Waver Velvet

Waver (as Lord El-Melloi II), illustrated by Mineji Sakamoto

From the original light novel, Urobuchi wrote Waver as a young child who would seek his path to become an adult going through a traumatic events.[11] Waver was a conceptualized as a weak character similar to Nobita Nobi from Doraemon in the making of Fate/Zero. However, he had grown to the point at the end where he could be mistaken for the protagonist. Artist Takashi Takeuchi said his original design motif was "sarcastic, smart-alecky boy". He had no trouble designing Waver because he had a clear image of the character. He really wanted to draw him and feels the design that makes him look incompetent was for the best.[12][13] Takeuchi was satisfied with the way Waver was received in the light novels and hoped the anime adaptation would demonstrate a similar success. Takeuchi described the incarnation of Waver as a "heroine" based on how the company Ufotable portrayed him,[14] but viewers would still come to like his character.[15]

The prospect of seeing another author write about Waver as he was developing as a mage, able to do nothing but sit back and watch as events unfolded around him, was a difficult part for Urobuchi. However, that worry was for nothing according to in the end. The character's growth was so big that he became different from the original version. Urobuchi describes him as "the gentleman who had polished his powers of analysis, bearing a cunning like an old man's wisdom, while still hiding the distortion of his youth somewhere in his heart" making him, in the end, an "enchanting character."[16]

Waver was redesigned as an adult in The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II. The artists described him as an attractive longhaired inspired by Saki Vashtar Area 88. This was found more common in the manga adaptation of the light novel though the artists always found Waver's design to have always been the bishonen stereotype. The novelists describes the El-Melloi as a quiet man with a sense of humor as the writer wanted him to be found appealing by the reader. In the making of the light novel, Waver's character was influenced by Sherlock Holmes with Gray serving as his sidekick Dr. Watson. The relationship between these two characters was primarily centered by the Gray's weaker persona who constantly thinks about his master and the writer aimed to attract the female demographic throughout this.[17]

When The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II was adapted into an anime, Director Ei Aoki wanted to supervise the series due to him originally directing Fate/Zero where Waver originated. His biggest difficulty was El-Melloi interacting with his assistant Gray which led him to ask for the voice actress for help.[18]

In Japanese, Waver has been consistently voiced by Daisuke Namikawa. He considered voicing Waver as a difficult task based on the popularity of the franchise.[19] While in English, he was voiced by Lucien Dodge in Fate/Zero, Unlimited Blade Works, Fate/Apocrypha and Case Files, and by Leraldo Anzaldua in the first two seasons of Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya. Dodge described the older Waver as a man with "10,000x more grump".[2] Yuya Matsushita and Shinichiroh Ueda portrayed his older and younger self, respectively, in the stage play adapting the Adra Castle Separation chapter from the light novel.[20]

Kotaku listed Waver as one of the multiple characters from Fate/Zero who suffers a tragic fate despite him initially not having anything to lose in the beginning.[21] Koi-nya felt that thanks to Waver, the viewers would care about his servant.[22] Anime News Network praised the relationship between Waver and Iskandar due to how different they are from each other yet Waver becomes a stronger person little by little thanks to his Servant.[23] Another review found the relationship unique among the cast due to the friendly bonds the two have in contrast to other characters who suffer a distanced relationship with their servants.[24] In early reviews, The Fandom Posted found Waver as a fun comic relief based on how in his characterization while UK Anime Network stated that Waver was one of the members from the cast that was complex due to his need for a servant.[25][26] In a later review, the same site regarded Waver and Iskander as their favorite master and servant relationship from Fate/Zero, enjoying their character arcs as Waver overcomes his inferiority complex across the narrative.[27] Fandom Post also felt that Waver and Iskander were their favorite characters from Fate/Zero as they "have so many great conversations and style of interaction" with how Waver learns about his servant's desire to conquer lands whenever interacting again.[28] Capsule Monster regarded their bond as "a companionship that's simply heartwarming to watch."[29] Anime News Network listed Waver and Iskander as one of the "manliest bromances" with focus on their friendship.[30] He was also voted the third best master from Fate/Zero in a 2012 poll.[31]

In regards to Waver's role in the spin-off The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II, Manga.Tokyo found his personality appealing describing him as "bolder" as well as underdog. The reviewer also enjoyed the premise from the series in regards to how many jobs the older Waver has to work into.[32] Krestel Swift from The Fandom Post described the older Waver as "uncharacteristically suave hunk with seemingly neither awkwardness nor a sense of humor" and praised the series how the narrative of Lord El-Melloi II handles his growth ever since Fate/Zero due to his different personality.[33] Anime News Network described him as a funny character based on his reactions despite the series' dark tone as the episodes often involve murder.[34] Despite criticism to the anime's lack of closure, The Fandom Post enjoyed the handling of Waver's past persona during the dream sequence he has, as he reflects on his past when interacting with Iskander.[35] Anime News Network writers Theron Martin and Michelle Liu listed El-Melloi II as the best anime character of 2019 due to his style when dealing with enemies. Liu regarded him as one of the best LGBTQ+ character, something she found that while it might come across as controversial, both Waver's younger persona from Fate/Zero and Lord El-Melloi II was often commented by writers and him to have developed romantical feelings for Iskandar, something which Iskandar was famous in real life.[36][37]