First Glance: Emiya-san Chi no Kyou no Gohan

Emiya-san Chi no Kyou no Gohan ("Today's Menu for the Emiyas") doesn't have the word "fate" in its title, so I assume it is supposed to work as a standalone show for audiences completely unfamiliar with the Fate franchise. For the uninitiated, Fate is a megapopular series of manga, light novels, mobile games, and anime adaptations thereof, all with their roots in a pornographic visual novel about various historical and mythical figures fighting to the death over a powerful relic known as the Holy Grail. (No, not that one.)

This spinoff, at least in its first episode, has none of the hallmarks of the Fate franchise. There is neither fighting nor sex. At its essence, it is a cooking show, complete with detailed instructions and footage of ingredient prep. Given its fresh art style and gorgeous food shots, this could be a pleasant watch for anyone who likes YouTube shows like Maangchi—especially if you like seeing a happy polyamorous constellation enjoying the food once it's made. This show lacks any drama; it is a slow, gentle slice-of-life work. Personally, this is what I'm all about!

But for all the good things I could say about the episode, I think it actually fails at standing on its own. There is this huge cast of characters who clearly have their own names, personalities, relationships—and you're kind of thrown into the deep end. The series might as well have "fate" in its title, because most if not all the character interactions will be lost on unfamiliar viewers. If you're just here for the recipe, this won't be an issue—the majority of the episode delivers straightforward cooking and eating—but if you want to understand the rest of what's going on, and aren't familiar with Fate, this won't be for you.

Recommend: for fans of the Fate characters, or people who get a big kick from cooking shows.