Ram finally got the fight she has been owed for years. The penultimate episode of Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 4, titled simply “Ram,” aired on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, and delivered the pink-haired oni’s first-ever full-power battle against Ley Batenkaitos, the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony who stole her twin sister Rem’s memories and name.
The episode, which is the 84th overall installment of the anime, is the seventh entry in the Recapture Arc — the second cour of Season 4. It immediately follows the events of Episode 17, where Subaru’s memories merged and he ordered a five-front battle across the Pleiades Watchtower. While Emilia faced the Divine Dragon Volcanica on the first floor, Ram pursued Ley up the spiral staircase. What followed was a fight that Anime News Network’s reviewer called “the best animation of the season — if not the entire series.”
How Subaru’s New Power Kept Ram Standing
Ram lost most of her prodigious oni strength as a child when her horn was broken. For most of the series, she has been unable to fight at her former level. In Episode 18, the reason she could stand against Ley at all was Subaru’s newly acquired Authority, Cor Leonis. This ability absorbed the physical strain her hornless body could not carry, redirecting the damage back to Subaru. Every second of Ram’s fight was borrowed, and the episode made sure viewers understood the cost.
Subaru, Beatrice, and Meili were simultaneously handling a stampede of demon beasts and a scorpion-transformed Shaula. Meili’s beast-taming ability gave them enough breathing room for Subaru to casually ask her, “Hey Meili, once all this is over, how about becoming part of our family?” The moment landed as a light break — until the giant scorpion’s stinger pierced Meili’s abdomen, leaving her fate uncertain.
Ley Wears Rem’s Face to Break Ram
Ley Batenkaitos fights dirty. The Sin Archbishop’s absorption ability lets him take on the appearance and skills of anyone whose memories he has consumed. Mid-battle, he transformed into Rem — using her face and voice to throw buried resentments at Ram. Voice actress Inori Minase, who plays both Rem and Ley-in-Rem’s-form, delivered lines that were subtly off, making it unmistakably clear this was not the real Rem.
“I felt Minase Inori after a long time.”
The transformation genuinely stung Ram. But it also backfired. Ram has been bonded with her sister physically and emotionally her whole life. She knew instantly that the person in front of her was an imposter. The fake Rem did not break her — it made her angrier.
The Staff Breaks, and the Horn Returns
When Ley severed Ram’s link to Subaru’s Cor Leonis, she was quickly overwhelmed. Then something unexpected happened. The staff Roswaal had given her snapped, revealing a fragment of Ram’s own broken horn sealed inside. The fragment temporarily restored her full oni power. For the first time in the anime, viewers saw Ram fight with a horn.
The sight triggered an outpouring of reactions from Japanese and international fans alike.
“Nee-sama with a horn is seriously strong!”
“She’s way too cool!”
“I’m completely in love with her!”
The episode also quietly revealed that Ram, like Rem, had once felt a painful relief when her own horn broke. She could not bear watching her sister feel inferior because of her overwhelming power. The twins had carried the same secret guilt all along.
Ley’s Strange and Sad End
Overwhelmed and reverted to his original form, Ley stopped running. What followed was one of the strangest villain endings in the series. He asked about the siblings he had eaten his way away from. He asked Ram to watch over his wishes and accept his emotions. As he confessed his love to her, Ram took his head. The Sin Archbishop of Gluttony died mid-confession, beheaded by the sister of the girl whose memories he stole.
Ley Batenkaitos was the reason Rem has been asleep since the 2016-era episodes of the anime. With him dead, the single obstacle between the cast and a waking Rem is gone.
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Where and When to Watch
Re:ZERO Season 4 streams exclusively on Crunchyroll for most of the world. The season premiered on April 8, 2026, with the Loss Arc running for 11 episodes through June 17. The Recapture Arc began on August 12, 2026, and runs for eight episodes.
The finale, Episode 19, is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, 2026, with an extended 45-minute runtime — double the average episode length. The official anime social media account confirmed the extended runtime, making the season’s unusual episode count structure make more sense. The first half ran 11 episodes, and the second half runs eight, but the finale’s double length effectively extends the season’s total runtime.
For viewers in regions where Crunchyroll does not carry the series — including parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia — the anime is available through Muse Asia, Prime Video, and Bilibili. The Crunchyroll release includes English subtitles and an English simuldub.
Studio WHITE FOX animated the season, with Masahiro Shinohara directing. The main cast includes Yusuke Kobayashi as Subaru, Rie Takahashi as Emilia, Inori Minase as Rem, Rie Murakawa as Ram, Satomi Arai as Beatrice, Kana Ueda as Anastasia, and Takuya Eguchi as Julius.
The episode holds a 9.2 rating on IMDb based on early audience votes. Anime News Network’s community score for Episode 18 sits at 4.3 out of 5.
Re:ZERO Season 4 is heading into its extended finale with Rem’s awakening now within reach — stay with VvipTimes for every update on the anime’s biggest moments.
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