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Jul 1, 2020
Phenomenal.
Fate/Zero has a reputation for being dark, sad, and tragic, but do not let that deter you from experiencing it because these elements are not gratuitous. Urobuchi Gen spearheaded the script so if you have seen Madoka Magica and Psycho-Pass, you would have an idea of what to expect as his writing style is evident here.
Fate Stay/Night Unlimited Blade Works was my first Fate anime so I knew what was most likely gonna happen in Zero since I have seen the aftermath. However, what makes Zero stand out to me is how it made me appreciate the philosophy and ideals presented in Fate and
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how they came to be. Each philosophy is challenged by other characters and the events that transpire later.
It has a great ensemble of characters. It is especially entertaining to see the dynamic of their relationships with other characters. Some examples I want to single out without giving away too much plot is the different philosophy each kingly servant, namely Saber, Iskandar, and Gilgamesh believe in.
It is also great to see the growth and development of each character and this applies for both protagonists and antagonists. Kiritsugu Emiya has a backstory that explains why he strongly holds onto his ideals to be a champion of justice or save mankind. Last but not the least, Waver and Rider’s relationship that depicts how opposites attract or why they are compatible.
Zero also has a big ensemble of antagonists because it really shows how Mages can be ruthless, heartless, and lack empathy to achieve what they want. We get the downright evil antagonists like Caster Gilles who gets paired with a serial killer. The Matou who uses torturous methods to enhance their magic. The Tohsaka who would give away their own child and pursue mage-hood over parenthood. However, I’d have to highlight Kirei and Gilgamesh being the complex antagonists. Watching their partnership blossom which is filled with a ton of symbolisms and sexual innuendos has been a treat. Seeing a supposed man of God become the over-arching antagonist in the series was a very interesting turn of events. Gilgamesh is also complex because while he may be arrogant and egotistical, he still remains kingly and knows how to respect his opponents. He also does not just kill anyone.
And las but not the least, the twists. I will not go into detail on what they are but Zero has a number of them. Finding out how everything is connected and why Fate Stay/Night came to be is mind-blowing.
TL;DR: While Fate/Zero is a prequel, I think watching it first can deepen your appreciation for the FSN series as a newcomer. I watched FSN Unlimited Blade Works first and while it was good, I really got to appreciate the events that transpired after experiencing Fate Zero because everything about ideals, motives, and the Holy Grail War gets explained in better detail here. It is a rollercoaster of angst, sadness, and tragedy, but it has some “happy” conclusions or leads to promising new beginnings. It has strong characters and a really good plot progression. Strong main characters and side characters. I was on the edge of my seat from beginning until the end. 10/10 would highly recommend!
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Apr 23, 2020
Finished it finally... so some thoughts.. I will go with the negatives first and end things on a postiive note. CONTAINS SPOILERS.
Combat mechanics: I wish there was more thought in the battles. As someone who was watched a lot of anime, what I really find entertaining as a viewer is seeing battles where there are monologues and the character thinks of a strategy to take down your opponent. I don’t know if it’s just for this installment or the Fate Franchise as a whole, but this was lacking in UBW. I felt like a passive viewer and there was no surprises in the battles. The
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outcome is predictable and you are just a passive viewer watching servants and mages pull things out of thin air only for you to watch.
Very simple strategies: The idea of creating diversions to succeed in a battle or goal was probably the only strategy devised throughout. I was hoping to see more thought into it. “Distract a servant to save someone or get to a holy grail.” Like it was not really hard to guess or come up with that.. but I guess it’s just the way the story is designed. It’s more story-focused than combat-focused. The combat is just a plot device, but are not meant to be seen as mindblowing spectacles.
Not full of surprises: The plot was honestly predictable. It wasn’t hard to guess that Archer was Shirou in the future. I already knew it before I downloaded the app so to see Archer’s name be Emiya was like “i guessed right!” Or maybe because I over-analysed the openings and caught on the hints quickly. Even the build-up to the grail being corrupted and Assassin still being alive. It just did not have a “plot twist” moment. The only surprise probably was seeing Waver in the epilogue and how he reacted to Shirou’s ideal.
Lack of Cu: It’s probably just due to this route but I was hoping to see more of him.
Strengths:
Animation: Despite the combat, the animation is really gorgeous. Unlimited Budget Works is apt because every move is flashy. Even the backgrounds and sceneries are gorgeous.
Soundtrack: Brave Shine is hands down one of the best openings. I also really love the OSTs like Unlimited Blade Works, Daydream, and Rin’s Melody. It really got me immersed in the atmosphere. Rin’s Melody is definitely my favourite though.
Tohsaka Rin and Archer: I really appreciated Rin as a character. I usually don’t like tsundere characters, but it was nice to see how she developed from being a mage with the sole purpose to win the grail to finding love. I also love her dynamic with Archer and their “relationship” as a servant and master. It was also nice to see Archer in the epilogue and towards the end.
A protagonist full of flaws: After watching Archer and Shirou’s encounter, I became really miffed of the outcome and frustrated. I did not like how extremely idealistic Shirou is to the point he will neglect himself to help others. While it is a noble thing to do, it is something that annoyed me and to see Archer knock some sense into Shirou and still “losing” was frustrating.
However, by the penultimate episode and the epilogue and discussions here, I have come to appreciate Shirou as an imperfect character and why he clings so much to his ideals. He acknowledges that it’s idiotic and hypocritical, but it is still worth following. This was not honestly clear after the battle with Archer and Shirou.. so to see his inner monologue during his fight with Gilgamesh was the time i began to understand him and appreciate him as a character.
Also, a man who cooks, can do DIY, and willingly makes breakfast is always an A+ in my book 😩👌🏼
TL;DR:
Even though there were not many surprises in terms of battles, identities, and outcomes.. the ideal of “wanting to save everybody” is properly analysed. It does not have a Gary Stu protagonist because Shirou is very flawed that you, a viewer, can get frustrated by him. However, he acknowledges this and it is endearing to see him come to terms with his ideal and how he moves forward. Rin Tohsaka and Archer are stand-outs. The soundtrack is beautiful and the animation is spectacular.
It’s a good entry in the franchise and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to check out the series. (You might also end up like me and end up downloading the mobile game app lol)
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Feb 10, 2020
One is all and all is one. equivalent exchange. war and peace. the seven sins. God and truth. all of these alchemic and philosophical concepts are applicable to daily life and are depicted here. An anime without a single flaw imo. Incredible buildup to an epic conclusion where everything and everyone is connected. The character development of every character is truly phenomenal.
It’s a quintessential story about humanity.
I see now why it's heralded as the best anime in the last two decades. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to check anime out. Don't miss it!! Watch it!! I can't highly recommend it enough.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Feb 10, 2020
I don't normally write reviews, but I had to talk about the ending especially, so this will not follow the typical review format. More like just me sharing what I feel.
I could see why the final episode would fit as an ending despite it feeling abrupt. I think the lesson Hyouka is trying to convey is that life is simple, but it can be beautiful. This is highlighted by Chitanda’s remark at the end. And Houtarou not being able to say what he wanted to say is in character, but we know that he has experienced development throughout the series. We also see Satoshi and
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Miyaka finally coming to terms with each other, which is really nice because we got closure. We do see their story kinda wrapped up in the penultimate episode.
On the essence of Hyouka being a slice of life with elements of mystery. We see here that the simplest of mysteries have beauty in it. Some are trivial and easy to solve but the way the story conveys it makes everything seem more intriguing than it is. This is also highlighted by the gorgeous animation and all the little details. Majestic sceneries and 99% of the frames can qualify as a quality screenshot for an aesthetic anime blog.
I think if Houtarou had confessed his feelings, it would have been fanservice. Hyouka is not a romance anime. It is about the development of Houtarou and how his life goes from being an energy conservationist and contented of living a monochromatic life to living in a life full of colour, and the final episode really depicted this.
It is a really feel good anime. It makes me want to see events in lifethe same way Hyouka presented them. I really recommend it if you want a slice of life and something to just lift your mood.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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