Ep 3. The Curtain Goes Up

In Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] season 1 episode 3, titled "The Curtain Goes Up," we see the continuation of the mysterious battles between the seven Masters and their corresponding Servants, as they fight for the ultimate prize: the Holy Grail, which is said to grant the victor any wish they desire.

The episode opens with a flashback to Rin Tohsaka's childhood, where she was training with her father in the ways of magic. However, her father was killed by Lancer's Master and Rin's plans for revenge were thwarted when she was chosen as a Master in the Holy Grail War. The scene then transitions to the present day, where Rin and her Servant Archer are discussing strategy for the upcoming battles. Meanwhile, Shirou Emiya is still coming to terms with the fact that he has become a Master, with the powerful Saber as his Servant.

The tension between Rin and Shirou continues to simmer, as they both have different ideas about how to approach the upcoming battles. Rin is focused on winning at all costs, while Shirou is more concerned with protecting innocent people from getting caught in the crossfire. As the two of them argue, a disturbance outside catches their attention. Saber senses that an enemy Servant is nearby, and all four of them head out to investigate.

They find a grotesque creature, which appears to be a combination of several animals, attacking a group of students from their school. Rin and Shirou team up to distract the creature, while Saber and Archer use their powers to take it down. After the battle, Rin and Shirou have a heart-to-heart conversation, where they both acknowledge their differences but agree to work together for the sake of their survival.

The episode ends on a foreboding note, as we see the villainous Caster and her Master discussing their plans for the Holy Grail War. They are both confident in their abilities and seem to relish the thought of taking down the other Masters. It becomes clear that the stakes are higher than ever, and the battles will only become more intense from here on out.

Overall, "The Curtain Goes Up" is an action-packed episode that further develops the characters and sets the stage for the upcoming battles. The animation and fight scenes are incredibly well-done, and the plot is engaging and suspenseful. Fans of the fantasy genre will definitely enjoy Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works], which combines magic, mythology, and epic battles for a thrilling viewing experience.