliffhangers of the season.
Rem finally wakes up.
But instead of recognizing Subaru as the person viewers expected her to remember, she looks at him and asks:
“Who are you…?”
And then the season ends.
Why the ending has fans asking about Season 5
The conclusion of Season 4 answers some questions while creating several new ones.
The fate of Shaula remains a major topic of discussion. Emilia’s connection to Satella and the mysterious history of the Watchtower also remain unresolved. Meanwhile, Subaru and Rem’s sudden separation creates an entirely new situation for the next chapter of the story.
Most importantly, Rem’s final line completely changes the emotional direction of the ending.
After everything Subaru has endured in his attempts to save Rem, hearing her ask “Who are you?” is devastating.
The official website’s post-finale comments also emphasize the emotional significance of Rem’s return. Inori Minase, who voices Rem, expressed happiness at finally seeing the character again after such a long wait, while Yusuke Kobayashi reflected on what Subaru managed to regain—and what he lost along the way.
What about Re: ZERO Season 5?
Naturally, the ending has led many viewers to ask one question:
When will Re: ZERO Season 5 be released?
As of October 2, 2026, the official Re: ZERO news page has confirmed the conclusion of Season 4 and related post-finale events, but it has not announced a Season 5 premiere date.
Therefore, claims about a specific Season 5 release date should be treated as speculation unless they come from an official announcement.
The demand for another season is understandable, especially because Season 4 ends on such a significant cliffhanger. However, fans will need to wait for official information regarding the next anime installment.
In the meantime, the franchise is continuing to receive attention. The official website has announced a Re: ZERO special stage at the MF Bunko J Autumn School Festival 2026 on November 22, featuring Rie Takahashi, Satomi Arai, Takuya Eguchi, and opening-theme singer Konomi Suzuki. Re: Zero Anime
Season 4 becomes another major chapter for Subaru.
Season 4 has been particularly important for Subaru because the story pushes him into situations where physical strength alone cannot solve his problems.
The Pleiades Watchtower arc has challenged Subaru psychologically as much as physically. He has had to rely on his companions, confront painful truths, and repeatedly make decisions despite not knowing whether they will succeed.
The season also gave greater attention to characters such as Beatrice, Julius, Emilia, Meili, Shaula, and Rem, allowing their relationships with Subaru to evolve in different ways.
According to KADOKAWA’s official anime portal, Season 4 consists of 19 episodes and is produced by WHITE FOX. The season is divided into the “Loss Arc” and “Reclamation Arc,” beginning in April 2026 and continuing from August 2026. KADOKAWA Animation Portal
The fourth season officially concluded with Episode 85, “Shaula / Hero.” Re: Zero Anime
The R: Zero Season 4 finale delivers exactly the kind of emotional and mysterious conclusion the series is known for.
There are tears for Shaula, heroic moments from Julius, powerful scenes involving Emilia and Volcanica, heartwarming interactions between Subaru and Beatrice, and finally a shocking cliffhanger involving Rem.
The 45-minute runtime gave the finale room to explore these events, but even that extended episode left viewers wanting more.
The biggest questions are now waiting for the future:
- What is the true connection between Emilia and Satella?
- What will happen to Shaula?
- Can Subaru restore the memories lost through Gluttony?
- Why does Rem no longer recognize Subaru?
- Where exactly have Subaru and Rem been transported?
- What awaits Subaru and his companions after the Pleiades Watchtower?
For now, ZERO Season 4 has closed its chapter—but its final question, “Who are you?”, ensures that the story is far from over.
Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 4
Title: Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- 4th Season
Final Episode: Episode 85 — “Shaula / Hero”
Finale: 45-minute extended special
Animation Production: WHITE FOX
Original Story: Tappei Nagatsuki
Original Character Design: Shinichiro Otsuka
Director: Masahiro Shinohara
Series Composition: Masahiro Yokotani
Scenario Supervision: Tappei Nagatsuki
Subaru Natsuki: Yusuke Kobayashi
Emilia: Rie Takahashi
Beatrice: Satomi Arai
Rem: Inori Minase
Julius Euclius: Takuya Eguchi
Shaula: Fairouz Ai
