I will say this though: I FREAKING KNEW IT. I KNEW SHIRO WAS GOING TO TAKE THE COMMAND SEALS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. I knew it was weird how he was controlling everyone and the lack of Red Fraction players in the OP, seriously – it’s a damn good thing Sisigo steered clear from him.
However, this episode was quite worrisome for me. Throughout the entire episode, something felt off, but I couldn’t place my finger on what that was. Perhaps it has to do with how the rules of this war seems to have been thrown out the window and everything is about to descend into chaos because nobody knows what the hell is happening anymore. It seems to be the running theme too because Shiro says screw the rules (isn’t he supposed to be a moderator whatever he calls himself), we got Servants who are doing what they want when they want, an escaped homunculus (Sieg), who has a connection with a Dragon who tells him, “Not to forget”, and Jeanne is essentially lost as to why the hell she has been summoned for this ridiculous war in the first place, and the list goes on.
Now let’s address just that. One of the reasons why Jeanne knows something is not right about this war is why and how she was summoned. She has no master, her body failed to manifest so she is currently possessing a French girl named Leticia (well that explains things). She has come to the conclusion that she was summoned not necessarily to judge, but potentially for some other purpose. She is also keenly aware that Sieg, has a purpose in the war as she seen vision of him covered in blood, but she has yet to figure out just what. But to hell with that, she wants to defy fate and ensure him a happy and peaceful life, not one to have to be dragged into this war he was created to be a part of in the first place. Hell she even dropped him off at an old man’s place, hoping that will keep him away from trouble.
The Dragon and Sieg, look I don’t know anything about the backstory here, so I can’t speculate. But it has been foreshadowed since the first episode that he has something to do with it, and even bears the mark of such – which seems to be invisible for the time being. But now that I think of it, it’s rather ironic how Siegfried (The Dragon Slayer) gave his heart to a homunculus who has some sort of connection with this Dragon.
Despite Astofolo screwing Caster over by saving Sieg, Vlad III did not bother to punish him for long. The only ones who are the most pissed are Caster and Astofolo’s master. Rather, the Black Fraction are concerned about a different servant: Black Assassin, Jack the Ripper. It looks like based on their reactions and the news of Jack’s master having been killed, they want Jack the Ripper dealt with ASAP (no shit, Sherlock). The stakes are too high to let this one run loose, and it seems they are especially aware of Jack not willing to be affiliated with either fractions. As for who Jack is traveling with now, and calls her mother is up in the air still. I would like to know how the hell these two paired up and killed off the original master in the first place, but let’s just say I am not very curious because I dread their appearances. And of course of all people, they send the two siblings to deal with them, and I’m just like, “WHY?” Ugh, even though we are super early in the series, I’m already worried about of one of the two being killed off. I will never be ready for that.
That’s just about all I have to say for this week. This episode only made me more confused, and I hardly expect anything to be straightened out within the next.
“Throughout the entire episode, something felt off, but I couldn’t place my finger on what that was.”
For me it’s the sheer amount of constant drivel forcibly shoved into our minds and Jeanne suddenly threatening to showcase what a Ruler’s cheating capabilities are. Shirou’s TRUE purpose & identity, though, will be a MASSIVE spoiler so leave that aside for future episodes.
“She has no master, her body failed to manifest so she is currently possessing a French girl named Leticia”
Ruler-class Servants don’t have Masters. However, they skipped a moment from the LN between Sieg & Jeanne, it’s not shown here…
“Hell she even dropped him off at an old man’s place, hoping that will keep him away from trouble.”
Like that could keep him away from trouble, if it was THAT easy why did everyone suddenly revolve around the protagonist in the first place?
“But now that I think of it, it’s rather ironic how Siegfried (The Dragon Slayer) gave his heart to a homunculus who has some sort of connection with this Dragon.”
The dragon (Fafnir) was the EXACT same dragon that Siegfried slayed during his lifetime, and upon bathing onto his blood born the Armor of Fafnir which makes Siegfried very difficult to kill on the battlefield, although he died a “heroic sacrifice” last episode. RIP Sumanai-kun.
Overall, the amount of bad episodes SO EARLY ON is ticking me off. If you compare Fate/Apocrypha’s first 5 episodes with Fate/Zero’s it’s severely lacking the charm to attract the viewers to invest for a long-term. YES, people are spoiled by ufotable’s glorious animation, but in terms of story we had FIVE Servants on the same battlefield in F/Z episode 5 to conduct a pseudo battle royale with Assassin observing near the scene & Caster from afar with their Masters nearby or afar & their Servants’ traits defined early on. What did we have so far in Apocrypha? Countless dialogues, shallow character building, half-assed battles, rinse & repeat… Seriously, the debut battle between Karna & Siegfried was TOO SHORT, and don’t even get me started on how Spartacus was batshit crazy and yet subdued way too easily by his “oppressors”. The Achilles & Atalanta VS Frank-chan & Siegfried was also depressingly bad it only hooked in the audience when Chiron began to fire arrows. The only fights that had decent budget so far was when Mordred was on-screen, so where the hell is she for two consecutive episodes??
Leave it to Shirou to spice things up. JFC, this is going to be mayhem.
//. If you compare Fate/Apocrypha’s first 5 episodes with Fate/Zero’s it’s severely lacking the charm to attract the viewers to invest for a long-term.//
I agree, this is a serious problem. Since last week I’ve been thinking to myself, “Will I really be able to cover all 24 episodes at this rate?” Of course it’s only episode five, but like you said, it already feels like they are needlessly dragging it out. Since it’s 24 episodes I’ll give it a few more episodes, but I’m not going to lie, each week it feels like I am becoming less and less invested in it – disappointing really considering I was looking forward to it.
//The dragon (Fafnir) was the EXACT same dragon that Siegfried slayed during his lifetime… //
Well, I’m glad at least that irony is going to play out. 😂
Yeah where the hell is Mordred, she’s the interesting one. I would be far more interested in watching her and Sisigo kick ass together.
Sometimes I forget Astolfo’s supposed to be male, especially since his costume has a skirt.
I don’t mind androgynous characters, but at least give a sign they’re male (like wearing pants or shorts). Otherwise everyone thinks it’s a small-chested girl.
I dare say that’s the point of his design: he’s suppose to be a “trap”. ^^;;
Actually, that did befit the legend of Roland went mad and Astolfo had to chill him down by dressing like a girl.