Review of Sword Art Online

(I wrote this review around January 25, 2013, but I apparently deleted it. I was a little mad, but luckily I came prepared. Muahahaha –minor changes involved.) My writing style will not be as formal for this show. I'm going to review this anime by giving my reaction after I finish certain amount of episodes. This way, everything will be fresh inside my mind, and I won’t forget details that are important. It’s also because this anime has received so much positive reaction from the viewers, and I wanted to put my two cents into this whole thing. At first, I intended not to watch it,but the reaction of people convinced me otherwise. That being said, if you are curious about the hype- just watch it!

My reaction of the episodes will be divided into 4 sections (and subsections) so there can be little to no spoilers. Furthermore, some of the things might seem ambiguous and confusing if you have not watched it yet.
Episode 1-8
I just watched 8 episodes in one day. I have realized the plotline of this story has been done before- numerous times in fact: humans go into this virtual game world, and they have to defeat the ultimate bad guy to end all havoc. It's not original. However, the way the writers are playing with this idea feels like it is going somewhere. They may create originality out of unoriginal content. I’m looking forward to it. I guess this is what you call the hooking element, and it is possibly the reason I watched all of these episodes in one day. However, I would not consider it completely intriguing. The element of suspense is missing. I have not fallen in love with this show as of yet. It is tolerable, and I am going to continue it, but it needs more work.

Characters:
I'm going to start with the main hero of this show, the dude. I like this character. HOWEVER, I'm going to be a little shallow. The women in the anime looked pretty beautiful, but why did the main hero look so plain? Couldn't they have made his face more.... appealing? His attire is fantastic. Although they could have done more (it kind of reminded me of Hei from Darker than Black). Considering that this is a virtual world, it actually would make sense if they had cool attires. Again, this is me being shallow. It will not change my overall feelings about the anime.

As for the heroine, as the episodes pass by, you really get to see her real personality. It is irritating, to be honest. I don't know why people think it's alright for the women character to hit boys. It's done in many anime, but it's not funny. I don't find it funny at all. It really makes me want to go into the anime world and beat those girls up! Asides my annoyance, I'm happy that she can fight She is not that one dimensional character that is solely dependent on the hero.

So far, I feel like it is still the introduction. Let me just say one more thing. The hint of romance is bothering me. I'm not talking about the potential girlfriend at the end of the series. I'm talking about the general romance. Does every woman have to like the main hero? Also, why must the writers torment us with all these love interests when we blatantly know who he is going to end up with: STOP SCREWING WITH MY HEART! Why do you force me to gravitate into shipping couples that will never exist! I didn’t know I was watching a harem genre! Sheesh!

Episode 9-14:
The hooking element of the show is completely gone for me. I can't seem to want to continue. Furthermore, I can’t even remember what happened during the previous episodes. It's either my mind is getting old and wants to stay blank, or this show doesn't leave a strong imprint in my brain.

I'm starting to like the main heroine girl again. Secondly, out of all the people in the game, how come only "that" woman can cook? This show is sexist! hahaha, I'm joking. At least, in this anime, the heroine knows how to fight properly. The interesting part of this anime is the fact that the partnerships around the main characters are based on equality. Although you do get to see the traditionalist views on certain things, the partners are not inferior to one another based on gender.

Okay, just when it finally got the hooking element, they ruin it with the lovey-doveyness. I can tolerate the romantic scenes and what not, but the maturity level has just increased in a very childish manner. For a romance genre, they are not developing it properly. However, there may be a lot of viewers that will disagree with me on that. What I perceive wrong might be justified by others. I just wasn't expecting this. I'm old but I'm still immature. I wouldn’t recommend this for the younger viewers. On the other hand, the scenes are very vague and it's up to the audience to interpret it. I know I'm being very cryptic with what I'm writing, but I really don't want to give spoilers. Let's just say, so far I'm not satisfied with this show. I enjoyed it for a while and lost interest again. However, I think this part is very opinionated. This might sway people into watching the show, or may make people drop this show. I'm at the point where I want to know how they will escape. I don’t really care about this love sap.

As I go on watching the next few episodes, there is still so much naivety in the characters, but I feel like they’re trying way too hard to show that the love is developing strongly. I find that the storyline is going so fast, that these naive characters seem to be adopting the role of middle aged adults, with the childlike minds. If the romance is what is connecting you to the show, then this anime is for you; these episodes are solely based on serving the romantic development. However, I feel like the writers bring children into this anime because they want to show how mature the main characters are becoming. Am I really supposed to believe this to be serious? I'm tying not to put spoilers, but all I want to do is roll my eyes at these redundant storyline antics writers are putting.

After the puke of the romance, I think the storyline is starting to improve.
"A Person is very strong when he seeks to protect something." Well, I feel like this quote sums up the meaning of this show (okay, not completely, maybe just a little?). Also, the most important question trying to be solved is if the things that happen in the virtual reality counts as actual feelings in the real world? I guess they try answering the typical question in a well thought out way. Finding a purpose for events that occur in ones life is important.

I was not really feeling the romance in this show (possibly because of the harem element they hinted in the beginning), but I do believe those that like sappy love stories will love this! I think they could have executed it better, but it's enough to satisfy majority of the viewers. All I'm saying is, although I personally do not like the romance, I believe it is one that many will enjoy.

As I go further into this show, I just want to say: if this is the climax of the story, it absolutely sucks!!! They didn't even allow the characters to develop properly. I couldn’t even be shocked by the twist. Actually, the twist was not even a twist. It just happened too fast.
Also, is there a reference to castle in the sky? I wouldn't know, since I have never seen that movie.
Okay, I didn’t like the reasoning the enemy gave for creating this virtual game. I want a better answer!!!!

Episodes 15-21
They answered many of my questions over time. But you know what I hate? It's when I'm right. I hope not, but why the hell do they have intros that gives the whole plotline. What the heck! Anyways, this is like an introduction for the new arc.
I do not like the start of this potential romance. Just no! Why is there more love interest!? I thought we already settled with this!

We are introduced to this new character that looks like Link (Zelda)!
The only thing I have to say is that the scenery looks beautiful, and I want to live in that universe. However, we're getting this introduction thing again. I don't know if I will get bored again, since the plot twist was not interesting. I feel like I've seen this "cage bird" theme a million time. Don't people get tired of it?? Or, do creators have this subconscious fascination with servitude and control? Furthermore, I think I have diagnosed the main character with post-traumatic stress disorder.

What else? I have realized people acts different in the game world compared to the real world. I don't know if I can take this stupidity any longer.

I guess there is little mild nudity (in my opinion, it’s mild nudity), and its fan service for the men (and probably women?). Anyways, the story is not as intriguing because the hooking element of being trapped in the virtual world in gone. It's kinda boring. Actually, it’s really boring. I really thought I was going to like this arc more than the first, but I just can’t take the unoriginal concept.

As I watch more episodes, I have concluded that people in that world must be really unintelligent. Why do people go inside the virtual worldwhen dangerous things already happened before? Why are they not being cautious? Do they not learn?! I'd think people would take their time before getting into a virtual world after all that jazz happened. I guess your really can't cure stupidity.

Episode 22-25

This is where the suspense comes….and the drama! But for some reason, I don't like the characters enough to feel the empathy and the sympathy. Usually, I do feel for characters like her. Maybe I’m kinda freaked out by this certain love interest; you'll know what I mean when you watch it.
Furthermore, where the heck are the dudes parents? They showed them once, but why is the sister taking care of him? Geez?

Oh! Did I say this show wasn't sexist? Well, I lied. It's sexist! Sexist! Sexist! Sorry about the rage, I'll get over it in a minute. There are so many animes that does this type of storyline with women. At first, it didn't bother me, but the moment it went overboard, it became annoying. I just wonder if sick men really want to do that to women in real life.

Anyways, it's pretty anticlimactic. The show builds up to this tense mood, and they end the whole thing in an episode. I think it would take more to defeat someone that is supposed to be one of the main archenemy. Also, I was hoping the first main bad guy would give me a better excuse for his stupidity. The second enemy is really not worth even talking about.

They rap it up pretty well, but why bring a dramatic moment now? That was ridiculous. Moreover, even when they conclude the romance part of this show, they still toy with many romantic ideas. They could have just left it as it was.

Why you should watch it (& pros):
1) People are raving about this anime.
2) They actually have a woman (actually two women) that can fight.
3) It is not racist. I know some people get angry when they make the person of color the evil one, but this anime did not do that!
4) It has A LOT of romance.
5) It has fighting scenes.
6) The art is beautiful.

Why you should not watch it (& cons)
1) Unoriginal plot:
a) Trapped in a virtual game
b) Rescue the “caged bird”
2) One of the female love interest. Normally, I don’t get bothered by this type of crush, but the honorifics used grossed me out.
3) Defeating the archenemy is done so quickly. So many episodes are wasted for a short (un-suspenseful) fight.
4) Objectifies women. I usually always tend to ignore this detail in animes, but for this one I just couldn’t. I was extremely happy when the show mentioned how someone saw his partner as a property, and not as an equal (and it was wrong, and blah, blah, blah). I was really intrigued by how this anime dealt with the female characters…. until the second arc! It disappointed immensely.
5) It has A LOT of romance.
6) Mild nudity (yes, I’m immature)

Overall, it was kind of boring. It does not have an attention grabber. I had to force myself to finish this show. I don’t think I would have even bothered writing a review for this show, if I didn’t write down my reaction for the every episode I watched.

I’m not saying this anime is horrible. After all of the ravings, I think I was just expecting way too much from it. I was disappointed because of my own anticipation. Although I thought this show was simply okay, I can understand why people are in LOVE with it.