Fate/Strange Fake Ep.13 - Flat?! Tsubaki?! You can't leave us with this cliffhanger...

Episode 13 of Fate/Strange Fake completes the season with an action-paced installment that, unfortunately, ends with one of the most evil cliffhangers imaginable. To take things step by step, Francesca’s arrival was intended to break Richard by showing him the truth behind the idolized image he held of Artoria. They even reanimated the famous scene between the three kings from Fate/Zero where they discussed the nature of the ideal king.

Richard is not fazed at all, however, because he apparently knew most of it already. This only led him to thank Francesca for giving him the opportunity to witness such an incredible moment. Francesca is clearly unhappy with the result, but as the saying goes, you win some and you lose some.

I know that I'm repeating myself a lot in the recent episodes, but can't not say it again. Shanti, Katia, Viola and Maysia's costume is downright the hottest!

Francesca thought she found an easy target in Richard, but he was better than that. Now that he has officially accepted Ayaka things will get interesting.

Jester Karture is defeated in battle by the alliance, but he manages to manipulate Tsubaki into thinking that everyone around her is an enemy. He expected her to defend herself, but instead, she simply destroys the entire world Rider built and returns to her comatose state. While she is not technically dead, the main problem remains because she is still infected with the cells that are slowly killing her.

On a positive note, Sigma kills her parents at the very end as they are returning to the hospital to continue their experiments. It seems there is some justice in this world after all. This also means Sigma is now officially a free agent in the war who is not controlled by anyone. I wonder what he will do with the help of his Watcher Servant. I am curious about its abilities, as it has remained completely passive up to this point.

The episode, and the season, ends with Flat about to reveal the truth behind Ayaka’s identity before he is shot by a sniper hired by Faldeus, seemingly dying in the process. That would already be a massive cliffhanger, but things get even worse immediately after, as something erupts from Flat, causing a huge disturbance across the city.

What exactly was sealed inside Flat remains unknown at this stage, but it is definitely something Faldeus had not planned for. I assume this entity will go straight for him. Honestly, I am puzzled by how poor the organization on his side has been so far. Despite all his preparations, most things have escaped his grasp from the very beginning.

Assassin without the hood is even better than I expected. They really did a great job with her design.

Poor girl, they have to found a loophole to eliminate those bacteria. Tsubaki deserve a good and happy life.

Considering the ending, it is certain that a second season is planned, but as of today, there is no information regarding when it will air. My best guess points toward late 2027 or early 2028, given the time that elapsed between the prequel and the first season, but all bets are off for now.