Fate/strange Fake: Are Richard and Saber from Fate/Stay Night Connected?

Finally, new episodes of Fate/strange Fake are being released weekly on Saturdays. As new episodes air, several questions have begun to arise among viewers — one of them being: are Richard and Saber from Fate/stay night connected?
Before continuing, please be aware that the text below contains spoilers.

One specific question we will address today involves Richard, the Saber-class servant in this Fate story. Some people were confused by the fact that Richard wields a sword called Excalibur — and that’s not all, as he also possesses Avalon, the sheath of Excalibur. After all, are Richard and Saber from Fate/stay night connected?

Fate/strange Fake: Are Richard and Saber from Fate/stay night Connected?

When Richard was first summoned before Ayaka Sajyou, Francesca was extremely excited. However, once the summoning ended, she became confused, as she was specifically expecting the Saber from Fate/stay night, but Richard was summoned instead.

So who exactly is this mysterious servant who left Francesca confused? Why does he possess a sword called Excalibur? And what is his relationship with the Saber from Fate/stay night?

The answer to this question is simpler than it seems. Richard has always been a great admirer of the stories of King Arthur and his knights, which were told to him by his mother. This admiration became so strong that he began searching for artifacts tied to the legend of King Arthur, even going so far as to call every sword he wielded “Excalibur.”

At one point, Richard even managed to find Avalon, the sheath of Excalibur, which was preserved and later used to summon him as a Saber-class servant. In short, Richard is a true fan of King Arthur. Therefore, it can be said that Richard and Saber from Fate/stay night are connected, at least if we consider this deep admiration.

The anime’s producers also made sure to honor Richard’s love for King Arthur by including a clear reference to the famous summoning scene with the iconic question: “Are you my Master?”

Fate/strange Fake marks the return of a Fate anime produced by Type-Moon. You can follow the unfolding of the Holy Grail War in Snowfield through Crunchyroll.