Fate/strange Fake Episode 2 Review (Must Watch Winter Anime for 2026)
Fate/strange Fake, despite being part of the “Fate” universe, has become a dark horse that sparked massive discussions across X and other social platforms after its second episode aired on January 10, 2026. As someone who deeply enjoyed episode 1, I seen episode 2 as fast as I possibly could. After watching it, I understand why a 'Fate' anime was able to go mainstream and get so many people talking.
Before diving into my thoughts on episode 2, I would like to make a bold statement: Fate/strange Fake doesn’t just work within the 'Fate' universe; it works as an anime that provides an incredible viewing experience in its own right. Since this is a review of episode 2, I'm assuming everyone has already watched the first episode. I will be diving deep into the details, so if you haven’t seen episode 2 yet, please be aware there are spoilers ahead—read at your own risk!
Fate/strange Fake episode 2 starts with some funny scenes featuring our MC, Richard I, and ends with an incredible battle between Jester Karture, Hansa Cervantes, and Orlando Reeve's police force. Starting with jokes and ending with battles might sound like weird pacing, but it unexpectedly works very well for Fate/strange Fake. For an anime filled with heavy lore and 'Fate' universe terminology, it’s vital to keep newcomers entertained while progressing the story. From this perspective, the anime team did a great job with episode 2.
Source: Fate/strange Fake Official X account
Fate/strange Fake & Ayaka Sajyou:
Unlike episode 1, which might have had a bit more dialogue for world-building (which I personally enjoyed), episode 2 has finally started to get into the Holy Grail War. Including the police force and the Dead Apostles (also known as Shito), there are various forces joining this Holy Grail War. Although not everyone is seeking victory, everyone except Ayaka Sajyou is bringing their best to the battle.
While others like Gilgamesh, Alexandre Dumas, and Jester Karture are enjoying the Holy Grail War as much as they can, Ayaka had a terrible day inside the police station. Since Ayaka never wanted to take part in the war, she didn't do any 'homework' on it, which ultimately means she doesn't have any useful information or any way to overcome her difficulties.
Well, at a certain point, knowing nothing can actually be a great thing. Since Ayaka really knows nothing, after being caught by the police, she has no choice but to say everything she knows. This would be a major crisis for someone who actually wanted to win the Holy Grail War, but since she knows nothing useful, even after spilling everything, the police force still didn’t learn much about her or Richard I.
To Ayaka, staying inside a police station and getting questioned repeatedly was, without a doubt, her worst experience—but as a viewer, I quite enjoyed this scene. Although Ayaka really thought she was alone and decided to stay away from her Servant, Richard I was actually inside the building the whole time. This means that no matter what happens next, we as viewers don't really need to worry about Ayaka much; Richard I will definitely save her.
Source: Fate/strange Fake Official X account
Ayaka Sajyou & Saber:
Since Assassin disappeared at the end of episode 1, Ayaka has been a little 'harsh' toward the person who really wants to help her: her Servant, Saber (Richard I). Even though Ayaka’s attitude towards Richard I isn't the best, I can understand her feelings. Ayaka didn't commit any crimes or do anything wrong, yet she was still kidnapped by a weird guy, witnessed a murder, and was kept inside a police station for a whole day. Honestly, if I were her, I might have the same attitude too!
Ayaka might seem harsh to Richard I, but in the end, cutting people out of her life and staying away to avoid getting involved in anything is just a survival mechanism to protect herself, which is completely understandable. Luckily, her Servant is Richard I—a Servant who is strong, willing to protect others, and most importantly, full of integrity.
For Servants with superpowers and special abilities, it wouldn't be difficult to trick or manipulate Ayaka while she is in such a vulnerable state. In fact, there are many Servants who form toxic relationships with their Masters. Even though Richard I is powerful and could easily control her, he still treats her fairly; as a result, their relationship begins to improve in a very healthy way during episode 2.
Ayaka doesn’t yet understand the meaning of teaming up with Richard I, but as the Holy Grail War becomes more intense and moves forward at a faster pace, the day she will be glad to have Richard by her side will come very soon.
Source: Fate/strange Fake Official X account
Orlando Reeve & Hansa Cervantes & Jester Karture:
Although I loved the first half and spent all day laughing at the interactions between Ayaka and Richard I, what amazed the internet worldwide was the second half—an intense battle, or more accurately, a war between three different forces.
From what I understand, even as someone who doesn’t know much about the 'Fate' universe, Orlando Reeve stands for humanity, Hansa Cervantes stands for the Church and its rules, and Jester Karture represents the Dead Apostles. Each of them carries immense power, and they waged a massive war in the second half of episode 2.
Normally, there is no benefit for the human side to clash with the Church, and Orlando seems to want to avoid a direct confrontation with Hansa. However, since Jester is such a sick weirdo, they ended up fighting each other anyway. Honestly, from a viewer’s perspective, even though Jester is a twisted character, I do think his move was quite smart.
His Servant, Assassin, who intruded upon the police station, is strong. Since she can use multiple Noble Phantasms—the Zabaniya—she could actually win the fight against the police force, but not in the long run. No matter how strong the Zabaniya is, Assassin isn't someone who can fight thirty people who own Noble Phantasms for a whole day. In the beginning, Assassin did seem able to suppress the police force, but if they were to drag out the battle as long as possible, she would eventually be drained.
We can’t forget that Orlando’s forces were created to fight against Gilgamesh, which means logically they do possess the power to drain Assassin. If Jester hadn't come to save her, Assassin would likely have used up all her power and disappeared. I think Jester noticed the situation and decided to save his Servant. Since he is 'in love' with her, he obviously wouldn't want her to disappear.
Although Assassin hates that sick weirdo, it’s a fact that he saved her from a very dangerous situation. We must remember that Orlando’s Caster and Hansa hadn’t even moved yet; if the Church and the police force had worked together or made a deal, Assassin could have been wiped out easily.
Jester is indeed a man you’d want to stay as far away from as possible, but the moment he saved Assassin and gave her a flower, he really did look like a prince. Personally, I thought it was quite cool, but of course, I am still a fan of Richard I—not Jester.
Here’s an X post you may like:
Check out Yukei Yamada's illustration of Jester Karture and Caster to celebrate the 2nd episode of Fate/strange Fake!
— Fate/strange Fake (@FateSF_Anime_EN) January 13, 2026
Watch it now on Crunchyroll! #strangefake pic.twitter.com/A8Fvu3A9gt
Strange Fake & Incredible Opening & Harmonious Ending:
Fate/strange Fake Episode 2 is truly an amazing episode. Almost every part of the anime deserves a high rating, including the incredible opening and the harmonious ending. Fate/strange Fake’s opening is PROVANT. The first time I watched and listened to it, I was quite amazed; it was done with extremely high-quality animation, and the song fits it perfectly.
In the opening, PROVANT, we can see a lot of characters, including those who haven’t appeared in the main story yet—such as a huge robot, a female knight on horseback, and a mysterious archer. As someone who doesn't know much about the 'Fate' universe, I have no idea who they are, which makes me even more excited for their appearance in the anime. But beyond the character reveals, what I love most about the opening is the action.
The opening is full of action, including characters who haven’t appeared in the anime yet, which makes me very curious. Even if those exact fight scenes don't happen in the main story, the opening provides these 'what ifs' that get people really excited. The opening itself is something people could watch again and again, but the ending, 'Unseen Ai' (also known as Senzaiteki na Ai / 潜在的なアイ), is an incredible song as well.
In the ending, we see a very harmonious scene where many of the characters are holding hands and dancing happily—even though Assassin rejects Jester and pulls her hand away from his. When we first see the ending, it feels like a simple, harmonious sequence and nothing more. However, once we dive deeper, we quickly realize that this peaceful world is fake—which ultimately fits the title perfectly, since everything here is 'fake.'
The harmonious world is fake, but within that 'fake,' there are truths as well. For instance, Assassin clearly hates Jester, and Jester and Hansa are crushing each other's hands. Orlando and Faldeus are not simply holding hands, but are actually lifting Francesca Prelati up. Most importantly, Tsubaki Kuruoka’s shadow has become Pale Rider, which leads to a haunting question: are Tsubaki’s parents holding her, or is it Pale Rider? Personally, this is the biggest mystery for me, and I am excited to find the answer as the anime continues.
Here’s an X post you may like:
Not a cell phone in sight, just living in the moment.
— Fate/strange Fake (@FateSF_Anime_EN) January 13, 2026
Watch Fate/strange Fake on your own devices weekly on Crunchyroll!#strangefake pic.twitter.com/UlrNAExKBF
Conclusion:
Personal Rating: 10/10
Personally, I feel Fate/strange Fake Episode 2 is an episode that deserves the highest rating: a perfect 10 out of 10. Starting from the very beginning, I enjoyed every scene immensely and replayed the episode again and again, since there are so many details to catch. Of course, anime reviews are subjective and differ for everyone, but since I really love Richard I’s personality, Fate/strange Fake fits my tastes perfectly.
Fate/strange Fake Episode 2 offered a great deal, but there is still so much to look forward to in Episode 3—such as the conclusion of the three-way battle, the next steps for Richard I and Ayaka, and the appearance of new characters. I am incredibly excited for the next episode, and I will be sure to come back and share more of my thoughts soon!
Fate/strange Fake Episode 2: Youtube Official Trailer
PROVANT: Official Youtube
Unseen AI: Official Youtube
Where to watch: CrunchyrollIQIYI
COMMENTS (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!