Friday, July 20, 2018

Fate/Zero Part 6 Episodes 22-25


The Holy Grail War has consumed all who have entered it.  Some have lost their lives, others have lost their way.  With the combatants down to the final numbers, the time has come to conclude the epic affair.  As Saber confronts Berserker, Rider makes a final stand against Archer.  And at the end of the path, Kiritsugu and Kirei begin their ultimate duel.  Little do they all know, the outcome of these battles will determine no winner.  For this whole ordeal has been but a prologue to a greater battle yet to come.  The 4th Holy Grail War reaches a horrific conclusion…as the 5th Holy Grail War looms beyond in the coming darkness.

After 20+ episodes of build up, I have to say that while it did have a bit of a stumble towards the very end, Fate/Zero still managed to deliver a gut wrenching finale.  Kings shared final toasts, rivals finally faced each other and the Holy Grail turned out to be a weapon of mass destruction disguised as something that doesn’t look like the cup of a carpenter (bonus points if you get that reference).

The finale definitely earns a lot of praise for ending the amazing journey of Waver and Rider on the best possible note.  At last, Rider let Waver in on a little secret: not only was Waver always his master, he was always his friend as well.  Of all the masters and servants in this war, no bond has been more genuine in its admiration.  Unlike Lancer, Rider was never screwed over by his master and was given the most glorious ending of any of the servants.  I mean, yes he didn’t kill Gilgamesh (this series isn’t that kind).  But to see Rider die with a smile on his face, seeing his final dream destination reached at his death (sort of like Ryunosuke but Rider likeable), you couldntve asked for a better send off.  What’s more, Waver looks set to follow Riders example and travel the world, learning new things and finding new experiences.  I cant even believe im about to type this…but cudos to Gilgamesh for actually having me like him during this little arc.  He still talks in a belittling tone to Rider but respects the hell out of him.  In another lifetime, they might very well have been friends…nahhhhh Gilgamesh isn’t that sentimental. If anyone in this show truly lived up to their title of “hero” it was definitely Rider and Waver…he couldntve asked for a better teacher of life.

As it was time to wrap everything up, it was also time for the final showdown between all rivals.  Studio Ufotable saved their best for last with the three big battles in the finale: Rider vs Gilgamesh, Kiritsugu vs Kirei and Saber vs. Berserker.  Each one was animated with precision and there were no flaws to be found.  Even the 300 style esque final charge of Rider was fitting.  But Kiritsugu and Kirei lived up the most to their much built up face off.  It reminded me a lot of Alucard fighting Father Anderson in Hellsing, what with one opponent using guns and regeneration techniques against a mad priest with really big knives.  The battle was brutal and awesome in all the right ways.  I do feel like it was cheated out of a proper ending but ill talk about that in a bit.  Finally, Saber vs Berserker took an interesting turn when the big guys secret was revealed, the man under the helmet.  It shook Saber to her core and drove in Rider’s correct understanding that Saber had failed to live up to her title of King.  So lost in her own legend, Saber never knew those closest to her were hurting the most because she’d never judge them for their actions.  But that was just the beginning of Sabers tragic bookmark on this chapter of the Fate Franchise.

Once Kiritsugu finally got to the Holy Grail, things went a little End of Evangelion.  As the Grail spoke to Kiritsugu and showed him just how his “wish” would be granted, Kiritsugu finally saw what should have been obvious from the start…his wish was a bad idea.  Because of course, it’s impossible to rid the world of all evil and save the good without a little annihilation on a global scale.  The “Whatever it takes” philosophy Kiritsugu has long lived by was thrown in his face hard and in the end, he accepted it wasn’t what he wanted, even if it meant reuniting with his wife and daughter.  I’m glad he rejected the Grail…but did we really need to see him actually kill the manifestations of Iri and Illiya, that was a bit too much.

And really, Kiritsugu rejecting the Grail and then commanding Saber to destroy it is really where Fate/Zero could have ended and it might’ve been spared a bit of my criticisms.  However, we not only had to tie up the loose ends of Kiritsugu, Saber, Kirei, Gilgamesh and Kariya but we also had to set up the stories for the next generation.  Shiro, Rin and Sakura all make appearances in lengthy segments setting up their characters.  Shiro takes over the reigns of Kiritsugu’s heroic dream…lets hope it goes better in another route.  Rin tearfully accepts her role as head of the family, oh and her mothers alive but her brain is permenantly damaged from Kariya’s attack.  And Sakura just creepily stands by as Kariya dies in his own fantasy…ok not exactly the end I expected for Kariya, who probably should have died right after he tried to kill Rin’s mom but that’s just me.  Oh and Kirei finally accepts his wish for more global devestation while Gilgamesh watches him with glee…and naked WHY IS HE NAKED!!!???

All this focus on the future, to me, feels a bit like a cheat to the Fate/Zero narrative.  The events of this series take place a decade before Fate/Stay Night, so I do feel like the characters here could have all gotten some extra recognition at the very end.  Only Waver seems to get this, coming out of his trails in the Grail War better than he was before.  And I know, im not sure how story there was left to dedicate to the end of this Holy Grail War before putting the pieces in place for the next one.  Its just…ugh maybe I could have done without a Shiro moment cause we get enough of why he gets started with his hero fetish later on.  The Rin scene was ok because it’s Rin and they had to bury her father.  Also, if Sakura is so darkly corrupted, why doesn’t she have more focus in the main series?  As much as I praise most of  Fate/Zero’s final episodes, I cant ignore that I have more critiques and questions than I do universal praise.   

So, my final thoughts on Fate/Zero?  This is the Anime equivalent of Game of Thrones in my opinion and stands head and shoulders above its parent series.  The characters are far more deep and complex and enjoyable (the good, the bad and the ones you really shouldn’t find any joy in watching).  The story is dark, appropriately so for a battle with stakes such as this.  The action ranks up there as some of the best ive seen in Anime (matching legends like Dragon Ball Z, Black Lagoon and One Punch Man).  The animation…come on it’s Studio Ufotable, the worst you can say is, “they’ve animated Fate/Zero, Unlimited Blade Works and Heaven’s Feel…can we just have them do the first series again with better animation too?”  And Yuki Kaijura proved why she is the equal of Yoko Kanno in my eyes with her amazing musical score (now if only we could get them to do a remix of the Escaflowne “Dance of Curse” with “Magia” from Madoka Magica, then we’d have the ultimate battle theme).  Had the ending not felt so rushed to get things right into Fate/Stay Night, this show could have earned itself a 10/10.  But faults are where they are besides the ending.  The cast is overly packed and not everyone gets their proper due, they’re either hyped up and don’t deliver or are given good material but never any decent screen time to develop.  It’s also hard to find someone, besides Waver and Rider, to root for because everyone in this series is selfish and does something unlikeable at least once.  Still, Game of Thrones has a cast alot like that so I guess it isn’t that big of a deal. 

My final word: if you’re looking to get into the Fate Franchise, this is the perfect starting point.  Just be prepared if other entries aren’t as strong going forward.  Fate/Zero is a prequel that takes an already average bar and raises it to new heights.  It’s one of the best Anime of the decade and one that shouldn’t be missed.  Hell even if you take one trip into this Holy Grail War, this would be the one to experience.  There’s even familiar Fate elements and characters who have plenty of time to show you why the fans love them (looking at you Rin, Saber, Gilgamesh and Kirei).  Fate/Zero is a freaking awesome show from start to finish and is one I would recommend to anyone looking to see a taste of the pure storytelling power Anime is capable of.  Summon your spirit, get together with a friend who loves the franchise and get ready for one helluva ride.

9/10

Now let’s hope that the next chapter lives up to the example set here.  Yep, the summer rolls right into Ufotable’s next crack at the Fate franchise with Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works.  Which means my waifu Rin is back and so is Shiro…oh how ive missed bashing his stupid philosophy.  This is going to be fun.  See ya next time.

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