When you rejoin a BAR replay, the game always plays from the beginning. There is no skip option available.
Tags: replay, rejoin, rewind, spectating, beyond all reason
The replay system replays the full match history from the start when you reconnect. This ensures you see everything that happened rather than jumping into the middle of an ongoing action without context. The rewind takes time proportional to match length.
There is currently no way to skip the rejoin rewind. If a match ran for forty minutes you wait through the full playback before reaching the point where you rejoined. This is a known frustration among players who want to drop into live spectating quickly.
The debug engine lets you open replay files directly. If you just want to jump to a specific moment, the debug engine provides more control than the standard client replay viewer.
If you must wait through a rewind, use the time to discuss strategy with teammates or review your own earlier decisions. Creed of Champions members watch replays together, making the wait itself a bonding and learning opportunity rather than dead time.
I love being able to communicate with my team, getting and sharing tips and constructive feedback on gameplay, and having a good spirited community.