The episode begins with Lord El-Melloi II discussing the state of the Holy Grail War in Snowfield. As he does, he says something strange. “Perhaps, the Holy Grail War has yet not begun.”
After the opening theme, which I decidedly do not like, we are returned to the burgeoning battle between Hansa and the Dead Apostle Jester. When Orlando asks if he will assist them, that is the Masters, Hansa replies: “Before I am an Overseer, I am a Priest.”
The battle between Hansa and Jester begins in earnest, and we are treated to an excellently animated and choreographed battle between the priest and the vampire, where both parties are determined not to back down.
Jester taunts Hansa, asking him about his role as a neutral observer, but Hansa informs him that the Church’s number one priority is to conceal Mystics and to protect the tranquillity of humanity.
He then adds, “If a vampire were to get a hold of the Holy Grail, I’d be a failure of an Overseer.”
The battle continues, and Jester tries to gain the upper hand by conjuring a whirlwind of fire and air. His attack ultimately fails as it is revealed that seventy per cent of Hansa’s body is made up of consecrated mechanical parts.
Angered by Jester comparing him to the Burial Agency, an exalted group of executors within the Church, Hansa vows to destroy Jester. However, the sun comes up, and Jester makes his escape by transforming into a child.
Hansa orders the other members of his team to surround the building and apprehend any suspicious individuals. Ayaka and Saber are stopped by one of Hansa’s subordinates, and Ayaka is told to report to the Central Church, as there is something the Overseer wishes to discuss with the Masters.
As Orlando picks up the pieces following the assault by Assassin and Jester, he says something quite interesting.
“If…they’re still going to start the other war as planned.”
All the subliminal clues are pointing to another Holy Grail War.
For the first time in a while, we are shown Flat Escardos, where he sits in a diner the morning after the battle. He comments on the state of Snowfield, acknowledging that the city is strange and there seems to be a lot of Magecraft in use.
Lord El-Melloi II, on the other side of the Atlantic, is putting together pieces of information on this fake Holy Grail War. Like Flat, he acknowledges that there seems to be something off about Snowfield, especially the Magical Leyline of the city. The appearance of Saber seems to be the final hint that he needs to string all of the information together. It was previously announced that, because this is a fake Holy Grail War, there was to be no Saber. Only the other six Servants were summoned.
However, as the appearance of Saber coincided with a spike in magical energy in Snowfield, it seems like the Holy Grail is starting to summon seven Heroic Spirits. Lord El-Melloi II postulates that the six Servants previously summoned might be catalysts for the true Holy Grail War to begin.
The next scene proves this as we see Faldeus attempt to summon a Heroic Spirit. While it seems like he initially fails, a note appears on the floor next to the summoning circle saying: “I ask you, art thou my master?”
Elsewhere, an Archer fires a bolt of energy towards the building where TinƩ Chelc and Gilgamesh are.
Verdict
One thing the Fate series has been consistently good at is well-choreographed, exquisitely animated and evenly matched fight scenes. And the battle between Hansa and Jester does not disappoint. The two exchange flashy blows, while their conversation helps to further our understanding of the setting.
Another consistent element of the Fate series is the “neutrality” of the Overseer. In almost all of the previous instalments, the Overseer never remains neutral, and Hansa is just the latest example; although, for now, his motivations for wanting to get rid of Jester are not selfish.
I particularly like the way information has been revealed so far. We, the audience, are not being bombarded with new information every single episode. Instead, secrets and the underlying plotline are being slowly, steadily and sequentially revealed, in a way that makes for excellent viewing.
Of course, while the name of the Fate series and several other clues already pointed to the fact that there would be two Holy Grail Wars—a fake one and a true one, the reveal was done in a way that allowed the audience to form their own logical conclusions.
I am definitely looking forward to episode 4.
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