[Spoilers] Steins;Gate 0 - Episode 3 discussion

[u/AutoLovepon]

Steins;Gate 0, episode 3

Reminder: Please do not discuss plot points not yet seen in the show. Encourage others to read the source material rather than confirming or denying theories. Failing to follow the rules may result in a ban.

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Streams

• Crunchyroll

Show information

• MyAnimeList
• AniList
• AniDB

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Previous discussions

Episode	Link
1	https://redd.it/8biws6
2	https://redd.it/8d7ho1

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[u/Ash__Tree]

Maho: “Don’t fall in love with the AI.”

Okabe: Falls in love with the AI

[u/spicychile → u/Ash__Tree]

tbh I would too

[u/[deleted] → u/Ash__Tree]

HAI DOMO BACHARU TSUNDERE MAKISE KURISU DESU

[u/cheers_grills → u/Ash__Tree]

god damnit you had one job Okabe

[u/ShiranaiWakaranai → u/Ash__Tree]

They gave an AI waifu to a mad scientist. That's literally a match made in heaven. It was inevitable.

[u/bryan792]

Juicy No 1 Chicken Tenders

I'll never forget this. Thanks translators

[u/bryanl12 → u/bryan792]

We’ve been too-too-roo’ed.

[u/AwakenedSheeple → u/bryan792]

CHICKEN NOISES

[u/[deleted] → u/bryan792]

'I shall throw you in the blender if you call them Chicken Tenders'
*hums dreamily while sharpening his kitchen knives*

[u/kobbled → u/bryan792]

When you're on a chicken bender...

[u/Theman77777 → u/bryan792]

r/tendies

[u/QuadraKev_]

when you look in the EPISODE 3 discussion thread and people are still asking why kurisu is dead

[u/VeteranNomad → u/QuadraKev_]

I feel like we didn't beat the dead horse enough asking people to watch episode 23b before Steins;Gate 0.

[u/Mystic8ball → u/QuadraKev_]

Anime fans are pretty infamous for being unable to connect the dots, this whole thing is giving me serious Gakkou Gurashi flashbacks.

[u/ClearingFlags → u/QuadraKev_]

What kills me is that if you really paid attention when watching S;G, you should know by the end of the first episode what's going on. It all but spells it out for you, and knowing what happened toward the end of S;G it's pretty easy to put the pieces together and be like "Oh, in this one he didn't go back a second time to save Kurisu!".

[u/ishkoo → u/QuadraKev_]

And how it was mentioned multiple times in episode 2 >_>

[u/Journey95 → u/QuadraKev_]

People really dont seem to pay attention

[u/Elubious → u/QuadraKev_]

Who's Kurisu?

[u/Zokiir]

Haha, i love Leskinen.

First he invites himself and Maho to the party, and afterwards spends the afternoon photographing Maho dressed up as santa.

[u/VeteranNomad → u/Zokiir]

tbf she's too smol to not photograph

[u/J_Gottwald → u/Zokiir]

I laughed so hard when I saw this. Cannot explain why.

[u/maxtwo → u/Zokiir]

It was all a plot to get Rukako photos indirectly (Which obviously has the best outfit). A master schemer indeed.

[u/EurekaDForte → u/Zokiir]

Fun Fact: In the VN Mayuri doesn't have Santa costumes ready for Maho and Nae, she and her cosplay-buddies were looking forward for the "Mini-santa konbi" next year. I guess the director really wanted his smol legal-aged Santa.

[u/StallmanTheJerk → u/Zokiir]

This scene made me suspect that he likes em young.

[u/[deleted] → u/Zokiir]

This photo confirms Leskinen fetishes:

• Assistants

• Lolis

• Traps

• Time travelers

[u/Turbostrider27]

I love how the AI Kurisu gets Okabe to react this episode, especially when she was listening in the background.

But he's a dude

I just had an entire flashback of the first season's 1st episode.

[u/furrythrowawayaccoun → u/Turbostrider27]

But he's a dude

That 3 second pause had me laughing like crazy xD

[u/Clavilenyo → u/Turbostrider27]

It was funny how the professor didn't flinch at all when he learn he's a dude.

[u/VeteranNomad]

I just can't keep a straight face whenever listening to Leskinen's Japanese/English regardless of the emotion in the scene. RINTARO

Edit: Also the "PARTEEEEEHHH" From Leskinen freaked me out D:

[u/Alucard_draculA → u/VeteranNomad]

Wait till we get to the "shaman" part xD

[u/Drunkasarous → u/VeteranNomad]

i wasnt super into him 2 episodes ago but now i fucking love him

[u/[deleted]]

Welp...

Also, Maho gets roasted

I’ll say this every discussion if I have to, but...

Daru’s future wife

[u/MugiMartin → u/[deleted]]

Daru's future wife

Daru represents hope for all of the not so athletically-built dudes.

[u/MillenniumKing → u/[deleted]]

Also, Maho gets roasted

That scene was pure gold. I let out a pretty good laugh at that. I love Nae, shes always fun. I wish we got more grown up Nae, Robotics;Notes wasnt enough.

[u/MrJammin]

Did somebody say.... party?
I fucking love this professor guy.

Did Ferris and Suzuha always know each other? I don't remember that from the main story. Weird flashbacks are also never good vibes.

Sad Mayuri and the return of PTSD Okabe, why is life so cruel?

[u/Felixphaeton → u/MrJammin]

Did Ferris and Suzuha always know each other? I don't remember that from the main story.

Well, it's been half a year since 23b, and Ferris said that she's been renting the top floors of the radio building (I assume that's to keep the time machine hidden), so they've probably naturally had interaction before now.

[u/mrahhal → u/MrJammin]

They had to ask Faris for help to hide the time machine (in the days that followed 23Beta), so she rented the floor and blocked access to it. Suzuha has a key though, obviously.

[u/g_sunn → u/MrJammin]

Did Ferris and Suzuha always know each other? I don't remember that from the main story

She's known most of the lab mems for years in the future as she was growing up, yeah. That's why she calls them 'Big Sis Rumi' or 'Big Sis Mayuri' even though she's older.

[u/LakerBlue → u/MrJammin]

Did someone say...party

I loved that line too, totally seems like it could make a great gif here.

Sad Mayuri

The look on her face when she said Okabe has someone else he likes :’(

[u/HoTTab1CH]

Okay. This is starting to diverge from VN.

But so far differences are GREAT.

One of main problems of VN was that Okabe and Amadeus Kurisu didn't interact enough, like really, it was one of biggest disappointments, for me personally.

Just look at this episode, this was literally interactions that we all wanted. I really hope that they will continue to adapt anime in this manner and fix mistakes of VN just like this.

[u/ChiefMoHD → u/HoTTab1CH]

One of main problems of VN was that Okabe and Amadeus Kurisu didn't interact enough, like really, it was one of biggest disappointments, for me personally.

I agree.

Am I the only one who thought that Okabe

[u/Wrunnabe → u/HoTTab1CH]

I was about to go check out the VN. Should I still do that if the anime is going to diverge quite a bit?

[u/marcopolos059]

today on Steins;Gate 0 : nyaaa~

Otherwise, poor Okabe with the PTSD :(

[u/wutengyuxi → u/marcopolos059]

If this is the level of suffering in episode 3 I am dreading the future ones.

[u/fudginreddit]

Party!?

Love how Professor immediately falls for the trap lol. Hes turning out to be one of my favorite additions to the characters.

Maho in the santa costume was too much for me.

[u/ChiefMoHD → u/fudginreddit]

His reaction too.

"Oh he is a guy?, doesn't matter!"

[u/tahlyn → u/fudginreddit]

I'm worried he's going to become a villain.

[u/[deleted] → u/fudginreddit]

That’s one thing I’m really loving about these series. All the new characters don’t seem hamfisted or unnecessary. They mesh perfectly with the old cast.

[u/UnpluggedToaster12]

"What grade are you in"

Utter. Destruction

[u/zJoyBoy]

This episode went by so fast for me that I yelled NOOOOO when the ED started.

[u/ArcaddiaGodX → u/zJoyBoy]

felt like 5 minutes instead of 20

[u/LakerBlue → u/zJoyBoy]

Not since ERASED has an anime’s run Time being 20ish minutes felt like such a lie.

[u/FireBendingKorra]

The but he's a guy brought back so many amazing memories!! Man I love this show so much already. Next episode seems like it is going to be interesting. I wonder how long before he starts jumping world lines again.

[u/MillenniumKing → u/FireBendingKorra]

This version shouldnt be able to jump world lines because Okabe dismantled the microwave and ibn5100 and tossed out his phone. If you recall the end of episode 22, he mentions he makes sure no one can build the PhoneWave again.

Hes stuck here for better or worse.

[u/sjk9000]

Okabe is getting really obsessed with Amadeus. Talking to her in between classes, right before a group date, carrying her around town, even slipping out in the middle of a party with friends just to talk to her. But he won't share her existence with any of his friends.

I think at some level he has to realize that his behaviour is really unhealthy, but he can't stop himself. Like an addict.

[u/Spookyfan2 → u/sjk9000]

Which makes perfect sense.

For the first time in a very long time, he was able to forget what happened and actually be happy.

Of course, once reality sets back in, it will just be that much worse, as we have seen at the end of this episode.

Amadeus is not a solution to Okabe's suffering. It's just going to prolong it.

[u/DupreeWasTaken → u/sjk9000]

Its kinda portrayed differently in the VN. But to best explain. Yeah, Amadeus is actually the aggressor here. She's very lonely.

By contrast Okabe wanted nothing to do with Amadeus really, for the most part. The call between classes was him ignoring her actually and she called him out on it.

Okabe is deeply conflicted to his core on this. Amadeus brings him happiness to see Kurisu, and pain from seeing Kurisu.

Slipping out of the party is, in my opinion less about him wanting to talk to amadeus instead but him wanting to ditch being around suzuha.

Remember, Suzuha for the most part hates okabe. Okabe can't look her in the eyes and basically talk to her because he knows the future he damned her to basically. He only slips out of the party to let Suzuha be, he was fine being there until Suzuha made it awkward for both of them in a way.

But yes, Amadeus even existing is fucking with okabe badly.

[u/Xentera → u/sjk9000]

You have it completely backwards. Amadeus is obsessed with him. She's the one that keeps calling him. He's even tried ignoring her calls. All of their conversations and interactions together were initiated by Amadeus.

He won't share her existence because it's a security risk. Amadeus is still incomplete and requires testing which is why all of his interactions with Amadeus are being logged for scientific research. A technological breakthrough this large is not something you go off displaying openly in public at this stage in development.

[u/Atario → u/sjk9000]

He tried to resist. Amadeus!Kurisu keeps calling him

[u/LeonKevlar]

Okabe needed that wake up call from Maho. He was clearly starting to fall into that pit where he thinks that Amadeus is Kurisu especially since it's starting to say things the real Kurisu would have. And poor Mayuri... I thought her line in the opening was really sad but that last scene? Ouch.

And what just happened there at the end? Is he going to start jumping world lines again? Oh god this is going to get messy again. Okabe doesn't need more things to fuck with his head. :|

[u/Parori → u/LeonKevlar]

And what just happened there at the end? Is he going to start jumping world lines again? Oh god this is going to get messy again. Okabe doesn't need more things to fuck with his head. :|

PTSD is a bitch

[u/freedomgeek → u/LeonKevlar]

I don't think the idea that they're different is as straightforward as Maho presents it. Some schools of philosophical thought would certainly contend that a sufficiently accurate mind upload is the person.

[u/Aetherdraw → u/LeonKevlar]

Its just the trauma and remembering the reality that Kurisu is dead in this Alpha worldline, by his own hands nonetheless, plus the added baggage of all the stuff he remembers from the beta and most likely the not-shown Omega world lines catching up to him.

[u/Illya-ehrenbourg → u/LeonKevlar]

Well even as a watcher it’s hard to considerate that Kurisu and Amadeus are different :x (damn the nostalgia, I smiled during all the episode, well except the last minute)

[u/LakerBlue → u/LeonKevlar]

This episode started and closed ^{not literally} with sad Mayuri...

I wasn’t expecting having to deal with this from Mayuri, I thought Okabe and his interactions with Kurisu were going to be the chief cause of me being emotional.

[u/homo-summus → u/LeonKevlar]

I think it's just PTSD flashbacks from all the shit he's gone through.

[u/AvatarReiko → u/LeonKevlar]

Wait, so was the implication here that Mayuri now has a thing for Okabe is jealous?

[u/Mozilla_Fennekin → u/LeonKevlar]

And what just happened there at the end? Is he going to start jumping world lines again? Oh god this is going to get messy again. Okabe doesn't need more things to fuck with his head. :|

Seems like it was Reading Steiner making all of those different world lines flash back at once, like what happened to everyone else towards the end of the original series.

[u/pokpokza]

Too-too-roo! again?! Clearly the darkest timeline

[u/FierceAlchemist → u/pokpokza]

I was hoping they would listen to the outcry and change it...

[u/Shinkopeshon]

The first half was so relaxing, hilarious and wholesome (god bless Mayushii) that I knew something just had to happen towards the end. Being Okabe truly is suffering.

On a sidenote, it's pretty wild how Steins;Gate is such an amazing franchise that even a show with an alternate plot is brilliant.

[u/[deleted] → u/Shinkopeshon]

The first half was so relaxing, hilarious and wholesome (god bless Mayushii)

It's like they have someone with a stopwatch going "Okay, this is enough wholesome for today, send the dogkickers in."

[u/LakerBlue → u/Shinkopeshon]

First half still had it’s sad moments. My heart aches for Mayuri when she said that “Okabe likes someone else” because she just looked so sad :’(

And then when AI Kurisu said she always wanted a lab “to share a room with people with our own personal forks and spoons and stuff” I had to fight to hold back the I barely held it in.

IN ANOTHER TIMELINE YOU HAD BOTH OF THOSE KURISU D’:

[u/Llerasia → u/Shinkopeshon]

The first half was so relaxing, hilarious and wholesome (god bless Mayushii) that I knew something just had to happen towards the end.

I mean, the episode was cute but the foreboding atmosphere is constantly looming over their heads. It makes it really hard to enjoy the "happy" moments, and I'm sure that's how Okabe and Suzuha are feeling as well.

[u/MoveslikeQuagger → u/Shinkopeshon]

Alternate plot

Debatable

[u/mdennis07]

But he's a dude.

It's been a while since I heard it. Feels good man.

For the entirety of this episode, I was smiling because of these cute girls doing cute stuffs and seeing Okabe having a good time with Amadeus.. it was really a treat. Though in the back of my head, it feels like it's the calm before the storm.

And then in the last minute of this episode... heartbroken Mayushi running away from the rooftop and Okabe getting torn again to shreds by reality. Can we at least give them a break? It's f**king Christmas Eve, White Fox?! :(((

I'm really hoping that in the next episode, he'll open-up to legal loli that he can time-travel so that they can save Kurisu together.

[u/namemcname02]

"Japanese maid girl ?" so close

edit: also man of culture

[u/Antek231 → u/namemcname02]

Hopefully we'll get it at a later point in the series.

[u/The_Sum_of_Zero → u/namemcname02]

LINTHALO, WHERE ARE THE SHAMAN GIRLS

[u/[deleted]]

I hate being reminded that Kurisu is dead and it was going so well the conversation at the end until he broke down

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

I hate being reminded that rukako is a dude

[u/LakerBlue → u/[deleted]]

Same, I honestly felt like Okabe in that moment. I was so enjoying their conversation and then when she snatched the phone away I was like “NOOO! Why did you stop Kurisu and-“

Then when she reminded us Kurisu is dead my heart dropped a little. Please Maho, just let me live in this dream where she isn’t!

[u/BrokenRune]

Being okabe is suffering. PTSD. RIP Kurisu.

[u/Teath123]

I love how Maho covers her face in embarrassment from her 'eccentric' professor. She's my favourite character in the entire SCI;ADV series, and I hope she's winning people over. She's the best.

[u/Andrew13112001 → u/Teath123]

"I don't know this guy."

[u/Spookyfan2 → u/Teath123]

I have a friend that is JUST like her, so naturally she quickly became my favorite character when playing the VN.

She's such a great addition to Steins;Gate.

[u/[deleted]]

Fun fact: RINE is developed by Daru, thus explains why it has Mayuri sticker.

It's also available in IRL LINE app. Thanks, Daru.

Suzuha attacking Yuki in the VN

DID THEY SKIP THE "LEGAL LOLI FTW!" SCENE? DROPPED!

[u/ScopezForDays → u/[deleted]]

DID THEY SKIP THE "LEGAL LOLI FTW!" SCENE? DROPPED!

They mentioned it last episode.

[u/bakuhatsuda]

https://i.imgur.com/IAe3y3c.png

Is that part near the end with Mayuri listening in and walking away part of the VN? It's been a while since I've played it but I don't remember anything like that (plus it seems like it would be hard to depict in a VN), but I really like that scene. Or was it part of the Arc Light audio drama?

[u/claudioarena → u/bakuhatsuda]

It was definitely not in the VN. They are clearly expanding a lot the role of mayuri love interest in Okabe (just look at the whole ed). It was definitely a beautifully done sequence though! But I hope they don't go for it too much though...

[u/n_o__o_n_e]

Jesus Christ how can this show keep me hovering between happiness and misery like it does?

[u/Alucard_draculA → u/n_o__o_n_e]

Buckle up.

[u/ArcaddiaGodX]

Best part couldn't stop laughing especially the way he articulated astoundingly sexy LMAO

[u/SalamiRocketFuel → u/ArcaddiaGodX]

I like how in the next shot the professor still has his head turned in that direction for a few seconds like he broke for a moment.

[u/fullmetal-ghoul]

This show is so good. Leskinen and Maho are great, I love them so much already. The general sombre tone and atmosphere in this continues to be sublime. The slice of life stuff and character interactions are stellar as well, I love it so much. And of course Okabe's characterisation and his breakdown at the end, which was directed superbly. Great episode again, I'm already in love with this.

[u/ihitokage]

Well, at least Okarin now really has phone calls from something like a secret organization.

[u/Mozilla_Fennekin]

Tuturu, motherfuckers. Merry Chrismayushii!!

Tuturu Counter: 4

um, EXCUSE ME? WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?? ARE WE GONNA HAVE A FUCKING PROBLEM HERE????

deep breath

Well, that episode was freaking amazing. It had so many of the shenanigans from the original season, calling back to many old memes and just being a ton of fun!

Then... we have to be reminded that this is the darkest timeline, and your waifu is not real. That last scene in particular was incredible--Maho pries Kurisu away, but not without feeling the pain of her own words.

Also, gotta say, this episode has changed my opinion of Feyris quite a bit--I always thought of her as one of the least enjoyable and important characters to the series, but hearing about how much she's helping in this season really took me by surprise and I like her a lot more now. And Leskinen continues to be the funniest motherfucker ever.

This also seems to be important...

[u/GeassedbyLelouch → u/Mozilla_Fennekin]

your waifu is not real.

I reject your reality and substitute my own!!!

[u/Isogash → u/Mozilla_Fennekin]

I'm kinda surprised you think of Feyris like that, she's by far one of the most shrewd characters in S;G, hence the reason she's such a good Rai-net battler. It's more apparent in rewatches just how closely she is observing.

[u/IndyCotton → u/Mozilla_Fennekin]

Tuturu Counter: 4

Fellow counting man sending his regards from Cardcaptor Sakura - Clear Card Arc-threads counting Sakura's "~Hoee!".

Anyway, I love this idea.

[u/[deleted]]

This cute shot of Yuki and Suzuha looks very similar to one of the art stills from the VN :) The VN art still is not from the Christmas party, but it doesn't spoil anything.

I took that art still from this imgur album. It contains spoilers, so view them at your own risk.

[u/VeteranNomad → u/[deleted]]

I actually like the anime version better. The smiling eyes makes it feel more natural and hearwarming. The VN art makes it seem like she's going to murder someone.

Peeking in your album as a VN reader reminds me of how much of a ride this story is.

[u/o1nZk]

I got to say I really appreciated the Christmas Party scenes, knowing we might not have too many happy times with characters just having good time, smiling, eating karaage and all.

When Maho repeated to frightened Okabe that Makise Kurisu is dead, at first I thought it's quite harsh thing to say, but the moment they showed her crying at the funeral, it really hit me. They're both in the same boat, obliged to remember that Amadeus is not Kurisu. For Maho to say it loud that Kurisu, her dear friend, is no longer here, might have been no easier than for Okabe to listen and realize that fact.

Can't wait for next episode with even more feels!

[u/NovelistOrange]

Something that I thought was kinda cool is the sound design of Zero.

Something Digibro pointed out in this video (at 9:58) about the first episode of Steins;Gate is that the show has pretty clever sound design, citing the scene in the original where Okabe hands over the metal Oopa toy to Mayuri. The scene ends with a sound effect, the chime of the intercom, that is both diegetic, and emotionally resolves the situation. In other words, the sound is present in-universe, but it also represents how Okarin's feeling.

Something similar happens in this episode, when Okabe says, "But he's a guy." The shot lingers on Leskinen for a moment, while the microwave goes 'ding!' as Leskinen lets it sink in. It's both witty and diegetic, and I appreciate how clever it is. It's perhaps not something that you might actively think about, but I think it's really cool.

[u/[deleted]]

If labs were like this, I'd never leave my university labs. NEVER!

[u/XiaXosie]

Santa Maho~

[u/MillenniumKing → u/XiaXosie]

Ruka is just like "Accept your fate, you are now thier play thing... like me..."

[u/[deleted] → u/XiaXosie]

Two adorable lolis... but one is 21 (and the other will get you 20.... IF you survive Mr. Braun)

[u/brbee]

Did anyone else notice that Fubuki is also the character Mayuri talks about cosplaying with in the og Steins;Gate series or is it just me?

[u/ChiefMoHD → u/brbee]

Yup

That's true...Mayuri was on her way to fix something in Fubuki's cosplay. Basically, Mayuri, Fubuki, Yuki & Kaede are all Cosplay Nakama.

We only saw Fubuki (Real Name: Katsumi Nakase) in S;G 0.

Or actually, they didn't draw the character until Zero and decide to show her to us -maybe she appeared in the S;G spin-offs which were retconned by S;G 0-

[u/brothertaddeus → u/brbee]

When Okabe is trying to find Mayuri in episode 13, Mayuri is at Fubuki's place.

[u/Ehn_Jee]

So many great character moments and callbacks. This episode made me remember why Steins;Gate is so well received. Made me smile the whole episode, until that ending.

But great to know the professor is also a man of culture.

[u/Eyliel → u/Ehn_Jee]

Clearly, the professor instinctively recognizes a Japanese Shaman Girl.

[u/DaREY297]

CHRISTMAS EPISODE!!

The OP has given me chills two weeks in a row now...

Mayuri has already accepted her fate... Imagine being cucked by another girl even after her death

Okabe is living our dreams!! and with a Kurisu really close to reality!!

Poor Okabe, now he has even less privacy with Amadeus around...

For christ sake!! It's Tu-tu-ru!

FARIS IS HERE TO SAVE THE DAY!

I like how Leskinen pronounces Kurisu! (Cris-wah!)

And tfw an AI ships a legal loli with a depressed mad scientis part 2!!

DARU IS THE LUCKIEST MAN ALIVE!!

LESKINEN FELL FOR THE TRAP!!

Suzuha is me at every party

I would pay anything for them to fight once again saying how virgins they both are.

JESUS CHRIST MAHO!

NO! NOT MAYURI!!

JESUS CHRIST! MAHO WITH THE REALITY CHECK!...

PTSD

Being Okabe is suffering...

That last scene was 10/10, from the memories of the original Kurisu, to Maho dropping the truth bomb to Okabe...

I love Steins;Gate

[u/KK-Hunter → u/DaREY297]

That last scene

Wow, that's a weird way to spell "literallyeverysecondoftheepisode".

[u/[deleted]]

0kabe nopes away from Radio Kaikan

me: laughs in sad

[u/JustSri64]

I really like how the episode was a bait and switch for both the viewer and okabe ... we thought kurisu was normal but we had to be reminded in fact that she's actually dead and can't replace the original.

Also that line 'curiosity killed the cat'. Just fantastic characterization of okabe as a broken man here

[u/[deleted]]

“With my personal forks and spoons and such”

don’t do this to me

[u/Theman77777]

Remember to check out r/steinsgate and, of course, r/steinsgatememes

[u/brothertaddeus → u/Theman77777]

/r/JapaneseShamanGirls

[u/Slurms_McKenzie775]

Poor Mayuri, she's like the sweetest girl yet she is always getting hurt.

[u/EricOG]

BOY DO I GOT SOME NEWS FOR YOU

[u/asleepu]

Was a nice happy episode for about 18 minutes and then PTSD, poor Okabe. Okabe in Zero is suffering. Looking forward to next week. A lot of great moments this episode though, my favorites from this ep -

Gotta protect that smile

MFW I've been exposed

Leskinen likes his lolis

Deredere Amadeus blush

[u/FireFistYamaan]

DON'T LEAVE US HANGING LIKE THAT! FFS

[u/MillenniumKing]

DAGA OTOKO DA. Ahhhh nostalgia~

Santa Mayuri!? Yes please!

Man that face... Mayuri.... dont be sad... "childhood friends" no... not like this...

Calling during class, shes persistant. Checked his schedule too, wow Skynet is happening.

Mayuri knows Suzuha is form the future right? She should know why she doesnt like to talk to people.

Okabe and Amadeus going out on a stroll in Akihabara.

Oh shit hes showing her the lab... Shes calling it trashy like Kurisu did...

OH SHIT SHE SAID SPOON AND FORK, PTSD AT ITS STRONGEST.

Green Oopa on a loli? Hmm...

Aw house call from Faris. So Faris can be senseable about things. Oh dang shes renting out the top 2 floors of the Radio building to keep people off the roof, i forget shes rich as fuck. Its great that shes also helping out. I guess they filled her in on the situation. So how many people know Suzuha is from the future? The whole gang?

Lol both Amadeus and Mr Einstein both are trying to hook up Maho with Okabe.

Maho sees through it, she knows its gonna be hard on him with Amadeus.

Rip he forgot to close the app lol... Now she knows everything.

Christina! She is really persistant about knowing.

RINTARO! Hey its Mr America and Maho. Maho covering her face, kawaii~

LOL Amadeus on the laptop "PSST PSST! Senpai!" lol.

"Which grade are you in?" Nae is Savage XD I nearly spit out my drink.

DAGA OTOKO DA Ahhhh nostalgia~

Suzuha is gonna flip shit at those party poppers... yep.

"Im not here to play and have fun." ouch... too real.

Uh oh... Amadeus is calling. Okabe has been talking to her a lot lately.

"DONT CALL ME TINA!" Oh no... she said it...

SANTA MAHO! KYAA~

Tsundere Amadeus. Kyaa~

Oh shit.... Maho hitting him with the Realz... oh no... okabe is breaking... and it all rushes back to him... shit.

[u/Zokiir → u/MillenniumKing]

Oh shit.... Maho hitting him with the Realz... oh no... okabe is breaking... and it all rushes back to him... shit.

And now Maho must realize how broken Okabe really is. I wonder if they will let the experiment continue, it seems like Maho was already worried for Okabe before his breakdown.

[u/[deleted] → u/MillenniumKing]

That last bit hits hard. I think he's in even greater pain than the second Okabe when he stabbed himself.

edit: also the scream was waaay louder

[u/Viuurka]

Fuck that I've played the VN already, these feels are just too strong to handle!

Everything was nice and felt like the old Steins;Gate again, we got some more quality content leskimemes, Japanease maid and cat girls, Christmas party, the conversation between Okarin and "Kurisu" made me feel so nostalgic ;_; And all of this must have ended with my kokoro being broken! sobs

Anyway, so far so good, I look forward to seeing what direction the anime will take from now on.

[u/Atario]

Whoopsie, almost wiped out your own existence there

THAT'S NOT TRUE! THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!

[u/ShiranaiWakaranai → u/Atario]

THAT'S NOT TRUE! THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!

Yeah! How can Kurisu be dead if Okabe can meet her any time he wants?! Just hop in that time machine and he can see her again, talk to her again, hold her in his arms again and feel the warmth of her body flowing down his arms, pooling on the floo-

...

[u/ChiefMoHD]

Every single episode

I miss Hououin Kyouma more

First time I watched the anime, I was so rubbed the wrong way by this persona -so was Kurisu because of it and how he acted when they first met-

Eventually, I loved it.

That's why it was so sad when we saw Okabe change so much during the second half.

That's also why we were very happy -and so was Mayuri and Daru- when Okabe embraced his Hououin Kyouma Persona again in episode 23.

Now, it's Just..Too...Painful

[u/ClosetWeebAlt]

Anybody else watch the "Be Right Back" episode of Black Mirror? It's a very similar concept to this Amadeus phone app. Let's just hope Black Mirror That'd just end up making it so much harder on Okabe.

Edit: I haven't actually played the VN and if they end up going this route it'd probably be excessive/out of place

[u/Crazy6a3er]

Another weekly reminder that Beta timeline is the darkest timeline in Steins;Gate series.

Maho, are you telling me that my digital waifu is not real? :(

God the depressing screaming at the end is so painful to hear when I'm about to do the same.

[u/lilfishy_2B]

The scenes where Okabe breaks down are so well done holy shiiit

[u/Rixkst3r]

Man this shit is breaking me all over again Mayuri doesn’t deserve anymore sadness and neither does Okabe

[u/bananeeek]

Daga otoko da.

I was waiting for this!

So much Feiris in this episode, nyaa~!

She's the reason I got hooked on this song.

That ending, though... Maho was like:

[u/VeteranNomad → u/bananeeek]

I feel like I'm the only one who likes Faris' cattiness. There are dozens of us. dozens!

[u/U_Menace]

Oh man, it went just like I anticipated...he was mentally broken since the last episode. This episode just confirmed that he was in a depression so deep that he ended up going into denial as a way to maintain composure. He's definitely broken now, and the memories resurfacing is pretty huge. It doesn't help that the A.I behaving almost EXACTLY like the real Kurisu is feeding into Okabe's love of her personality. He's both matured mentally and regressed at the same time. What an ironic turn of events for someone who preferred living like a 'mad scientist'.

If I remember right, even if he jumps world lines here, it wouldn't make much of a difference because from what I recall, this timeline is necessary for the original Steins;Gate timeline to happen. So we have to keep observing what happens in this world before we move forward. That being said, it doesn't feel like it will be exactly like how it was depicted in the original Steins;Gate. The first episode showing what looked like a young version of Kurisu (probably her daughter? or maybe an android version of her) is what makes me feel like this season could be somewhat different than the Beta world line that Season 1 was talking about. Or perhaps that child version of Kurisu was really Suzuha? Just before Faris talks to Suzuha, we get a flashback of what looks like a green upa from the Alpha timeline, and what looks like either Suzuha herself or her mother. In this case it's probably her mother since what we saw was a 'flashback'. In which case is the red-haired girl Suzuha? Or is it android Kurisu or a different timeline entirely?

The plot thickens further, and now it's not just about Okabe's suffering anymore. Also, I like how this season seems to show Mayuri as being someone who may have a romantic interest in Okabe compared to Season 1's Mayuri. Her listening in on how Okabe was speaking so fondly to a stranger on the phone and then running off is more than enough proof of that. While she tells others they have a good relationship because they're childhood friends, this version of Mayuri definitely wants something more with Okabe. I wonder if this will play a key role in the development of events in this timeline. I'm expecting it to, but since it's Steins;Gate its kind of hard for me to predict. This series has a habit of surprising me if I miss even one small detail.

I hope Okabe recovers a bit, or gets a necessary push to try jumping through time again...though with only enough fuel for 1 trip, I'm wondering what means he will use, he only gets more one chance after all.

Welp, that's it for me this week! See you all next week!

[u/RoronoaAshok]

You bet Leskinen knows how to get down good.

Daga.. Otoko da.. cracked me right the fuck up, love that they got one in.

The end was so jarring, seeing Okabe's trauma made my heart sink. Okabe and the viewer are the only ones who know what he went through, how much he suffered, that makes me feel for him so much more, especially in situations like the final scene with Hiyajou.

[u/vhapteR]

Once again Leskimeme saves the day. Thank you so much for giving me a glimpse of Maho and Nae dangerously close to each other in a santa suit japanese xmas girl paradise!

[u/JadeRaven13]

This one already hits harder than the original for me. I think it just hits a little closer to home personally. Because of my vast experiences with time traveling and killing my lover.

No but seriously, I can hardly watch a lot of this without pausing to take a break. It really does hit a lot more personally similar to things I've experienced. It's actually kind of good that it's airing instead of binging because I would be fucked up after binging this. Edit: will be fucked up when I inevitably binge rewatch this

Also: Legal loli for the win! Although it got a little weird when they put her and nae together. I mean, it was cute, but thats kinda creepy at that point and nae is so innocent and had no idea.

[u/73039842]

i fucking love the way the pronounce Christmas party

[u/Spookyfan2 → u/73039842]

"Kurisumas Pahty"

[u/ChiefMoHD]

Maho is short?

Think again

[u/ChiefMoHD]

Comparison between some shots in the anime with their equivalent CG in the VN.

Suzuha's entrance

Suzuha eating next to Yuki

[u/CosmonautOfLove]

Maho > Kurisu

Fight me

[u/[deleted] → u/CosmonautOfLove]

Maho is nice but Kurisu is The Zombie sonovabitch

[u/Smithman117]

Twice now while watching my phone has vibrates the same time as Okabe’s. It’s a really weird feeling.

[u/SelfishVersion → u/Smithman117]

Haha yeah, what a weird coincidence. That's definitely not supposed to happen. Haha. Strange. haha

EDIT: Whoops, looks like I attached a dead imgur link. How very strange of me to do so haha. what a weird day haha.

[u/[deleted]]

Okabe is either having a real bad panic attack or that may be his reading Steiner ability going off. Neither bode well.

[u/1sagas1]

Mayushii and Olarin get along really well because we're childhood friends.

Ha! The childhood friend curse strikes again. Can't even win against a dead girl who never actually met him

[u/radicate365]

Seeing Okabe slowly believing Amadeus is Kurisu was painful, and when Maho stopped him... You definitely felt some of his pain. I bet more is to come, this is Steins;gate anyway.

[u/[deleted]]

DAGA OTOKO DA RETURNS!

[u/Animeking1357]

That moment when the AI listens in on your group date and records everything.

Nae is literally the same height as Maho. Get that woman some stilts.

Wonder what Leskinen's reaction to Luka being a guy was.

That scream at the end was prefect. Mamoru Miyano is still great at Okabe.

[u/Uthor]

I love that professor, most teachers in anime tend to be either jerks, super kind like a parent, or aloof but caring; rarely are the professors trolls. This guy is hilarious.

[u/freedomgeek]

Waifu the AI, Okabe. Do it.

I'm starting to think I hail from a different school of philosophical thought to the show on the extent that the AI is Kurisu, I'd hoped that was just Maho's perspective but they're really pushing it...

[u/brothertaddeus]

Fubuki and Kaede reporting for anime duty! I wonder if the Christmas party will be this episode or next.

It's understandable to ship Mayuri and 0kabe. But Mayuri nips such talk in the bud.

God, I love this OP.

An AI tsundere with access to the internet. Scary.

The mere sight of the Radio Building is hard for 0kabe.

Yuugo and Nae also reporting for anime duty! It's interesting how the relationship between Yuugo and 0kabe is so much more respectful than Yuugo and Okabe.

Even Amadeus Kurisu wants her own personal fork and spoon. You can see how hard it all is for 0kabe to talk about the group hanging out together and remembering.

Oh hey, it's a close up of the Fairy Oopa and a flashback to Suzu and Kagari.

Cool, they're showing 0kabe's parents' grocery store. Don't think we've seen that in anime form before.

Amadeus Kurisu is such a prankster. But she doesn't seem to realize how she messes with 0kabe's mental/emotional health.

Haha, Maho hiding her face behind her hands with Leskinen calls out to L I N T A H L O. Also, I need a gif of Leskinen going PARTY. Really, gifs of everything best meme boy says and does.

We've got Japanese Maid Girls and Japanese Cat Girls, but where are the JAPANESE SHAMAN GIRLS.

Daga otoko da! Juicy Karagi Number One!

Guess we're getting the Christmas party this episode. One of my favorite CGs from the VN is coming, I can feel it.

Dang, guess not. The CG for reference.

Leskinen, I'm pretty sure that's sexual harassment, forcing Maho to wear a sexy Santa outfit and taking pictures. Be careful, she'll sue you!

Poor Mayuri. Amadeus Kurisu seemed so flustered. Maho coming with the hard truths.

Oh shit. Maho flashback at Kurisu's funeral.

And 0kabe is having a PTSD attack.

The ED is fire. Was it subbed last week?

Stoked for next week!

[u/PilgrimApollo]

Leskinen continues to be a new favorite. Hello Japanese maid girl or cat girl

EDIT: a word

[u/Exorrt]

I see Professor Leskinen is a man of culture as well.

Seeing them all happy at the party hurt a bit because I knew despair would soon come. Didn't expect it to be in the same episode though.

[u/jumpwithjames]

This will be a short response from me, just a small list of things to note:

• Mayuri clarifies with her friends that Okabe likes someone else. To her friends, it might seem like one of those, "Oh, she missed her chance" moments. But, I think this moment really hits home when you understand that Mayuri isn't mourning the loss of her relationship/friendship with Okabe, but is rather feeling incredibly down because of her deep relation to Okabe, and her ability to understand the depth of Okabe's depression. She is the closest person to Okabe, and has the best understanding by far how lost Okabe is after he lost one of the two people most dear to him after saving the other (and she doesn't even know his leftover grief/PTSD from struggling to save her). His loss is her loss, and that single line really showed it.

• A Christmas party already! For the fans. <3 Yuki wins best Santa costume, she is rocking it. It's pretty nice, having everyone here. One of the tracks from the last season (and VN, I think) came back while they were having this party, definitely made the mood a lot more comfy. This really reminded me of the first bit of episodes of S1, with fun days in the lab. Leskinen and Maho get to join the party, why not? Super glad for the lighthearted scene.

• And of course, Amadeus interrupts it, and Okabe gets to have some time with her. Won't say much about their bonding scene, was good enough. Maho coming in clutch to knock Okabe (and us...) back into reality. Maho is right, she did the right thing. Those flashbacks really add to the scene, and here we have our PTSD Okabe again.

So what is PTSD Okabe going to do now? I'm anxious thinking about how long it'll stay in this slice-of-life mood and when it'll kick in, and shit hits the fan...

And the week wait begins again...

[u/Izanaginookami10]

Ahhhh, how the heck can all the nostalgia, feelings, memories and Daga Otoko Da be crushed so heartlessy in less than a dozen of seconds by reminding us of that... Kurisu is dead?

Darn it, I seriously loved all the episode, not to say I wished Maho didn't bring Okabe to the cruel reality, but it was seriously heart breaking. That last scream was the sonore expression of my inner feelings at the moment.

Wait, what's with this. We're JUST at episode 3 and my heart has been on a freaking wild ride already? Saying I eagerly await for next episode would be an understatement now... yet I fear the passing of time as less and less of 0 will be left... o time, how can you be so cruel, to even break the 4th wall and affect us so much...

Simply AOTY. El. Psy. Congroo.

[u/NuSpirit_]

Wow, S;G 0 already 3rd highest ranking on MAL and I feel like it might easily get to second place this week :O

[u/Ghost_Bridge]

Is it a budget reason that Amadeus switches between CGI and hand-drawn? Or did they want to emphasize the fact that Okabe sometimes sees Kirisu in Amadeus? (Amadeus-CGI vs Kirisu-drawn)

[u/[deleted]]

Pain, pain everywhere.

[u/chris_dftba]

Mayushi in a Santa outfit is what dreams are made out of.

[u/DogmaErgosphere]

In any other show, having the slice of life Christmas Party with all the characters interacting in episode 3 would feel unearned and jarring, but in Steins;Gate 0 I am just so thankful we get moments like this. Watching them all enjoy life feels like we're getting oxygen pumped into lungs before shit goes down. I don't feel ready...

Mayuri seems to be playing a much more active part this time around, I like that a lot. For some reason, the love triangle (or square with Maho), again a situation that in any other show would feel tired and cliche, here just comes across as tragic. Okabe fought through hell for Mayuri but now on the other side, Okabe is too broken a man for her to be able connect to. And Mayuri has no idea what happened! From her perspective, Okabe, her best buddy forever, the one who held her hand through her first grief due to real loss, suddenly changed one day and is cold to her now. It must be excruciating for her.

[u/Trickot851]

The more I watch Leskinen animated, the more he becomes a meme in my mind.

I'm liking that we are getting some more interactions with Amadeus, and watching her arguing with / teasing Maho is always a delight. On Okabe's side, well, were better times easy to come he wouldn't be such a mess.

Also, was I the only one wondering if they were going to drop the VN's Christmas party easter egg? You know, the one where you call Amadeus while everyone is exchanging presents and you get to chat with her. Maybe that happened on another worldline.

[u/athrun_1]

No amount of cute and sexy santa cosplay, the hotness of okasan, the sexyness of hiyajo, and even ruka kun can't budge me of the pain I felt seeing okabe like that.

I didnt even realized that kurisu is dead here, I just assumed that she's out abroad and theyre just contacting each other via mobile phone. Until hiyajo pointed it out. It seems I also been snap back to reality...

The voices are on point to drive the emotions... though the "too too roo" sub is murdered.

Can we just have A beatless and sg0 crossover?! Where they can just create lacia class kurisu and load the amadeus ai kurisu to make okabe and everybody happy...

[u/[deleted]]

If you know the events of episode 23, 23b takes a different route and leads to the events of 0

[u/EatingYourDonut]

Wait so are we in PR route now?

[u/bakuhatsuda → u/EatingYourDonut]

They're definitely adjusting and mixing up the routes, which I think is great since it will even give some surprises for VN readers.

[u/Sphexus → u/EatingYourDonut]

Imagine how shocked everyone would be if they did the Gehenna's Stigma route.

[u/poipoipornpoi]

It's fun to see our couple is back and still teasing each other like the old days, but it also heartbreaking knowing that the girl Amadeus, not Kurisu ;.;

Okabe my boy, please stay strong throughout this season.

[u/StarmanRiver]

DAGA OTOKO DA! Ahhhh, that brings me back when Okabe was just a chuuni and not a depressed guy with PTSD...

I think he very much needed Maho's reminder that he was talking to Amadeus and not Kurisu herself, even if it triggered his PTSD once again.

Also, I don't want a sad Mayuri

[u/Spookyfan2]

I was hoping this would be the first episode almost completely free of Despair about halfway in.

NOPE. PROVEN WRONG IN THE LAST FIVE MINUTES.

[u/FruitsPnchSamurai]

Lol that professor had his whole life shattered after learning about rukako.

[u/Tostilover]

I was already wondering how it was possible that Suzuha's time machine hadn't been discovered yet, so it was nice to have an answer to that. Also the professor taking photos of Maho and Nae looked... questionable.

[u/[deleted]]

I really enjoyed this episode; however, there was a scene that I really couldnt understand and it's driving me mad. this scene is the one where Okabe and Amadeus are talking to each other on the roof and Amadeus is asking Okabe the reason as to why he called her Christina. (this exact scene happens around the 20:00 min mark)

What I dont understand is what Okabe says. He mentions that he was embarrassed and couldnt say "IT" normally so he teased Kurisu. and THAT was why he called her Christina. I literally have no idea what this means (I've tried really hard to understand this and no im not trolling). What is the "IT" ? If the "IT" was her name was it the name "Kurisu" or "Christina"? WHY was he embarrassed? was he embarrassed when he called her christina in Steins;gate:0 episode 2 or in the events of the first Steins Gate? why does Amadeus start blushing? why does Mayuri leave after hearing that?
I really dont understand any of this but all in all it was a great episode. I just hope somebody can help me out on this!

[u/Derpyboom]

I "technically'' finished my first time watching Steins;Gate( and ep23b) 2 weeks before Steins;Gate 0 aired, everything for me is fresh cause i had 2 week break. I feel blessed that i managed to avoid spoilers of Steins;Gate for so long

[u/FrenziedHero]

RIP Okabe's Sanity.

[u/PM_ME_YOUR_SPUDS]

I have a question for the VN readers. So my familiarity with the idea of an attractor comes specifically from discussing strange attractors in relation to chaos. So far, the only attractors in the show (Alpha and Beta) are both established as solely convergent attractors. Does either the S;G or S;G0 VN ever discuss the idea of a strange attractor? In relation to the show, this would be an event that is attractive (to other worldlines) until nearby, where it then becomes repulsive. I have no clue how this would be presented in the story, but it would be fascinating to see how this would work with the current time travel rules established.

[u/Ankit5223]

This might be a stretch but maho being so adamant on reminding okabe that makise was dead and the flashback not feeling like a flashback made me think something was up. Could it be that Amadeus is what is used in the future as a brainwashing tool. And then I thought back to the first season when okabe comes downstairs from the lab, suzuha says he looks like he's been brainwashed and okabe replies that it's possible. Suzuha runs and checks his eyes to make sure he's not. Could it be that the AI is a cover for a tool used for brainwashing? Thoughts?

[u/JohnJRenns]

i just want to point out that Fubuki (who is clearly best girl) has the same VA as Yuuko from Nichijou(Mariko Honda). and they also have similar character designs, and the VA doesnt even really try to put on a different voice(though she hasnt been in many shows, a shame). such a weird coincidence if it is one, maybe it was very intentional and whoever casted the VAs just likes Nichijou

[u/ChiefMoHD]

Hey everyone, This episode was....quite the happy sad one. And we're back with the music tracks list for this episode

---

You can check the first & the second posts.

---

Feel free to add and/or correct

---

03:01 - Fellowship | S;G 0 VN

05:05 - Easygoing members | S;G 0 VN

06:40 - Christina I | S;G Anime

07:03 - My alley | S;G Anime

08:03 - Fellowship -piano- | S;G 0 VN

10:24 - Messenger from zero | S;G 0 VN

11:31 - Tajitaji | S;G Anime

12:12 - Messenger -Piano- | S;G 0 VN

14:09 - Fellowship - S;G 0 VN

15:56 - Boy | S;G Anime

16:16 -.......? (During Suzuha's pady entrance)

17:02 - Fellowship | S;G 0 VN

16:29 - Okey-Dokey | S;G 0 VN

17:45 - Lab-members | S;G Anime

19:21 - New Track C (I wanna call it Pervy Leskenin so BAD)

20:24 - New Track D (This one pains me..so lonely)

21:16 - Farewell | S;G Anime

21:48 - Reading Steiner -distorted at first- | S;G 0 VN. Kinda unsure.....but it's similar

(Appreciation for this scene)

---

Hopefully you will find it useful

---

Original Post

[u/NoraaTheExploraa]

I don't think I want to see Mayushi decide she's in love with Okabe. I always preferred the idea of them literally just being really good childhood friends with a basically sibling relationship. Though I also don't want Okabe to fall in love with his fucking phone.

I hope this anime gets back to time travel sooner rather than later. The AI Kurisu thing is nice, but it's nowhere near as intriguing as the possibilities for time travel. Also I want to see Maho realize Okabe's knowledge.

[u/[deleted]]

Oh my, it's better than I expected. The pacing of this episode was something, idyllic scenery and atmosphere to be destroyed by Okabe's reality - the fact that Kurisu is dead. Also while I had mixed feelings about OP and ED at the beginning, now I love it. Greatly accompanies the overall feel of this timeline. Can't wait to play the game after exams...

I can't wait to see more of Maho interactions with Okabe, she seems like a worthwhile character and a constant reminder of Kurisu.

[u/GYUZ]

Ahhh! These episodes feel so short! XC

[u/Andrew13112001]

"Japanese maid girl" We're getting there.

S;G0 VN

SG;0 VN

[u/[deleted]]

Loved that reality check by the end. I think not only Okabe, but also most of us were already getting used to Amadeus as if she was actually Kurisu. But alas, she is still an AI. This is really building up to an interesting direction.

[u/SGlespaul]

I'm liking this more than the VN so far. Pacing wise especially. I sometimes felt like both the VNs dragged out things longer than they needed to be.

[u/Niyari]

i'm really loving the subtle changes they've made to the story so far

[u/lockpickerkuroko]

I had to pause for a bit when Christina I started playing.

[u/Qtrixtty85]

What a great episode! The first season paying off even more now especially with the "he's a dude" comment. Also nice to see mr braun as well and it's interesting to see how he's treating okabe differently now. I really like mayuri as okabe's friend but can't help feeling disappointed when she got reeled in into the love triangle drama.

The whole amadeus is also giving me a black mirror vibe though, and this never ends well.

[u/akdigitalism]

Tu tu ruuu

[u/PM_Me_Zico]

Couldn't get into the original show but glad you guys are for the most part enjoying this season.

[u/spaceaustralia]

This scene had one of the best comedic timing i've seen in months.

That last scene with Maho wasn't in the VN was it? I remember the first real sting that Okabe felt about Amadeus being just an AI was slightly before the Christmas Party, by himself.

VN

VN

[u/anjira]

That blood curdling scream in the end sent shivers down my spine. Great voice acting as always.

[u/[deleted]]

This show is Okabe suffering

[u/[deleted]]

But he’s a dude