As a history and mythology enthusiast, when I read that the show contained the incarnations of King Arthur and, more importantly, Alexander The Great, I immediately made it my mission to view this anime. My interest in history, however, had little room for enjoyment as there is no place for historical accuracy in something so fantastical as Fate/Zero. And so, I put the scholar in me on the back burner and let the child in me take over.
From the point of view of a story, it's no great shakes. If you've seen any of the other shows in the Fate series then you are probably aware of the series of events that take place in this universe. What is groundbreaking, however, is the level of animation that has gone into making this show. Each episode with its character designs and environment textures looks nothing short of EXQUISITE. And so, it is if nothing else a visual treat.
Coming to the characterizations, each of the 7 servants while bound to the wills of their masters, have nonetheless their own motivations and identities. They are not simply muscles for hire who are told to do battle to the death. The equation between each master and his/her servant is interesting to watch and keeps the overall experience fresh.
While the first season begins and matures flawlessly, the second season does loose itself in the backstories of the some of the servants. That being said, the finale makes up for this slight dip in the pace with some excellent battle sequences. The end, however, can leave you with a sense of incompletion as an adequate explanation is not provided and one has to view Unlimited Bladeworks in order to get some semblance of understanding as to why Fate/Zero ended the way it did.
All in all both seasons are an excellent watch for anyone who likes action with a heavy dose of magic.
