History Awesome / FateStayNightUnlimitedBladeWorks

While not on par with what went down in ''LightNovel/FateZero'' Creator/{{ufotable}} still managed to give us some '''[[SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome stunning visuals]]'''.

** Saber's battle pragmatism in this episode, after realizing that Archer can't help. She leads Berserker to a cemetery, making it hard for him to move around. She is even able to kill him. Too bad he revived. In any case, it's [[Fridge/FateStayNightUnlimitedBladeWorks pretty clear]] [[TookALevelInBadass Saber learned how to fight the Berserker class effectively]] after her experience against [[LightNovel/FateZero the Berserker of the previous war.]]

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opK9pvmE-lM The much-anticipated ending of the Shirou vs. Gilgamesh fight.]] Shirou activates his own Unlimited Blade Works, and quickly asserts his newfound advantage over Gilgamesh by casually levitating a sword and ''knocking the Gate of Babylon out of the air with it''. He then proceeds to fight Gilgamesh on even ground, countering each and every one of his numerous swords with blades of his own, in an intense and fast-paced fight.

** [[https://youtu.be/C-BO55bKSPY?t=5m3s The much-anticipated ending of the Shirou vs. Gilgamesh fight.]] Shirou activates his own Unlimited Blade Works, and quickly asserts his newfound advantage over Gilgamesh by casually levitating a sword and ''knocking the Gate of Babylon out of the air with it''. He then proceeds to fight Gilgamesh on even ground, countering each and every one of his numerous swords with blades of his own, in an intense and fast-paced fight.

---> '''Shirou''' (to Gilgamesh, after being restrained by Enkidu) As if, I'll rip my own arm off it that what it takes!

** These two sentences: "I refuse to listen to such pathetic whining." and "Do so if you must, but first step to the right."

While not on para with what went down in ''LightNovel/FateZero'' the Creator/{{ufotable}} still managed to give us some '''[[SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome stunning visuals]]'''.

** Gilgamesh completely decimating Illya's maids. Ends up murdering them.

*** Another thing that makes this scene awesome/heartwarming is that this scene like the 'Saber resisting Caster's Absolute Command to kills Shirou' Scene isn't just about the Servant's power, it is about their nature and backstory. Saber cared about Shirou and was able to use her Magic Resist skill to resist the order to kill him, something she did only once before to resist the order to destroy the prize she was fighting for. This shows that at the end of the day Arturia wasn't the cold person her subjects thought she was. Similarly Berserker's bond with Illya wasn't just driven by Illya's desire for a father-figure. Heracles' legend involves the incident of him killing his children in a fit of induced madness. Illya was basically his chance to do right by a child that depended on him for once and not even the rules of Holy Grail War, Magic and the freaking Universe are gonna get in his way.

** Lancer vs Archer part two, Gae Bolg vs Rho Aias - Spear of sure hit versus Shield of no loss.

** These two words: "I refuse to listen to such pathetic whining." and "Do so if you must, but first step to the right."

'''Shirou'''(to Gilgamesh): Let's do this. Do you have enough weapons in stock?

*** Also this series as a whole shows that unlike the previous war where most Servants were a terrible match for their Masters, but in this war, Servants either matched with the Masters that summoned them or those that they ended up with. i.e. Shirou/Arturia, Rin/EMIYA, Rin/Arturia, Sakura/Medusa, Illya/Heracles, Bazett/Cu, Bazett/Angra, Kuzuki/Medea/Sasaki, Kirei/Gilgamesh. All the matches in the spoiler either shared common natures/backstories or were ideal to help each other heal/evolve/accept themselves.

** Archer easily kills Kuzuki despite the latter's expertise in martial arts.

** Caster destroying her first master's base, setting all the children free and killing the arrogant asshole for his crimes.
** Lancer strolling out of the elevator of a collapsing burning building, with the most bored look on his face!

** Sella and Leysritt messing with Shinji.

** Saber, who has been helpless ever since being taken by Caster, contracts with Rin, sending her power up to far greater levels than she had with Shirou as her Master, letting her effortlessly defeat Archer.

'''Shirou'''(to Gilgamesh): Let's do this. Do you have enough weapons in stock?
* Episode 25: Look like Creator/{{ufotable}} had a bit left over in the budget to give the fans one more epic battle in Rin Tohsaka vs. Luviagelita Edelfelt.

* Episode 24. Damn. [[SerialEscalation They sure went all out on this one!]]

** [[https://youtu.be/C-BO55bKSPY?t=5m3s The much-anticipated ending of the Shirou vs. Gilgamesh fight.]] Shirou activates his own Unlimited Blade Works, and quickly asserts his newfound advantage over Gilgamesh by casually levitating a sword and ''knocking the Gate of Babylon out of the air with it''. He then proceeds to fight Gilgamesh on even ground, countering each and every one of his numerous swords with blades of his own, in an intense and fast-paced fight that is easily one of Ufotable's most beautifully animated fight scene to date (and one that definitely beats DEEN's version of the fight in sheer quantity of swords).

** Right before that epic fight, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w3spf-7bag we have Saber using Excalibur to destroy the everlasting crap out of the corrupted Holy Grail,]] complete with [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic Sword of Promised Victory]] and one HELL of an aftershock that comes with it.
*** Remember that in LightNovel/FateZero, she destroyed the cup itself, but not true source of the horrid muck, partly because she didn't want to destroy the Grail, nor did she understand what the Grail really ''was''. This time, Saber does not make the same mistake. This time, rather than being some dumb energy blast, Excalibur's light becomes an anti-virus that seeks and destroys all traces of the tainted grail, even to the point of surging up the flow of muck into the sky like a fuse, and nuking the source to oblivion. There's a ''reason'' why Excalibur is called the greatest of holy swords.
*** Actually this scene has even more awesome implications for those who know enough Nasuverse lore to appreciate that this was effectively a clash between humanity's evils (The muck in the corrupted grail) and humanity's hopes and dreams (Good Arturia's Excaliblast is basically powered by the hopes and dreams of humanity though it usually stated as the dreams that drives the heroes who stand in the battlefield). This is yet another case in Nasuverse where despite the world being generally crappy and cynical our heroes show that there is still hope in it and there are good things worth fighting for.
** The music is also worth mentioning. Up until this point, only a few episodes has great songs that sticks out, while the rest of the episodes uses the same battle theme over and over again. This episode though uses excellent remixes of the Visual Novel's soundtracks that's used in the final battle, such as [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic This Illusion, Sword of Promised Victory, and of course, EMIYA]], making every moment SOOO much more awesome than the previous episodes. And after the battle is over, the triumphant New Dawn kicks in to celebrate the victory that everyone deserves.
** An understated thing is the fact that Shirou looks Gilgamesh in the eyes, and mocks him to his face. No one in LightNovel/FateZero or VisualNovel/FateStayNight has done that.

** In sharp contrast with the first anime and the original visual novel, Saber's fight with Berserker is a full testament to the strength and skill they possess: even if she isn't fighting at her best, Saber is still able to, by sheer swordmanship, keep in match with Berserker; in turn, Berserker is no longer the mindless brute that he's always portrayed as, but instead keeps a good deal of finesse despite his insanity.

** The ending of the episode gives a ''huge'' ShoutOut to fans of the visual novel and 2006 anime when the ending theme turns out to be a remixed version of '''"This Illusion"''', the original opening theme for the VN and the Studio DEEN anime. Rin jumping off of the skyscraper is a frame-by-frame remake of the first scene in the VN's opening as well. The following shots of the Masters and Servants are an obvious homage to the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1b2Hhm7UcQ&feature=youtu.be opening]] of 2010's ''Fate/Stay Night Reproduction''. It is very safe to say [[DidntSeeThatComing nobody saw that coming]], especially because ufotable and the singer, [=LiSa=] (which, by the way, this is not [[Anime/MekakuCityActors the first time]] she's made a surprise performance like this) went to great lengths to make sure nobody knew about this.

** The epic conclusion of the Shirou vs Archer battle. Despite the former's HeroicSecondWind, Archer still outclasses him in strength and skill, and yet Shirou keeps getting back up to the point that even his opponent starts to freak out over his boundless tenacity. Archer attempts to end the fight once and for all with a [[StormOfBlades hail of swords]] while trying to once again break down Shirou's ideal, only for Shirou to [[HeroicResolve stand up AGAIN]] and deliver his own WorldOfCardboardSpeech, reaffirming his desire to become a hero with such purpose that it causes the once cloudy skies of Unlimited Blade Works to turn blue! [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic And then EMIYA kicks in.]]

While not on para with what went dow in ''LightNovel/FateZero'' the Creator/{{ufotable}} still managed to give us some '''[[SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome stunning visuals]]'''.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[SerialEscalation It goes all up from here!]]]]

You thought that after ''LightNovel/FateZero'' Creator/{{ufotable}} wouldn't be able to outdo themselves? '''[[SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome You were wrong]]'''.

*** Also this series as a whole shows that unlike the previous war where most Servants were a terrible match for their Masters, but in this war, Servants either matched with the Masters that summoned them or those that they ended up with. i.e. Shirou/Arturia, Rin/EMIYA, Rin/Arturia, Sakura/Medusa, Illya/Heracles, Bazett/Cu, Bazett/Angra, Kazuki/Medea/Sasaki, Kirei/Gilgamesh. All the matches in the spoiler either shared common natures/backstories or were ideal to help each other heal/evolve/accept themselves.

* Episode 0: Archer's first battle with Lancer: full with fluent animation and impeccable pace, this battle successfully emphasizes how powerful Servants are, and how awe-inspiring their fights can appear. Archer shows why he's one of the most dangerous Servants of the war by being able to fight in a way he's not supposed to be capable of while Lancer shows his dexterity with the spear and manages to keep Archer on the defensive for almost the entirety of the fight. Much later in the show, we find out Lancer was ''seriously'' holding back, and that Archer would never stand a chance against Lancer at his full power. [[spoiler:At least, not without the use of Unlimited Blade Works.]]

* Episode 0: Archer's first battle with Lancer: full with fluent animation and impeccable pace, this battle successfully emphasizes how powerful Servants are, and how awe-inspiring their fights can appear. Archer shows why he's one of the most dangerous Servants of the war by being able to fight in a way he's not supposed to be capable of while Lancer shows his dexterity with the spear and manages to keep Archer on the defensive for almost the entirety of the fight. Much later in the show, we find out Lancer was ''seriously'' holding back, and that Archer would never stand a chance against Lancer at his full power.

* Episode 0: Archer's first battle with Lancer: full with fluent animation and impeccable pace, this battle successfully emphasizes how powerful Servants are, and how awe-inspiring their fights can appear. Archer shows why he's one of the most dangerous Servants of the war by being able to fight in a way he's not supposed to be capable of while Lancer shows his dexterity with the spear and manages to keep Archer on the defensive for almost the entirety of the fight. [[spoiler: Much later in the show, we find out Lancer was ''seriously'' holding back, and that Archer would never stand a chance against Lancer at his full power.]]

** Saber's battle pragmatism in this episode, after realizing that Archer can't help. She leads Berserker to a cemetery, making it hard for him to move around. She is even able to [[spoiler:kill him. Too bad he revived]]. In any case, it's [[Fridge/FateStayNightUnlimitedBladeWorks pretty clear]] [[TookALevelInBadass Saber learned how to fight the Berserker class effectively]] after her experience against [[LightNovel/FateZero the Berserker of the previous war.]]
** The [[spoiler:Illya vs Rin fight. Illya using her mother's magic is incredible and Rin's fast thinking lets her destroy two of Illya's familiars]]

* Episode 8: Shirou, Rin and Saber fight against the golems summoned [[spoiler:by Caster]] when Blood Fort Andromeda is activated at the school. The two Masters show off their teamwork against the familiars despite the disadvantage of numbers against them. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M1sd-SY9O4 Then, there's Saber's epic arrival from Shirou's summon via Command Seal.]]

** [[spoiler: Kuzuki]] proceeds to prove himself as the exception amongst the Masters and takes on Saber, [[spoiler:knocking her out temporarily]], and proceeds to defeat without effort both Rin and Shirou by use of his experience as an assassin and [[spoiler: reinforcing his body with Caster's spell]]; on the other side, Shirou shows his true magical skill [[spoiler:and, by projecting Kanshou and Bakuya, is able to stand his ground against Kuzuki]]. It's significant enough that catches Rin ''and'' [[spoiler:Caster]] by complete surprise.

** The ending of the episode gives a ''huge'' ShoutOut to fans of the visual novel and 2006 anime when [[spoiler:the ending theme turns out to be a remixed version of '''"This Illusion"''', the original opening theme for the VN and the Studio DEEN anime. Rin jumping off of the skyscraper is a frame-by-frame remake of the first scene in the VN's opening as well. The following shots of the Masters and Servants are an obvious homage to the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1b2Hhm7UcQ&feature=youtu.be opening]] of 2010's ''Fate/Stay Night Reproduction''.]] It is very safe to say [[DidntSeeThatComing nobody saw that coming]], especially because ufotable [[spoiler: and the singer, [=LiSa=] (which, by the way, this is not [[Anime/MekakuCityActors the first time]] she's made a surprise performance like this)]] went to great lengths to make sure nobody knew about this.

** Despite the betrayal, [[spoiler:Archer proves that he could have easily have overwhelmed someone as skilled as Kuzuki, when he seemingly "teleports" in front of the man and Rin; he was moving at lightning speed, but it seemed as though it happened in an instant.]]
** Shirou coming to rescue Rin [[spoiler:despite the overwhelming odds of facing Kuzuki, Caster and Archer.]]

** Caster destroying [[spoiler: her first master's base, setting all the children free and killing the arrogant asshole for his crimes.]]

** Gilgamesh completely decimating Illya's [[spoiler:maids. Ends up murdering them.]]

** [[spoiler:Gilgamesh's "regular" attacks doing nothing to Berserker due to his divine protection. What does he do? Pull out "better" weapons that actually ''pierce'' through his skin! He then restrains him using his chains that can bind even the very gods.]]
** [[spoiler:Berserker, despite being attacked relentlessly, keeps getting back up to punish the golden intruder for ''daring'' to attack Illya. Even the chains binding him in place weren't enough to slow him down! It should be noted that Berserker was literal finger-lengths from Gilgamesh's face when he got skewered for the final time. In the visual novel he takes the blows and stays in place long enough to let Ilya pass peacefully. In this, he shatters chains designed to hold gods better than mortals, [[OhCrap scares the shit out of Gilgamesh]], and nearly drags him to hell with him. Hell of a way to go, Heracles...]]
*** Another thing that makes this scene awesome/heartwarming is that this scene like the [[spoiler:'Saber resisting Caster's Absolute Command to kills Shirou' Scene]] isn't just about the Servant's power, it is about their nature and backstory. Saber cared about Shirou and [[spoiler:was able to use her Magic Resist skill to resist the order to kill him, something she did only once before to resist the order to destroy the prize she was fighting for.]] This shows that at the end of the day [[spoiler: Arturia wasn't the cold person her subjects thought she was]]. Similarly Berserker's bond with Illya wasn't just driven by Illya's desire for a father-figure. [[spoiler:Heracles' legend involves the incident of him killing his children in a fit of induced madness.]] Illya was basically his chance to do right by a child that depended on him for once and [[spoiler:not even the rules of Holy Grail War, Magic and the freaking Universe are gonna get in his way.]]
*** Also this series as a whole shows that unlike the previous war where most Servants were a terrible match for their Masters, but in this war, Servants either matched with the Masters that summoned them or those that they ended up with. [[spoiler:i.e. Shirou/Arturia, Rin/EMIYA, Rin/Arturia, Sakura/Medusa, Illya/Heracles, Bazett/Cu, Bazett/Angra, Kazuki/Medea/Sasaki, Kirei/Gilgamesh.]] All the matches in the spoiler either shared common natures/backstories or were ideal to help each other heal/evolve/accept themselves.
* Episode 16: [[spoiler:We have the start of Lancer vs Archer part two at the end of the episode]]

** Lancer vs Archer part two, [[spoiler:Gae Bolg vs Rho Aias - Spear of sure hit versus Shield of no loss.]]
*** [[spoiler:Something that needs to be stated is what Archer says after his defeat: That the Gae Bolg surpasses Gungnir. Within the Nasuverse, OlderIsBetter and Gungnir is a weapon of a god. This means that Cu Chulainn essentially [[BeyondTheImpossible broke some of the fundamental laws of the universe in-story]]. It's also worth noting that even an incomplete Rho Aias helped Rider's Bellerophon over come Excalibur in the Heaven's Feel Route. And the Gae Bolg was able to defeat the completed version. Badass.]]
** Rin vs Caster. [[spoiler:Who knew Rin was also good with hand to hand combat, too. Against other mages, though.]]

** [[spoiler: Saber, who has been helpless ever since being taken by Caster, contracts with Rin, sending her power up to far greater levels than she had with Shirou as her Master, letting her effortlessly defeat Archer.]]
** [[spoiler: Archer's counterattack, where he finally uses Unlimited Blade Works.]]

** In the beginning of the episode, we see [[spoiler: Archer]] accepting the offer to be a Counter Guardian, and though the consequences are horrifying, the visuals are impressive to a point that [[EstablishingCharacterMoment this moment shows]] [[spoiler: Archer/Shirou]] at the height of his idealism.
*** Even better, in ''VideoGame/FateExtra'', [[spoiler: Archer]] reminisces that the last time he managed to "save everyone" involved stopping a nuclear meltdown. The location where [[spoiler: Archer/Shirou]] accepted the offer to become a Counter Guardian looks very much like the inside of a nuclear power plant.

** We finally see the fight between Shirou and Archer. Shirou is holding up fairly well, but even if Archer is just about out of prana, he still keeps Shirou on the defensive [[spoiler:and uses Unlimited Blade Works against him]].

** Finally, after being [[{{Deconstruction}} deconstructed]] and [[CurbstompBattle defeated]] by Archer, Shirou reaches the answer he was searching for to fight on against Archer: the wish he had that kept him from dying in the hellfire was to [[spoiler:find a way to extinguish the Hell he was in and to save others, even if he personally was powerless]]. He then manages to [[spoiler:finally use Avalon to heal himself]] and catch up to Archer. All to the SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic that is Aimer's ''Last Stardust''.

** The epic conclusion of the Shirou vs Archer battle. Despite the former's [[spoiler: HeroicSecondWind]], Archer still outclasses him in strength and skill, and yet Shirou keeps getting back up to the point that even his opponent starts to freak out over his boundless tenacity. Archer attempts to end the fight once and for all with a [[StormOfBlades hail of swords]] while trying to once again break down Shirou's ideal, only for Shirou to [[spoiler:[[HeroicResolve stand up AGAIN]] and deliver his own WorldOfCardboardSpeech, reaffirming his desire to become a hero with such purpose that it causes the once cloudy skies of Unlimited Blade Works to turn blue!]] [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic And then EMIYA kicks in.]]
** Running low on mana and blood at this point, [[spoiler:Shirou]] puts everything he's got into one last desperate charge towards [[spoiler:his future self]], sending ripples through the ground with every step and deflecting swords the size of cars. Once he's close enough [[spoiler:Archer]] raises his blade to finish him off, only to [[spoiler:realize that he cannot bring it down; Shirou's sheer determination has reminded him of the beauty of the dream he once abandoned]].

** Then, when Rin [[spoiler:removes Shinji from]] the Grail, it tries to [[spoiler:grab Gilgamesh as a replacement]]. Gil promptly pulls out Ea. Unlike his use of it in the Studio DEEN adaptations, he goes through the same fanfare to retrieve it as he does in the Fate/Zero adaptation rather than just pulling it out of a random portal like it's any old weapon. Also unlike previous adaptations, we see that [[AllThereIntheManual because Ea can only be wielded by one who is 'the supreme king',]] Shirou can't analyze it (and thus can't trace it), which is visually represented by his vision getting pixelated and static-filled when he looks at it. Gilgamesh then proceeds to destroy the Grail's attacking limb and damage most of the surrounding area with a casual pulse of its power, not even a charged Enuma Elish.
** The conclusion of Saber vs. Assassin. Not only do we get an awesome AnimationBump as Assassin unleashes [[BladeSpam Tsubame Gaeshi]], [[spoiler: Saber [[AwesomenessByAnalysis identifies a tiny safe zone]] in the attack and manages to evade all three swords and deal a [[SingleStrokeBattle mortal blow]] [[http://i.imgur.com/RAgU1QD.gif to Assassin.]]]]

** [[https://youtu.be/C-BO55bKSPY?t=5m3s The much-anticipated ending of the Shirou vs. Gilgamesh fight.]] [[spoiler:Shirou activates his own Unlimited Blade Works, and quickly asserts his newfound advantage over Gilgamesh by casually levitating a sword and ''knocking the Gate of Babylon out of the air with it''. He then proceeds to fight Gilgamesh on even ground, countering each and every one of his numerous swords with blades of his own, in an intense and fast-paced fight that is easily one of Ufotable's most beautifully animated fight scene to date (and one that definitely beats DEEN's version of the fight in sheer quantity of swords).]]

* Episode 25: Look like Creator/{{ufotable}} had a bit left over in the budget to give the fans one more epic battle in [[spoiler: Rin Tohsaka vs. Luviagelita Edelfelt]].

** Gilgamesh gets one as he actually [[WorthyOpponent recognizes Shirou's strength]] just before Shirou cuts into him with Kanshou, goes as far as to express disappointment that the battle ended on something as anti-climactic as Shirou running out of mana, but also tells Shirou that it was still his win and that even if he was about to die that he should take solace in that fact, which is evident of just how [[VisualEffectsOfAwesome AWE]][[AdaptationExpansion SOME]] the whole fight was!

You thought that after ''LightNovel/FateZero'' Creator/{{ufotable}} wouldn't be able to outdo themselves? '''[[VisualEffectsOfAwesome You were wrong]]'''.

** At the end of the episode, Shirou [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech gives a brief speech to Archer]] after Archer has finished {{Deconstructi|on}}ng his own ideals, absolutely rejecting Archer and the future the latter has described to the sound of the opening chords of [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome EMIYA]]. Discarding the sword Archer threw to him and the future it embodies, and reminding Saber that it is a battle he has to fight on his own, he faces Archer with a calm resolution that sends tingles down the back. The most badass song in the Fate series reaches its peak as they strike and [[CliffHanger the episode ends]].

** Finally, after being [[{{Deconstruction}} deconstructed]] and [[CurbstompBattle defeated]] by Archer, Shirou reaches the answer he was searching for to fight on against Archer: the wish he had that kept him from dying in the hellfire was to [[spoiler:find a way to extinguish the Hell he was in and to save others, even if he personally was powerless]]. He then manages to [[spoiler:finally use Avalon to heal himself]] and catch up to Archer. All to the [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome Crowning Music of Awesome]] that is Aimer's ''Last Stardust''.

** The epic conclusion of the Shirou vs Archer battle. Despite the former's [[spoiler: HeroicSecondWind]], Archer still outclasses him in strength and skill, and yet Shirou keeps getting back up to the point that even his opponent starts to freak out over his boundless tenacity. Archer attempts to end the fight once and for all with a [[StormOfBlades hail of swords]] while trying to once again break down Shirou's ideal, only for Shirou to [[spoiler:[[HeroicResolve stand up AGAIN]] and deliver his own WorldOfCardboardSpeech, reaffirming his desire to become a hero with such purpose that it causes the once cloudy skies of Unlimited Blade Works to turn blue!]] [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome And then EMIYA kicks in.]]

** Right before that epic fight, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w3spf-7bag we have Saber using Excalibur to destroy the everlasting crap out of the corrupted Holy Grail,]] complete with [[AwesomeMusic Sword of Promised Victory]] and one HELL of an aftershock that comes with it.

** The music is also worth mentioning. Up until this point, only a few episodes has great songs that sticks out, while the rest of the episodes uses the same battle theme over and over again. This episode though uses excellent remixes of the Visual Novel's soundtracks that's used in the final battle, such as [[AwesomeMusic This Illusion, Sword of Promised Victory, and of course, EMIYA]], making every moment SOOO much more awesome than the previous episodes. And after the battle is over, the triumphant New Dawn kicks in to celebrate the victory that everyone deserves.

*** Another thing that makes this scene awesome/heartwarming is that this scene like the [[spoiler:'Saber resisting Caster's Absolute Command to kills Shirou' Scene]] isn't just about the servant's power, it is about their nature and backstory. Saber cared about Shirou and [[spoiler:was able to use her magic resist to resist the order to kill him some thing she did only once before to resist the order to destroy the prize she was fighting for.]] This shows that at the end of the day [[spoiler: Arturia wasn't the cold person her subjects thought she was]]. Similarly Berserker's bond with Illya wasn't just driven by Illya's desire for a father-figure. [[spoiler:Heracles's legend involves the incident of him killing his children in a fit of induced madness.]] Illya was basically his chance to do right by a child that depended on him for once and [[spoiler:not even the rules of Holy Grail War, Magic and the freaking Universe were gonna get in his way.]]
*** Also this series as a whole shows that unlike the previous war where most servants were a terrible match for their masters, in this war servants either matched with the masters that summoned them or those that they ended up with. [[spoiler:i.e. Shirou/Arturia, Rin/EMIYA, Rin/Arturia, Sakura/Medusa, Illya/Heracles, Bazett/Cu, Bazett/Angra, Kazuki/Medea/Sasaki, Kirei/Gilagamesh]] All the matches in the spoiler either shared common natures/backstories or were ideal to help each other heal/evolve/accept themselves.