[Fome]

Originally Posted by Klashikari

Let's avoid explaining the reason, you will probably have one next week.
Now remember that Gil wouldn't attack them since Assassins are part of Tokiomi's scheme. That's the reason why even Rider asked him if it was his doing.
Also, Saber is in crippled state, thus overwhelming number can mean severe troubles, as shown in previous episode with Casters' minions.
Finally, Rider himself is a huge unknown factor, since he's never shown anything past his chariot NP. So there is no way to figure if he is a top servant or not, regardless how famous Alexander the Great was.

Thanks, that was a decent explanation without spoilers.

Originally Posted by Klashikari

Now let's go back with the actual structure: you CANNOT animate a show with several hours span in mind. As archer and lunarmoon stated: the actual pace has to follow the actual limitations apposed by the current format, which is 22 minutes (hell, they even cut the OP for this episode).
Unless the flow and the pacing allow a 2 episodes span, it is not advised to go on ridiculous lengths and keep things essential.

What other options did they have for a TV broadcast episode of 22 minutes? Splitting the talk and Iskandar's reality marble showndown? Nonsense considering the actual connection between both scenes. It would be terribly asinine to have the climax shut off when Iskandar gets ready to respond to Assassin assault to have a "to be continued".
While other confrontations such like first Saber VS Lancer could work on an early part of an episode, it was because of the actual tone and purpose of the fights, along with its consequences. Here we would have been disconnected with the talk done -a week ago-.
And saving 1 episode for the talk and 1 episode for Iskandar's tour de force would be nothing short of a huge drag, however impressive it could look. In fact, it would just be ostentatious and arguably spread the tension caused by Iskandar going gung ho..

Here's where taking some creative liberties with the source might have been justified. Perhaps they could have reordered some events, or added an action scene at the beginning of this episode prior to the beginning of the three knight dialogue, ending the episode with the confrontation with Assassin. Or better--move the previous episode with Rin's adventure to some other point in the series. Then you could have a pensive, dialogue heavy episode for this chapter without people grumbling about the lack of action for three episodes in a role.