hontou ni » Fate/Stay Night

Fate/Stay night – Wrap-up

Stripey — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 20:35:35 +0000

That this is a obligatory wrap-up post to archive F/SN under "past series" probably speaks volumes about my enthusiasm for the series. To be fair, I enjoyed the finale and the series did have its moments (mostly harem-induced ones). But a solid ending and some sparks does not a good series maketh. I thought my insightful brother Zyl says it so well when he describes F/SN as flat.

I have to admit F/SN is a difficult story for anime adaptation. Unlike its predecessor Tsukihime, it does not contain an encompassing story arc (like Kohaku's) that can be used as a central vehicle to string all the characters and story threads into a coherent tale. Nor is Studio DEEN brave enough to take a road less travelled like SHUFFLE! (The best game to anime conversion IMHO) by making a seemingly lesser character (Sakura) the heroine so that the richest track of the game (Heaven's Feel) gets told. Well, the commerical reasons for pimping Saber are sound. I'm sure Saber merchanising have never seen such feverish heights prior to the anime. I'm just not certain the F/SN DVDs would have the same reception.

My main gripe with the series (other than lesser evil of uninspired storytelling) would be its half-hearted character developments. Besides Saber and Shiro, none of the other characters were fleshed out sufficiently (despite some initial investments which created expectations) or had satisfactory closures. Granted, unlike SHUFFLE! or harem series where the plot can be modular by having the approximately 5 characters take turns to tell their tale, F/SN has the immense challenge of integrating close to 20 character backstories (Masters and servants, past/present) into the over-arching Holy Grail premise. Given a mere 24 eps, that would have been an impossible task. Still I had expected better treatment on Sakura and Rin's stories instead of over-developing Saber's. Their later involvement in the series as Holy Grail props to boost the over-embellished FATE arc was especially disappointing for me, a 3/4 Sakura 1/4 Rin fanboy.

Overall a forgettable plot with memorable characters and an unshakable feeling that it could have been so much more. Well, at least I will be getting some really nice Fate/Hollow Ataraxia figures out of this F/SN craze.

Here's hoping Fate/Hollow Ataraxia does better if ever.

Fate/Stay Night 24

Zyl — Sat, 17 Jun 2006 16:17:01 +0000

A great ending with plenty of emotional impact, nice animation and music. But overall, I have similar complaints as Tsukihime - by concentrating on one scenario from the game, it failed to exploit the full richness of the franchise. The lack of material also made itself felt in the turgid pacing in some parts of the series and may have worked better as a 13-14 episode series instead. As a business decision, I'm not sure that it was entirely wise either - while I'm sure they're rakin' in it with the Saber merchandising, there will probably be a lot of fans of Rin, Archer, Rider etc. who are hugely pissed off (perhaps explaining the cool reception to the limited edition DVD Vol.1?). In any case, I'm just thanking the anime kami that the ending wasn't botched *coughGSDcough*

Taiga-nee goodness!

I spoilt the mood a bit for myself but I just couldn't stop
laughing when I saw Saber's ahoge billowing in the wind.

In any case, Saber's farewell to Shirou was suitably poignant. Both of them have achieved a complete understanding of the other and through losing each other, show how they have managed to share their love even for just a while. Saber's passing was also very sad yet fitting. I loved how several ideas were mixed: Avalon - the utopia that comes after the death of the king which was what Shirou finally to manifest in full; waking up from a dream and then returning to that dream; death as the continuation of the dream. The wind that blew through legend and the ages, linking the members of the cast, also reminded me of the romantic notion of the ending of Voices of a Distant Star : lovers separated by both the vastness of space and the dilation of time but were united by their love.

Fate/Stay Night 23

Zyl — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 23:23:10 +0000

OMG! They killed Rin! You bastards!

~All I can do is sit and think about /
The way you used to love me~

~The way you used to hold me /
And the way you used to touch me~

~And all I want is another moment /
I'm waiting and I'm ready~

~Touch me~

Aaah that's just what I need, Saber-chan.

I have a dream that one day this anime will rise up and live out the true meaning
of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that Rin x Saber is win and gold."
That we will one day have our threesome!

Saber-chan...

Rin...

We must still deal with...

...her.

You must not underestimate her despite her appearance.

This is the dagger of Meggido.

Can you trust me, a lolicon among other things, to be able to use it?

Well, you'd better! Otherwise no threesome with me and Saber for you!

Damn. Loli vs hot threesome with Rin and Saber.
So difficult. Why can't I have them all??