「歩き出す運命」 (Arukidasu Unmei)
“Walking Into Destiny”

All this time I thought Team Black were the bad guys. Have I been sorely mistaken?

General Impressions

Compared to a lot of other Fate shows, I’m really enjoying how this one is really blurring the line between what’s “good” and “evil”. With a lot of focus on Team Black and their crazy setup (homunculus, crazy Holy Grail theft, world renown vampire as team leader), I was under this impression that they were the bad guys. But, after seeing Team Black attempt to take out Jeanne (makes you wonder for what purpose they want to remove Ruler from the game) as well as getting a glimpse at some of the members sitting in that dingy room, I’m starting to question if Mordred’s team is just as bad if not worse than Team Black. And if anything, if we’re using colors as a basis here, I suppose it wouldn’t be too unrealistic to think that the red in Team Red could be referring to just how “bloody” their methods may be.

Luckily, it looks like we’ll get some sense of morality through the Servants and just how little they care about the actual Greater Holy Grail war. For Team Black, my two personal favorites are probably Astolfo and Frankenstein’s Monster. Starting with the former, I’m glad to see that he literally can’t care less about what other’s want and will boldly lie to people even with an unconscious boy over his shoulder. Like, for a Fate show, I don’t think I’ve ever chuckled as hard as I did when Astolfo said “No” with zero hesitation to those two guards. Toss in how he seems to let his master do whatever she wants and shows no sense of satisfaction for it and you have a Servant who I can get behind one hundred and ten perfect. For the latter, I must say that ever since her appearance, there’s just something charming about Frankenstein’s Monster. While it’s a damn shame that we can’t hear her speak because she’s part of the Berserker class, her calm demeanor combined with her Master’s slife-of-life type of personality makes for a duo that I wouldn’t mind watching a whole episode of. It also doesn’t hurt that she also seems to be pretty strong and as all of Fate/GO players know, brute forcing content with a Berserker is always doable and it looks like it’ll apply to Apocrypha too.

Besides that, we weren’t really given all that much in this week’s episode. With a clear lack of Mordred and no explanation behind how this frail homunculus will end up being with Jeanne, it looks like we’ll have to wait even longer before the story really hits its stride. That said, I think things have been building up fairly well and I’m really hoping that before we know it the story will hit its stride and be throwing wave after wave of awesome things at us.

In any case, I’ll catch you guys next week where we’ll hopefully get to see some more Mordred :’) See you then!

62 Comments

  1. You got your teams wrong
    Team Red is the team Kairi, Mordred, Karna, Shiro and the others belong to
    The Yggdmilenia (The ones using homunculi who stole the grail and summoned Vlad, Frankenmoe, Astolfo and the others) are team Black

    bassgs435
    1. I can’t blame Takaii for that.

      The sub was inconsistent. When Ruler called Karna, Lancer of Red was shown in the sub. But, what was shown when Gordes ordered Sieg to attack was Lancer of Black. It switched between the correct and the wrong more than once throughout the episode.

    2. Okay, forgive me. It was late and why the hell are we referring to Sabers as 赤セイバー and 黒セイバー?

      I fixed the post, but now that I got it down correctly, that won’t happen in the future haha

  2. Takaii man , you need to do something about spoiler heavy comments here
    reading the ( not spoiler tagged ) comments of the past 2 episodes I feel like I can drop the next 7 episodes and still not miss a thing

    Urahara
    1. The land mentioned in Sieg’s tale was indeed Netherland, but whether it’s related to the Netherland we know today (or whether it really existed) is up to debate.

      It’s probably the same case with how modern day Macedonia is not the same Macedonia where Iskandar the Great came from. FYI Greece insists on calling their neighbor Slavic Macedonia to differ it from the Ancient Greek Polis (city state) where Iskandar hailed from.

    2. The subbers were not mistaken, Siegfried does introduce himself as being from the Netherlands. This in itself is not that big a stretch as the original Nibelungenlied puts him as crown prince of Xanten, a town that lies close to the modern border between Germany and the Netherlands. (Netherlands is also put down as location in the FGO in-game material 😉 )

      DarkWind
    1. For us, the interaction between Mordred and her Master was the only part of this episode worth watching, and may be the only “couple” worth seeing in this entire series if the execution doesn’t improve.

      Not surprising, since there can never be enough Saber/Arturia-clones.

      Jerry
  3. Siegfried’s another classic Nasuverse look at the concept that heroes aren’t necessarily lauded, and he fulfills the role very nicely. Maybe that’s why he kind of sounds like Emiya.

    The skirmish we got this episode was… well a skirmish and ended real quick.

    And yea, Takaii, you got the teams mixed up.

    Mellow Yellow
  4. OK, why in the goddamn hell did Siegfried just tell Karna his true name?

    This didnt happened in the source material so this is someone on the production team screwing it up.

    Which Dum-Dum wrote that into the script and which another Dum-Dum give it the OK!?

    Vermillion
    1. The LN author himself is in charge of the anime scripts. Just look at the credits on MAL.
      Normally the source material authors are credited as “original creator”. Here, Higashide (LN writer) is credited as “series composition”. Which means he’s the one to blame for any changes in the script from LN to anime (like Siegfried telling Karna his true name)

      bassgs435
    2. There are two interesting things about how the two heroes told their names just like that, first they don´t think knowing their identidies is going to make much of a diference in battle, that means those two are seriously powerful to the point of being cheats. Second, Seigfried just desobey a direct order from his master, the fat guy order him not to reveal his true name and he did it anyway, that means Siegfried has his own plans for this war to a certain degree, at the very least he´s no lap dog.

      haseo0408
  5. Eh, Astolfo is a dude? Aww man..
    All in all, a good episode but the sound effects of fights are really bad.
    That fucking overmodulation everytime those two hit each other surely was irritating.

    Shio
  6. I’d be really sad seeing either or both of these siblings die.
    https://randomc.net/image/Fate%20Apocrypha/Fate%20Apocrypha%20-%2003%20-%2028.jpg
    https://randomc.net/image/Fate%20Apocrypha/Fate%20Apocrypha%20-%2003%20-%2035.jpg
    They don’t seem like the “typical” type of person to become a master. Having rather mundane wishes, and they don’t seem to have the drive or craziness like the ones we’ve seen in past series. Wonder how they were chosen in the first place?

    Three episodes in and we still haven’t gotten introduced to Mordred’s team. Only two pairings so far, wonder who really is the protagonists here?

    theirs
      1. @Fai
        I did, hence the question. Still know nothing about our supposed male lead besides he’s not a generic homunculus. Already know enough about the main antagonist. And the supposed female lead is helped by the fact that she’s a famous historical figure. But the Fate series likes to tweak history a little. So, out of those three I’m only quite sure about one.

        theirs
      2. @theirs Is this a bait? What the fuck is wrong with you?

        The name of main protagonist (MC) is written in official anime website and anime official twitter, Both of these contains only information about the anime, characters, promotional and marketing material (someone posted links on page from the previous episode). So that’s not a spoiler, but only information.

        ”Still know nothing about our supposed main protagonist besides he’s not a generic homunculus”

        Did you really watch the first episode?

        The MC (Sieg/homunculus) was the first character to be shown in anime, he was hugging holy grail and it made the anime opening monologue. In the following scene, the battle between Red Saber (Mordred) and Black Saber (Siegfried). Show Spoiler ▼

        ”But the Fate series likes to tweak history a little.”

        Absolutely incorrect tho?
        Apo is literally about MC and his name is Sieg.

        If you are expecting Fate/Apocrypha to be like the other shows from Fate franchise, especially Fate/Zero and focus on multiple parties, then that is absolutely NOT what Apo is. You should just drop it maybe this show wasn’t suited to you (or some people). You will never like it no matter how good it turns out.

        Fai
    1. I wouldn’t be as bothered if Fiore (in the wheelchair) dies, as she seems inherently more selfish than her brother. She seems to think it of little consequence that she may have to kill Caules, when he himself would just want to bring Fiore back to life.

      Sekai
  7. https://randomc.net/image/Fate%20Apocrypha/Fate%20Apocrypha%20-%2003%20-%20Large%2010.jpg
    Ladies and gents, we now have a new ship! Kamijou Touma/strike> and Brother 10032!
    If the OP is of any indication, 10032 might end up as Jean’s master or her aide.

    https://randomc.net/image/Fate%20Apocrypha/Fate%20Apocrypha%20-%2003%20-%20Large%2002.jpg
    “Onii-chan taskete”
    “Onii-chan taskete”
    “Onii-chan taskete”
    “Onii-chan taskete”
    “Onii-chan taskete”
    “Onii-chan taskete”
    “Onii-chan taskete”
    “Onii-chan taskete”
    Repeat that 10031 times

    https://randomc.net/image/Fate%20Apocrypha/Fate%20Apocrypha%20-%2003%20-%20Large%2034.jpg
    Frau Frankenstein… Please survive this war

    Velvet Scarlantina
    1. https://randomc.net/image/Fate%20Apocrypha/Fate%20Apocrypha%20-%2003%20-%20Large%2010.jpg
      Ladies and gents, we now have a new ship! Kamijou Touma and Brother 10032!
      If the OP is of any indication, 10032 might end up as Jean’s master or her aide.

      https://randomc.net/image/Fate%20Apocrypha/Fate%20Apocrypha%20-%2003%20-%20Large%2002.jpg
      “Onii-chan taskete”
      “Onii-chan taskete”
      “Onii-chan taskete”
      “Onii-chan taskete”
      “Onii-chan taskete”
      “Onii-chan taskete”
      “Onii-chan taskete”
      “Onii-chan taskete”
      Repeat that 10031 times

      https://randomc.net/image/Fate%20Apocrypha/Fate%20Apocrypha%20-%2003%20-%20Large%2034.jpg
      Waifu of the season?

      Velvet Scarlantina
    1. Show Spoiler ▼

      NaoTomori
      1. I think you should put spoiler tags on that information. On the other hand, I say ASstolfo is rapidily becomeing a incredible character for me, the way he help the humumculus with no questions ask is what heroes are all about.

        haseo0408
      1. Considering Typemoon track record with Arturia, Mordred and Altera I wouldn´t be surprise if Astolfo were to be a girl but with name it is impossible for him to be one. According to legend he was the handsome of all of Charlomagne Paladins, must be a historical mistake in the Basuverse, like that abot Iskander being a short guy.

        haseo0408
    2. @haseo0408 Sorry, How do I put spoiler tags?

      @Velvet Scarlantina hereminds me a little of Hideyoshi form Baka & Test, but Astolfo really looks much more like Stella Vermillion from Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry.

      NaoTomori
      1. No worries. I think Astolfo likes to dress that way because it´s part of his carefree personality but now that mention it, he does look a little like Stella but I´m 80% sure he´s a man, a very feminine man.

        haseo0408
  8. https://randomc.net/image/Fate%20Apocrypha/Fate%20Apocrypha%20-%2003%20-%20Large%2034.jpg

    I love this little ode(?) to the original Frankenstein film, where the creature encounters the little girl and they play with flowers (before things go horribly wrong).

    It’s also nice to see that, as usual with Fate, while the Servants may obey their Masters when directly ordered, at any other time, the Servants still have their own personal convictions (like both Lancers from Fate/Zero and Fate/stay night and their honor), so seeing Astolfo helping the homunculus MC rather than just turning him in simply because Astolfo himself doesn’t like to see others die was nice.

    HalfDemonInuyasha
    1. Astolfo is probably the single most straightforwardly heroic Servant in the entire roster. Most of them are fairly complex or sympathetic in their own way, as Vlad can be a monster or a patriot depending on how you interpret his legend, but Astolfo goes out of his way to do the right thing and help other people because that’s just who he is as a person.

      Patrick
    1. …combined with the sound.

      True, that was one good bit of sound design, really got my sub dancing (well, it would have done if it weren’t for the concrete blocks holding it down).

      Angelus
  9. I too, thought Team Red were the good guys at first. But now I wonder. Is there even a “good” guy side. The mage association seems just as shady as the Ygg…people. At least both side’s servants seems to be on the benevolent side…mostly. Aside from Black Caster.

    YanDaMan
  10. I’m really enjoying how this one is really blurring the line between what’s “good” and “evil”

    I’m glad you put the quotes in there, but still, Studio Ghibli is that way —>

    As a total secondary here, however, what do I know apart from what I can see with my own eyes, which is that we are already way beyond any conventional notions of good and evil or morality and immorality. For me, placing a convicted criminal* in the position of judge is yet another sign of this.

    * I’m not going to take sides in the debate over whether Joan of Arc was a saint, heretic, witch, traitor, seditionist, rebel, terrorist, schizophrenic, sufferer of AIS, etc., I’m simply stating historical fact.

    Angelus
    1. One thing is sure, her trial was a show trial by the English and thus not a criminal. Her trial was supposedly a Catholic Church trial but the person running it was English partisan who broke a bunch of church rules. The Catholic Church investigated later and declared Joan innocent and the person running her trial a heretic. As the body who convicted her exonerated her even modern day, her standing would be legally innocent. And her execution was ordered for wearing men’s clothing. We have a large amount of actual recorded documents on her life and the trial unlike many things back then. The debate is over maybe she was set up to be captured.

      RedRocket
  11. Sigfried is an incredible character, he´s pretty much the kind of hero Archer became in the Fate main timeline, selfless to the point of insanity, losing everything without even wondering what he truly wanted until the bitter end. Eevn so, Siegfried´s destiny was far more merciful than Archer´s and now he has second chance to do what he wants, at least that´s what I think his wish is, to be able to be a little selfish this time.

    I´m currently reading Arifureta and I think Hajime Nagumo has a serious problem with Siegfried´s views about power and heroism. As Hajime says in the novel power allows you to do the thibgs you want to do but letting power dictate every action you take disregarding your own will is no different from a curse.

    haseo0408
  12. This series is very underwhelming to me. The execution is just clumsy, the characters are cardboard, the situations seem contrived; it feels like the subjects are speaking out expositions and acting out narratives.

    Bottom-line: it just feels unnatural.

    Actually, it’s just bad.

    To take just one example, the back-story of Siegfried could have been handled with much more subtlety and verve; the adulation and narration of his background was the definition of “clumsy”. Compare that to the back-story as depicted of Lancer in Fate-Zero, which dove-tailed beautifully with his motivations for the Grail War and his ultimate undoing and tragedy.

    I just don’t see this series as being worthwhile, given the effort thus far. I’m not saying it has to meet the standard of Fate-Zero just because it’s a part of the Fate series, but did it have to be this clunky?

    Jerry
    1. Well it is a 25 episodes adaptation with the original writter of the novel on board, give the show some time to build the story and characters to see where this is going. As far as I´m concern this is pretty good, it´s unfair to compare it withn all the other fate stories, the premise might be the same but the rest of this Holy Grail War is completely different, we have many more characters and personal stories to explore this time around, that and a new class Servant, so only the gods know how this is going to develop.

      haseo0408
  13. https://randomc.net/image/Fate%20Apocrypha/Fate%20Apocrypha%20-%2003%20-%20Large%2041.jpg
    Give this dude a nuke and he would probably live.

    https://randomc.net/image/Fate%20Apocrypha/Fate%20Apocrypha%20-%2003%20-%20Large%2001.jpg
    And seriously Rider, if you don’t like her, because she is evil, try to reform her.

    On the side note, while it is interesting that the Gordes was able to ride a car, I am shocked that team black doesn’t have tanks at least.

    L002
    1. Yep, it the funny rules both sides tend to follow disallowing modern weaponry or even using medieval military organization. Of course, some masters don’t follow the rules. The whole Fate combined series tend to ignore the fact that governments actually have the power to do anything for the rule of cool reason.

      RedRocket

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