The truth is out and the gloves are off. In episode 16, Steins Gate 0 does what it’s been trying to do since the beginning: create a compelling drama with high tension and higher stakes.
Enough Talk
Almost every member of the team has reached their breaking point. Ruka is furious about his inability to help out, Mayuri needs to know that she’s still important, and Okabe is desperately trying to prevent time travel. Even Daru, who’s usually cool-headed and collected, lashed out in this episode. The message is clear: it’s time for each lab member to choose a side.
The root of these problems may not be time travel itself. Okabe seems to have vastly overestimated just how important he is, both to history and his team. Sure, they love him, but if they have to save the future themselves, they will.
Logic and Reason
Case in point: Okabe is far from a genius. In fact, twice now, he’s relied upon an actual scientist to do the hard work for him. There’s a simple reason he can’t succeed on his own: he lets emotions control him. Maho, on the other hand, proposes to use cold, hard logic to create Daru’s time machine. This is far more likely to work, for one very specific reason: she has something to prove.
If you’ve been stuck on a problem for a while, you know it quickly becomes personal. Maho has years of lab experience to call on, and an in-depth understanding of physics at her disposal. Plus, she’s still trying to surpass Kurisu. Simply, there is no way in hell she’ll allow herself to be beaten by a formula. There’s just too much at stake: the world, the future, but most importantly, her pride.
What Now?
There are two ways this can play out: either Okabe gets with the program or he leaves. He’s poised to move overseas for university anyway, so it’s likely he’ll be relegated to a side character for the rest of the season. But can Steins Gate 0 stand without its main character? To be fair, the Okabe fans knew and loved hasn’t really been present this season, so he might not be too big of a loss. Of course, there’s bound to be some kind of plot progression on his end too, so it’s not like he’d be completely gone.
If Okabe come around to time travel, it’d mean accepting that a certain amount of loss is inevitable. Unless Maho finds a way to save both Kurisu and Mayuri, there’s no way he’d be willing to help. Here’s the thing, though: even if she comes up with a theory, it’d have to be tested. Ultimately, theirs is no better choice than Okabe for this.
Final Thoughts
There’s no denying that the plot is moving forward at long last. Still, we can’t help but feel that this episode should have taken place far earlier. All the same, Steins Gate 0 continues to defy our expectations, and isn’t that what we all really look for in a show?
