It Was Just a Gas Leak: Fate’s Longest Running Joke

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Key Takeaways

  • Fate/strange Fake premiered early to celebrate the Fate Series’ 20th anniversary, invoking a classic running joke.
  • The series’ supernatural spectacle makes the prospect of keeping the events a secret laughable in a tongue-in-cheek way.
  • Fate/strange Fake takes a new twist on the classic gas leak excuse, reflecting a more unpredictable Holy Grail War.
Title Fate/strange Fake
Directors Shun Enokido, Takahito Sakazume
Studio A-1 Pictures
Release Date 11/23/2024 (Preview)

As someone who has followed the Fate series for quite some time now, I must say that the latest addition, Fate/strange Fake, has truly captured my heart (and maybe a few other organs as well). The way it takes a classic element of the franchise and spins it on its head is nothing short of genius.

The first episode of Fate/strange Fake aired ahead of schedule as part of the 20th anniversary of the Fate franchise, and, unsurprisingly, it turned out to be quite entertaining. As fans eagerly await the rest of the series, there was a touch of humor in the continuation of one of the series’ longest-standing jokes.

In essence, Fate – similar to numerous tales by Type-Moon – is a contemporary fantasy narrative that revolves around mages, vampires, and various occult events camouflaged within the ordinary flow of daily life. As supernatural conflicts intensify and become too conspicuous to conceal, alternative explanations are required, but one ruse is employed more frequently than others. Specifically, the age-old “gas leak” alibi.

Fate’s Penchant for Spectacle Is a Double-Edged Sword

Since the debut of the initial Fate/Stay Night visual novel on Windows in 2004, the extraordinary spectacle of its narrative has hardly gone unnoticed. The general premise of this tale and its numerous spinoffs typically revolves around a group of magicians, or Masters, who each summon a Heroic Spirit, or Servant, to obey their commands and engage in combat with other Master-Servant duos. When only one Master is left standing, they are rewarded with a wish from the Holy Grail.

Over time and through the efforts of animation studios such as Ufotable, this series has developed its unique style. This style, encompassing both storytelling and animation, has made the mysterious supernatural elements seem almost comical due to their contrast. For instance, the fights from Unlimited Blade Works are a visual feast of multi-colored explosions, each more stunning in its destructive beauty than the one before it.

How Is Any of this Kept Secret?

Typically, the workings of destiny occur during the darkness of night, and mages frequently erect barriers to keep people at bay by subtly diverting their focus elsewhere. This mechanism is effective for concealing smaller-scale conflicts. Nevertheless, it strains credulity to believe that such barriers could divert the subconscious mind from an event as cataclysmic as a ballistic missile obliterating half of the forested hillside adjacent to the town.

The effectiveness of these excuses, however slight, stems significantly from the specific circumstances. The Holy Grail War, though inherently chaotic, is made less disorderly by the meticulous planning that takes place behind the scenes, much of which remains implicit to the audience. In the world of Fate/Stay Night, at least, this event is a joint effort between the Mage families who initiated the Grail War and the Holy Church, both working together to conceal the true nature of the events unfolding.

The Birth of a Running Joke

As a gamer, I’ve come to realize that the Church has a knack for tampering with people’s recollections using their magical abilities. Meanwhile, the Mage’s Association seems to have quite a bit of influence over how news outlets cover events, like that baffling crater in the hillside. Usually, they spin it as a gas leak causing whatever explosion illuminated the night sky, no matter if it was a major or minor blast. Even when Caster was surreptitiously sapping people’s mana during ‘Fate/Stay Night’ and leaving them in a comatose state, the media conveniently blamed it on a gas leak.

As a gamer, I can’t help but notice the witty self-awareness that’s weaved into the narrative of this cover story. It’s not just amusing, it subtly hints that the organizers of the Grail War have enough influence to keep things under wraps, despite the challenges. And the more extravagant the event, the funnier the jest becomes. But what makes this latest installment in the series truly clever is how it reinvents this timeless joke, making it fresh and engaging.

How Fate/strange Fake Gives the Joke a Punchline

As a devoted fan, I’d like to share my excitement about “Fate/strange Fake,” penned by the talented Ryogho Narita, renowned for his work on “Durarara”. This captivating tale is set in the fictional American city of Snowfield, Nevada. The narrative revolves around a fresh Grail War orchestrated by a clandestine group of mages who’ve severed ties with the Mage’s Association, aiming to replicate the Holy Grail War system. The plot rapidly spirals out of control, and chaos becomes an integral part of this story, arguably more so than any previous “Fate” tale.

In this setting, the familiar gas leak joke gains a fresh meaning. Just a minute into the premiere, the news anchor speaks about the aftermath of the Whispers of Dawn’s climactic battle, subtly hinting at the return of Fate. Yet, if the rest of the Fate series is based on the premise that events can be concealed, Strange Fake explores what occurs when those managing the Grail War must struggle for control instead.

The Gas Leak Excuse Won’t Cut It

In the very first installment, the atmosphere surrounding the Grail War and the public focus on it seems notably unstable. The finale, where a Servant is apprehended by the police, is undeniably unique. Yet, this occurrence hints at a different approach in past Grail Wars, as such an incident had never transpired before. Regardless of the Servants’ turmoil, the Masters were tactically astute and the organizers had mastered information management to perfection.

The joke about the gas leak in the Fate Series is timeless, even though it might not seem profound on its own. However, the manner in which it’s employed showcases the intricate craftsmanship of the franchise’s universe-building. The detailed structure, the way it’s presented to viewers, and the ability to bend the rules to keep the series engaging and thrilling after two decades, all reflect the essence of Fate in a humorous light – encapsulating its most fundamental appeal.

Fate/strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn can now be streamed on Crunchyroll.

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2024-12-02 20:34