Fate: Zero : A Spoiler Free Review
After having fun with Colons, I am bursting back into review mode. This time with an Anime that grew close to my heart almost instantly: Fate: Zero (See even more fun with colons)
Fate: Zero is a prequel Anime to a larger series known as the Fate Series, though other names are sometimes used. This review only deals with Fate: Zero and since I watched this Anime before the others in the series, I will avoid mentioning the others in reference for the sake of a more authentic review.
This Anime is a Battle Royale that serves to help teach history between all the brutal battles. There is a Holy Grail up for grabs for the winner and they can get anything they desire. Into this game, enter 7 masters who use a ritual to summon 7 servants. They are all classified by a specific role: Saber, Archer, Caster, Lancer, Rider, Assassin, and Berserker Each of the Servants are powerful beings that are borne out of the legend that made them famous.
The Protagonist, a gritty and grumpy man named Kiritsugu Emiya summons a Saber Class Servant who turns out to be King- I mean, Queen Arthur. Given that he is an anti hero, and Saber is the King (queen) of Knights, there is obviously conflict between these two characters.
Fate: Zero is an Anime of tragedy and the entire Anime in its increasingly complex plots and intrigues makes that known quickly. Even showcasing a few of the children that become important in the later parts of this series does not take away from that darkness. This is notable with the girls Sakura and Rin, both famous enough in this Anime that I knew who they were before I even watched. Rin especially is the poster child for the Tsundere character archetype though she does not display these traits here.
Many of the masters in this game can hardly be called heroic characters and one even wonders if any of the characters including the protagonist are ones who should be rooted for. But this confusion of morality is what makes Fate: Zero such a great story. This is not a world for idealism and any character who shares this belief is certain to get a nasty reality check.
Meanwhile, many of the servants are heroic. Though how this heroism is showcased can lead to some interesting and outright terrifying situations. Rider, Saber, and Archer notably are hailed as fantastic characters by a large part of the fan base.
All in all, Fate: Zero is an incredible story and easily made it into my favorite Anime after I watched it. The nonstop action is only offset by an incredibly long first episode which is filled with info dump. Getting past that though and an experience that is rare in the Anime World awaits. In my opinion, this is the best place to start watching the Fate Universe if you are so inclined.