This week’s Fate/strange Fake episode shifts gears from isolated duels to chaotic, multi-sided confrontations, expanding the war’s scope and moral ambiguity. Episode 4 gives us a brutal reunion between two archers familiar to Fate fans, a surprising intervention from a legendary Amazon queen, and a quieter, character-driven B-plot that deepens the bond between Saber and his Master. Below is a detailed breakdown of the episode’s highlights, thematic beats, and what this may mean for the story going forward.
Table of Contents
Episode 4 Recap: When Old Rivalries Turn Messy
Episode 4 opens with a tense skirmish that quickly becomes more than a duel: Gilgamesh and Alcides collide in a fight that recalls their past clash in Fate/Unlimited Blade Works, but with roles reversed. Previously, Gilgamesh leveraged his overwhelming armory to neutralize Heracles by targeting Illya—forcing Heracles to take blows aimed elsewhere. In strange Fake, the opening strike that appears to be aimed at Gilgamesh retrospectively reads as an attempt on Tiné, and Alcides’ ferocity raises uncomfortable questions about what’s changed in the legendary hero.
The battle escalates when Hippolyta, the True Rider and Queen of the Amazons, intervenes—not for the Grail but for personal and moral reasons. Her presence reframes the fight: she cannot tolerate Heracles attacking a young woman, and her outrage reveals a dissonance between the historical legend of Heracles and what Alcides has become in this corrupted war.
Why Alcides Feels “Wrong” — Corruption and Identity
Small but telling details reveal something is off with Alcides. His behavior contradicts his legendary persona, and the appearance of a corrosive, grail-like mud around him calls back to the corruption seen in the Heaven’s Feel storyline. Francesca’s offhand reference to him as “Avenger” rather than the expected “True Archer” suggests his class may be warped by vengeance—an irregular and dangerous transformation in the mechanics of the Holy Grail War.
Avenger vs. Hero: The Ethics of a Corrupted Class
The Avenger class traditionally represents spirits consumed by revenge, making them especially unstable. If Alcides is shifting into this role, his actions—attacking the young and vulnerable—are less the acts of a flawed hero and more the symptoms of a spirit driven by some darker impetus. That moral decay is central to the episode’s tension: how do we reconcile a mythic hero’s legend with this iteration’s monstrous behavior?
Hippolyta’s Intervention: Pride, Honor, and Personal Stakes
Hippolyta’s involvement is evocative: she doesn’t care about the Grail but will fight to preserve the dignity of a hero’s legend—and to stop what she perceives as a stain upon it. Her motivation humanizes the Amazon queen and anchors the episode in a theme of legacy vs. reality. Her relationship to Heracles in myth—where betrayal and tragedy intersect—adds emotional weight to her response in this war.
Francesca and the Illusion Trap: Tactical Retreats and Unknown Servants
The battle’s abrupt end comes not through victory but through trickery. Francesca’s servant unleashes an illusion that ensnares everyone, forcing an uneasy retreat. The sequence underscores how fragile alliances and tactical certainty are in this conflict; when reality itself can be questioned, even the strongest combatants hesitate. The servant’s class remains unknown, which keeps the tension high and invites speculation about Francesca’s capabilities and true goals.
B-Plot Spotlight: Ayaka and Saber’s All-Night Jam Session
Counterbalancing the battlefield chaos is a quieter, warmly drawn subplot: Ayaka and Saber spending the night in a small nightclub, bonding through music. This slice-of-life moment provides much-needed breathing room and reveals important character details. Saber mentions he hears other Heroic Spirits answering his call—clues that suggest his capability to attract ancillary spirits like Pierre Basile and Robin of Loxley.
Revealing Names and the Power of Trust
Saber’s near-revelation of his True Name troubles Ayaka, who is uncomfortable with being told such secrets; her reaction is grounded in insecurity rather than logic—she doubts her own worth as a Master. Saber’s subsequent disclosure that he is Richard the Lionheart is poignant: it’s both an affirmation of trust and a protective gesture. He isn’t safeguarding Ayaka to claim the Grail; he’s ensuring she survives the war because of who she is.
Voice Acting & Production Notes
A standout production moment is the voice performance for Alcides. Having Tadahisa Saizen reprise the role with actual spoken lines—rather than the mostly inhuman grunts of previous portrayals—adds emotional texture and terror to the character. Direction leans into the brutality and moral ambiguity, while the animation balances kinetic action with quieter character beats. The soundtrack underscores tension in combat and warmth in the club scenes, helping the episode feel tonally coherent despite its shifts.
What This Means Going Forward
- Alcides’ apparent corruption raises stakes: if a legendary hero can become consumed by vengeance, the definitions of “hero” and “monster” in this war will be increasingly blurred.
- Hippolyta’s interference shows that not all Masters and Servants fight for the Grail—some fight to defend legacies or personal codes, which will complicate future alliances.
- Francesca’s servant and their illusion suggest more psychological confrontations are coming, not just physical ones.
- Ayaka and Saber’s bond hints at an emotional core that could anchor the series amid the chaos, especially if their relationship becomes a target for other players.
Where to Watch
Fate/strange Fake is currently available to stream; for viewers outside Japan you can find simulcast options such as Crunchyroll.
Final thoughts
Episode 4 is one of the series’ most revealing installments so far: it deepens the Holy Grail War’s moral complexity, raises intriguing questions about corrupted heroism, and gives us quieter character moments that matter. Between the brutal, almost tragic fight choreography and the tender, humanizing scenes with Saber and Ayaka, Fate/strange Fake balances spectacle and intimacy well. If the show continues to complicate legendary identities while exploring how personal motives shape this war, it will remain compelling—and unpredictable—in the episodes to come.
