Damn it! I wanted her to stay!

The fifth episode of Fate Extra: Last Encore has finally aired, leaving fans in awe. Let’s dive into the intense and emotional events that unfolded in this captivating episode.

Recap

The episode starts with a significant scene from 999 years ago, where Archer shoots a Master with a poisoned arrow. Sakura attempts to treat the poisoned Master, but Dan Blackmore intervenes and supposedly cures the poison out of chivalry. Both Archer and Dan Blackmore lose the subsequent battle and face deletion. However, miraculously, they are revived. Dan, however, returns with a changed nature, resorting to underhanded tactics and traps in his pursuit of victory.

We then return to Rani, Saber, and Hakuno having breakfast in the forest. Hakuno is still shaken by the passage of time, but Saber manages to calm him down. They proceed to a strategy meeting, where they discuss Dan’s inability to ascend despite being the Floor Master. Rani reveals that Dan’s Servant is Robin Hood, a specialized guerrilla warfare servant with two Noble Phantasms. Without Rani’s intervention, Saber would have met a violent death due to Robin Hood’s abilities.

Saber takes on the role of bait to distract Robin Hood while Hakuno and Rani confront Dan. During this time, Rani enlightens Hakuno about the Moon Cell and its purpose of studying human behavior. However, the Moon Cell couldn’t comprehend human emotions, leading to a world of the dead. The dead manifest as ghosts in SE.RA.PH.

As Saber evades Robin Hood’s invisible arrows, she questions his allowance of Dan’s slaughter. Archer confesses that he is driven to avoid losing again, even if there is nothing to gain from it. Saber challenges him to use his Yew Bow Noble Phantasm and accepts the risk of striking him down. Meanwhile, Hakuno finds himself in a life-threatening situation, with the best girl of the show being sniped. Thankfully, Hakuno activates Dead Face, gaining enough strength and speed to save Rani.

Archer realizes that Saber saw through Dan’s trap and attempts to kill her with his Yew Bow. However, Saber deflects the shot and keeps her promise of striking him down. She reveals that she has been bleeding herself to prevent the poison from building up inside her. Archer, realizing his defeat, ceases fighting and sends Saber away before passing on at the grave of the real Dan Blackmore.

Hakuno, on the other hand, manages to eliminate the vengeful ghost sniper hiding in the castle. As the floor collapses with the death of the Floor Master, Hakuno wants to save Rani. But Saber stops him, revealing that Rani chose to remain with the dead, bidding them farewell. She warns Hakuno that Dead Face will eventually conceal his true self.

The episode concludes with Rin trying to uplift their spirits on the elevator, reminding them that Rani witnessed the final star ascend.

Review

Nnnhhh… Ow. My heart. I feel so upset, but it was undeniably a great episode.

The opening scene with Dan Blackmore reflects the game’s depiction of his death. In his final moments, he showcased wisdom and encouraged the player to persevere, to find a reason as a victor. Seeing him return as a veteran warrior consumed by the obsession for victory is simultaneously touching and sad. Archer’s willingness to accompany him until the very end is truly heartwarming.

Rani’s fate left a deep impact. I desperately wanted her to survive, and her decision to die pained me. There was so much potential for her character, alongside Rin. Moreover, her Decoy ability provided Hakuno with a path to victory by luring Dan into a sniping position.

However, her choice to stay with the dead until the end was a poignant one. Saber’s respect for Rani’s decision only intensified the emotional complexity of the story.

Hakuno is beginning to comprehend the situation, thanks to Saber. He is breaking free from the overwhelming hatred that fuels his power, and instead forging a path aligned with his own desires. Notably, Hakuno’s deduction about Dan Blackmore’s true position, based on the ringing of the bells, demonstrates his growing understanding.

Overall, this episode was emotionally charged, and I’m eagerly anticipating the direction it will take in this new Grail War.

Let us all extend our heartfelt gratitude to Fecomic for bringing us this breathtaking experience.

Fecomic