Sword Art Online promotes the second of its problems to the lofty top spot – making the transition of being predominantly terrible, to foremost moronic instead, and subsequently delivering that stupidity poorly.
Devastation reigns upon the foolish protagonist – being back in reality seems to be a nightmare for Kirito as he’s a loser now forced to face the “real world”, as well as the loss of all his fictional wealth. His virtual gold, girls, and status are all gone – and the harsh truth that he’s merely an irrelevant “nobody” outside of an online dating game quickly leaves his soul faint, and mind short of shattering.
Yet it’s not all so tragic, it seems he’s reacquainted with the pseudo-imouto of his for whom he’s hardly ever cared for – likely as she’s not of his preferred type of girl; 2-D; fictional; and ready to take “two years worth of semen” glopping down her; preferences all learned within Sword Art Online’s first light novel volume.
Although admittedly, it does look that our protagonist now has a greater appreciation for this girl – going from thinking little to nothing of her, to now realizing that she’s truly a valuable family member as he can take advantage of her to enjoy his make-believe swordplay some more in the “real world”, a dream come true. The girl practices kendo, and whilst she was occupied with that, the protagonist comes and asks to spar – seemingly eager to show off all the skills he’s learned from playing an RPG, believing himself to have become an expert just like a kid would.
Of course however, given that this is the series where the protagonists are an elite class, immune to death, winning even when losing, and surrounded by members of the opposite gender, it appears that Kirito has indeed magically become a master swordsman from all the one-frame kills achieved in his favorite RPG game.
After a while of one-frame combat, the loser eventually has to call it quits since he’s apparently still physically weak despite his protagonist superpowers which look to mainly apply only in RPG games. Kirito then prepares to head out – having been in a coma for years, it seems our protagonist’s priority list ranks visiting his online girlfriend immediately after reenacting imaginary battles, evidently forgetting that the bond of family is one which will care for you even if you’re a social outcast who bases your life around RPG games.
The protagonist departs to make a visit to his local virtual body fluid bank, Asuna – all the while, explicitly mentioning some excuses in his mind as to how he learned her whereabouts, hilariously saying he exchanged information about an RPG game with a government organization in return for the holding place of his pixel wife.
Now even with how idiotic all has been so far, this part of the episode breaks the floor under the weight of fatuity. Kirito enters the hospital room of his digital lover, who is still trapped within an online world apparently – and whilst he’s hovering over her in melancholy, one of her family members, likely her father, arrives and simply greets Kirito as if well-familiar with the fellow.
It seems in Sword Art Online, with protagonist credentials, a father will even trust a random stranger to be all alone with their sickly and hospitalized daughter. Even assuming Kirito explained the matter to her father, one wouldn’t have thought that, besides Kirito, this series had characters so imbecilic, they would gullibly be quick to believe any far-fetched tale that comes their way. For all that fellow knows, Kirito may be a maniacal stalker who intends to rape his daughter – yet thankfully, he’s not, he’s just a creep obsessed with a girl he “married” in an RPG game.
Tough for the petty protagonist however, it seems there’s someone just as twisted as himself – a senile fellow with a vehement fetish for paralyzed girls has apparently seduced all the appropriate individuals so he can hold an actual matrimony with a girl in a coma, stealing Kirito’s love away from him, and showing him that “real world” romance triumphs over RPG love.
Since he’s not almighty inside of the real world, Kirito goes home and does the only thing he can do when it comes to handling his real world problems, he cries like a baby – bawling his eyes out that someone is going to take his 2-D wife from him. Yet to account for this horrible tragedy, Sword Art Online starts to show the potential of incestual romance – and immediately begins to make use of this oppai service character it has introduced, Kritio’s pseudo-sister.
Under rejoice that the first meaningful side-character has been added to the cast, the oppai fanfare girl, this may have been the first episode of Sword Art Online not totally worthless.
Oct 13, 2012 @ 21:32 CDT
Glorious incest arc!
Ok, I had already given up three weeks ago, but… I never dropped an anime before and I was not going to drop now. So I saw the last three episodes one after another. Normally I do not hate characters, more Asuna practically destroyed the whole story.
This episode without her proves my theory.
Oct 13, 2012 @ 22:59 CDT
Agree. The fact that I watch this series because of Suguha, so as long as she has good develop, I will continue.
Oct 13, 2012 @ 23:07 CDT
Good oppai development.
Oct 13, 2012 @ 23:44 CDT
♥ Imoutos make everything better. ♥
(the oppai make it a bonus.)
Oct 13, 2012 @ 23:45 CDT
But she’s not a real imouto, she’s a phony!
Oct 14, 2012 @ 0:06 CDT
A BIG FAT PHONY! HEY EVERYONE! THIS GIRL’S A PHONY!
lol that reference takes me back =P
Oct 14, 2012 @ 0:43 CDT
Original dialogue, O how I remember ye.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 1:50 CDT
Yeah, after all She’s a cousin with good oppai development, nothing more.
Oct 13, 2012 @ 21:36 CDT
Besides participate in the discussions is entertaining.
Oct 13, 2012 @ 23:47 CDT
More so entertaining is to see how people degenerate when they’re unable to accept someone dislikes something they like.
Oct 13, 2012 @ 22:40 CDT
Netorare Arc…..START!
Oct 13, 2012 @ 22:56 CDT
Its more like cheating.
Oct 13, 2012 @ 23:48 CDT
Doujins coming.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 0:57 CDT
NTR Art Offline commences.
Oct 13, 2012 @ 23:21 CDT
Hmmm…dropped the series after episode 10..saw this one cause someone told me that stupid arc was over….hmmm..by far i liked Sugo a lot more than Asuna…for some reason Asuna always seemed irritating and i was more irked at the fact that most of the time was given to the nonsensical romance and marriage and what not instead of concentrating on the plot. Not against romance here but there is definitely a limit. But this episode proved to be decent..who knows…maybe this Alfheim Online arc proves to be better than the worthless animation given in the previous 14 episodes…who knows…if all goes well maybe even the series could hit an average. Still, one of the most irking face is Kirito’s obsession with Asuna…i mean….it really does hit you when you know that the main protoganist can be weighed down full emo because of a girl he met in an online virtual game.Not very convincing…ok i might be willing to ignore that fact also if i get to see some decent animation in battles and some plot..even a tiny bit. I really dont want to see the next episode and be thinking..Oh Wow…useless episode again…guess that thought might have crossed many people’s minds…Who Knows…perhaps Incest might just save the day
Oct 14, 2012 @ 1:05 CDT
Nothing can save SAO at this point
Oct 14, 2012 @ 2:26 CDT
Its not the question of saving…its the question of merely making it worth watching for something at least!!!
Oct 14, 2012 @ 4:01 CDT
Yeah, but you must admit that’s kind of counterproductive. Watching this instead of something that’s actually good or something you personally think is entertaining? It would be like wading through a pile of shit hoping to find something-anything in it you can call edible.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 4:10 CDT
the only reason i watch SAO at this point is to point out its flaws and make sure no future viewer will ever make the mistake of beginning the series
Oct 14, 2012 @ 7:10 CDT
It’s more a matter of hypocrisy, like saying something is terrible – and then suddenly defending it, only made worse by the fact you’re aware of it and try to come up with an excuse.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 7:17 CDT
A lot of people hate this…still watch it for some reason or the other. Point is why??? Well maybe the same reason people watched GC knowing the fact that after a certain point…it couldn’t offer anything…
Oct 14, 2012 @ 7:25 CDT
If only I knew how your comment was relevant to my own, or the comment I’m replying to.
Interesting how you were to quick to reply to me specifically after I brought up the term “hypocrite”.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 7:29 CDT
This comment was supposed to be somewhere else.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 7:40 CDT
More excuses, huh?
Oct 14, 2012 @ 7:42 CDT
:D How is the above statement relevant to my previous response cause now i am confused
Oct 14, 2012 @ 7:53 CDT
So you’re going to post spam comments now also – or is your reading comprehension that low?
Oct 14, 2012 @ 7:58 CDT
I’m just wondering why we’re arguing…ahh drop it…
Oct 14, 2012 @ 8:02 CDT
Instead of replying to my comment relevantly, you made an excuse:
“This comment was supposed to be somewhere else.”
Instead of sharing your disagreement under your name, you to log out and pretend to have forgotten your password:
http://seventhstyle.com/2012/10/06/sword-art-online-second-season-pv/#comment-18722
Either way though, you’ve said you’ve dropped this series:
“I already dropped this…i’m sure most have…”
http://seventhstyle.com/2012/09/27/sword-art-online-ep-13-pre-release-images/#comment-18013
And that it’s worse than Guilty Crown:
http://seventhstyle.com/2012/09/27/sword-art-online-ep-13-pre-release-images/#comment-18013
If you’re going to keep changing your face, at least recognize your own opinions and stances and then explain why the transition in thought – because otherwise, your comments are as good as nonsense. It’s fine to change your mind, but if you’re going to go one way, and then go the other, you have no value in either.
Why don’t you explain how you went from hating this series, to liking the novel, to now saying this episode is worthless?
Oct 14, 2012 @ 8:08 CDT
No you misunderstood me…like i said i already dropped the series after episode 10 but then decided to give the new arc a go. True, i hated it but i found this episode to be just OK and who knows if the other ones yet to air would also be the same. And i don’t know about the novel cause i never read it. And i never said this particular episode was worthless. So its basically if you want to give the new arc a try or if you just want it to keep going downhill…i decided to give it a chance …simple enough. And that anonymous person is not me Seven.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 8:16 CDT
“And that anonymous person is not me Seven.”
You must have some brother who also reads this site then.
Well, reality stands either way – so let’s forget that. Onto new matters, what is it which left you feeling this episode is “OK”? I did find that at least it was focusing on the main story – despite how idiotic it all was, as well as how vain it is considering there’s already been 13-14 wasted episodes.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 9:12 CDT
Now that would’ve been an interesting premise….they could’ve gone on into the Alfheim arc and the events of SAO could’ve been explained in flashbacks and then have 1 episode devoted to it..now that would’ve made the plot interesting. A good concept..no..a fresh concept…and it was wasted…seen it happen some times earlier too…
Oct 14, 2012 @ 8:25 CDT
“You must have some brother who also reads this site then.”
Not a brother, a friend actually who happens to be a die hard fan of SAO and decided to comment…anyways leave that.
No one can ignore the fact that 13-14 episodes were completely wasted and had nothing to offer except still frames of animation and generic designs and stuff. The thing which mostly irked me was Asuna and the fact that some episodes were entirely devoted to those two love buds which was non sensical considering the fact that if you watch the 1st 2-3 episodes and jump to the 14th episode to grasp the whole plot. Not to mention the side stories..again another deviation. But this episode was different in the sense that..well..like you said…it was at least focusing on the main plot and i find Sugo to be a much better female presence than Asuna. So why not wait for the next episode and see if it goes back to being the garbage it was or lead on from here into something such that this second arc may be graded B or C.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 8:29 CDT
Forgive me for the misunderstanding then – I can’t comment on someone’s statements if there’s a greater issue in what they’re saying to begin with, which is what I thought to be the case here, my fault entirely.
And indeed, I think this half-imouto, half-oppai service character will do the series well – if only they had introduced her earlier.
Jan 21, 2013 @ 12:51 CDT
“No one can ignore the fact that 13-14 episodes were completely wasted and had nothing to offer except still frames of animation and generic designs and stuff.”
I can!
Jan 21, 2013 @ 14:10 CDT
If you are going to ignore, then back it up with facts. Your measly, two word sentence is going to convince anybody that these statements are untrue, and merely opinions.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 8:41 CDT
Its quiet alright…
“I think this half-imouto, half-oppai service character will do the series well – if only they had introduced her earlier.”
Exactly my thought…she actually seems capable of doing something as opposed to Ms. Asuna who offered nothing throughout the entire first arc except swooning over Mr. Beater. Just replace Asuna with her…and i might have watched the episodes i skipped for the mere fact that she’s not annoying.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 8:46 CDT
This series may actually have been excellent if it went down like this:
Ep 1: Kirito is fighting with Healthclfwhatever in a real, actual fight – not one still frame. And then it plays out the same way as seen, albeit not presented poorly.
Ep 2: This would be this very episode.
Ep 3+: We start to learn about what happened in Sword Art Online, and where the protagonist needs to go from here on.
I purposefully didn’t attempt to rewrite the happenings of the episodes, just the arrangement, because this shows how much potential the series very much had available – yet didn’t utilize.
Oct 15, 2012 @ 10:04 CDT
Hello peeps. I’m the Mr. Anonymous that was spoken of. lol. lucidlurgeway, u asshole, wherever i go, people think i’m you. its so damn annoying.:p lol. @others i’m his friend by the way. he didn’t “pretend” to be anonymous. sheesh. and yeah, damn my previous account, i’m gonna make a new one and comment here -.-
and yeah, dont be over dramatic lucid, i’ll correct your statement- “I’m a die hard fan of the SAO light novels, not the anime”. anyway, i’ll make a new account and come back :D
Oct 15, 2012 @ 11:09 CDT
I’d appreciate it if you did make a new account.
Oct 16, 2012 @ 11:51 CDT
Done
Oct 14, 2012 @ 2:11 CDT
This was a good episode, Asuna should die and we could continue with a good story.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 4:07 CDT
Haha, it’s ironic how you mentioned that Kirito might be a creepy stalker/rapist, when in fact the man Asuna’s father choose for Asuna’s fiance is the actual disgusting one. That father really has a bad judge of character!
They probably should have mentioned that the authorities could view what was happening in SAO though. That was the reason the novel gave for why the real world people trusted Kirito, but the anime failed and neglected to mention it. Oh well, lets hope for a better arc.
x.x but ouch you sure are harsh on Kirito. I’ve mentioned it before, but I really don’t understand all of the negativity about him in these parts. Aside from being rather bland and boring (I don’t think so myself, but I can easily see why others think of him that way.) Is there something about people who enjoy video games and succeed because of it that inherently turns you off? I know that’s the case for some people. Being able to bag a hot girl friend and collect a following of fan girls seems like a male otaku’s fantasy to me.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 4:19 CDT
“Is there something about people who enjoy video games and succeed because of it that inherently turns you off?”
he doesn’t, really, he is not one to be idolized as you do not want to be one who is so absorbed into games and a girl he met online that you’ll consider returning to another deadly game like the one you tried 2 years to get out of, and his girlfriend is in no way HOT , like you described,
Oct 14, 2012 @ 5:09 CDT
Well, debating aesthetics aside, if you look at him that way wouldn’t he be an object of pity? A loser boy absorbed into games and obsessed with a girl he met online. There’s no reason to hate on him right?
Oct 14, 2012 @ 8:29 CDT
he’s not exactly pitiable, as shown throughout the show, he’s just the typical average teenage boy, (likes to play games, amazing at them, loser in real life) and there’s no reason to pity him as he brought that upon himself, actually considering he lost his virginity in a game , he should get a real life, care more about the real world, do something more productive, and catch up with the lost 2 years of his life in a game, ( in real world terms, he would likely be a high school dropout right now with no hope of getting a job)
Oct 14, 2012 @ 15:20 CDT
Hm sounds fair enough, but that’s not any reason for animosity is there? In a similar anime Btoom the main character is a bit like Kirito in the sense that he’s obsessed with video games and a burden on society. However in that guys case he’s clearly a leech and doesn’t seriously work to improve himself.
In Kirito’s case he was forced into the death game, and just happened to be good at games. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying video games after all as long as it’s kept to a healthy degree. So far Kirito is working hard to rehabilitate himself in real life instead of indulgence in delusions of grandor like some people would if they became the hero of an mmo. There’s some emotional baggage to overcome, but that’s just to be expected.
While not relevant to the anime currently, I know from the LN that Kirito does get his act together, work hard in his studies, and make connections to try and get a job (Basically everything you said he should do). Since the anime follows the LN pretty well so far, it’s logical to assume that Kirito will eventually follow a similar path. So the understandable reason of disliking him based on being a disgusting NEET no lifer doesn’t apply.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 20:23 CDT
fair enough, he will become respectable if he does that at some point, and i agree with you with the whole enjoying video games as long as it’s not too much, as nothing’s stopping you from enjoying something as long as you maintain everything else. although one thing i am bothered with is the fact that his body did not need rehabilitation as well as others , despite being induced with a coma for 2 years, that’s one healthy body you got there, i already said this, but c’mon,
and really, is the MC from BTOOM that a loser, i don’t watch it, but i don’t think a guy like that is MC material, but, who knows, i can’t really judge it
Oct 14, 2012 @ 8:22 CDT
okay, another addition to his ever expanding harem (overused technique, sister turns out to be cousin or even worse, unrelated by blood)
another thing i noticed in this episode, are their bodies superhuman ?, because i’m pretty sure your body needs rehabilitation after a 2 year coma
Oct 14, 2012 @ 8:25 CDT
Better yet, Kirito looked like a scrawny trig after waking up – Asuna hasn’t even woke up, and for whatever reason, she’s not all fugly with extra long hair and withered skin.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 8:31 CDT
hello! plot armor, with an all new feature!, shields the bodies of the MC’s from the laws of physics!
Oct 14, 2012 @ 8:44 CDT
And even if someone wakes up from a 2 year old coma…they would not go over to see a girl who they met online and be more concerned over their well being as compared to their own’s
Oct 14, 2012 @ 8:56 CDT
apparently basic reason is absent in the MC’s feeble mind
Oct 14, 2012 @ 9:06 CDT
Maybe their biological makeup is different in the SAO world
Oct 14, 2012 @ 9:19 CDT
He has the protagonist gene.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 10:32 CDT
“you’re freezing, you should take a bath!”
-Suguha
i’m sure taking a bath in the middle of the night will make you more cold
Oct 14, 2012 @ 11:14 CDT
No unless you mean taking a bath outside with a cold water
Oct 14, 2012 @ 11:30 CDT
even inside, being wet will make you cold
Oct 14, 2012 @ 11:00 CDT
“But she’s not a real imouto, she’s a phony!”
“Isn’t it hot, having a sister who isn’t your real sister?!”
-Araragi Koyomi
Oct 15, 2012 @ 2:35 CDT
That man was a genius and we should all aspire to be exactly like him.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 14:07 CDT
Damn!!! Officially droping the series now! I really hate NTR, it just disgusts me for some apparent reason.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 17:11 CDT
Everyone should be disgusted by NTR.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 20:19 CDT
Not me.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 16:19 CDT
I look forward to any incest scenes.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 17:24 CDT
Based on the opening, this is the message that I got:
“Asuna? Pshaw, she’s old news. Suguha and the busty blond elf/fairy/whatever is the NEW girl in town! You should TOTALLY go for her instead.”
And lo and behold, Suguha takes the spotlight in this episode.
Oct 14, 2012 @ 17:33 CDT
I’d say that’s a terrible development, but this series is already worse than terribad, so this was actually an improvement.
Oct 18, 2012 @ 17:46 CDT
“Devastation reigns upon the foolish protagonist – being back in reality seems to be a nightmare for Kirito as he’s a loser now forced to face the “real world”, as well as the loss of all his fictional wealth. His virtual gold, girls, and status are all gone – and the harsh truth that he’s merely an irrelevant “nobody” outside of an online dating game quickly leaves his soul faint, and mind short of shattering.”
God i love your wording its so perfect haha.
Oct 18, 2012 @ 18:07 CDT
I totally called the whole “asuna is in a game because her physical body is weak and ill” bleh..dammit i totaly knew this was going to happen. a weak vein attempt at people trying to get them to feel sorry for her and feel like a more gripping story, but ofc will fail miserably.
Oct 18, 2012 @ 18:29 CDT
It won’t fail miserably because it already failed miserably – now it just keeps going down from here.