First Impressions / Series Introduction / Sword Art Online

OP Sequence

OP: 「Resolution」 by 戸松遥

「北の地にて」 (Kita no Ji Nite)
“In The Far North”

If only you could have seen my face throughout the entire episode.

General Impressions

After its short hiatus since the showrunners are probably the biggest tease in bed, Sword Art Online makes it triumphant return with Alicization – War of Underworld! With a new arc comes new challenges but boy am I not ready for the one that I’m sure all of us were surprised to see.

So, seeing how Kirito is essentially the main protagonist to end all other protagonists, it was very odd to see him in such a strange state and not have a proper explanation behind what’s going on. Based on what happened at the end of the last arc and what little we know about fluctlights, I would have been willing to bet money that the power surge that hit the medicuboid was going to for a lack of better words, kill Kirito. Luckily, it looks like the shock to the system didn’t completely obliterate Kirito’s fluctlight but I’m not sure if being in a near-vegetative state is much better. Sure the pessimists will say that this leaves the door open for some crazy dues ex machina to come in and bring Kirito back, but I for one hope that Kirito manages to come back sooner rather than later. That and on a much smaller note, I like how the show gently reminded us that Kirito is still missing his right arm.

Getting back to the actual story, it’s crazy just how much is going on right now. With the threat of the dark territory invading looming over the Integrity Knights as well as whatever the hell is (presumably) still going on within the Ocean Turtle, I was a little disappointed that we didn’t really get all that much information on any of it. If I were to pick a single thing that I had a huge question about though, I’m real curious just how the story will explain just what and who the driving force is that attacked the Ocean Turtle. Seeing how the existence of the base is rather important for the Underworld to actually exist, I hope the story sheds some light on that soon.

Overall, not the biggest impact episode, but fair when you consider the previous episode was a huge battle that ended a giant arc that took 24 episodes to complete. In any case, I’ll catch you guys next week where we’ll hopefully get some more answers about just what the heck is going on and what everyone’s supposed to be doing. That and it would be fantastic if Asuna and friends actually made their way into the Underworld.

37 Comments

    1. More fuel to fans who ship Kirito’s and Alice’s seiyuus– Matsuoka Yoshitsugu and Kayano Ai, respectively. 😛

      After all, she’s been in more shows with Matsuoka-san compared to Tomatsu Haruka (Asuna’s seiyuu).

      Magnus Tancred
      Reply

  5. SAO’s illustrator, Abec, guest designed these 2 side characters for the upcoming Project Sakura Wars PS4 game. SAO vibes much?

    Arthur: https://sakura-taisen.com/game/shin-sakura/character/character13.html

    Lancelot: https://sakura-taisen.com/game/shin-sakura/character/character14.html

    His sister, Horiguchi Yukiko (K-On) was also another chosen guest designer. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EAUVQRnVAAc3XMT.jpg

    PS. Here’s the main cast by the main designer. Bonus points if you can identify the artist!
    https://img.nijimen.net/uploads/attachment/file/88867/e2ed8d28-a527-435b-9043-5b349c2e35af.jpg

    zztop
    Reply

    1. I can see why they redesigned a lot of the Sakura Taisen characters as it has been 14 years since the last new entry in the franchise(The Wii game is a re release of Sakura Taisen 5 which came out in 2005). So some fresh characters with an established artist could attract a new generation of fans.

      Lyfe
      Reply

  6. Seriously even here are bullies that take stuff away that do not belong to them and everybody is okay with that..
    https://randomc.net/image/Sword%20Art%20Online/Sword%20Art%20Online%20Alicization%20WoU%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2022.jpg
    What have the World become or are these NPC’s?

    – Thou shalt not steal.
    – Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house.
    – Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.

    All 3 Commandments are triggered

    worldwidedepp
    Reply

    1. I clearly recall one of the Taboo Index being “One may not claim items that belong to others without permission. This clause only applies to stealing from humans.”
      I guess now that the “goddess” was dead, then the taboos are no longer in effect. Unless Light Novel readers can confirm for me, I am not 100 percent sure if Quinella is truly dead.

      https://randomc.net/image/Sword%20Art%20Online/Sword%20Art%20Online%20Alicization%20WoU%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2025.jpg
      Anyway, really disgraceful for adults to take advantage of a handicapped Kirito. Though I am reminded that such adults will always exist in our world.

      Greed
      Reply

      1. OK, a number of possibilities here then.

        1) Like you said, maybe the Taboo Index is no longer in effect
        2) The bullies really did believe Kirito had consented (yeah, right)
        3) Kirito is no longer classed as human

        Angelus
        Reply

  8. https://randomc.net/image/Sword%20Art%20Online/Sword%20Art%20Online%20Alicization%20WoU%20-%20OP%20-%20Large%2006.jpg
    I can’t tell if that was candy or if someone was retarded to just literally swallow a chess piece. Who is this? Laughing coffin member that is now part of a terrorist group? What is their goal? To sell sentient NPC to World powers?

    https://randomc.net/image/Sword%20Art%20Online/Sword%20Art%20Online%20Alicization%20WoU%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2020.jpg
    I don’t know the currency of this game world but I can tell that Alice is being extorted. sigh. What makes Alice so special again? Especially since that world is overflowing with NPC with negative minds.

    Greed
    Reply

    1. @What makes Alice so special again?

      Childhood friend of Kirito, even if the Integrity Knight version is not a lot like her. I always felt that a piece of the original Alice always remained regardless.

      Lyfe
      Reply

  9. Alice’s father lost all his humility after he lost his original Alice. Understandable, but it’s like he doesn’t care what Selka wants anymore, including how she’s looking after her “sister”. Actually, he seems to be acting like he lost both of his daughters. And now he’s letting his village treat Alice like a villain. It’s just sad to see.

    yoloalchemist
    Reply

    1. Too little too often for me. I feel like people who like Alice would also love Aiz from Dan Machi. Big stoic and blond. The glimpses we get of her like this make her likeable as a character but the harem vomit makes me miss the other characters. She cant be best girl but I could really like her if they would get back to Asuna existing.

      Sorry for going wildly off topic but I have such a love hate with this series. Not a harem due to canon Asuna and Kirito yet every season he goes through this same story with a new girl. Gun Gale was so bright and refreshing. If they would just try to break the mold and bring the characters together not apart like Mario trying to save the princess from yet another castle then I think it would be so much more

      Amanda
      Reply

      1. Aiz from Danmachi has a total diff personality than Alice. I like Alice because she’s the only female lead in SAO that actually does something. Alice has a strong personality and honestly, the Alicization arc is so much more interesting than the other arcs to me on a sci-fi level…

        But I do agree that the mario saving princess pattern heroine of the arc is silly- It’s the author’s way of havin a harem but not a harem because he’ll always go back to Asuna in the end. It’s a formula that can’t work unless Asuna isn’t there in the beginning, or the girls would never like him since he’s taken

        yodad
        Reply

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