Review of Fate/Zero

"What makes killing justifiable?" The sole answer: NONE. Fate/Zero depicts the 4th Holy Grail War which as the name implies, involves victory with the price of life and the defeat which spells death. Nevertheless, as to why I quote my first line, Fate/Zero is a mature title which embodies gore killings, despicable and ignoble turn of events, deceit, lies, contradiction and many more negative emotions. But as far as my review is concern, I will always try to be prudent with my judgment of this wonderful masterpiece. Let's start with story. I do remember seeing Fate/Stay Night as a juvenile anime watcher. Don't be confused by the juvenileterm I included, it was just some kind of wording I really like pertaining to greenhorn anime viewer. Back when, like 6-7 years ago, I saw FSN accidentally when browsing on a random anime site. With extra bandwidth on my bargain, I couldn't let one of the most hype shows that year slip away as I started to watch anime in a diligent manner. Okay, time to rebuff this old recollection of mine and start focusing on F/Z.

The story is nothing short of a masterpiece. If a scale is presented in front of me with the highest points of 10, then I'll exaggeratedly award 11. The story is foul, mature, dangerous and almost illicit. Blasphemous and utterly wicked. Unlike it's predecessor, F/Z dives the path of cruelty explained by clash of point of views, opinions, ideals and dreams. It was something marvelously written and I had no qualms to state that F/Z is definitely one of the masterpieces that will forever be remembered.

For sure, a lot of people will find my review over-the-limit of what they called praising but mind them, my opinion will stand firm even against a thousand criticizers. First of all, like I mentioned in my last paragraph, F/Z involves a clash of opinions. This is just obvious, but let me phrase that people are beings who thinks of other's opinions as craps and I'm well aware that this involves an awfully large number of persona.

Going back to the story, including the pacing, the story's execution is fully oriented as to how it will pierce the very core of a person. Whether we find things in common or not, the story summarizes that most of the character's dreams are too much for them. In the eyes of a watcher, I can't certainly hold the amount of grief I felt while watching. Especially to the best episode I've ever seen in my entire anime-watching career, the Grail Dialogue a.k.a Episode 11. This episode, not only it stroke me an inspiration in life, it also gave me a stiff reality-check that as a person, life is definitely NOT fated, NOT destined and definitely NOT pre-ordained. Within the realm of fate or destiny, life is something a person will struggle to achieve happiness or attain lament. And in F/Z, the makers literally sent a clear relation that LIFE is a continuous DREAM.

Dreaming, is a matter of course of living a life. Without it, a person is empty. I highly doubt that the manifestation of the characters are inspired by real personas, but most of the cast wonderfully showed that their dream is worth dying for, worth killing for. I guess, I am that good at avoiding spoilers since I still haven't included one BIG spoiler but well, to a series that aired last 3 years ago, I doubt that my spoiler will affect the majority.

Let's focus now on the art and sound.

Oh my! How can this be so much difference to its predecessor? Well, as much as I want to compare the both of them, there's an upcoming 2014 version of the FSN UBW so I guess, I can calm down. I absolutely like the art. The character designs were fitting, the scenery, the sword-clashing effects, the magic elements... they are wonderfully drawn so I had no misgivings to my 10 points for the art department. That much goes without saying with my 10 points for the sound. Like in my 10 points for the previous subject, the sound especially the opening and ending themes are so good. The lyrics were meaningful unlike... oops... I would refrain from mentioning other titles in here, right?

Character. Spell, 10... ONE-ZERO.ZERO. Why is there another zero? Another cornball jest in my pocket and I know that this is definitely damn, NOT funny at all. But, I would really grade the characters a hundred out of 10. I always include in my other reviews in some sites, that anime can never be a masterpiece only with a good story and art and effects. Without fulfilling characters, it's bound to be just another good title and will never reach the rank of masterpiece and here we are, rewarded with one of the most memorable cast ever.

The characters, all of them, including the minor are given enough depth for me to empathize with them. Why of course, I have favorites... Like for example, Matou Kariya. I would certainly avoid giving spoilers but this character, is the one I can truly understand the most. Whether it he be an utterly huge loser in life, he remains one of my top two favorites, aside from my star, Kotomine Kirei. But that's all for my character review. The protagonist side, of course, is a faction that I like as well but much more, in a good series, one must have a directly proportional villain, in terms of magnitude and intensity.

Enjoyment... huh? Why do I need to bother explaining myself on this. If someone will read my damn rant, it should be quite obvious already.

But hey, what's my first phrase actually doing up there? I can hardly argue that anime with much killing content is actually the one who will stroke as wonderful title. But in any case, I am not a tad of a diligent believer but as far as my humanity goes, I can still lip an answer from the tip of my tongue that wars are happenings that should never occur or happen in our world. But well, as far as history remarks, the inevitable truth is right in front of us.

Concluding, this first season of Fate/Zero is a bittersweet prologue to the much deserved sequel. But if I were to compare both of the seasons, I will always be a proud fan of the 1st series much more than the sequel.