This is a very different type of Fate show and its refreshing. I decided on less spoilers more character synopsis since they are the highlight of the show usually its holy grail war, character focus, and some form of devastation to the world they are still there in the end. This time around it is Character focus; dialogue focus, magic focus, and then some world devastation. Case files gives the viewer a chance to see the mage association that is always mentioned or hinted at in all the other entries while still being able to keep one entertained as well as tie into the Fate timeline.
Our main three mcs "Waver" or Lord El Melloi II, Gray a Saber face, and Reines El-Melloi three very different but lovable characters all the same. This anime unlike the rest of the fate series has the holy grail war on the back burner as a motivation for our lead through out the show. Waver's motivations are
In paying back his debt he is required to take up task or cases that rang from murder, theft, magical family disputes, as well as working as a replacement or stand in for his teacher Lord El Melloi hence the name change and II at the end. How a man who barely survived the last holy grail war who is also not the best mage out there or is mostly looked down upon by head of the Clock-tower members( a group known for both its high noble standing in the magic world and the school that like the group has accomplished much in the magic world) by having a knack for solving other peoples problems. This combined with unique almost brilliant understanding of how magic works to the point of finding its loop holes, having lectures for his students digestible but accurate which has lead some of them to higher heights in the mage world. Lastly a fair amount of detective skills this average mage to some is in fact a wise powerful mage whom one should never underestimate.
Combining the special and start to the series added in with all the other shows of the Fate series, the world building aspect of the show has good amount of depth going for it. This also goes for waver if you have seen Fate/Zero or played the crossover event in FGO he doesn't need that much of an explanation at the start outside of how he has grown and what his current goals and life is like now. His past en-devours in that show are given a fair amount of time on screen, but not enough to feel overbearing or feel as if they don't really matter to the current story these memories are often motivations for Waver.
Gray another saber face whom is also a servant, to some is just another saber wanna be or another reason to have king Arthur some how tied into the story is in fact as all the saber faces someone with her own identity and lovable quirks. she isn't given much of a back story this however doesn't demerit her, it gives her an opportunity to show how she is different from the other saber faces. she is overly shy caring and knows she is different so the way she chooses to speak to those around her is formal or at times overly formal.
Reines El-Melloi a teasing younger sister of waver is whom has high standing in the mage world as part of the clock tower members. confident in both her magic and as a person. She is not afraid to show that you are either beneath her or should show her respect. And in her own way she cares about waver regardless if he is just a stand in for her brother atm till she is old enough to take over. Doesn't get much screen time this season but still makes a big enough splash to be given a character in FGO as well as a bigger part I'm sure she will get in S2 if and whenever that decides to drop.
In my opinion the anime doesn't have that many flaws such as bad animation or boring cast, it may be dialogue heavy and doesn't have that many fights like its predecessors but those are not what Id consider flaws in this series case. Unlimited Blade Works has some heavy dialogue moments as does any FGO entry be it show or in-game singularity such as anything after London singularity america Camelot Babylonia any Epic Of Remnant Singularity or the Lost Belt Singularities also have some inanely long dialogue heavy moments but they all set up their stories just right. The importance of that singularity the difference of danger level to the restoration of humanity and so on. Having ended with a satisfying ending, staying true to the over all world presented to us the viewer. As well as animation quality being good if not great and makes its own place in a very long list of connected shows that seem to almost have no end. I say:
Should you watch it yes
Should it get a S2 yes it will help make it even better
Is it the best of the Fate series no but it is a change of pace and a good one
My over all enjoyment is around an 8/10
Artwork 8.5/10
Story 8/10
Music 8.5
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