September 9th, 2013 
AstroNerdBoy Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA☆ILLYA Episode 09 REVIEW
Fate/kaleid liner プリズマ☆イリヤ
SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:
To the surprise of Sella, Iri returns home and immediately heads to the bath where Ilya is relaxing with Ruby. Iri gets in with her daughter to relax and get precious mother-daughter skinship time in. Iri probes Ilya on whether anything really interesting has happened recently. Ilya plays dumb, but Iri cites the mansion across the street that hadn’t been there when she left. Iri gets Ilya to talk about Miyu, since she lives there and is Ilya’s classmate, and during their discussion, Ilya mentions that Miyu is so good at everything, she can even tackle a task alone even though Ilya had been originally tasked to help Miyu. Iri questions whether this is truly the case or not as she then prompts the two to get out of the bath.
Meanwhile, Miyu, Rin, and Luvia are in the mirror world on top of a multi-story building, which is just about all that this mirror world is comprised of. Their opponent is Berserker, who proves impervious to all of their attacks, and is so powerful, they do not have enough defensive power to withstand a punch from him. Miyu brings out Lancer’s lance, bringing Berserker to his knees. However, he recovers and flings Miyu into a wall, causing Rin to realize that Berserker has resurrection abilities. The trio flee into the building, Luvia carrying Miyu. Once at a safe location, Rin and Luvia agree to flee to the real world. Miyu sets up the portal, but she only sends them back, remaining behind to face Berserker on her own.
Sapphire is stunned by this, but Miyu decides to use the Saber card in the fashion that Ilya had used the Archer card. She barely manages to get it installed into her when Berserker lands a punch, which Saber-Miyu easily takes. Saber-Miyu launches a counter attack, cutting off Berserker’s arm. She presses her attack forward, stabbing Berserker through the heart and bringing him to his knees again. As Miyu tries to catch her breath, Berserker begins the resurrection process. To Miyu’s surprise, Sapphire can still speak in her new form. Sapphire begs Miyu to retreat since they can’t defeat an enemy that can resurrect. Miyu says Berserker can only do it a limited number of times, so when he stands, she attacks again. This time, Berserker is not affected by Miyu’s attack.
Back in the real world, Iri manages to coax Ilya into telling her what is going on without Ilya getting into the specifics. Iri correctly sees that Ilya is scared, but she points out that Miyu is likely the same way. Iri counters, citing Miyu’s insistence on doing things solo and not needing Ilya’s help. Iri points out the Miyu probably said that since she knew Ilya was scared. Ilya, upon hearing her mother’s words, heads out the door with Iri’s blessing and heads with Ruby to the building where Berserker has a mirror world. One there, Ilya transforms and flies to help Miyu.
In the fight in the mirror world, Saber-Miyu tells Sapphire they won’t retreat so that Ilya isn’t forced to return and do what she didn’t want to do in the first place. She uses the Excalibur attack to knock Berserker out of the building, but she’s exhausted her mana and returns to being just human Miyu. Miyu asks Sapphire to recharge her quickly, but before Sapphire can do so, Berserker pulls himself back in, quickly grabbing Sapphire. Despite still being in a resurrection mode, Berserker goes to attack the defenseless Miyu. Just then, Ilya flies in, using a blade on Ruby to “kill” Berserker again. The astonished Miyu asks why, so a tearful Ilya says that it is because Miyu is an important person to her and her friend.
Thoughts/Review:
So, we get some mildly displayed, but highly suggestive mother-daughter fan service here, eh? *_* Yeah, I know about the Japanese custom of skinship, whereby a parent bonds with their young child in the bath. However, Ilya is passed that age, and while the story made use of the two being in the bath to have a serious discussion, I could have done without the fan service aspect of it. Well, it could have been worse, I guess. In Mahou Shoujo Pretty Sammy, Sasami has a similar skinship scene with father that really creeped me out. ^_^;
Skinship aside, it was good to see Iri come into the series. Having watched Fate/Zero, I rather enjoyed seeing Iri be a mother and helping her daughter through a troubling time. The episode heavily implies that Iri knows more than she’s letting on, but she allows the entire conversation with Ilya to be held in such a way as to have two meanings, or to just not get into the specifics. It would have been nice if Iri has stated some sort of confirmation that she knew what was up when she and Sella saw Ilya off.
I was glad to see Miyu taught a little lesson in this one that she can’t go at it alone. That being said, her good intentions of wanting to spare Ilya don’t match her disdainful words to Ilya earlier about not wanting to fight with Ilya because Ilya is too dangerous. I realize this is due to SILVER Link adding that Miyu stuff to the anime when it wasn’t in the manga. Miyu’s words would have come off as noble IF she hadn’t used a serpent’s tongue on Ilya on their previous mission. If Ilya had simply freaked out because she was scared and worried about harming her comrades, I’d have no reason to want Miyu to get a spanking.
Still, it was nice seeing Ilya come in for a save, though this being the Fate/stay night Berserker, they’ve got to kill him three more times or so (I think).
One more thing about Miyu – I couldn’t help but think, “Thanks for using Ilya’s Saber card, you thief!” *lol* In all honesty, Ilya should be the one who gets to use it, not Miyu. But then, how could we have Miyu doing her Saber-Miyu thing to fight Berserker. Oh well.
In the end, not a bad episode overall. I’m glad Iri makes an appearance, and I’m glad that Ilya is back in the game.
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Sapphire is stunned by this, but Miyu decides to use the Saber card in the fashion that Ilya had used the Archer card.
An important line was removed. Miyu wanted to be alone so Rin and Luvia don’t find out about “install”. Also note, that Miyu had to use the incantation for the Holy Grail War, while Ilya simply skipped the process. This was intentional.
Guvf vf nabgure uvag npghnyyl: Whfg ubj qbrf Zvlh xabj ubj gb qb gur vapnagngvba?
Back in the real world, Iri manages to coax Ilya into telling her what is going on without Ilya getting into the specifics. […] It would have been nice if Iri has stated some sort of confirmation that she knew what was up when she and Sella saw Ilya off.
You know, I’m really pissed that they took out the hints again. Ilya goes out to help Miyu because her mother tells her that Ilya’s power is a part of her and it’s nothing to be scared of. Iri is also surprised that the seal loosened up so early after only ten years and that all its power is almost gone.
This scene was actually also funny, but Silver Link removed the funny parts too.
Miyu’s words would have come off as noble IF she hadn’t used a serpent’s tongue on Ilya on their previous mission. If Ilya had simply freaked out because she was scared and worried about harming her comrades, I’d have no reason to want Miyu to get a spanking.
If this whole thing was Silver Link’s idea alone, then I must say they failed. This is too cliché. The first manga’s story was already generic, they didn’t have to make it even more generic.
Still, it was nice seeing Ilya come in for a save, though this being the Fate/stay night Berserker, they’ve got to kill him three more times or so (I think)
Hm, I counted four to five deaths at most. One Gae Bolg, Saber Miyu with Excalibur without the blast, another one or two deaths by the Excaliblast and Ilya getting one at the end. Berserker has twelve lives and he starts to develope a resistance/immunity to attacks. You can’t use the same trick twice against him.
Of course, the usual scenes happening in FSN have to happen here, too. Rin is shocked to see Berserker resurrecting himself again and Saber (Miyu) getting beaten to a pulp by him. Just a few nods to the source material again.
Btw, the anime’s art is inconsistent. And some designs look awful. Iri’s face for instance was really… badly drawn to say it in a nice way.
I now plan to read the manga once the series is done. I assume the manga series (or the 3rd one at least) is still going on?
>Berserker has twelve lives
Why was I thinking seven? ^_^; Well, that just means a tough fight ahead.
>Just a few nods to the source material again.
Ah yeah, I’d forgotten about that.
Well, if they are going to further nod to the source material, Ilya should get the Berserker card then. *nods*
I assume the manga series (or the 3rd one at least) is still going on?
Yup, 3rei is still going on. Unless you know Japanese, you have to rely on the English scans. As of right now, 11 chapters (+ a bonus chapter) were translated.
So, the scans are keeping current with the releases in Japan, or are they behind?
“Suimasen Scans” are behind, but mostly because they are understaffed and use the Tankoubon releases. And I made a typo, we only have ten plot-related 3rei chapters in English right now.
Well, if they are using tankoubon releases, and this is a monthly manga, it would be only twice a year at best.
Quote: “So, we’re a little behind here, and yes I know the first tankoubon is out, I have it on order. We’re going to try and knock out some of the backlog over the holidays. If only the English-speaking Fightan Mahou Loli fans were as industrious as the mighty Russian and Chinese scanlators, eh.”
This was posted when they released chapter 1 of 3rei, magazine raws were used. There is also no 2wei batch because they want to re-edit earlier chapters and this… takes a while.
As of right now, magazine raws are again used, but they are not LQ, so I guess it’s fine. If they can, they will want to use tankoubon releases which they eventually do for the omake stuff, anyway.
Thanks for the info.
Funny thing about Saber Card. When Miyu uses it she gets Saber Standard, while when Illya uses it she gets Saber Lily. It nicely contrasts the difference in Miyu’s and Illya’s personalities and attitudes.
I know it’s pretty minor, but isn’t this a spoiler?
It is but has no meaning really. It only states that Illya will use Saber card at some point, which shouldn’t be surprising. If I said WHOM she will use it against and in what circumstances. THAT would be a real spoiler.
SPOILER stuff aside, I will say that if Ilya is getting to use the Saber card, I’m excited, though I’ve no clue who Saber Lily is. ^_^;
Well Saber Lily is essentially an alternate version of Arturia from Fate/Unlimited Codes fighting game, one that embraced her femininity and girlishness instead of hiding it like Saber Standard did. It’s essentially one of Team Four Sabers – Saber, Saber Alter, Saber Lily and Saber Lion.
You can see her design on Type Moon site (just click Saber Lily above the image)
http://typemoon.wikia.com/wiki/Saber_%28Fate/stay_night%29
Ah. I had seen that version of her, just didn’t know it had a special name. Thanks.