Review of Sword Art Online

This show is basically a highlight reel of what's wrong with isekai and all the cliches in the genre. It starts out with a really interesting premise. A good situation for a story, a semi-interesting MC, factions, chaos, it was a good start up. After about 4 episodes it all went to shit. The interesting main plot was rushed to a degree that it was obvious that they didn't know what to do with it or didn't care about it. It picked up cliche harem vibes (and even incestual vibes halfway thru S1). The love story was somewhat shoehorned but cute for the most part and gaveus the best side-story with the little girl. The poor rating hinges mostly on the fact that everything good, the interesting main plot, the MC being hated for being a beta-tester, all gets abandoned very easily. We're left with a rushed story, an overpowered MC who just becomes annoying, and an unconvincing love story.

The first major arc, which again was incredibly rushed and would've made good for an entire series itself, was brought to an unfulfilling asspull ending. Then the poor love story was continued as the main plot of the second half of the season in the most irritating, unrealistic way. To sum it up (minor spoilers) the driving force of the 2nd season is that MC's love interest isn't woken up after the end of SAO like everyone else, and in her sleep her marriage is arranged (in the 21st century) with a guy who puts her in a literal birdcage in another game.

tl;dr good premise, terribly executed.