Powered through the novels before the show started. Spoiler.

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Sir Lancelot.

Illyasviel was actually 'born' 8 years before the events of Fate/Zero, as seen in the first episode.

She's actually around Shirou's age in the 5th Holy Grail War. Fate/Zero takes place 10 years before Fate/stay night.

Mind=blown?

Also massive spoilers for people who haven't read the books:

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I fucking cannot wait for Iskander to roflstomp Assassin!army. Seriously.

 

That will be pretty awesome,

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army of Alexander against Assassin Army!? fuck yah

 

You just spoiled me...and I like it.

 

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I'm waiting more for that scene before Alexander curbstomps Assassin. You know, the one where he verbally bitchslaps Saber.

 

Thar's cheating. I knew his identity before reading the books, just by that picture. EDIT: Explanation:

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Lancelot often fought against members of the round. In one story, he wore a blue token of a woman, something he was known not to do.

 

New episode was a bit meh. Still decent but it lacked Rider although Gilgamesh's presence made a bit up for it.

Hopefully, we will have a more epic fight at our hands. The guy who tries to kill mages with modern means is just boring. I guess that's also the reason why Harry Potter with weapons stories can't really work. It sort of misses the point of the magic fight even if one is able to kill someone from two hundred meters with a sniper rifle or by bombing their hotel room.

 

I am amused that I thought the Gilgamesh part was the weakest with the start of the episode being the best.

 

That's a bit of an interesting viewpoint, Nemrut. I wonder what you think the point of magic is?

On another note:
HOW DARE THEY. HOW DARE THEY NOT SHOW THE HUMAN INSTRUMENT. So much disappoint.

 

I'm just waiting for the bits where Gilgamesh gets more awesome.

Rider is awesome.

Kirei is... I've never really been interested in his story for some reason.

Kiritsugu, I thought he was really good when I first read it, but he became more bland as the story went on.

Still an amazing show though.

 

I'm surprised everyone is so bored of Emiya. I thought he was fucking boss this episode. I would like to see more of his actual magic capability, since he is a magus.

But I think more than 'using modern technology to beat magic' it's more just him being utterly ruthless, and thinking on a level of pure efficiency. Archibald comes from the Clock Tower, and as most magi appear to be - more of an academic. Interested in furthering his magical research and ability. Doesn't necessarily make him a master of combat with magic. This is apparent by the Einzberns lack of success in previous wars due to their primarily alchemy-focus magic. It doesn't appear that all magic in the Nasu-verse is necessarily built for combat at all, nor that magi train for that purpose either.

Archibald assumed his enemy would come up the stairs and overcome his traps to show he was the better magus while Kiritsurugi was not concerned with proving his ability - just killing his opponent. And I love that clash of attitudes. I'd like to see how he applies his magical ability within that mindset as well.

As for Kirei, I'm really interested in him in Fate Zero. In FSN he was more of just a slimy villain who you never really trusted, and turned out to be evil. Here he's just...intriguing and seems to have a huge depth to his character. And like Emiya, is very different from the traditional magus. The scene between Gilgamesh and Kirei was really cool and I'm looking forward to seeing how this develops into Kirei betraying Tokiomi and taking Gilgamesh for himself.

On another note, looking forward to Caster and his nutcase of a master being gangbanged by everyone.

I'm assuming that was what was left over of the children that we didn't see? I was kinda curious as to what it was, then it changed scene. Probably gonna appear on the Blu-Ray I bet?

 

Just about every part with Ryūnosuke and Bluebeard will be cut because well, they are kinda horrible.

 

That's the person he was cutting up. The person caster killed. And I really hope so. That was one of the things I was excited to see in visual form.

Killjoy.

Also, am I the only one who liked Kotomine in Fate/stay as well as Zero?

 

Only in Heaven's Feel. He just came off as an annoying dick in Fate and UBW.

 

Caster's gonna get ganked and raped. Horribly.

 

Just saw the new episode.

I thought the scene with Kiritsurugi talking about running away with Iri and Ilya felt really cheesy, forced and out of character. Didn't like that at all.

The rest was fairly decent. I'm actually fairly glad to see Archibald survived, and not only did he survive - but he's actually a fucking boss. He came across as one of those weak characters who get killed off quickly, but he's obviously fairly strong.

One thing that I'm a bit confused about is that in Fate (the only route I've completed in the VNs) I'm pretty sure Tohsaka talks about Reality Marbles as being a very rare, and very advanced skill. Which is why when Counter Guardian Emiya used Unlimited Blade Works, it was a big deal. And yet...Emiya seems to be able to create a Reality Marble within himself to alter time, and furthermore, Archibald seems to shrug it off as a minor skill that's nothing special. Am I missing something?

 

Kiritsugu continues to bore me and, now that I've read the novels, my opinion of him doesn't improve.

 

That scene disappointed me and here's why:

As for Kayneth...well..it was what Kiritsugu's family was known to develop over time. Time manipulation...I can't remember specifics.


@knight504 I found Kotomine more of a boring villian in the first two routes than annoying. I was actually disappointed in him at the end of Fate.

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And Kiritsugu, I like him just because he is realistic in his attitudes. Honestly, he strikes me as the most human character I have seen in fiction. He isn't a one dimensional bad ass like Iskandar, or some brave hero, or a "philanthropist playboy." In fact, many of his actions are aimed towards survival or even wishful thinking. And, well, the speech after Kayneth. That sums up why I like him.

On that note...that shirt was amazing. And will always be amazing.

EDIT: Also, go read the rest. Heaven's feel will make fate seem like a tiny baby man.

 

Yeah, I guess when that scene is shown in the anime you miss a lot of Iri's thoughts regarding Kiritsurugi when compared to that segment of the novel you just posted, which do make it feel less of a forced, out-of-place cheese, and make more sense.

So I've heard, and I plan to just...Fate really put me off. It's so dull and has almost convinced me VNs are a horrible medium for stories. =P

 

Yeah, the thoughts help. But even the hug would have changed the scene dramatically. It would of shown Kiritsugu is clinging to something he doesn't want to lose instead of coming off like he's afraid for himself(or simply for the sake of it). (also the trembling would have more of an impact, etc etc)


As for the VN, a warning then, no matter what novel you start off with the beginning is...slow. But the ending subject matter is much better in the second two than it was in fate.

Also, uh....yeah. If you don't like the VN itself: http://fsn.seorinwastaken.com/archive/index.html

That has it all in text form(with pictures and music links). In the event you might prefer just the text.

 

Sonuva...wish I'd known that site before.