Fate/Zero:
Light Novels: Gen Urobuchi with illustrations by Takashi Takeuchi, 2006-2007. Translations written by Baka-Tsuki
(http://baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Fate/Zero).
Anime. Aniplex, 2013.

To preface this review, I’d like to point out that the written light novels and anime were both original works; neither were based on any sort of visual novel (like Fate/Stay Night). While the mythos from Fate/Stay is used as a basis for what happens, the Fourth Holy Grail War is an original concept, with many backstories and information not originally conceptualized in the visual novel, anime, or graphic novel series of Fate/Stay Night. I do plan on reviewing Fate/Stay Night at some point, but I felt like reviewing this timeframe/universe first.

That being said, this series – both the light novel and the anime – are fantastic examples of a gender-balanced world building. Between the intellectually, but physically weak Waver Velvet, the deadly markswoman Maiya, and the gender-neutral Saber, the world based on Urobuchi’s light novels is a great example of people being people rather than forced into particular gender roles. My plan to deconstruct the series is probably more than I can chew, to be honest, so what I’ll do is split up parts of it, probably based on characters.

Master/Servant Waver Velvet & Rider (Alexander the Great)

At first glance, the partnering of Waver & Rider is a very mismatched set – the short, intellectual ‘geek’ with the strong ‘protector’ jock. However, upon closer examination, one can actually see just how complementary these two are to each other.

As both an underprivileged youth and magi, Waver has a lot to prove to the world. Not only does he feel the need to demonstrate to his fellow magi that is worthy of their attention despite being from a young (read: “new money”) bloodline, but he is physically short and weak. Waver is a classic example of a young man attempting to complete an image of contemporary ‘composite’ masculinity – he desires to fulfill the physical demands of socially accepted masculinity (strength, physicality, toughness) but because of his physical limitations/inability to conform to those standards, only can compete via ‘intellectual masculinity’.

His pairing, then, with Rider, whose actual identity is that of Alexander the Conqueror, seems geared to undo his efforts. Rider fulfills all aspects of the social masculine identity that he lacks – height (a factor that is brought up several times), power, physical strength, and charisma. These traits are all things that Rider takes for granted or trivializes; his idea of perfection is human aspiration; the drive to better one’s self in order to fulfill a dream. His age and experience allows him to see in Waver the makings of a self-actualized being, but recognizes that Waverly is trying to aspire to unrealistic expectations – those of social gender norms. Rider’s acceptance of others based on their actions, not their sex, is demonstrated time and time again – he asks Saber repeatedly if she will join his armies – not because of her worth as a woman (which based on his original lifetime, would be that of a concubine/bedwarmer), but because of her value as a warrior:

“Rider: How are you going to attack an enemy in the river, Saber?
Saber: My body is protected by the Lady of the Lake. No water can stop me in my path, no matter how many fathoms deep.
Rider: That’s a rare skill to have. I want you in my army even more.”

The warriors in Rider’s Noble Phantasm are of both genders – unheard of in his time. As much as Rider is Waver’s supposed Servant, it is he who fosters and teaches Waver of both Waver’s worth as a human being as well as teaching him to disregard the gender expectations society tells Waver of are importance.

At the end of the series, not only does Waver use his command seals so that he and Rider are equals on the battlefield (insofar as he cannot control how Rider acts/what he does) but Rider bestows upon Waver the title of his retainer. Rider does this knowing that Gilgamesh will kill a Master, but not a retainer – by Waver giving up his rights as a Master, and setting himself up on equal footing alongside Rider (who he thought was greater than he), he has come to accept himself, and realized that his standing in the social masculine identity of ‘strength, prowess, etc.’ is not as important as his self-actualization as a human being.