October 11th, 2011 
AstroNerdBoy フェイト/ゼロ
Fate/Zero – 02
SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:
Waver’s Servant, Rider, decides to take some books and leave through destructive means. One of the books he gets is an atlas, which he’s interested in since he’d been the former King of Macedonia (Iskandar). Rider dreams of conquest and belittles Waver’s Grail wish of gaining the respect of his peers and teachers. Waver is not happy with the disrespect and is tempted to use a Command Spell on Rider, but stops himself. When Rider asks if Waver would like to see a demonstration of his power, Waver agrees and Rider summons a oxen-drawn chariot, supposedly offered to Zeus by King Gordias. He suggests that Waver bring him another Hero or two if he wants the Grail.
In Germany, Emiya strolls the ground with his young daughter, Ilya, having a contest on finding budding walnut trees. This is observed by Saber, who remarks on it to Iri. Saber is still concerned over her summoning and the fact that Emiya and Iri were so surprised to learn that King Arthur was in fact a woman. Iri tries to explain why Emiya still seems upset, citing how he disliked the idea of having a young woman being forced to pretend to be male in order to be king. Saber rejects this, saying he has no right to question the decisions made in her lifetime, nor her own decisions. However, while Saber and Emiya may not see eye-to-eye on things, Saber does approve of Emiya’s goal to save the world.
Elsewhere, URYUU Ryuunosuke has murdered a family and taken their child in order to summon a demon, which Ryuunosuke discovered how to do thanks to some books he found. As such, the Grail gives him Command Spells and Ryuunosuke is able to summon Caster (Bluebeard), even though Ryuunosuke appears to know nothing about the Holy Grail War. He offers Caster the boy as a sacrifice, but is disappointed when Caster frees the boy and shows him the way out. However, as the boy is standing in the entryway of the house and crying, a thing grabs him and brutally kills him. Caster explains how giving hope and then snatching it away is a great form of terror before death. Ryuunosuke loves this and wants Caster to do more, which Caster is more than happy to oblige.
Kirei stands on a hill overlooking the Tohsaka estate and sends his Servant there to kill Tokiomi, stating there is nothing to fear even if Archer should be encountered. His Servant is a bit skeptical about this, but does as he’s ordered. His Servant races down the hill and begins disabling various gems that were embedded in objects on the grounds of the estate, removing their defensive capabilities. He approaches an open sphere with a large gem in it and deftly avoids the barrier waves it has in motion. After easily reaching the device, he goes to grab it, only to have a spear sent through his hand. Archer, standing on a balcony, easily dispatches Kirei’s Servant, stating that his opponent was not worthy to look upon Archer.
Thoughts/Review:
While I knew that there were multiple versions of a Hero class based on there being two Archer’s in Fate/stay night, I guess only the King Arthur Saber is the returning Hero from that story.
While Saber will be fully powered, I find it interesting that Emiya apparently doesn’t want to be around her. Well, Saber is an honorable Servant and Emiya is an assassin, so it is only natural that the two would not see eye-to-eye, though Iri seems to be trying to bridge the gap. I’ll be interested in seeing how all of this affects their combat strategies. (I know how it will end though.)
Ilya certainly grew rather quickly. I suppose that’s due to what she truly is (based on what I remember of Fate/stay night).
Anyway, Rider is certainly different this time around, since Rider was Medusa in Fate/stay night. It is interesting that he seems more interested in the modern world and conquering it than anything else. Despite Waver being wimpy, Rider does accept him as Master, at least on some level. I’m glad Waver was smart enough to resist using a Command Spell on Rider.
Caster and Ryuunosuke are sick. Ugh. That poor boy, first apparently seeing his family murdered, then kidnapped to be a human sacrifice. Then, he is seemingly going to be freed and find hope, only to be viciously slaughtered. I really hope those two don’t last long ’cause I’m not going to like seeing people being viciously murdered.
As to Kirei, I don’t know whom his Servant is because I don’t think he’s been named. I know he showed up in the first episode. Considering Kirei’s role in Fate/stay night, combined with his plans with Tokiomi to aide him, I’m going to guess that he sacrificed his Servant on purpose. However, what aid Kirei can provide without a Servant is a mystery to me. Maybe a transfer of Command Spells? (Seems like I remember that this could be done from Fate/stay night.)
Well, all the groundwork appears to have been laid and I would guess that the war will now start in earnest. I look forward to seeing how things progress.
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Kirei’s servant was mentioned as Assassin I believe.
As for Ilya, it might be clear but it’s been 8 years since Ilya has been born.
Terribly sory to break it to you, but it wasn’t the worst thing Caster and Uryuu do. BY FAR not the worst thing. On the matter of Saber, she’s indeed the same Saber in Fate/Stay Night. Unlike other servants- copies of Heroic Spirits stored in the Throne of Heroes, summoned by the Grail for the purpose of the War and disappearing after they are defeated, Saber is actually still alive. She made a contract with the world: in exchange for obtaining the Holy Grail during her lifetime, she would become a Counter Guardian after her death. Each time a possibility to get the Grail appears, Arturia’s consciousness is summoned, and, should she fail to obtain it, returns to the moment preceeding her death, retaining all her memories. This is why she is summoned twice in a row, remembers her Zero summoning and can’t dematerialize at will like other servants.
A much better episode!!
I hate to admit this though, but i laughed my head off at the scene with the murders. the little boy finding a way out then BAM. ROFLOL. these guys are instantly my favorite characters, disturbing as that may sound. i guess overall i still couldnt give a damn for anyone in this anime, its going to take time for the scars of fate/stay night to heal. not the best anime in the world that one.
Correct. Ilya is already eight or nine years old(she should be sth like 1 year older than Shirou) She is growing at a normal rate right now, though it is mentioned in the novel that Kiritsugu knew, she won’t grow that fast and much any longer.
We already know Assassin’s name. Fans who played Heaven’s Feel also knew it from the beginning. He mentioned in the first episode that no one could escape the eyes of Hassan. Now put one and one together: Hassan and Assassin. Google will immediately give you the answer(It is actually mentioned in the novel many times, e.g. when they summon their Servants. There is a special rule that you’ll ALWAYS summon that kind of Assassin because you summon him in the name of blablabla. That’s why you can consciously summon an Assassin or Berserker class by adding a few lines in the summoning.).
And fyi, Kirei mentioned in the VN that he lost his Servant very early and seeked protection from the church. But as we all know, the priest of the church is his father and the church is on good terms with the Tohsakas… Another interesting fact is that
a) Kirei never lies
b) in spite of a) will still hide things. He never tells you the full story if you’re not asking and his statements are always ambiguous, so you’ll have to read between the lines most of the time.
Kirei is an ex-Executioner of the church(that means, he’s a skilled heretic hunter, just like Kiritsugu. As an ex-priest, he’s lacking magical experience, but since he’s very talented in everything he starts to learn…) and a man who’s got a lot of tricks up his sleeve. See the next episode to see what I mean. Nearly all Masters have got interesting strategies and they will play a big role in this whole war(Tactics weren’t a vital factor in Fate-route. Staying vigilant most of the time and giving Avalon back iirc. In the end they defeated Berserker because of Archer’s skill and Shirou’s tracing, which was 50% pure luck imo.)
Next episode preview implies that Saber will confront Lancer next time which again means, she will fight him in episode 4 and they will wrap volume 1 of the LN up. That’s a good pace and iirc, Urobuchi mentioned they would add some scenes that are not in the novel. That’s quite interesting and if I had to guess, I’d say he means sth like what happened in the aftermath with the survivors of the war, e.g. Rin, after hearing of the end and the results of the 4th war(I mean background story that is mentioned in the character material books or the VN. Those who read them, will understand what I mean).
Then you will also see how Kiritsugu handled the problem with Saber and him.
(minor SPOILER: You can actually already see it in the OP. SPOILER END)
Btw, it seems like ufotable doesn’t care so much about the identities of the Servants. Why? Because the ED already spoils too many details about Berserker(yes, that one pic). It’s not too difficult anymore to figure out who Berserker really is, if you’re familiar with certain legends.
As far as I remember, Assassin was named in the first episode as Hassan. It sounds like an Arabian name. Probably there would be more info in the net, but I don’t want to look for spoilers.
It came to me as a surprise (and big disappointment!) when he died in the end of the episode. It was said that Hassan was expert in stratagems and now he just died, before using his skill. I even expected that he’ll take the lead in the duo Kirei-Hassan and devise the strategy and decide what to do. And now he’s dead! *tears, tears…*
Anyway, I have a feeling that he’ll be resurrected somehow. Simply because he wasn’t established as a character well enough.
Geez you guys, Exhibition and spoilers galore. :I Even though I haven’t said anything, I feel like i need to apologize. Type Moon fans are way too eager sometimes to share plot points about Tsukihime and Fate.
I hope you’ll still play through Unlimited Blade Works and Heaven’s Feel scenarios in the VN someday, Astro.
@Ultimaniac
Well, I didn’t really spoil much about the Fate series(I didn’t say anything about Saber because I didn’t want to spoil the fun of playing the Fate-route – guess the fun is obsolete, now that Aumanor has given important Fate-background information. And btw, you even give some false information, Aumanor. Saber is summoned twice because both times Shirou/Kiritsugu used Avalon as a relic/catalyst to summon her).
Nearly all the things I wrote were mentioned in the FSN anime or the first Acts of the Light Novel, but are left out because they can’t explain every tiny thing in the anime. They already left out some things like the summoning rules, parts of Kirei’s previous life(Please do not spoil any info that is only mentioned in HF), Kiritsugu’s thoughts about Ilya or some details about Ryunosuke.
P.S.: Again @Astro, I recommend you to not rewatch the FSN anime. You should also only watch the UBW movie after playing UBW. The movie doesn’t explain anything – not even the crucial difference at the beginning of the route.
Kirei’s servant was mentioned as Assassin I believe.
I didn’t hear that name mentioned, but it was mentioned in episode 3.
As for Ilya, it might be clear but it’s been 8 years since Ilya has been born
I’d forgotten about the flashback, but I hadn’t realized eight years had passed.
Terribly sory to break it to you, but it wasn’t the worst thing Caster and Uryuu do. BY FAR not the worst thing.
Ugh.
Thanks for the info on Saber.
I hate to admit this though, but i laughed my head off at the scene with the murders. the little boy finding a way out then BAM. ROFLOL. these guys are instantly my favorite characters, disturbing as that may sound. i guess overall i still couldnt give a damn for anyone in this anime, its going to take time for the scars of fate/stay night to heal. not the best anime in the world that one.
Yeah, that is a bit disturbing. ^_^;;;
Me, I like Saber and I’m liking Iri too.
We already know Assassin’s name. Fans who played Heaven’s Feel also knew it from the beginning. He mentioned in the first episode that no one could escape the eyes of Hassan.
I do remember the name Hassan being mentioned, but I didn’t know it was Assassin.
I haven’t watched the OP/ED for whatever reason. Normally I do, but I think because I’m often pressed for time, I have been passing of late.
Anyway, I have a feeling that he’ll be resurrected somehow. Simply because he wasn’t established as a character well enough.
Heh…or something like that (as episode 3 revealed).
I hope you’ll still play through Unlimited Blade Works and Heaven’s Feel scenarios in the VN someday, Astro.
I did find them on the old PC so they are still there.
P.S.: Again @Astro, I recommend you to not rewatch the FSN anime. You should also only watch the UBW movie after playing UBW. The movie doesn’t explain anything – not even the crucial difference at the beginning of the route.
Understood.