The world isn’t ready for such tsundere perfection.
What They Say:
Shirou continues his training with Saber. She is glad that his abilities have improved, but there is something different about his technique. Meanwhile, Rin suspects there is a fourth Master at school.
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
After experiencing his own powerlessness, Shirou realized that he needed to be trained by a real legend of a warrior, which works pretty well considering he has one who lives with him and is literally his servant. But as happy as Saber is to train him, her image of perfect calm starts to crack a little when she realizes that despite her efforts, it’s still Archer that Shirou is modeling his fighting after. And it’s working for him. Saber as she’s appeared in this series so far has shown less depth than she got to by an equivalent point in Fate/Zero, but in addition to this not being her route, there’s an air of mystery to her, particularly in Shirou’s eyes. As a warrior and a philosopher she’s always been a wonderful character, but this gives us a glimpse into her more human side, without going into full tsundere mode or anything of the sort.
After all, this show already has a tsundere to end all others. It’s been a while since her prologue episode, so some may have forgotten that Rin is generally looked upon as the crown jewel of her school’s student body. So when their classmates see her waiting to eat lunch with Shirou on the roof – especially when he seems both clueless and uninterested – it’s not surprising to see that kind of mass shock that many such scenes contain. All the while Rin is turning her tsundere up to 11, reminding any doubtful of why that archetype is so effective when done right.
But while that’s all good and fun, the mood changes once the two of them do get up to the roof alone. There they discard most of the humorous tropes they embody and even their romantic tension for a moment as they discuss the serious nature of what’s happened of late and how it pertains to their alliance. Rin shows that she’s not above being open and sincere about her kindness when it really matters, and not only apologizes for her perceived carelessness getting Shirou injured but also reveals that she’s sacrificed another Command Seal to atone and ensure it doesn’t reoccur, leaving her with only one left.
Shinji somehow gets slimier every time he appears, and when the conversation does take a lighter turn, it reveals why he’s more distraught with Shirou than ever, and Rin is as fun when she’s messing with someone as when she’s inadvertently getting messed with (often through no fault but her own). But as fun as laughing as Shinji is, the fun talk is interrupted by Shinji’s unknowing retort, and the battle begins anew.
What’s most striking about how Shinji’s evil deeds play out, other than that he appears competent at first, is that Shirou and Rin seem to have reversed reactions to what’s usual for the war. The distinction is fairly clear even before the characters bring it up: Rin may be the theoretical expert on all things magical, but Shirou knows what it’s like to see a spread of inanimate bodies. Having confirmed what he needs to, that uncomfortable complacency allows him to react as needed, and there’s nothing more like Shirou than deciding that it’s only fair for him to use up as many Command Seals as Rin. The episode may have seemed a little slow or at least lacking in the breathtaking spectacle it often employs due to its subject matter up to this point, and I’ll say that the CG of the golems that have to be fought off for much of the episode don’t blend as perfectly with the range of lighting and environment and character interactions they experience this time. But Saber’s summoning is masterfully executed; powerfully abrupt and magnificent as ever, it moves right along into the dynamically composed battle choreography without a moment’s rest.
All is not as it appears, though, and the foreshadowing of there being one more Master in the school comes to the forefront to change the current conflict dramatically. It may not be the most cathartic outcome for Shinji, but it’s a good start. And in case all these previous episodes still left people wondering if the show somehow wouldn’t be “brutal enough”… well this should answer those doubts pretty concretely. With Shirou continuing to seem all too levelheaded given the situation, Rin brings the matter up with him, and he confirms the reason. It may seem cold or drowning in angst, but the nuanced depth with which Shirou has been portrayed in this series is sophisticated enough that it makes his character much more interesting, and I look forward to delving more deeply into that psyche.
In Summary:
As is often the case, we get a mixed bag of character material and plot-progressing battle sequences here, seamlessly blending into each other. Rin shows not only more of why she’s considered one of the most lovable of the tsundere ilk but also her genuine growth and respect that proves deserving of Shirou’s own limitless supply of chivalry. Shirou himself clearly has a lot more to explore within his own mind, and is perhaps at his coolest when he summons Saber to the battlefield, erupting in a glorious display of direction and animation. Mileage will surely vary when it comes to the reaction to the CG used, but I found it a good deal more jarring than any in the series prior to this episode. The twists and… well, literal twists are also jarring, but deliberately and appropriately so, allowing the viewer to share the level of shock, however temporary, with not the protagonist but the main heroine.
Grade: A-
Streamed By: Crunchyroll
Review Equipment:
Custom-Built PC, 27” 1080p HDTV.
