Initially, I wasn’t going to watch this, but I couldn’t resist the urge since I enjoy magical girl shows. This time, we have yet another alternate world in Fate series, but with a magical girl twist as Illya becomes one. (Image Source)
From the first episode, it reminds me a lot of Card Captor Sakura or Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha where we have a magical mascot come out of nowhere asking a girl to become a magical girl in a quest to collect magical items, which in this case is cards that contains servants. Compared to the main series (Fate/zero and Fate stay night), this show is light-hearted since it’s centered on Illiya.
Even though this was a preview episode before the show officially airs next week, it was very enjoyable. Basically, it’s starts with Luviagelita and Rin fighting each other, causing their wands to abandon them with Ruby, finding her way to Illya, who is a normal girl who loves magical girl shows. She finds herself becoming one while taking a bath and Shirou walks in. Despite being clichéd as it starts like any typical magical girl show, the comedy between Rin and Luviagelita and the charm of Illya’s cuteness is the main highlight of this episode.
Besides the attempted battle between Rin and Luviagelita, I also find Ruby successfully tricking Illya into a contract rather hilarious. It’s a bit more brutal compared to Kyubey, but at least Illya will have Rin’s help. This makes me wonder if Illya will use her new powers to make Shirou fall in love with her. We’ll see when the next episode airs in two weeks when we get to see her use some of her new powers granted by Ruby and learn more about these special cards. ¶
I must admit that when I first saw the synopsis for this series I had no intention of watching it, though at the time I hadn’t realized that other Fate characters would be involved. I’m not really a magical girl fan (though I can’t say i’ve really watched any), but I love the Fate franchise in general so I may have to give it a go.
While I haven’t watch all of Fate/stay night, Fate/zero is basically the series that pulled me in… But still, there are some good magical girl shows that have deep story lines.. so I suggest checking them out someday.
I wish more studios would go back to this type of storytelling in mahou shojo. While I enjoyed both Nanoha and Madoka I want a mahou shojo to start having male in them again whether it be a rival or typical classmate.
I think most of it has to be the focus more on female characters rather than on romance with a male character. Probably the last time I seen a magical girl show with a male love interest is Cardcaptor Sakura… But considering that Shirou is in it, it’s bound to happen. :p
I believe somewhere Kyubey approves of Ruby. She’s just enough evil to be worthy of this recognition. 😀
Yep, but I suppose the counterpart isn’t that evil… or is it?
Brief review: Luviagelita’s TV debut was the only highlight of this episode for me. Everything else was meh. Will patiently await subtext development before any hope is restored for this show.
It’s only the beginning episodes, so I think things will pick up in the third episode or so when the other magical girl gets revealed along with some rivals thrown in.
Oh I do not doubt it’ll pick up. I just hope they get Shirou off my screen as frequently as possible because I do not want to see that insignificant waste of flesh eat away my precious time on this planet