Review of Fate/Zero

Considering coming back to this review as soon as I finish Season 2. Fate/Zero Season 1 is difficult to review. Ultimately, it just doesn't deliver what you would hope it to. But since this is only Season 1, that is sort of what you would expect. If I had to rate the first 30 episodes of FMA:B, a show with an action-packed, thrilling conclusion, I would give it a much lower score. In the same way, it is disingenuous to say that, since there isn't much being resolved at this point of the series, that this season doesn't do its job well enough. It could bedoing its job exactly as it needs to, and I just wouldn't be aware of that without completing the series. As such, I'll be giving Fate/Zero S1 the benefit of the doubt... for now.

That being said, it seems like Fate/Zero Season 1 fails to deliver on many promises that are pushed by the premise. You expect a battle royale with thrilling action, strategy, and political moves, and high stakes. The action is mediocre, there is little strategy, political dynamics are hinted at but never come to fruition, and there are no recognizable stakes since nothing really happens.

[Rating]
Story: 5
Art: 9
Sound: 7
Character: 8
Enjoyment: 6
Overall: 7

[Story: 5]

The premise of the show is cool. Battle royales are exciting! But the first season does not execute on it well enough.

Nothing happens. There is essentially no change to the landscape of the Holy Grail War since the reveal of all the Masters/Servants. This is a huge problem. If there are no stakes, there's no excitement.

That being said, the story does give several Masters and Servants convincing exposition. The cast is large, so it is difficult to develop them as characters, but that is probably not necessary. Instead, the audience seeks for them to be developed as players in the Holy Grail War. This is well-executed. We know what the pieces are... but we still want to see them in action.

Also that awful cliffhanger at the end of the season... Just awful.

[Art: 9]

The art is always on point. The style is mature and serious, so there is nothing stylistically impressive going on. But the art never falters, the character design is strong, the background work is strong, the characters fit into the background exceptionally well, and even the CGI looks great.

I am wishing for stronger action sequences. Better choreography or at least more successful spectacle reached by speed, scale, shot composition, cuts... something.

[Sound: 7]

The sound is good. Strong use of dynamics. Voice acting is good and never seriously falters. That being said there isn't a whole lot of memorable stuff happening here. But the sound is good.

[Character: 8]

Characters are developed appropriately for their role in the show. This is a battle royale that should be stacked to the brim with political intrigue. I would say that the stage is set for the variety of moral judgments in the cast to make exciting plot swings. I'm giving Season 2 the benefit of the doubt.

Some characters are not properly elaborated, but I trust they will be later.

[Enjoyment: 6]

The show never gives the feeling that it has any real stakes, so that sucks any plot-driven enjoyment out of the series. Seriously. It is supposed to be a battle royale, and something SORT OF happens to one master. Barely.

The action is OK and looks good, but it could be paced faster and have much stronger choreo.

[Overall: 7]

This series is survived by its sequel. Maybe this does a good enough job setting up the pins, maybe it doesn't. Too early to tell. Sometimes the first entry in a series can still succeed very well because it contains a closed arc. Fate/Zero doesn't really go for that. And sure, it doesn't necessarily have to... if it sets up Season 2 well enough. Will it?