Rating: 4.2/5 curiously excited clouds 
I might be really biased when it comes to Type Moon and the Fate world because even though the pacing was off in this episode in terms of the overarching story development, I still really enjoyed all the dark fate magic action that happened in episode eight.
The first half of the episode starts off with some innocent high school routines told from Rin, Luvia and Mama Iri’s point of view. Irisviel IS actually pretty invested in her girls’ lives and ends up spying on Kuro and Illya all day throughout the school. The plot in this episode is told from Rin and Luvia’s perspective because they sort of bridge the younger girls world with the mage world all the while offering important information and key scenes that reveal the fantasy aspects of this world.
The episode is clearly divided between the school and the Edelfelt mansion and the plot doesn’t really pick up the pace until the last big magic battle. The contrast between the two halves of the show is stark. Just as you think Illya and Kuro have worked out their differences and can start living as “normal,” girls, they end up pulled into Rin and Luvia’s mage issues again.
While magic combat wages on in the Edelfelt mansion, the Einzbern girls are busy picking out new swimsuits… I give major props for whoever set up the barriers around the mansion however because the explosions are pretty massive. If you sort of remember from the last season, with the mysterious figure we saw at the airport arriving in Fuyuki city.
AUGUSTE IS THE BEST BUTLER EVER. OMG. THE HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT. TOO AWESOME. The combat animation is just superb in this show. The jumps and spins are really just so dynamic and the immediacy of the angles in the camerawork really packs a punch to the impact of the movements and explosions.
Our intruder, Bazette Fraga McRemitz, the Church’s combat specialist and enforcer has arrived to take the cards… Luckily for the audience, we hear Rin narrating her thoughts throughout as she observes Luvia, Auguste and Bazette in combat. If Rin wasn’t observing, we probably wouldn’t get an explanation at all. Because we get the battle from Rin’s perspective, I’m curious as to what she’s got planned because her mind is always turning with a strategy.
When Illya and Kuro finally discover the scene, they find the Luvia mansion up in flames with Bazette strolling casually out of the array. WHAT’S HAPPENED TO RIN AND LUVIA OMG!??? I’m so concerned. It seems like every series is starting the finale build-up right about now. Moving forward, we can look forward to how the Archer card issue will be resolved with Kuro and the others and perhaps more magic girl fight scenes. In the previews, we even get to see MIYU UNLOCK RIDER’S CARD. WHOOOO!! Can’t wait for next week’s fight!!!! =DD
- Cloudy
What are you pondering today?