Rating: 4/5 curiously excited clouds 
I’m really enjoying how well the adaptation is balancing Shiro and Rin’s perspective. It gives us a much more well-rounded perspective of the world. Whereas Shiro only interacts on a slice of life basis since he hasn’t been thrown into the slaughter of the sighting yet, Rin’s point of view gives us a more intensive experience of the Holy Grail War in terms of mana sensory perception and strategy.
It almost seems like everyone is at a draw right now after that first battle with Berserker. Illya showed Berserker’s Noble Phantasm, Archer and Saber fought Berserker to a standstill, Rin is leaving Shiro alive but going after the most difficult enemy and Caster seems to have observed all this.
Love the angle and soft-toned animation here
It’s almost a bit difficult to sympathize with Shiro’s character right now because we haven’t really gotten any emotional outbursts from him and he seems like an all-around chill kind of guy. Shiro in the Unlimited Blade Works route just goes with things he’s told… but he still acts like the Holy Grail War doesn’t directly pose a threat on his wellbeing (just cause he healed from injuries overnight). Saber explains everything to him and she ends up settling at his house this episode. Sakura and Fujimura-sensei get worked up all over again over the mysterious foreigner girl who Shiro has taken in.
Loved the action scenes with Rin at the school. She’s not fazed at all when it comes to battle. Episode four laid out ground rules for Shiro (i.e. the servants and general fighting styles) as well as set up some suspense for what Rin and Archer will be doing next. Hopefully all the patience after this week’s mellow episode will bring us tons of plot development and battle action in the next one.
– Cloudy
What are you pondering today?
There is actually a good reason why Shirou isn’t acting like the Holy Grail War would threatened his wellbeing, he has PTSD:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/basics/symptoms/con-20022540
1. Intrusive Memories: Keeps getting flashbacks of the fire.
2. Avoidance: Shirou avoids not talking about his problems at all
3. Negative Changes in thinking: Lack of interest in activity once enjoyed (gave up Archery), emotionally numb (never ‘smiled’)
4.Change in emotional behavior: Self-destructive behavior (Episode 3 recklessly risking his life in a battle between heroes)
Nice how they are making him more realistic instead of looking stupid as well as a subtly picking at the logic behind the cliche anime protagonist. Since this would be what would look like if you dump the average shoneun protagonist into reality, without any superpowers, a reckless, almost suicidal person .