As a reader of the Fate/stay night visual novel I can confirm that the majority of this episode was anime original content. However instead of being about castors history like I thought, it’s of his backstory with her first master. In all honestly making the episode be about her history with Jason would have been a better way to make her more sympathetic but still I am not against this either. This is the first time Castors former master has made an appearance as in the visual novel he was only briefly mentioned. I am not exactly keen on making him so one sidedly jerkish for the purpose of making Castor look better in comparison. Though the thing I find odd is his acceptance of technology which in the visual novel is something that Magi abhor most of all. (Hence why Rin is so terrible with machines.) But he did mention that his family was new to magic. The pacing was a little fast for this backstory but from what I hear it’s been confirmed that seven minutes of content was cut from this airing episode. Hoping for that Lancer vs Castor fight or Media’s history.
Now my main concern is that while this material is nice to have, it isn’t necessary. I said before that I worry as to how UFOtable plan to fill out the rest of this season as they already have gotten though a large amount of the visual novels route. If their plan is to expand the route with scenes like this then I am in favor though I hope they have more impact besides adding in action scenes or filling up space. For example, giving Lancer more scenes to show off his character because if there is one character who is greatly underused it’s without a doubt him.
Though the placement of comedy may be questionable, I really laughed when Illya only lightly shocked Shirou with her field but blew away Rin when she entered. It was priceless. The extra scenes really showed off Sella and Leysritt who were actually barely present in the visual novel at all. It’s nice that the two of them had some time to shine bullying Shinji before the blond servant came in. And Shinji…they sure are playing him for laughs. So much so that it’s sort of becoming his thing. Being ridiculously overconfident and then undermined at the slightest threat. It a good way to go with his character, seeing as his role as a minor villain is one dimensional. By making him someone who has no idea just what he has got himself into actually by some miraculous oddity, makes him slightly likeable. Though if they are to continue this route there is a rather distasteful moment involving him in the future that would need to be treaded carefully. If it can be that is. There was a surprising amount of gore in their deaths, though with ridiculous amounts of blood but hey, anime. It looks as though the next episode will focus on Berserker and Archer fight which I am fully geared for. I am all set for an animated explosive brawl that wasn’t even present in the visual novel.
I agree with you haha. I’m expecting Berserker vs Gil to be great. It was great in the VN of course, but we were constrained to Shirou’s first person view.
I also liked the backstory about Caster and her old master. I think it really fleshed out her character. Making him a total as a might have been a little cheap, but it made sense. Caster would not have betrayed an even slightly reasonable master. He had to be a total ass. Her not going along with his B.S. rituals just shows what kind of person Caster is. Yes she drains the city, but she makes sure not to kill any one too. The last war’s Caster had no such reservations.
Loved finding out a bit more about Caster’s original Master although it’s weird that he referenced El-Melloi when he was talking about his magus family. He seemed to imply he was from El-Melloi’s line but I thought El-Melloi was from an elite family of magi with a proven crest line, which was used to contrast to the relative newbie Waver Velvet in Fate Zero. If he was talking about El-Melloi in reference to being a participant sent by the Magus Association, why compare himself to El-Melloi alone when Tokiomi was also present as a Magus Association representative? Just a bit confused. Also very surprised that this Master had such a bad compatibility with the Servant he summoned. I thought unless an artifact was involved, the summoned Servant would be highly compatible with the Master. (Thinks of F/Z’s Caster duo.) In fact, if I’m not wrong, the Servant’s personality tends to get influenced slightly towards the Master’s personality through the Servant-Master bond. Unless this worked against this Master, who summoned a Servant too close to his own arrogance but further up the magus power level ladder?
Also loved how he referenced the other female Magus Association representative and apparent Master of Lancer. OMG, might we get a glimpse of her later?!
Rin sent flying was the high of this episode for me. XD Along with Ilya’s reaction. Dammit. When I saw this scene, I was thinking…OMG, did they change the source material?! Shirou gets to meet Ilya in the Castle and talk about Kiritsugu?! Then Shinji drops out of the sky and I’m like…..DAAAAAAMMMMMMIIIIIIITTTTTTTTT! I know what’s going to happen next. T.T Damn you, UFOtable for toying with us!!! XD
Seyla and Leysritt were not in the original version of the FSN right? They only showed up in hollow ataraxia. So I was really interested to see what they could do against blondie. Seyla’s abilities especially are pretty much unknown to me. Honestly thought Leysritt might be able to pull something amazing but it ended way too quick. Goodbye, biggest oppai in Fuyuki. T.T Ah, man, I feel so blue. I’m off to replay Ilya’s pool date in Hollow Ataraxia.
Seriously, this is why I can’t play blondie’s route in CCC. Why the heck does this guy even have a route?!
Also a mystery, how Caster survived Lancer. Was she intentionally spared by his Master or did Lancer act on his own? Strange loose end to be resolved later?
I believe he mentioned Lord El-Melloi because he was the representative of the clock tower in the previous Holy grail war. Tokiomi on the other hand wasn’t a representative of the clock tower but of his own family line.
In general a servant is summoned with a catalyst and if you have the right Catalyst then you can get anyone you want. Though being similar to the hero helps. Without a catalyst then you get someone who matches you.
Based on Kirei’s reaction, I think not. It would be nice to see that person though.
Seyla and Leysritt appeared briefly in the original visual novel I believe. As for how Castor survived Lancer, well Lancer wasn’t ordered to kill servants but rather scout. That’s one thing nobody gives Lancer no credit for. The man quite literally fought every servant with a command seal binding his abilities and got away without a scratch.
well Lancer wasn’t ordered to kill servants but rather scout.
In Caster’s case, I thought there might be an exception cos Caster’s identity was already revealed so there wouldn’t be any point in further scouting and even Caster’s original Master had sent out a request to have his Servant killed. I mean, Lancer’s timing was just perfect. It was like he was waiting for Caster to finish off her original Master and she was weakened from cutting herself off from her Master. And that unhappy look on his face. He was definitely there under orders. Hm..I thought Lancer had left Caster for dead but maybe she escaped?
The man quite literally fought every servant with a command seal binding his abilities and got away without a scratch.
I don’t remember him fighting Berserker or Rider. Did it happen off-stage?
I doubt he arrived there intentionally after Castor killed her master. The timing was too perfect like you said. There would at least be a delay before Lancer would be sent in. It’s also worthy to note that lancers master is likely not in this war to win. It wouldn’t be entertaining to remove a player so soon from the field, now would it?
“I don’t remember him fighting Berserker or Rider. Did it happen off-stage?”
Yep. He fought them off-screen. He had to scout all the servants after all. But no kudos for him because Saber is the bestest servant cause she can shoot laser beams.(Rolls eyes)
See you next season Sella and Leysritt!
Fate Prisma Illya is probably the only universe so far where both of them aren’t doomed (and for that matter, Illya too). UBW only shows a mere silver of Sella and Leysritt’s personalities, but seeing Sella trying to argue with Illya really reminds me of Sella’s role in Fate Prisma Illya.
Along with a lot of other characters. XD Although, on the downside, all the FSN servants are gone(?).
Fate Prisma Illya draws heavily from Hollow Ataraxia. Yes, the servants are.. not present in the sense of persons, but rather cards, bearing the power of servants- the origins of the cards… well that’s a big spoiler for next season, let’s just say it is not native to the Fate Prisma Illya time-line. But, it’s a good “healing” experience, if Illya’s death in UBW upsets you.
If Hollow Ataraxia had an anime first, I imagine the same arguments applied to UBW would have also applied to Fate Prisma Illya.
I am hoping for a Hollow Ataraxia anime announcement after Heaven’s Feel though.
Enjoyed the PS2 and PSP games for Fate/Stay Night.
You should pick up hollow ataraxia for the Vita if you own one. It’s epic. Sadly, they wiped out the adult scenes from the PC version so many of the heroine stories feel like they’re missing some intensity but they did put in a very awesome minigame whose stories hopefully will show up in future Carnival Phantasms. I especially love that Ruler-class Servant from France. XDDDDD Don’t miss her.