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ファイト／ステイナイト 
For a penultimate episode, this one surely doesn't feel like it. I mean, the animation is certainly gorgeous. I think I actually saw every glimmer in both Saber's and Gilgamesh's armour. But the fight scenes themselves lack tension. I am not sure if it's a pacing issue or if it's because as far as villain goes, Kotomine and Gilgamesh are not that exciting to watch. Oh well, I'm quite amused with the whole 'Oyashiro-sama' expression that is going on in this episode. I guess Studio DEEN can't resist self-refencing themselves since they actually responsible for animating this and Higurashi no Naku Koro ni. Although that makes me wonder why Higurashi can't look a like Fate/stay night animation-wise? I think if that series has animation similar to Fate/stay night, it'll easily become the best series that was released this Spring.
The episode opens with a shot of an injured Rin recalling the event that lead her to this situation. It appears that not too long ago, she heard a doorbell. Thinking that the person is Shirou, Rin decides to open the door only to find Kotomine standing in front of her. A few hours later, Shirou and Saber return home but they both sense that something wrong has happened. When Shirou rushes into one of the rooms, he finds Rin lying against the wall, losing a lot of blood. While Shirou looks for a first aid kit, Rin apologises for not being able to protect Illya. A return to the flashback reveals that Kotomine immediately stabbed Rin upon entering the house before leaving her in the current state. Rin feels stupid for not realising that Kotomine is the 7th Master. Using her remaining energy, Rin informs Shirou that Kotomine's aim is Illya and that right from the start he intended to make her a vessel, like what Caster almost did to Sakura and Rin.
Rin also believes that Kotomine is currently residing in Ryuudou temple. Rin's last advice has to do with Shirou and the fact that he is no match for Kotomine. Because of this, Rin wants to know if he still wants to fight Kotomine. Shirou confirms this because he can't forgive Kotomine for what he did to the children. Upon hearing this Rin smiles approvingly and decides to give Shirou a knife. Saber immediately recognises it as Azoth knife and Rin explains that she received the knife when she became a mage. Since she knew she could not win, she decides to keep it so Shirou can use it. The knife has a lot of mana in it so she recommends Shirou use it in the fight. Unfortunately Rin is getting rather sleepy so Shirou tells her to sleep and promises to wake her up and cook some breakfast for her tomorrow morning. Upon hearing this, Rin asks Shirou to promise her that he will win this battle because otherwise she won't forgive him when she wakes up tomorrow.
Later on, Saber asks Shirou if he really wants her to take her sheath away from him. When Shirou confirms this, she tells him that while her mana will be replenished when the sheath returns to her, she makes no guarantee that she'll be able to defeat Gilgamesh. On top of this, she worries that Shirou will lose his healing ability. Shirou, however, tells Saber that he's too dependent on it and besides, he thinks people should die if they do get killed. Because of this, Saber performs a ceremony where she puts her hand into Shirou's body. While she does this, Shirou does her imaging and think about Saber and the Sheath. By the time he opens his eyes, Saber already has the sheath in her hands. The two then make their way to Ryuudou temple and upon getting there, Saber realises that just like 10 years ago, there's a high concentration of magic around the place. Shirou wonders if this means that the Holy Grail is being summoned or has been completed.
Either way, Shirou realises that Lancer must have been defeated by Gilgamesh. Because of this he decides that Saber should face Gilgamesh while he faces Kotomine. As the two make their way into the temple, Shirou realises that there's no word coming out from either of them. He realises that once the Holy War is over, Saber will disappear regardless of the outcome. Because of this he wonders if they have a chance to turn around but when he sees Saber's determined look, he decides to tell her that they're going to their last battle. Upon entering the temple ground, they find themselves facing face to face with Gilgamesh. Saber immediately asks Gilgamesh what he wishes to achieve by participating in this battle. In reply, Gilgamesh tells Saber that he has no objective in the war and is only interested in her. In fact, he's been thinking about her all of these times. Since he has no interest in Shirou, he orders Shirou to get lost and find Uncle Kotomine instead.
Despite his initial reluctance, Shirou eventually decides to press on and runs into the temple. Inside the temple, he finds Kotomine in the middle of performing a ceremony that involves him suspending Illya midair. Shirou orders Kotomine to stop the ceremony but he claims that he can't do this because the Grail has arrived. Having said that, it's still incomplete. The black mud that seems to be dripping is actually the physical manifestation of the Grail's power. Kotomine also tells Shirou that the summoning technique was actually devised by the Einzbern family. However, up until now, no one has been able to complete the Grail because they either messed up the summoning or there are those like Kiritsugu who tried to destroy the Grail. When Shirou wonders why Kotomine wants to unleash such calamity into the world, Kotomine tells him that it's simply for his amusement. He believes that the value of human life is most notable at the moment of their death.
Kotomine also thinks that the fire that happened ten years ago was not bad. He likens the hell-like situation to a spiritual explosion. He believes that this is the moment when people shine the most. In other words, Kotomine is a nutcase. He then tells Shirou that while he realises that he's rather warped, he claims that no one loves humanity more than him and therefore, there is no other human being who deserves to obtain the Holy Grail other than him. Shirou eventually is fed up with the crazy talk and decides to attack Kotomine. Unfortunately, Kotomine decides to summon the black mud to constrain Shirou, exposing him to the mud's acid-like substance. Meanwhile outside the temple, Saber manages to slice Gilgamesh's sword into two pieces. Gilgamesh thinks that no matter what, neither she nor Shirou has the chance to win. But since Saber is still resilient, he decides to use his multiple sword attacks to debilitate her.
Gilgamesh then follows the attack by drawing his special sword and launches Enuma Elish at Saber. Saber immediately responding to this by unleashing Excalibur. Unfortunately for Saber, the result is quite similar to the first time when she and Gilgamesh unleashed their power at each other. Back inside the temple, Kotomine informs Shirou that he's been expecting him ever since he finds out that he is Kiritsugu's son. Kotomine loathes Kitsurugu for ruining his plan 10 years ago. Kotomine also claims that Kiritsugu's fault was that he didn't kill Kotomine once he destroyed the grail 10 years ago. Kitsurugu, however, thought that he was cursed and eventually dead for destroying the grail. While the truth is, it's actually Kotomine who did it all along. Because of this, he wants to know if Shirou will suffer the same fate as his father and immediately summons Angra Mainyu. Upon unleashing the summon, the black mud envelops Shirou's body completely, causing the guy to scream in pain.
Shirou's scream reaches the outer part of the temple, where Saber has also lost to Gilgamesh's Enuma Elish. This time around, however, she seems to be faring better possibly due to the regenerative power of the sheath. Gilgamesh mocks Saber by telling her that her Master is now dead but Saber denies this and believes that Shirou is still alive. Gilgamesh informs Saber that if she is exposed to the curse, she'll become similar to him. Gilgamesh then picks Saber's feet and dangling her upside down. He then mocks her dedication to her country by saying that her country was the one who destroyed her. In return, Saber tells Gilgamesh that he, on the other hand, destroyed his own country. Ouch. Saber then reacts quickly by giving a kick to Gilgamesh's face. Gilgamesh becomes angry and decides to eliminate Saber, whom he now refers to as 'unpleasant-looking woman'. Once again he powers up Enuma Elish so Saber retaliates by summoning Excalibur as well. The episode then ends with Ryuudou temple being surrounded by a bright explosion.
Impression:
I'm disappointed to know that Kotomine is revealed to be a nutcase instead of someone with an interesting motive. It makes the entire war feels kind of cheap since the villain's desire for destruction is only meant to produce some sort of an amusement for him. I am even more upset with the fact that Rin is not involved whatsoever in the final battle. I would have thought that she and Shirou will band together to fight Kotomine but as it turns out, she is incapacitated from any kind of fight right from the beginning. I guess the writers don't want her to take away the limelight from Saber and Shirou when they terminate Kotomine and Gilgamesh next week. Overall, this has to be one of the most disappointing penultimade episode I've ever seen. If I have to compare this with other series involving the fate of the world like X, this one simply left me cold. With only one more episode left, I was expecting to be more excited to see next week's episode but all that I can hope right now is a decent resolution to the whole Shirou/Saber story.
Preview
On next week's episode: It's the end for Shirou's Harem!! After a few months of hogging the girls all to himself, the girls finally wise up and decide to leave him. Poor Shirou. T_T
Higurashi's questionable animation and silly designs work to increase the horror factor of the story. It's tough to tell when Higurashi is acting like a comedy or a mystery; I suppose that just works to give it more of a "creepy" edge.
...
In regard to this episode, it sure does look wonderful, though I wish this quality wasn't dedicated to...dare I say, a rehashed battle/concept (fault of Deen), as opposed to improving that silly Saber v. Berserker rematch and the Kuzuki v. Shirou match up. Ahh, well, I suppose viewers across the globe really have no say for the direction of foreign shows.
Kotomine would have been a good enemy to have early in the episode. It'll be shocking. But after 22 or so episodes of not seeing him. it's obvious that he must be one of the last few antagonists. I still think they should have gone with Heaven's Feel scenario. It'll be more interesting at the very least.
I'm sad that the series will end soon. I am just hoping that the series will end with Saber staying with Shirou.
All those Higurashi references, are you going to do an episode 9 entry soon?
>> I wish this quality wasn't dedicated to...dare I say, a rehashed battle/concept (fault of Deen), as opposed to improving that silly Saber v. Berserker rematch
Saber/Berserker rematch happened after the Archer battle. I assume Deen was being careful so that they don't overspend before they reach the end of the episode.
total off-topic! XD
I read your blog really often (altough I don´t comment much... actually only on the Ouran related ones ^^U), and I use to recomend it to people. So, I was wondering if you would mind if I put a link to here on my LJ?
Two thoughts that came to mind with this and the finale:
1) Naked Loli? Oh dear. At least Shirou doesn't have a sis-con complex....
2) It looks like a Fate ending to me - at least, with the shots of the ending. Which, of course, means it'll be bittersweet... rather like another TYPE MOON game and anime's 'true' ending.
All those Higurashi references, are you going to do an episode 9 entry soon?
It's in the plan for the next 3 days. There are 2 other overdue entries that I want to push forward but I'll try to squeeze it in before the next Haruhi.
So, I was wondering if you would mind if I put a link to here on my LJ?
Claudio, go ahead. No objection here. :)
The final episode's title sounds kind of sad: The All Distant Utopia 「全て遠き理想郷」 (from ANN). Does it mean that the Holy Grail grants wishes for destruction, not creation or resurrection?
Judging from the description of the plot from the Moonlit World, I would say that the ending would not be sad at all. Well, I guess it'd be if you like a certain pairing but other than that, it's not that sad.
What I do wish to see in the ending though, is Shirou slowly transforming into you know who. Hmm, I wonder if Rin is still around when Shirou transforms into that person. Because wouldn' t that mean old Rin knows that Shirou = that person?
I do agree that the heaven's feel scenario would promise more excitment/ action, but the Fate line introduces the characters better and is less dark for a partially comedic series.
Although it's probably inevidible, Saber's probably going to leave (somewhere), like Arcuid left Shiki back in Shingetsutan Tsukihime (also by typemoon).
eek ><
hey wen's the last episode??
wat episode is it??
>Saber/Berserker rematch happened after the Archer battle. I assume Deen was being careful so that they don't overspend before they reach the end of the episode.
Looking back, Archer's battle was the most badarse in the entire story, but it too dipped in quality and had awkward moments. Aside from this episode, the last major solidly good-looking battle was Saber v. Rider, around episode twelve, I think.
FSN's limited budget wouldn't have been so bad if the recycled animation/quality changes were more subtle and infrequent. Utawarerumono reuses shots, too; but those are common "stormtrooper" slaughter scenes, nothing major like Servant v. Servant battles.
Further, I think the animation changes could have been excused if the pacing was better, the Saber-Shirou relationship a bit smoother (we had twelve episodes of conflict, two of awkward treatment, one of hiatus and sudden growth in two) and there was no badly rendered CGI dragon. Pfeh.
Weils - the title is a reference to the Avalon.
> Kotomine would have been a good enemy to have early in the episode. It'll be shocking. But after 22 or so episodes of not seeing him. it's obvious that he must be one of the last few antagonists. I still think they should have gone with Heaven's Feel scenario. It'll be more interesting at the very least.
Agreed. Although I prefer "Unlimited Blade Works". It conveys a darker universal theme rather than the other two arcs. Maybe a few things from "Heaven's Feel" (like grandfather matou and true assassin) and a good character intro from "Fate". Ahh well, let's see how will this finish off as DEEN's primary focus on the "Fate" arc. Most probably what Haesslich said: a bittersweet finish off. Or a cyclic one!
Hmmm, they made Kotomine look like a typical 'destroy-everything' cliche. In the game, he actually had a GOOD reason for doing what he did: He spent his entire life as one of the good guys, but only found enjoyment from committing evil deeds.
So, following that reasoning, he wanted to unleash an evil existence on the world, just to see how it would behave. If something is born evil, only understands wickedness, and only destroys, is it really right to condemn it, then?
...But I guess that concept flew WAY overhead the animators. Too bad there's no Heaven's Feel zombie Kotomine...
There's one more reason to miss Heaven's Feel - Rider. :D Ah well - it appears they're going with a Fate-based ending, primarily, but with luck they'll pull some UBW into things....
Type-Moon already screwed up with the Tsukihime anime and yet again they've done it with its Fate/stay night counterpart. I sure hope they won't do it a third time if and when they decide to animate, say, Kara no Kyoukai or (hopefully) a Tsukihime remake AKA "Melty Blood".
It's not strictly Type-MOON which is doing this; Studio DEEN's also responsible here, since they're apparently sticking strictly to the Fate storyline; and none of Type-MOON's visual novels end with very 'happy' endings if you're following the True ending storylines. They had Happy ending storylines for Tsukihime and Fate/Stay Night which would've worked equally well in anime form... but those stories weren't ever used. One of the ones for Tsukihime was pretty suggestive of a harem series, actually...
Heck, even in Heaven's Feel, the ending's not very happy:
SPOILERS FOLLOW
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Since Black Saber has to die, after being corrupted by the darkness in the Holy Grail, and Shirou sacrifices himself to stop things. Sakura, who made a promise to Shirou to wait for him to return... waits... and waits... and waits till her hair turns grey. He isn't ever coming back, since he's dead and Sakura doesn't realize it, or ignores this fact.
The 'Happy' ending has Ilya dying in his place, IIRC, so he can live with Sakura and Rider.
SPOILERS END
Next is the end, but......BUT......POOR LANCER! Show one time in the first, next show is dead, too bad, in stroy, he is also a hero, fight for his own dream!~~~~~
I am sad too. The end is comming. Well, i did like this episode.
Shirou has one power left to make Saber to drink to the holy grail.
Is there a chance of a second season?
Heaven's Feel True Ending: Shirou lives
Heaven's Feel Normal Ending: Shirou sacrifices himself
People often confuse them.
I think Lancer gets shafted no matter which route you take, unless we're talking about Hollow Ataraxia here, something which I'm also hopeful that Type-Moon will decide on animating soon, if not much later. I still don't buy that Irish bastard (FAITH AN' BEGGORAH!) being in love with his Haruhi Fujioka lookalike of a Master...
Also, Studio DEEN didn't seem to do bad in Higurashi (as it was already pointed out, but then that's just me) and Binchou-tan...
Take easy with me (I dont speak english very well hehehe...)
I entered in the show for curiosity, actually it was accompanying other series.
FSN had everything to be the success of the year, but for me it turned the failure of the year.
My reasons:
servo
1) as any good drama/suspense series should have given a good emphasis in the romance that the supposition " King Arthur " would only have in another life (as Servant), creating an interesting line of history dramatical for a " king " to come falling in love for somebody. Even because in series as MY HIME that was well placed, even next to the last chapter that left me without working for 2 days. After that they revived all of the anything in the last episode, absurd!! The worst, a lot of thing was not well explained in the series!
A proof of that is that nobody is worrying about the couple Shirou x Saber. -___-"
* spoiler starts *
2) Shirou and Archer: For who only accompanied the series in Anime like me, would cry of surprise in knowing that true Shirou became a hero, appearing later as a hero in your own history.
But Archer just dies in a disgraceful way removing 5 lives of another hero. :8O
Archer should have interacted with Saber, leaving slightly in the air that he would have some affection for her...
* spoiler ends*
3) Rin was of extreme importance in the series, same not playing FSN game, it was evident... A relationship among Rin x Archer would be perfect since Rin admires Shirou.
I am a person type that likes of final happy, however, in the case of Fate Stay Night, I was prepared to accept the separation of Shirou and Saber, once the two characters' sentimental plot had a deeper connection. Shirou that went by a tragedy, lost your parents, and it grew with an objective, to help the neighbor. Saber with your life of wars and obligations spilled a lot of blood, she didn't have time of looking for your own life, it made mistakes.
I am attending the series again, because it is very pleased of attending...
But I hated three things:
1) the fight for the sacred chalice was very unbalanced, heros as herculers VS King athur + Escalibur I accept, but against other entities like Lancer hmm... It seemed that from the beginning the sacred chalice was guaranteed for who had the strongest hero !!! ;_; "
A proof of that was the eighth servant, he participated in the last sacred fight. Is he the KING of the Heroes, as it would be possible he to be defeated? for Rider? for lancer ? Archer ? Caster ? Assassin ? lol?
2) the fight for the sacred chalice was very unbalanced, heros as herculers VS King athur + Escalibur I accept, but against other entities like Lancer hmm... It seemed that from the beginning the sacred chalice was guaranteed for who had the strongest hero
3) the series could finish with Saber winning the right of a new life, in FSN that would be totally innovative, once it was impossible from the beginning that to happen. Besides FSN could have a second season well structured explaining a lot of thing, and would not need to revive characters of the anything, it would be funny to see Saber to disappear and to return 10 years later -_-"
***************
ending:
I cannot accept the end of that series of the way that is finishing...
In my opinion Saber will die or "rest in peace", perhaps they get to stop that malicious entity that gathers 7 heroes every 10 years (it is very fast, in the time of life of Shirou that should happen more 6 or 8 times)! O__O"
I adored the series, I wait that it doesn't finish without explaining some things, and I also hope doesn't just finish the romance of Saber and Shirou with her disappearing.
And I hope the series doesn't finish with all in your normal lives of the way that the anime began, I would really begin to call that of clichê
> But Archer just dies in a disgraceful way removing 5 lives of another hero. :8O
IMHO, Archer's death was more heroic rather than disgraceful.
> IMHO, Archer's death was more heroic rather than disgraceful.
I agree with you vin.dictive, but...
I can argue on that :
Comparing Archer with other Heroes invoked in that war, he was the largest hero of the series.
why?
*spoiler starts*
1) Archer/Shirou got to stop the war without generating a lot of deaths, if you observe that even King Arthuria admired Shirou/Archer because he was fighting the right way (without generating spill of unnecessary blood), a final fight among Archer VS Saber would be better than Saber VS Gilgamesh 100000 times.
Actually, Shirou/Archer was the HERO of the HEROES.
2) Shirou/Archer showed in that war the TRUE meaning of being HERO, he didn't need the sacred chalice to re-do anything, Shirou will prove that in the last chapter, destroying the Chalice...(I hope)
Then because Archer was invoked in that war? Perhaps he was sorry of leaving Saber to die, and solved to do her to drink of the chalice. This fight Saber VS Archer would make the series to be THE BEST of all the times.
Try to imagine Archer revealing for Saber that is Shirou in the future, and showing the whole suffering load for having left her to die in that tournament.
*spoiler ends*
*******************
ending
that series had everything to be the best series in the gender drama/fantasia/Historical/Romance of all the times. First because the end would not be happy (in spite that I would cry a lot), and second, FSN would leave open to series for a second season.
Actually, Shirou was a LOT more heroic than that. As Archer, he is said to be the last Heroic Spirit: That is, the only one from the modern age.
Evidently, in his brief life, he wasn't just an incredible swordsman; He was also the crafter of a thousand blades, each with the power of a Noble Phantasm. He only died when he tried to take on an army, and the people he saved turned on him.
Note that this is the Shirou who follows the 'FATE' route.
I think some people are being way too harsh on the whole Fate/Stay night anime. I have to say though, this episode was a bit disappointing, and rather bland. It can't be helped though, there are always those nitpickers who wants the anime to follow the whole entire plot of the game. I have to say, I watched Tsukihime, and I was disappointed in the anime. Fate/Stay Night however, I enjoyed most of th episodes. I would really like to see how the ending turns out. Maybe they probably do a good job of it, hopefully so.
Actually, Shirou was a LOT more heroic than that. As Archer, he is said to be the last Heroic Spirit: That is, the only one from the modern age
Evidently, in his brief life, he wasn't just an incredible swordsman; He was also the crafter of a thousand blades, each with the power of a Noble Phantasm. He only died when he tried to take on an army, and the people he saved turned on him.
lol...he's not half as great as that...
http://fuyuki.pbwiki.com/Misc%20characters#EMIYA
Read the entry on EMIYA
Anyway...in an ironic twist of fate...the contract with the world made him into a counter-guardian instead of a true heroic spirit. While he accepted his death with the belief that he'll be used in his afterlife to save people, he ended up killing more and more people even in his afterlife.
Hence the reason he wanted to end his own existence by killing Shirou in UBW path.
"Perhaps. But it's still possible. Revision of the past probably won't be enough, but if I killed him with my own hands, the paradoxes will become larger. Should the distortion be big enough, it just might be possible for the the hero called EMIYA to be annihilated."
"And one more thing, Saber. I put up with being a Guardian just for this one moment. I'm not looking for results, not anymore. This is my way of throwing all of my misery at the stupidity of a punk named Emiya Shirou, who ended up a clown at the end of his idiotic utopia."
Ah well...maybe they'll release the OVA on the other paths...
its great but you have to improve it and make it more "creepyer."............. any way i liked it
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