Review of Fate/Zero

As someone who has not previously watched anything related to the Fate franchise, I went into Fate/Zero with no expectations. I knew of the popularity and praise for Fate/Zero on its own, however it never caught my attention and never became something I wanted to prioritize; for whatever reason, it didn't give me a good vibe. Now, having completed the first season, I can safely say that my vibe was correct in steering me away. Fate/Zero has a lot to offer. A war for a mystic object, the Holy Grail, is happening, and magic-wielding contestants are given the ability to summon legendary heroes to do theirbidding and fight for the sacred prize that will give the victor extraordinary power. It might not be the most original premise, but there's an interesting twist Fate/Zero throws into the mix; the legendary heroes are based off of real-world historical figures - King Arthur, Alexander the Great, Gilgamesh, and so on. As a fan of history and mythology, this is what piqued my curiosity. I didn't know this before I started the series, but once I watched the first few episodes, I thought maybe I was wrong to avoid the series as I did. However, as I watched more, I realized that I had jumped the gun.

With the premise being a war, one over such a powerful relic, you'd think there would be a lot of fighting. But the major downside here is that there's not, it's all talk. A hell of a lot of talk. I've watched a lot of shounen series, they're some of my favorites, however the amount of talking in Fate/Zero is groan worthy. The first episode, which is almost fifty minutes long, is nothing but exposition thrown into your face, stuff you'll easily forget by the time you start the next episode. It was enough to make me want to fall asleep. And unfortunately, the same can be said for about 80% of the remaining twelve episodes. The saddest part is that most of the talking was unnecessary and didn't help explain much in the series. There's still a great deal missing and a lot I don't understand about the war or how everything is supposed to work. Perhaps more is explained in the following season, but the lack of happenings in this season has put me off it. Every once in a while I'd even forget who is who, as there is little time spent on learning about certain important characters and more time spent on talking about nonsense.

I mentioned that there's not a lot of fighting, but what little there is was nicely done. The show definitely looks good and shines when it comes to the action. Battles are displayed gracefully and will hold your attention with an interesting mix of physical prowess and magical tricks. The characters themselves are a mixed bag. The heroes are a colorful group, each with a distinct personality that is thankfully not cookie-cutter. Saber, the lead character and the representation of King Arthur, is quite the standout. Genderswapping historical figures is a reoccuring theme in anime, however it's mostly used for fanservice. Not here. Saber is treated as a character with morals, purpose, and honor. Like the knight that she is. It was certainly refreshing to see. While we got a good look at most of the heroes, the show unfortunately lacked time on the masters of these fighters. Why they were fighting in this war, what they wanted out of it, and all other crucial information that would make you care about what was happening and who would come out the winner. There are bits and pieces tossed around, but most of it was lost in incessant prattling.

After much talk and little action, Fate/Zero ends with the promise of a new fight between heroes. Unfortunate, as it could have possibly been avoided had they decided not to include an episode dedicated to the daughter of one of the masters and her day out on the town. With such an epic sounding premise, Fate/Zero disappointed me with lots of nothing. Many questions still remain, and what I was given left me feeling hollow about the series. I'm not sure if I will continue onto the second season. Even if it gives me answers and actually moves itself along, I'm doubtful that I'd care at this point.