As usual, a PV of Sword Art Online’s upcoming episode has become available – and it seems the seventh segment in this series will be identical to the six before in that it will introduce more irrelevant characters to kill.
Given how temporary they all are, it seems truly pointless placing any significance atop of any characters aside from the protagonist – individuals are eradicated in this series as quickly as they’re tossed into it. Although then again, that may be no excuse to say the series is placing all substance on the protagonist – especially not when six episodes have transpired, and all we know is his name, as well as his fetish for little sisters.
According to the PV, more than likely, this is unsurprisingly another typical adventure with no solid purpose or grander scheme. The protagonist meets a blacksmith who happens to be a pink-haired bishoujo with ample chest, specifics which will let the studio responsible for this atrocity, A-1 Pictures, flaunt her all over the screen to account for the lack of story or character development – and subsequently thereafter, the two become involved in whatever instigating factor which presses them to head out together.
Once in the wild, and danger surrounds them, the protagonist makes use of his main character status to effortlessly defeat any opposition in their path – and perhaps, if A-1 Pictures were in a more crafty mood, the pink-haired girl may survive by the episode’s end.
If there’s anything left to say, it’s that calling this series “terrible” is too generous.
Aug 15, 2012 @ 9:10 CDT
You can either blame A-1 Pictures for not being more gutsy with the source material, or you can blame the author for the source material. I hear the author is on staff to contribute to this project, so I blame the author.
Aug 15, 2012 @ 9:13 CDT
I blame them all.
Aug 15, 2012 @ 9:23 CDT
I can’t not wait to see Lizbeth this Saturday! It is said that episode 8 will be back on it’s main story.
Aug 15, 2012 @ 23:14 CDT
I say FINALLY! They should have gone to the main story from the start. If half a cour is all it takes to narrate volume 1 then half a cour is all one needs. I’d rather have 6-8 episodes of a good plot while the rest of these side stories should’ve just gotten released as a series of OVAs. The way the story in the novels unfolded itself was good enough as it was.
That said “Warmth of the Heart” is one of my favorite SAO side stories so despite my words I am at the very least happy to see Lizbeth on screen.
Aug 15, 2012 @ 9:54 CDT
“The protagonist meets a BLACKSMITH who happens to be a pink-haired bishoujo”
Oh man… And that is a maid outfit?
I’ll be honest, I was waiting Arve rezzle this season.
What the hell happened?
Aug 15, 2012 @ 9:58 CDT
“And that is a maid outfit?”
They’re making profitable use of her character already. If there were a male character in her place – there wouldn’t be anyone excited for this series.
Aug 15, 2012 @ 15:28 CDT
Predictable.
So 7,any news about Arve rezzle?
Aug 15, 2012 @ 11:06 CDT
Oh God Why….another side story….the only reason i’m going to see this is because of this pink haired bishoujo…i dont see any development in the main plot…geez…talk about high expectations…still not giving up though..maybe..just maybe after this one…we get the main plot
Aug 15, 2012 @ 11:58 CDT
Yeah, according to the episode guide, we will get the main plot after this ep. Just hope this one is not so bad that I’d drop the whole thing altogether.
Aug 15, 2012 @ 13:25 CDT
Six episodes have transpired – either way, this has no chance of being above average at this point.
Aug 15, 2012 @ 15:18 CDT
You seem to place a lot of emphasis on the necessity of a “purpose” or “grand scheme” for an anime. Is this really necessary for the enjoyment of an anime? Well, I guess maybe it is for you. I think an overarching grand epic plot that ties everything together would be nice, but not having one won’t break an anime for me. After all, there are many slice of life shows that have no connecting grand plot but are still enjoyed by many.
I think so far SAO’s individual side stories have carried the show well. Each episode itself has been fairly entertaining for me. SAO is showing us how individuals the main character meets react to the strange and dangerous situation they were thrust into, while developing the character himself (how well that’s being done is highly debatable haha). From what I currently see, it’s more like showing slices of life in the virtual world, with the overall goal of making it to the top to escape and return to the real world. Of course not every action the characters take have to be about the singular purpose of clearing the game, people can choose to live their lives how the please even in a virtual world (Sometimes you just gotta kick back and enjoy the weather XD). That’s not to say each individual episode it totally standalone. There are still 18 episodes to go, so we aren’t even halfway through. Using 1/4 of a series to set the scene might be a bit much, but it can work.
Aug 15, 2012 @ 15:25 CDT
“After all, there are many slice of life shows that have no connecting grand plot but are still enjoyed by many.”
Because they actually develop the characters.
Aug 15, 2012 @ 17:55 CDT
Individual side stories about virtual life/adventures just does not work when the viewers knows that they are trapped in a game that will only ends when the final floor is cleared, especially when the spotlighted character either move on or dies when their arc ends.
Aug 15, 2012 @ 18:24 CDT
I don’t know about the first part, but the only spotlighted character that died was Sachi. While it may look like the other characters have “moved on” there are still many episodes for them to make an appearance again right? We know at least Asuna will have a large continual role for the rest of the anime.
Aug 15, 2012 @ 20:58 CDT
A recurring 10 second appearance isn’t going to help – appearances don’t help.
If characters aren’t being developed, then this series is something that starts with “f” and ends in “ailure”.
Aug 15, 2012 @ 23:29 CDT
After six episdoes, it is obvious that the story has not move very far along, even if they have clear over 50 floors. I am sure things like Knights of the Blood Oath and others will be explain eventually, but it just seems things are popping up when necessary, and disappear when the arc/episode ends.
Even for shows tilted more to slice of life like iDOLM@STER, also animated by A-1 Pictures, where it was require to devote half of the series to character episodes, it was obvious to the viewers that the overall story and character development were taking shape after six episodes. Thus, why we have not learn much about Kirito beyond him being a super skilled solo player who wants to save everyone by himeself is beyond me.
And yes, everyone who read the novels know what will happen to Asuna.
Aug 15, 2012 @ 23:33 CDT
“And yes, everyone who read the novels know what will happen to Asuna.”
She gets filled with two years worth of semen?
Aug 15, 2012 @ 20:57 CDT
Let’s introduce major plot points and then forget about them and make this a slice of life.
Aug 15, 2012 @ 17:40 CDT
The bishoujo’s outfit makes her more like a priestess than a blacksmith.
And from the way this is going, Kirito is actually building his personal harem with every cute bishoujo he runs into.
Aug 15, 2012 @ 20:56 CDT
Too bad they will all die.