Fate/stay night / First Impressions

Summary:
A bloodied Rin recalls what happened earlier when someone had rung the doorbell. She expected to see Shirou, but it was actually Kotomine. Shirou and Saber return home sometime later and sense that things are amiss because the lights are off. Inside one of the rooms, they find Rin lying against a wall, with her blood splattered everywhere. Rin apologizes for not being able to protect Ilya, having not realized that Kotomine was the seventh Master. She gives Shirou her final pieces of advice: First, Kotomine’s objective is Ilya – his plan from the beginning was probably to make her the vessel for the Holy Grail. Second, Rin thinks that Kotomine has gone to Ryuudoji – there’s nowhere better than there to allow the Holy Grail to arrive. And finally, Shirou is no match for Kotomine. However, seeing that Shirou is determined to settle things, she smiles and gives Shirou her Azoth, which is something she got when she became a mage. Rin instructs him on how to use the dagger, and says that she knew she couldn’t win, so she had hid it until the end for Shirou to use. Rin is now getting sleepy, so she ends it at that. Shirou says that when morning comes, he’ll wake her and give her a huge breakfast. Rin says that Shirou has to win – if he’s lost by the time she wakes up tomorrow, she won’t forgive him.
Before they go to the temple, Shirou wants to give Saber back her sheath. She says that she can’t guarantee a win against Gilgamesh even with it, and is worried about Shirou losing his healing ability. Shirou says that he’s become too dependant it – people should die if they are killed. And so, Saber reaches into Shirou’s body and he gives up the sheath. The two then make their way to Ryuudoji where the magic power density is really high. Shirou thinks that the summoning of the Holy Grail has already started or is already done. He decides that Saber should face Gilgamesh while he goes after Kotomine. As long as they can defeat one of them, they can prevent the enemy from getting their hands on the Holy Grail. As they walk up the steps, Shirou thinks to himself that whatever the outcome, Saber will disappear after this fight. He wonders if it’s not too late to turn back, and he turns around to address her. Seeing her eyes, he does away with those thoughts and the two head for the final battle. Gilgamesh is waiting at the top for them. He doesn’t actually have a wish for the Holy Grail – he’s only concerned about Saber. After throwing a slew of pre-battle insults and taunts at her, Gilgamesh tells Shirou that if he’s looking for Kotomine, he should quickly go and disappear. Shirou takes that as a sign that it’s time for him to leave and so he does, with Saber charging Gilgamesh soon after.
Shirou finds Ilya strung up naked with Kotomine standing below her. The Holy Grail has arrived already, but Kotomine says that the womb is still unstable. Referring to the black sludge, he says that this is overflowing power of the Holy Grail, which will create disasters everywhere – a cursed material. He explains that the Einzbern family created this summoning system, but until now no one has seen the complete Holy Grail. Sometimes it’s a failed summon and sometimes there are people like Shirou’s father who are trying to destroy it – this would be the first complete Holy Grail. And the reason he wants to bring disaster upon the world? Amusement. Kotomine wants the light of stars and says that the fire from 10 years ago wasn’t bad. Souls being blasted open make the most dazzling light. He says that although it’s in a warped form, no one loves mankind more than him and therefore, there is no one more suitable for the Holy Grail than him. Shirou tries to charge him, but Kotomine uses the black sludge to strike at Shirou, hold him in place, and burn him. During all this, Saber and Gilgamesh have been having their battle. Gilgamesh seems to be expending much less effort than Saber, but Saber has knocked a sword out of his hand and has broken a second one in half. Gilgamesh says that she can’t win and neither can Shirou, but Saber thinks otherwise. Seeing that it’ll take a decisive defeat for Saber to understand, Gilgamesh sends his numerous swords at her, pummeling her into the ground. He then pulls out his special sword and powers up his Enuma Elish. In response, Saber gets up and uses Excalibur. Like last time, the two powers meet evenly.
While that’s going on, Kotomine is telling Shirou that he’s been anticipating him since he knows that Shirou is Emiya Kiritsugu’s son. Kotomine really detests Kiritsugu because he hindered everything Kotomine did. He explains that 10 years ago, Kiritsugu had defeated him, but hadn’t killed him. Kiritsugu’s mistake was thinking that breaking the Holy Grail would end the fighting. He thus became cursed and died years later; thinking he had ended the Holy Grail War. Kotomine confirms that it was he who killed Kiritsugu and wonders if Shirou will have the same fate as his father. He calls forth Angra Mainyu, surrounding Shirou with the black sludge. Saber, on the other hand, finally gave out against Gilgamesh’s Enuma Elish. Hearing Shirou’s scream from afar, Gilgamesh assumes that the other fight is over, but Saber says that Shirou is still alive because she can still feel the link to him. Gilgamesh tells Saber that if she bathes in the curse/sludge, can become the same as him and enjoy a second life. He’s willing to let her drink, but as a precaution, he wants to get married. Of course he and Saber have very different viewpoints, including that of being king. Saber was destroyed by her country, whereas Gilgamesh destroyed his country. Since Gilgamesh had picked Saber up by her right foot, Saber delivers a swift kick to his face with her left one. Gilgamesh decides to stop going easy on her and orders the eyesore of a woman to disappear. He fires his Enuma Elish as Saber uses Excalibur again, and a bright light surrounds both of them.

Preview:

Whew, Rin really gave me a scare there at the beginning. I kept thinking that she was going to die any second, but she didn’t, and the preview makes it pretty clear that she’s still around. Even in that state, she still gave Shirou all that advice and even her dagger. That dagger didn’t show itself again this episode, so I assume it’ll come into play in the finale next week. Same thing goes for the sheath Saber got back from Shirou.
I have mixed feelings about the second half of this episode. It was a decent pair of battles, but there really weren’t any new moves involved except for Kotomine’s Angra Mainyu. I think my main problem was that Kotomine (and to an extent Gilgamesh) spent almost the entire second half in one long explanation monologue (bringing back not-so-fond memories of the first half of this series). Yes, it’s good that there’s story development about him and Kiritsugu while wrapping up the story aspects from 10 years ago…but I can’t help but feel disappointed because this was the next to last episode, and, well, I expected less talk and more things actually happening.
Next week is the finale of Fate/stay night! As some of you have pointed out, the preview looks pretty amazing in the animation department, so I’m hoping for big things.
And yes (in response to today’s poll), I do expect Saber to go back to her own time and leave Shirou.

102 Comments

  5. O__O rin!!!

    =( i don’t want FSN to end…it’s been so exciting.

    it doesnt look like there are any mushy scenes in the episode (wahh) but i guess it’s because that’s all over and done with from the last few episodes.

    i really wish that they won’t follow the ending of the game. i’ll probably start crying…=P

    mango
    Reply

  13. I hope Rin is alright, looks like Gil and co visited home and took Ilya. Rin probably disagreed and got whacked =( She is such a good person, killing her off would be… unncessary. She is already a retired master basically.

    Varis
    Reply

  14. Aww…..so it seems like Saber won’t be staying after the whole thing…..And there goes my hope for seeing Shirou using UBW….Oh whatever. Just make sure they pwn Gilgamesh from inside out.

    dward
    Reply

  20. – seen the raw… great fight scenes between Gilgamesh and Saber …

    – seriously wonder abt Rin’s condition tho , not to mention Ilya’s condition as well …

    – Saber with her hair down … reminds me so much of those Miko-san chara from those touhou games

    tonbo
    Reply

  23. why Rin? why!!? *Sigh* it seems that we wont see shiro´s UBW, and we´ll have the same ending for the game that is a shame, anyway this episode looks amazing I can´t wait to download the sub episode XD

    J.D.
    Reply

  27. Well, I don’t know why you guys are surprised. Shiro and Saber both already had decided to destroy the Grail, thus rulling out any chance of them staying together. You should be more surprised if they pull a surprise and they do end together.

    golthin
    Reply

  34. You know, the mages that are around, they are pretty dumb allowing a previous participant in the war to be the advisor. He shouldn’t have anything to do with the grail ever.

    golthin
    Reply

  35. AH!! I might sound like a psycho but I wanted to see that image of Rin (when she’s wounded and with all that blood and yet smiling) animated…
    WOAH!! Can’t believe it. the next ep it’s the final…..

    shezaei_neko
    Reply

  43. “i don’t really want a second season for some reason. i’m going to miss saber too much i guess =P”

    Not to mention it’d kind of diminish whatever elaborate ending they were going for.

    Kuya
    Reply

  44. @Tidus
    What would you look like, if somebody puts his hand inside your body? 😉
    @LQYJune
    That’s what my Master always said, lol^^ He hates these endings, where the “hero” tells us a tale and you only think in your mind: “Danm it, die or do something more productive” 😀
    As for the ending in the game Show Spoiler ▼

    But I’m still optimistic. In the past we had lots of screencaps like that in the last row from the preview. And it always looked much more worse, than it finally was. So don’t panic too much;)
    I remember, that the staff of the F/S N Anime said, that they’ll gonna do something different from the game.
    So, keep easy, we’ll know next week for sure.
    And for me, hmm, crying, there was only one anime that made me cry, and that was Air^^
    And know, returning watching Record of Lodoss War (Ova) *-*
    Older but nice 🙂

    *Chi*
    Reply

  45. “And for me, hmm, crying, there was only one anime that made me cry, and that was Air^^”

    Haha ya me 2.

    I do hope they’r going to make another season or something like this =O. OR a good ending ^^ that should be fine

    AznSoulBoy
    Reply

  46. Hmm, @Anima015 You mean a sequel to the original game? http://www.himeyashop.com/product_info.php/products_id/3148

    @AznSoulBoy June Yeah, a good ending would be so nice. If you don’t like sad endings, you shouldn’t also play Planatarian.
    It’s damn said >.Big Key Fan, xD

    No back to topic, @ Omni: Maybe you do the next poll of the day about Fate/stay night.
    Something like: Do you think:
    -That Saber will stay
    -That Saber will leave
    -I don’t watch Fate/stay night

    *Chi*
    Reply

  49. man… ever since they turned the story away from a possible evil sakura i’ve kinda just been watching this series as a fan, but i can’t even tell myself that this series is the best i’ve seen in 2006 to date. They nvr showed True Assassin. And whatever happened to Ayako? i remember she was in like eps 1… rin is alive, she’s in the preview. i still think something closer to HF woulda been much more fun to watch, screw comedy, there are enuf of those series

    scythsei
    Reply

  51. well, if theres a hand in my body, I dun even think I will be concious to feel how is it like. But you look carefully, he looked more like having an orgaism. Maybe out of the pain?

    I do wish Saber to go, because it gives the story a stronger plot for you guys to remember in years to come (because it is sad).

    but just like chi had said, we won’t know what will happen till then. So sit back, amd see what will happen next week 🙂

    Tidus
    Reply

  52. As a former game player, I do expect her to leave. Especially given the preview and the title of the final episode.

    However, I have to admit that if they made an ending in which there is hope for her to come back (there are none in the Fate game ending) I would be very happy.

    gammaoh
    Reply

  53. I don’t mind Saber leaving if she can still remember all the stuffs between her and Shirou. I heard that Servents don’t retain memories of the current war after they disappeared right? Anyway, if Saber really wants to leave, there’s nothing Shirou can do to stop her. If Shirou really loves her, he should let her go instead. I just hope they can make the ending a little more cheerful rather than making an ending that will cause us to brood over the sad parting between Shirou and Saber….

    dward
    Reply

  60. Do you really think is someone selfish enough to make Saber remain by force? Not to mention all the consequences this would involve, such as Saber becoming a complete Servant and getting caught in the never-ending cycle of summonings Archer hated so much.

    When you love someone from the depth of your heart, the best proof of love you can show is to be able to let the person go.

    gammaoh
    Reply

  61. well..if saber’s not gonna stay then i hope they make the last scene as romantic as it can be. like..saber and shirou kiss before saber leaves? =P

    and i don’t want shirou to end up with another girl >=/ i hope heaven’s feel never happens in anime =P

    mango
    Reply

  62. we can hope that if even saber leaves shirou’s world… a new transferee student may come in and from the looks of it, we can expect that she will resemble saber..yet memories of being a servant of saber and shirou will be gone..hence a new open ending story can occurr.. that would be nice ending for FSN! LOL XD

    j23knight
    Reply

  63. Some people have already come up with this theory. But it’s not Type-Moon’s way of finishing a story.

    As for Shirou, if it sticks strictly to Fate ending, he’s most unlikely to go out with another girl. Saber will remain his life love and Shirou will live with these precious memories of her.

    gammaoh
    Reply

  64. After reading on the Fate scenario, I have a feeling it will end that way. What makes me believe it even more is how Type-Moon did the ending for Shingetsutan Tsukihime.

    Does anyone know if Type-Moon will do an anime based off of Fate Hollow Ataraxia?

    Zelath
    Reply

  67. “we can hope that if even saber leaves shirou’s world… a new transferee student may come in and from the looks of it, we can expect that she will resemble saber..yet memories of being a servant of saber and shirou will be gone..hence a new open ending story can occurr”

    I was thinking the same thing and I hope it happens.

    “Some people have already come up with this theory. But it’s not Type-Moon’s way of finishing a story”

    Of course this is an anime, and they can change things from the game…

    golthin
    Reply

  68. They can. But I don’t think they intend to.

    The staff changed things in Tsukihime that made the anime really bad compared to the game. But they still used the same ending.

    Here, they remained quite faithful to the game storyline (except ep. 17-18-19) and I honestly don’t know how they’re gonna make something really new out of the anime.

    I’m not here to say I wouldn’t enjoy the ending you proposed, I’m just warning you no to hold your hopes to high…

    I’m a former game-player. Even though I loved the Fate ending, I’d love to see it a bit altered so that there’s a way for Saber to come back. Even though she does not come back at the end, I’d like they put some hopes or possibilities for her return.

    gammaoh
    Reply

  69. Shingetsutan (ShinGessyou) Tsukihime wasn’t really scripted by TypeMoon… if memory serves…

    the ending resembled the game’s but fans can tell you it differed too much… it was more a money spinner than anything else … Ciel not eating any curry being called blasphemous by some…

    another bit abt the shots for next episode… the Rin, Sakura and Saber shots look eerily like visions Shirou is having… so like the love dramadies where the heroine contracts cancer and the main guy has premonitions or visions of the girl/s coming back, well and recovered. but when he reaches out for her… he wakes up… hand reaching into thin air…

    tonbo
    Reply

  70. Yes. But Type-Moon didn’t script Fate/SN either.

    It’s just that the staff really wanted to stick to the game and asked Type-Moon for whatever details they judged necessary. And the director himself played the game to get as much knowledge as he could (well, I doubt he played it entirely, but at least a good part of the first scenario IMO).

    In Tsukihime’s case, a production team just got the licence from Type-Moon and used it to make something that fit neither the character nor the game plot. So yeah, it was a money spinner. Even though I admit I have enjoyed it.

    gammaoh
    Reply

  71. I know UBW will never come into play because F/SN has a nasty habit of taking at least five minutes to explain ANYTHING. So, my prediction is that Shirou will mop up the shit water with TOILET BOWL CLEANSER and then do something lame like stab Kotomine.

    I can’t believe that Saber let herself take a beating like that when she already has Avalon and, in fact, used it before to negate Ea.

    I’ll be out of town next friday so I won’t even bother watching episode 24. I already know how it will end and watching it will be a waste of yet another 24 minutes and 30 seconds of my life.

    Rating– 6 out 10.

    Cephas
    Reply

  72. Well, well, well…

    All of us know about this… about Fate, about Rin, about Saber… and go on. Like someone else said earlier in his blog; because a series doesn’t end like we want, doesn’t deserve to be hated. Since I hear about Fate/Stay Night since last November, became one of my most desired series for this year. Then after I knew Ayako Kawasumi was voicing Saber, WOW “definitely I have to see it” I said. And now, six months after, I still love Fate/Stay Night.

    At least it was a fun ride with Shirou, Saber, Sakura, Rin and Fuji-nee. I keep good memories by watching Fate, especially episode 14, one of the most epic and wonderful that I ever saw.

    One more episode to go!

    Syaoran Li
    Reply

  73. *sniff* well…i hope for a better ending but unfortunately, deep in my heart i know it’s not going to end that way. but it’s been great seeing all those saber x shirou moments. and it’s been awesome watching all those fighting scenes and i loved the script and dialogue.

    if saber’s gonig to leave, we can at least hope that the last scene would be real romantic and enjoyable. go FSN! =)

    mango
    Reply

  78. the only thing i didnt like about fate was the shithead being so weak .. i mean shirou, only way i will forgive him for being weak is if he puts that command spell to good use

    ryohei
    Reply

  79. Hmm, just watched the episode. As far as I can see from the ending, Saber definetelly will leave.
    But maybe these pictures are also just something to confuse.
    I said it one time and I say it again: We can talk ages about it, we won’t know the outcome until next week^^ Good thing, that there are plenty other series to enjoy until that^^

    *Chi*
    Reply

  83. awww. that’s bad. But i’m actually dying to get to play the game. But heck, the last episode will be thriller. But i really do hope that the ending turns out the best for both of them (shirou and saber). SOmething of this series reminds me of “ah megami sama” (Ah My Goddess)

    hmmmm….

    DJoker
    Reply

  85. I doubt that Shirou’s going to use Show Spoiler ▼

    anytime soon. If he did, it’d just be like the animators just pulled it out randomly and be like, “Oh well, screw the storyline! Lets just throw that in”. Chances are Shirou and Saber are going to pull off Avalon, hence the name of the next episode, and own Gilgamesh with it.

    But I wish they would show it -.-

    emi
    Reply

  86. I don’t think Shirou might use UBW because his magic power is not as high as “the red Archer” yet.

    I think the team might want to make a different end from the game. In fact, the game has several ends and each one has equal numbers among fans. If they decided to choose one of those ends from the game, they will make a lot of game players unhappy.

    As I guess:

    Rin will die.

    Ilya will die.

    Saber will back to Camelot and die.

    Sakura will be better and do not remember a thing.

    Tiger-san will be a little bet confused about the last few days and do not care anyway because she loves Shirou’s cook.

    Shirou will hide those bittersweet memory in his heart. Finally he is going to be an red Archer in the future and to meet Rin again. All back to the episode one.

    LQY
    Reply

  87. i dun know who will die or who will live.

    but 1 thing i am pretty sure, Shiro will never use UBW. He didn even know what is UBW, or its existence, in the first place. If the producer just throw in UBW to shiro, it will look like gundam seed (fan service). I will go wtf because how he know about ubw.

    in the ubw story, archer did show shiro about ubw before he learnt it himeself right?

    Tidus
    Reply

  91. Bahaha, I thought LQY said Tiger-San loved loves Shirou’s cock-a-doo-a-doo, for a moment, way pass my sleep time…

    Ilya is a Loli = Great Power Source? = Great Material to Hang Up and Show nakkid?
    Seriously whats with the loli pin-ups? Also happened in SHUFFLE! as well…

    Jack_K9
    Reply

  93. I don’t want to make speculations, but it seems that in the end Saber will dissappear, if you played the game, you know that Shirou = Archer, eventhouhg he doesn’t recognize himself, in Ep. 14, about 4:10, Archer says: “Don’t try to help Saber… Ultimately you can’t do anything”… So :'( sad, man, i want saber stays with Shirou, but at the end it doesn’t make sense, because if she stays, where does her mana comes from??….

    I can’t wait ’till next weekend…

    Heist
    Reply

  94. well in the fight with berserker she did charge her mana back by “some” way….maybe she can use the same method ….
    well anyway i dont think the story would make sense if shirou go a;ll happy in the end cause ultimatly he will become red archer…UNLESS he somehow have some unexplaineable willpower and the “love power” betweed saber and shirou(gezz this is old:P) change the histiry.
    well anyway i DONT really want to see another sad ending anymore in a anime:(

    Yuchi-ken
    Reply

  95. Its a pity that the anime has decided to take the Fate route ending… I’ll prepare a few boxes of tissue paper to avoid flooding my room with tears… Life goes on, which means, Karin is next ^_^ Fate/stay Night is still the best anime I’ve ever watched… Although Shuffle! and Love Hina is great too..

    Skysong
    Reply

  102. TOP FIVE HOLY shit

    1. Rin Killed by Kotomine
    2. Ilya summoning the Holy Grail OVERLY EXPOSE
    3. SHIT ACT: Gilgamesh got Saber foot what the fool
    4. OMFG Kirei vs. Emiya (just like what happend 10 yrs ago)
    5. SEEMS DIE DIE DIE AT THE EPISODE

    Precious
    Reply

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