Fate/stay night Vol. 4: Archer 2006 Geneon Entertainment Official US Website Buy It Now Official Japanese Website

The battle lines in Fate/stay night have perhaps never been more clearly defined than they are in the series now. Everything has been pushing forward to confrontations between Servants and Masters, and the third volume was merely the calm before the storm. The fourth volume of Fate/stay night, “Archer,” reintroduces the idea that not all Servants will remain.

Sabers devastating Noble Phantasm has made quick work of Rider, but at a cost. Her constant battling and protection of Shirou has left her with very little mana, and unless it’s replenished, she will fade away. Rin has given Shirou the possible courses of action that he can take to stop this from happening, but he’s not happy with them as one involves releasing his Command Seal and allowing her to take innocent lives. While he contemplates the choices before him, he once again encounters Illya who has plans of her own.

It seems that Illya has simply been toying with Shirou and even put an end to Shinji and now she’s aiming to have Berserker kill Saber and anyone else so that Shirou will become her servant, but not in the sense of the others. She might be young, but it seems that this little lady has some other, more adult plans and Shirou isn’t willing to play along. While he manages to escape, Illya’s just playing once again and waiting for everyone to show up.

With Saber being in a weakened state, Archer is the only means to possibly defeat Berserker, and while he holds his own quite well, it’s not enough. Now the only choice is to transfer some of Shirou’s magical ability to Saber, but even that seems to not be enough to turn the tides, nor are Rin’s magical crystals that she’s been saving. However, Shirou has been having a vision about a powerful sword and manages to manifest the blade, something direly needed as Berserker has the power of Hercules and must be killed not once, not twice, but twelve times before he finally meets his demise.

This volume of Fate/stay night has a good deal of combat and revelations, particularly about Saber and her past. It’s been hinted at, but the past now becomes clear and this incarnation is merely a rebirth of the legendary King Arthur. Shirou’s manifested sword of course is the invisible Excalibur, simply called Calibur in the series, but it’s more than enough to handle just about any foes save for the lack of a scabbard, the one thing that truly makes the blade unbeatable. And, in a final twist for this volume, Illya actually comes to live with Shirou, something that Saber is not too happy about but Rin on the other hand thinks to herself that it might be one of the best decisions he’s made.

Once again however there really isn’t a great deal of bonus features on the DVD. There is a clean version of the new opening animation for the series, though there is not a clean version of the alternate ending seen in episode fourteen. There is also a music video clip for “Shining Tears That Become Stars,” the new opening, which is a rather interesting twist on Alice in Wonderland.

From this point forward it seems that Fate/stay night is going to keep with the pacing of a great deal of combat and some rather surprising revelations about the series. So far there has been nothing terribly disappointing about the series itself and Fate/stay night seems poised for a tremendous finale that will be well worth the wait.

Episode 13 – Winter Castle

Saber is running out of mana and Rin has informed Shirou there is only one solution; release his Command Seal. While he contemplates what to do he once again meets with Illya who captures him and demands he become her servant.

Episode 14 – The End of the Ideal

Shirou has managed to free himself just as Saber and the other arrive to free him. Illya however has been hiding and summons Berserker. As Archer stays behind to fight, the others try and flee, but Archer’s sacrifice may not be enough.

Episode 15 – The Twelve Trials

Rin has come up with a plan that might help Saber, but at the loss of some of Shirou’s magical power. He’s willing to go through with ritual however and the three come up with a plan to defeat Berserker, or so they thought. Illya’s invincible servant wont’ be killed so easily with his power over death.

Episode 16 – The Sword of the Promised Victory

The only hope left to defeat Berserker is for Shirou to visualize the means to do so, and to even Sabers surprise, he conjures up the one sword capable of accomplishing the task. With another servant down, Shirou brings Illya back for sanctuary despite Saber’s protest while someone watches from the shadows to make their move.

-mike-