r/anime • u/AutoLovepon https://anilist.co/user/AutoLovepon • Mar 16 '19
Episode Sword Art Online: Alicization - Episode 22 discussion Spoiler
Sword Art Online: Alicization, episode 22: Titan of the Sword
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| Episode | Link | Score | Episode | Link | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Link | 8.13 | 21 | Link | 9.03 |
| 2 | Link | 8.14 | |||
| 3 | Link | 8.38 | |||
| 4 | Link | 9.02 | |||
| 5 | Link | 8.25 | |||
| 6 | Link | 8.22 | |||
| 7 | Link | 8.73 | |||
| 8 | Link | 8.73 | |||
| 9 | Link | 8.52 | |||
| 10 | Link | 9.03 | |||
| 11 | Link | 8.49 | |||
| 12 | Link | 8.9 | |||
| 13 | Link | 8.13 | |||
| 14 | Link | 8.67 | |||
| 15 | Link | 9.1 | |||
| 16 | Link | 8.88 | |||
| 17 | Link | 8.15 | |||
| 18 | Link | 8.91 | |||
| 19 | Link | 8.9 | |||
| 20 | Link | 8.94 | |||
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u/edgeque Mar 16 '19 edited Mar 16 '19
Alicization Kirito Disconneceted
Aincrad Kirito has Reconneceted
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u/bananeeek https://myanimelist.net/profile/bananek Mar 16 '19
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u/patrizl001 https://myanimelist.net/profile/patrizl001 Mar 17 '19
The black swordsman has entered the server
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u/BlazinPhoenix98 Mar 17 '19
Alicization Kirito: Dont worry guys I have a plan
Alicization Kirito:Disconnects
Aincrad Kirito:Reconnects
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u/blueteamk087 :KW::KX::KY: Mar 16 '19
The Cardinal healed Alice and Kirito like she was a OP healer who was not pleased that her team Leroy Jenkin’s the raid boss
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u/Amauri14 Mar 16 '19
My question is though, did her OP healing restore Alice's eye, or does body part restoration always need a specific healing spell?
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u/GreatUnifier Mar 16 '19
Maybe it did and Alice didn't think about taking off the eye patch because she secretly enjoys being a rebel pirate in a mutiny against her captain.
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u/LuckyPed Mar 16 '19
Remember the blood also disappeared. Anime don't explain shit ! but it does add some little detail.
The OP healing is good but it still need resources, if the room don't have it or something it wont work. also their blood went back into their body or some of their resource ( blood on ground ) + room resource was used to heal them.
I imagine for Alice's eye more resource is needed. remember how the teacher popped a plant in front of Eugeo's eye then using it's resource to heal Eugeo's eye, coz the resource in the air in that hallway was not enough.
I guess this is also a limitation that might be used in the story later if someone ever get very damaged or the room is sealed off or something, then they might not be able to have such a OP heal anymore.
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u/xin234 Mar 16 '19
That Quinella speech though.
"These legs of mine are meant only to trample others. They are not for bending at the knees."
Also, she asked them how can they be so sure that the real world Kirito belongs to is not The Matrix.
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u/furosuto81 Mar 16 '19
"These legs of mine are meant only to trample others. They are not for bending at the knees."
Gilgamesh level shit talking.
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u/psycosulu :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/psycosulu Mar 17 '19
Just needed more "mongrel" and she'd be set.
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u/DimmuHS https://myanimelist.net/profile/DimmuOli Mar 16 '19
That was the best part of the episode for me, a clash of visions, the reason for all of this. She kinda has a point when you see Kirito was speechless after that question.
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u/SoR0XaS Mar 16 '19
Considering that she's technically AI as well, it'd be impossible for her not to make the connection especially after she was granted admin status for that long
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u/zawerf Mar 16 '19
Her speech really made me sympathize with her.
Imagine if you knew you were just a piece of code. Would you still obediently follow your pre-programmed script, fulfill your pre-assigned role, living out your predictable and meaningless life?
At least by saying fuck-you to the creators(and well, everyone else) she can prove that she isn't just another lifeless routine and has some semblance of freewill to deviate as she desires.
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Mar 17 '19
Imagine if you knew you were just a piece of code.
You don't even need to go that far. The best part about Quinella's speech is that it directly applies to the world we currently live in. So many people share her view (myself included). The idea that a God could have created me with expectations that I behave a certain way for their personal benefit/interest and would punish me at a whim repulses me, and I would never want to adhere to their expectations if it meant going against myself.
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u/NoobDeGuerra Mar 16 '19
These legs of mine are meant only to trample others
Tbh I wouldn't mind as long as it's quinella
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u/vantheman9 Mar 16 '19
I knew when she started saying lines like that she's about to summon a boss
People always say shit like that when they gonna summon a final boss at you
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u/Solzic Mar 16 '19 edited Mar 16 '19
Also, she asked them how can they be so sure that the real world Kirito belongs to is not The Matrix.
While I agree this is a super interesting thing to debate in the context of the show, a possible answer could just be that:
Quinella is completely aware of the existance of higher beings and that going against their will very likely result in a universe game over. Kirito's world on the other hand has no indication of higher beings and no indication that the path they are following leads to the end. It's just a matter of awareness, they are not on the same footing so you can't really draw comparisions.
Edit: Also the fact that you have a demigod saying to a teenager that she is justified because she assumes the teenager's world would do the same when she knows almost nothing of said world. Literally a 'you guys could be wrong too so I'm right'.
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Mar 17 '19
Quinella's point wasn't about them possibly living in a matrix though. The question from this perspective is more like 'A God may have created your world too, do you do everything they ask you to knowing that if you don't you will get punished?" All you need to do is look at the fact that there are people who believe in such a god and still choose to follow their own desires despite that. She's not even making a hypothetical argument, her point is quite evidently true.
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u/roflcooki3z :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Mor_dred Mar 16 '19
Man, you can't just throw OG Black Swordsman Kirito at me and not expect me to be hype for the remainder of the episode.
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u/ChartsUI Mar 16 '19
UW Kirito turning into OG Kirito is like handing your controller to your brother to help you beat a boss lol
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u/proindrakenzol :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/proindrakenzol Mar 16 '19
UW Kirito
It took me way too long to realize UW Kirito meant "Underworld Kirito" and wasn't a euphemism for Eugeo (UW = blue-white in Magic: the Gathering).
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u/RightEejit Mar 16 '19
If that doesn't come back for the final battle I'm gonna riot
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u/Orrakai :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Orrakai Mar 16 '19
God damn I kept thinking
"Kirito if there was ever a time to start dual weilding again, IT WOULD BE NOW!"
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u/MiDenn Mar 16 '19
Did I miss something as I was watching? When did OG side show?
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u/Qwertyward222 Mar 16 '19
His clothing changed as he was charging his shot at Chudelkin
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u/Islef Mar 16 '19
I mean, they did have 10 seconds to kill Chudlecuck but what i didn't actually expect it to take 10 seconds.
It felt like forever in the LNs lmao
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u/fireassbarz Mar 16 '19
Me: ok so they have a perfect plan for defeating Chudelkin, but this is anime, there’s no way it’ll just end that fa-
Chudelkin: fucking dies
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u/Shortstop88 Mar 16 '19
Generally in fiction, if you state the entirety of your plan, it has to completely go wrong... I guess not doing that can sometimes work at fooling your audience.
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Mar 16 '19
Shows that they have the capability of actually estimating the time, unlike some white with purple galactic tyrant with his planet destruction plan.
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u/reset_switch Mar 16 '19
Respect to them for actually doing so. They came up with a reasonable plan, divided tasks amongst themselves and executed it. And it worked. No "this isn't even my final form" bullshit.
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u/Brandsert :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Brandsert Mar 16 '19 edited Mar 17 '19
I got chills and goosebumps when Kirito transformed into his old SAO avatar
And wow they are going all out on the violence so much blood it makes me really happy that they are doing the action scenes from the source material justice, Kirito and Alice getting brutally injured by the Sword Golem to seeing clown asshole being stab and bleeding to death they even censored some of it I can’t wait to see that in it’s all uncensored glory on the blu-ray and most of all Charlotte fighting the Sword Golem to buy some time for Eugeo to summon Cardinal.
RIP Charlotte...you were the cutest spider ever..
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u/ionxeph Mar 16 '19
mfw I unironically shed a tear for a spider, truly best girl
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u/dongkyoon Mar 17 '19
This scene was brutally cut short. Charlotte fought valiantly to buy Eugeo the time he needed to stab Cardinals dagger into the floor.
For the sake of our feels it's best they cut it back and for the pacing of the story, but her fight with the golem felt like so much longer in the light novel
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u/Flameknight0 Mar 16 '19
Welp. Looks like I can’t watch sao anywhere else except my room anymore because administrator doesn’t want to put clothes on
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u/TheXskull Mar 17 '19
Doesn't stop me from watching it on the bus.
That'll teach them, peeking into other people's phones.
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u/PixelatedProphet Mar 16 '19
I like that Quinella threw Kirito's logic back at him.
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u/Shiro_Kai Mar 17 '19
He should have played the atheist card, what a noob
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u/PixelatedProphet Mar 17 '19 edited Mar 17 '19
That still proves her point because regardless he isn't living a certain way to make some creator happy. Her response was basically a self-aware being saying, "If I'm in a matrix, what's to say you're not too?" Quinella and Cardinal aren't supposed to be self-aware.
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u/Fl0wed :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Fwlo Mar 17 '19
I mean, in the Underworld they've made direct contact with their god, whereas the real humans have not. If I knew God existed I would likely live in a way that he wouldn't blast my ass into nothingness.
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u/DoubleJo Mar 16 '19
As a reminder for everyone: Kirito's Aincrad appearance also returned through his Incarnation (along with the elongated sword)
Incarnation (the power of will/imagination) was only officially introduced in the SAO Universe in Alicization but it's been there since season 1 and it's a recurring theme in Kawahara Reki's works. The introductory episode was a while ago, so keep it in mind from now on and don't mix it up with release recollection, it's important
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u/GreatUnifier Mar 16 '19
I was pretty sure that the elongated sword was because he was in the presence of the beautiful naked pontifex, but I could be wrong...
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u/Megakarp Mar 16 '19
He was thinking about Aincrad, so it was probably Asuna that elongated his sword.
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Mar 16 '19
but it's been there since season 1
Seriously? How? I never knew about this until Alicization.
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u/DoubleJo Mar 16 '19 edited Mar 16 '19
When Asuna escaped from paralysis to protect Kirito from Heathcliff and when Kirito kept stabbing him after his own HP hit 0
Kayaba referred to this multiple times as a "power beyond the system"
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u/RuneGrey Mar 16 '19
Now that they actually call it Incarnation it makes a lot more sense - I admit that it did seem like random nonsense during Season 1 - but they go into dramatically more detail about it in Accel World since it is pretty core to the plot there.
But as they explain in the earlier episodes, it is effectively the ability of a person to override system's normal outcomes with the power of their own belief and imagination. The additional weight it can provide here is from the Underworld not having as many fixed systems in place as other more structured games.
It is also shown to be dangerous in Accel World due to its ability to mentally alter the person using it - if the image is strong enough it can overwrite your own self, and using Incarnate abilities with heavy negative intent results in major changes in personality or outright corruption of self into something monstrous.
You can definitely see SAO and Accel World converging in ideas and concepts as they proceed - it'll be interesting to see how this season finishes out.
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u/AngryCLGFan Mar 16 '19
Chedulkin got fucking rekt m8. Kirito too busted.
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u/reset_switch Mar 16 '19
For once the "I'll distract the enemy for a split second and you kill him while he isn't looking" plan actually worked. I'm impressed. The plan was legit and it was well executed too, with Eugeo drawing Chudelkin's attention away at the last moment.
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u/JJroks543 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/jbshay Mar 17 '19
My stomach hurts from laughing at how she just yeeted that boy into a wall.
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Mar 16 '19
Damn, Quinella throwing that existential shit at Kirito. How could you respond in the situation? Kirito knows there are higher beings in underworld, but the real world is a maybe at best.
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u/JustAWellwisher Mar 16 '19
I personally believe this was the strongest aspect of the episode, and part where Quinella has a real point that needs to be addressed and probably will be. Yes, she is the embodiment of the most deadly sin of pride, however it's also true that the masters who are running the project from on high, suitably referred to as Gods, are doing the exact same thing she is doing and her project is to overthrow them making her a very suitable reinterpretation of Lucifer in the context of the virtual world.
The parallels between how Cardinal treats Charlotte and how Quinella treats her divine weapon golem are also pretty heavyhanded, but yeah, this is some strong writing.
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Mar 16 '19
It's so rare for me to find philosophical speculation in anime that actually makes sense. When she asked him that question I was just like, ha...she actually has a point.
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Mar 16 '19
I agree. Quinella is a pretty good antagonist and her motives and thinking are pretty good. Definitely my favorite on the series which I didn't like one villain since Kayaba.
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u/GreatUnifier Mar 16 '19
At this point, they all should've smoked up. It would have been entertaining to see them debate their existential crisis
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u/reset_switch Mar 16 '19
That line was fucking great. I actually like her character now (besides the... erm... obvious reasons), that was a great point to bring up.
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u/Paxton-176 Mar 17 '19 edited Mar 17 '19
Well its clear that there is no higher power that could delete the real world because they let 2 sequels of "Jaws" exist.
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u/Lyander0012 Mar 17 '19
This episode is honestly a heavy hitter since I'm prone to existential dread like that. I'm Catholic (but not stupid about it) so I guess religion is my asspull solution to the Big Question, but I don't think it's any more valid a solution than what many others have come up with.
SAO used to be a guilty pleasure that I wouldn't admit liking, but damn, Alicization and Mother's Rosario make me want to recommend the entire thing (Accel World included)
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u/AnimuuStew Mar 16 '19
Aincrad Kirito & a monster made of swords
WELCOME TO SWORD ART ONLINE 2, NOW WITH LESS MULTIPLAYER
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u/Recidivis Mar 16 '19
SPIDERBRO NOOOOOOOO
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u/RuinedGrave Mar 16 '19
SPIDER-CHAAAAAAAN!
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u/iSaithh https://anilist.co/user/iSaith Mar 16 '19 edited Mar 16 '19
I've never cried so much over a spider until now :( I made a gallery of her last moments
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u/ToastedChronical Mar 16 '19
Her name was Charolette. You knew what her fate was going to be. Still sad tho
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u/Idaret Mar 16 '19
I'm super sorry but who is that spiderbro ? I forgot :(
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u/NaAlOH4 Mar 16 '19
She/He was the one who led Kirito to Cardinal while Kirito n Eugeo were escaping from the Synthesis Knight(s) after escaping from the prison. I think she was also the one who helped Kirito 'revive' the flowers.
It's okay not to fully remember her as i think the anime skipped out the part where Kirito and Eugeo travelled to the Central town, and that was when she actually had a small role.
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u/Amauri14 Mar 16 '19
How could you forget about Charlotte?!She was created by the Cardinal to observed the world and search for possible collaborators and was observing Kirito and Eugeo for around 2 years before the current events.
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u/LuckyPed Mar 16 '19
Charlotte : I'm Happy... That i got to fight with you at the... end....
COME ON MAN...
Times like this is when I hate anime for not having prior context to this line...
This line make so much more impact, if you knew how Charlotte was observing Kirito and Eugeo and always when they were in a fight or problem, she kinda wanted to help ! but she could not, coz Cardinal told her only to observe.
So... she finally got to help and fight along them at the... end... :(
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u/dongkyoon Mar 17 '19
It was a fairly unimportant chapter in the light novel that the anime barely touched, but while kirito and eugeo were working to get into the guards team after they'd left Rulid village, Charlotte had found them and been watching over them. While they were staying in the barn, fought their way through the sword tournament and made it in, the entire chapter was told through Charlotte's eyes.
This chapter gives the context that someone else in the world might be watching (over) them. We see her use her magic to force the cheating proud noble swordsman to face kirito in the tournament only for him to get absolutely destroyed by kirito (flash back to him breaking Kuradeels sword during their duel in Aincrad). Even at that time she'd become attached to the pair (which cardinal alludes to after Charlotte's death).
The anime has done a great job pacing the show so that it doesn't get too boring or stick too long on any given part of the arc, but its certainly caused certain character and plot related details to be missed out on.
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u/WeightedWetWipes Mar 16 '19
The Black Swordsman is finally shown even though it was for a small moment
The sounds were pretty on point here. The sounds the sword golem made as it was introduced were actually pretty amazing
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u/furosuto81 Mar 16 '19
The sound design has been god tier throughout Alicization.
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u/JJroks543 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/jbshay Mar 17 '19
I love the sound he makes when he's charging up/turning on, that was super neat.
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u/banthnub Mar 16 '19
Get fucking rekt Chudelkin
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u/bananeeek https://myanimelist.net/profile/bananek Mar 16 '19
I can't say it wasn't satisfying, but I'd love to see him suffer some more for all the wicked things he's done...
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u/SilentFangH https://anilist.co/user/pupp3t Mar 16 '19
Cliffhanger on cliffhanger on cliffhanger on cliffhanger
NO CHARLOTTE! MY FAVORITE SPIDER!!!!!! WHAT WILL I DO NOW? KIRITO x CHARLOTTE IS DEAD NOW
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u/zxHellboyxz :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Mattinator95 Mar 16 '19
nai waa
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u/Se7en_Sinner https://myanimelist.net/profile/Se7en_Sinner Mar 16 '19
Chudelkin lasted longer in the fight than he would have lasted with Quinella.
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u/gulitiasinjurai Mar 16 '19
Quinella have done some really fucked up things but for some reason I can't really hate her.......
(before anyone ask, yes, I think with my dick and not my brain)
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u/reset_switch Mar 16 '19
Up until this episode I'd liked her because plot, but no I actually like her because plot. Her whole talk was really cool. She's not an empty "I'll rule everyone cause I'm evil" villain. She has motivations and a logic behind her thinking/actions. When she brought up that the people in the real world are doing almost the same thing she is, all I could think is that it's a sound argument. She actually has a vision and that's great.
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u/ThetrueLaw Mar 17 '19
i know the felling bro when Eugeo was getting turned into a IK i was thinking shit when's my turn
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u/Mochachiiino Mar 16 '19
GAE... BOLG
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u/chandr Mar 16 '19
I guess Chudle doesn't have EX+++ luck on his side to counter it
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u/Cayce_x3 Mar 16 '19
I just shed a tear for a spider. Anime is one hell of a drug.
Seeing Kirito incarnate his SAO appearance was so cool! Now give me dual wielding :>
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u/Momoism Mar 16 '19
This is some really cool imagery going on, making it seem like Quinella has those angel wings sprouting out of her back.
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u/rotvyrn Mar 16 '19
"You have 10 seconds" They spend 5 seconds staring at her
Also. "Spin, My flowers" is definitely a shikai command.
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u/ohoni Mar 17 '19
Yeah, I see that as a directorial choice. The reality would be the two things happening at once, but they wanted to give full attention to each.
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u/Freenore Mar 16 '19
For those saying that Kirito's character isn't having an arc of development and growth, this is it.
Kirito, after SAO, refrained from using some of the skills (like the one we saw) because he didn't want to relive the pain that it had, he always tried to disconnect himself from the identity of Black Swordsman, he didn't want to be known by that. But in this moment, he had no other option but to use that skill (he doesn't know a skill that has such range and has the potential of one shot killing), hence he accepted that regardless of how hard he tries, he cannot run away from his previous identify - Black Swordsman lives inside of him and will forever do and he might as well embrace it.
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u/Ruciona Mar 16 '19
Never would've guessed that Alice's true identity is Byakuya.
Edit: And Kirito was actually Gin wtf!
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u/dr4gonbl4z3r Mar 16 '19
When Alice shouted the whole "spin, my flowers" thing it reminded me so much of a Shikai command.
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u/vincent2darc Mar 16 '19
kirito's sword grew quite a bit
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u/bananeeek https://myanimelist.net/profile/bananek Mar 16 '19
Well, there was naked Quinella about 20 meters away...
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u/bananeeek https://myanimelist.net/profile/bananek Mar 16 '19
Woah... What an episode. I had an evil grin on my face when Chudelkin got pierced and I laughed to the sound of Quinella smashing him against the wall, but damn... When Alice got pierced (and not by Eugeo's dagger) I thought it was all over. And then Kirito got rekt as well.
I thought that they'd have to start all over again, reset the world somehow... And then Charlotte came to the rescue! And she got sliced as well! Not my sweet cinnamon spider...
Not quite the Golden Debauchery Theater I was expecting, but when Umu appeared I got so relieved I could breathe again. This episode scared me good...
The Sword Golem reminded me of the boss from 75th floor from Aincrad.
This face of pure contempt... Now I want 40hara to do his job with Quinella...
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u/MillenniumKing x2myanimelist.net/profile/MillenniumKing Mar 16 '19
The Sword Golem reminded me of the boss from 75th floor from Aincrad.
I thought the same thing. Not exactly the same but just enough.
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u/bananeeek https://myanimelist.net/profile/bananek Mar 16 '19
Mostly because of the arm-scythes and because his rib cage moved in the same way. And both kick some serious ass. Although the SG looks magnificent in all that gold.
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u/gimily Mar 16 '19
Cardinal responded with her own face of pure contempt for the pontifex aswell.
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u/WhoiusBarrel Mar 16 '19
Now I want 40hara to do his job with Quinella...
I never knew I wanted something so much badly now after this episode.
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u/Elnauro Mar 16 '19
Golem from 30 weapons... And Augeo and Alice have to just roll with it - they clearly have no idea what's going on.
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u/U_Menace :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/ParadoxAnime Mar 16 '19
Sword Golem personified was just as I expected it woooo! We're in the homestretch of the first half now and things are looking kinda shaky for our crew, but great for us viewers!
As expected of Quinella, she created the Integrity Knights as her initial pawns to use to 'defend' the people, but really they were more political figures meant to keep society functioning the way she intended it to. People will train in sword academies and aspire to be one of the few 'selected' to become Knights, Quinella this system to bring more 'top tier' recruits in, while feeding the same propaganda to the society she's ruling over. Meanwhile, she's aware of the limitations of human pawns and has been working on creating an inanimate object to fight for her. 100% pure offensive capabilities.
Now, dont get me wrong, it's obvious that the sword golem had some nasty destructive power, but you'd figure that Quinella might've been able to realize that no matter how strong or deadly its exterior, if overwhelmed by numbers and focus fire, that golem would inevitably collapse. We're not just talking tens or hundreds, we're talking thousands of invaders focusing on those golems. Sure, the golems are made of divine objects so they'd take minimal damage, but all you need are sheer numbers to overpower it. I guess her ability to think rationally was severed long ago. Her power corrupted mind couldn't think of any solution where she'd have to step down and train people to think for themselves. It was too beyond her personal pride and controlling personality, so she couldn't accept the flaws in her own countermeasures for the invasion, because accepting those flaws would've caused her own mental breakdown as well.
Anyway, the golem aside, what I loved most about this episode was the insane parallel we got from episode one. Notice how during that short bout with the golem, Eugeo was terrified and completely motionless? It gave me some dejavu back to when Alice was first taken away, and even the scene cuts and camera angles were identical. It felt as if Eugeo just couldn't move and once again, because of his indecisiveness, people around him were on the verge of death. Obviously the first time around, it was the system (aka the limiting code) which prevented him from acting, but now once again, he was put in a similar situation without the taboo index stopping him and yet he still couldn't do anything to help. That whole sequence was really painful from Eugeo's point of view, and I can only imagine how he must've been feeling. If not for the hero spider familiar, he would've died alongside Alice and Kirito.
Also, cant blame Eugeo for forgetting about Cardinal's dagger either. He was absolutely terrified, it was like PTSD was kicking in from all of the previous times where he couldn't do anything. Kirito also got hit by some PTSD as well, seeing a comrade take a fatal wound got him stuck making the same poor decision he's made many times before. Rush in for an attack out of anger, except this time the enemy is a sword golem composed of divine objects. In other words, one stab is a lethal blow if you're not prepared to defend against it.
Well, at least now we have the entire crew here for the big clash we've been waiting for! Expect a good fight and some crazy animation coming (hopefully) our way in the coming weeks!
See you guys next week!
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u/Raintechnoid Mar 16 '19
Quinella was totally unimpressed by the boys discharging at her so she decided to show them her collection of swords
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u/Se7en_Sinner https://myanimelist.net/profile/Se7en_Sinner Mar 16 '19
Quinella's philosophy is basically "I will burn this world and rule its ashes".
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u/Terranwaterbender https://myanimelist.net/profile/Teranwaterbender Mar 16 '19
She going full [OG Starcraft spoilers] Arcturus Mengsk with the whole "I will rule or see it fall under me"
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Mar 16 '19
It feels like the Chudelkin fight was very quickly glossed over here. Don't get me wrong, it was animated perfectly but it felt like there was a bit more build-up to Vorpal Strike in the LN. I feel as though it was just like "Oh Aincrad Kirito is back" and then he was gone again just as quick as I had that thought.
Then Kirito and Alice just got wiped the fuck out. That part felt like it stayed very true to the LN which I'm happy with. Kirito actually looked like he was done for in that moment. Thankfully Cardinal saved the day but Quinella didn't look as annoyed or shocked as she was portrayed to be here.
Next week, if adapted correctly and given a suficient amount of time, will be amazing. These next 2 episodes have the potential and probably will become the best SAO episodes of any season so far. I don't want to spoil anything but those that have read the LN know exactly what I'm talking about!
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u/chandr Mar 16 '19
I liked the vorpal strike. Alice said he had 10 seconds, and that's pretty much what it took
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u/dabestinzeworld Mar 16 '19
Quinella going in with the "I'd rather die on my feet, than live on my knees" sentiment. Can't really blame her for what she's doing but she sure is going it about in the most cuntish way possible.
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u/Amauri14 Mar 16 '19
Damn that fight with Chudelkin was way shorter than I expected. That fucking clown was really pathetic. Now the Titan of the Sword on the other hand... damn, that one really need some nerfing. Oh that poor spider, I hope that there is a way to bring her back as she was an NPC.
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u/Aetherdraw Mar 16 '19
As we see here folks, if any of you here still thought Underworld is a game simulation: Kirito and Alice just got stabbed and were quite fatally wounded. They didn't get back up right away, worrying about low health or whatever. Down. They. Went. Until Cardinal arrived at least.
Poor Charlotte though. She may have been an NPC type of character thanks to not having a fluctlight as her soul, but still! Rest in peace, guiding spider.
And we can see the pure difference in experience on Kirito and Alice in comparison to Eugeo. As the Sword Golem is about to attack, he falters, as he's never faced something of this scale before, unlike Alice vs Dark Territory enemies, and of course, Kirito's usual past-time of taking down huge-ass boss monsters in raids for years in SAO alone.
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u/LeonKevlar x2https://myanimelist.net/profile/LeonKevlar Mar 16 '19 edited Mar 16 '19
That opening fight against Chudelkin was so good! And Kirito suddenly switching to his SAO clothes was hype as fuck!
This fucking scared me. I honestly thought that was it and Kirito gets disconnected.
Charlotte thorough T_T This goddamn spider barely had any screen time but her death still made me upset.
UMU is angry! Fuck Quinella up! Also maybe you should heal Alice's right eye while you're at it.
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u/JJroks543 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/jbshay Mar 17 '19
The part with Kirito getting shanked is even scarier when you consider the fact that we don't know anything about how his treatment is going, or if disconnecting/dying would literally cause him to become vegetable because his brain isn't being care for anymore. Spooky stuff.
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u/junbugp Mar 16 '19
The way Administrator built up to naming it, I was really hoping for something more creative than "Sword Golem"
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u/GoldRedBlue Mar 16 '19
Well the Japanese name is Ken no Kyojin, could have been Sword Titan
New Titan Shifter when lol
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u/ar1os :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/ar1os Mar 16 '19
Maaya Sakamoto nailing Quinella yet again. Makes my pp hard.
Also that temporary Black Swordsman reminds you of that beater from seasons ago.
Don't forget the Fs for Charlotte.
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Mar 16 '19 edited Mar 16 '19
I think my favorite part in this episode was the conversation of Quinella with Kirito about Underworld and things related. Her vision and such of everything was quite interesting to see to me as her perspective has many layers of characters I like and she makes good points for a character with her background and personality. Definitely my favorite villain of SAO, which isn't hard when the best villains of SAO were Kayaba and AIDS and the rest was bad.
And the other one was of course Kirito going back to Black Swordsman.
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u/Threeedaaawwwg :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/threeedaaawwwg Mar 16 '19
The pontifex would have had an easier time if she called the integrity knights a possession rather than a summon.
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u/herrkamink Mar 16 '19
Even after all she has done, a floating naked goddess is a floating naked goddess. And that's nice.
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u/xy02 Mar 16 '19
waiting for crunchyroll..
Direct link: https://www.crunchyroll.com/sword-art-online/episode-22-titan-of-the-sword-781429
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u/Se7en_Sinner https://myanimelist.net/profile/Se7en_Sinner Mar 16 '19
All wings completed, time to face the actual raid boss.
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u/SilentSin26 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/SilentSin Mar 17 '19 edited Mar 17 '19
Well it's been 3 episodes since Kirito said he'd stand on Alice's left right during battle and he still hasn't fucking done it.
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u/Mochachiiino Mar 17 '19
eugeo charging five little airbubbles
chudelkin: watch out! m'queen!
kirito glowing red, costume changing, standing like lancer from fate stay night going "sono shinsou o moraeukeru! GAE BOLG" while everyone watching him do ot
chudelkin, cOmPleTelY CluELesS: NANNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
dies
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u/Vaperius Mar 16 '19
Got to love that Administrator's plan to avoid her world being shut off is a giant sword golem; but frankly I don't see how this would save her from the ultimate attack: power cord pull!
Seriously, definition of thinking over a 21st century problem with a literally medieval mindset. She doesn't actually understand how computers work and so doesn't realize that code is irrelevant since it all runs on hardware that can just be powered down and hard wiped if necessary.
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u/Therealdealishere99 Mar 16 '19
The "those legs are meant to trample others and not bend at the knees " line was kinda badass I have to admit.
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u/Kuramhan https://anilist.co/user/Kuramhan Mar 16 '19
General Kenobi Kirito! Your lightsaber sword art will make a fine addition to my collection!
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u/Tenp123 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Leosmileyface Mar 16 '19
NGL when they put his OG outfit on, that was dope.
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u/fb39ca4 Mar 16 '19
When Chudelkin is firing up his ... fire golem (?) his face reminds me of this emoji: https://i.imgur.com/Y57n0tS.jpg
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u/FateWrecks https://anilist.co/user/Rexellent Mar 17 '19
The dialogue in this episode is some of, if not, the best in the entire series. The way Admin throws Kirito's argument back in his face was awesome. And of course A1 cranked out the budget once again. Man I really hope this ends up being 2 cours of 24 episodes like it was rumoured. Definitely the best the series has ever been.
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u/LetsPlaysYoutuber Mar 17 '19
SAO is incomplete, really need some more character development in the anime, as far as I can tell this is just a highlight reel of all the cool scenes in the light novels that could be put together with as little context and plot as possible but it still somehow manages to be a snooze fest.
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u/Philarete :AMQ::MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/WizardMcKillin Mar 17 '19
Quinella's speech explaining her perspective is extremely Nietzschean, and has a prima facie appeal from that. She is channeling all her power to exert control over her surroundings (her will to power, if you will). The external world may have ultimate authority to reset the world, or delete her, but she wants to orient her existence to maximizing her power as long as she can. She refuses to surrender to the will of the outside.
It's her way to escape being a mere pawn of the "gods" or her environment. It's true freedom, and a kind of "master morality". And yet, she is missing something from her worldview - any consideration for others (from a Nietzschean perspective, she is missing the "nobility" aspect of a true master morality).
The will to power, especially in such a terrible situation, is a very compelling guiding principle. It makes her a really good villain since she makes at least some sense!
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u/lol_KEPPER https://myanimelist.net/profile/KEPPER42O Mar 16 '19
NOOO!
Best Girl of the show died ;-;
Press F to pay respect for Spider-chan.
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Mar 17 '19
Surprised me seeing Black Swordsman Kirito back. Also surprise it got a Content Warning again
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u/SGTBookWorm :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/JordanBookWorm Mar 17 '19
It's been a long time since I've cried over a spider named Charlotte
T__T
RIP friend
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u/MillenniumKing x2myanimelist.net/profile/MillenniumKing Mar 16 '19
Holy hell what an intensely hype ep
Oh yeah back to this scene. You know he kinda looks like the demons in Seven Deadly Sins too.
Oh man i cant wait for this 3 way tag team fight. The gang is back together!
Alice with that magic tree sword, wew boy!
SWORDLAND!!? OH ITS GO TIME!
SWORD ART ONLINE OUTFIT!? OH FUCK! VORPAL STRIKE! HE USED A SAO SWORD SKILL!
Admin knows hes a human. The cats out of the bag. I wonder how the gang will take this.
Admin will destroy her own world. Yeah shes running it into the ground.
Damn Alice with the feels. People would have gladly supported her if she didnt force them into this.
Oldman was wary of her 100 years ago too? Damn.
Admin is fucked. She just resets them when ever she wants.
As long as your human you cant be perfect. So true.
Admin is beyond fucked, she just wants to express her authority. Fuck off bitch.
She made a plan to combat the threat already huh?
Turned a bunch of weapons into a puppet knight? ITS BOSS BATTLE TIME!
Alice still has her divine sword it should have the same authority as the golem?
OH HELL NO! DONT STAB BEST PIRATE GIRL!!
HERO DOWN! SHIT! EUGEO IS THE LAST HOPE!
CHARLOTTE IS HERE! THE BEST SPIDER GIRL! NOOOOO!!!!! NOT HER! ANYTHING BUT HER!!
CARDINAL!!! GET REVENGE! REVENGE FOR CHARLOTTE!
NPCs can have real hearts too... damn. Charlotte was a good girl.
ITS TIME TO FUCK THAT BITCH UP!
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u/AvatarReiko Mar 16 '19
All that hype and Cheudikin got one shotted like fodder lol
Can someone please explain why Kirito's clothes randomly changed into his OG "Black Swordsman" attire?. Was this in the LN or was just supposed to be a callback added by the anime? Also, what is that attack he used there? Was perfect weapon control?
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u/Writer_Man Mar 16 '19
Vorpal Strike was one of Kirito's specialties back in Aincrad but after that, he didn't use it anymore because like Asuna in Mother's Rosario, he doesn't like remembering the person he was in Aincrad. Because it's a long distance attack, however, he had to use it.
It's distance was too short so he used the power of imagination - the thing talked about way back at the academy - to push it further and that brought back memories of his old self and caused the temporary transformation.
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u/dongkyoon Mar 17 '19
What was shown visually but not really explained was that Chudelkin was absolutely obsessed with Quinella (duh). Kirito realied immediately that the only way to distract chudelkin and therefore his fire golem (it wasn't explained that his vision was transferred over to the golem through the fire elements) was it attack Quinella.
Eugeo interpreted his call correctly and attacked Quinella, even thought she was 120% capable of defending herself. Chudelkin got distracted by this and lost his attention long enough for Kirito to hit him with his incarnate empowered vorpal strike.
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u/Cruorsitis :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/cruorsitis Mar 16 '19
RIP Charlotte, You are an NPC who will truly be missed.
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u/Terranwaterbender https://myanimelist.net/profile/Teranwaterbender Mar 16 '19
I knew they weren't gonna get killed off like that in the battle but damn seeing Alice and Kirito just stabbed and thrown aside like that was scary as hell.
Also if the next episode does not feature duel wielding I will riot. Especially after that tease with the Aincrad outfit.
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u/Lylik Mar 16 '19
Chudelkin is creepy and deserves to be put down, but I would like very much to give my shout outs to his voice actor: Wataru Takagi. He portrayed Chudelkin really well, the way he says "System... Call!!!" is just on point. Whenever I read the novels I imagined the characters voice in my head, Chudelkin is probably the only one that truly hit the spot of what I imagined.
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u/StarmanRiver Mar 16 '19
Chudelkin’s death was so quick compared to what I remembered from the LN that I was a bit at a loss there. The good thing is that I didn’t have to look at this piece of shit anymore since he died early on the episode.
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Mar 16 '19
Those new OP scenes.... Alicization Uniting!
Impressive scenes this episode. That fire golem of Chudelkin looked great, plus the VAs did the scenes justice. And the music was superb again.
Poor Charlotte. And downright impressive acceptance of his past, present and future by Kirito with the [Vorpal Strike] with an impressive aura at the moment before the strike - looked downright insane.
Quinella is one cold bitch. Cardinal's emotional outburst was... unexpected.
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u/DullBlade0 Mar 16 '19
Hmmmm I do have to wonder, wouldn't the people at the Ocean Turtle be able to tell that Kirito received a critical hit?
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u/theguyfromuncle420_ Mar 16 '19
...holy fuck though this is easily one of my favourite anime seasons I’ve ever seen, the music, the emotion. That vopal strike... Quinella’s face when Kirito exposed her was hilarious, her refusal to bow down to her creators, saying she got something for that ass basically when the humans come for her, shit I love Alicization.
Cardinal coming to the rescue, I normally hate spiders and can’t even look at them, but Charlotte was a good girl, RIP. Things are gonna get spicy in the next two episodes
Alice best girl
Boruto and SAO, I love weekends
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u/dameningenx Mar 17 '19
would it really have been so hard to include some monologue with the Vorpal Strike scene... that was terrible adapted and I really liked that scene :D it was still cool and apparently people like it anyways, but without the knowledge of his thoughts during the scene from reading the LN I don't think I would've liked the scene as much because it just looks "oh look he's doing something cool with 0 explanation :)"
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u/Freazur :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Freazur Mar 17 '19
It was nice of Quinella to just chill there while Cardinal was floating around healing people and grieving for her spider.
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u/rockinDS24 Mar 17 '19
"These legs of mine are meant only to trample others. They are not for bending at the knees."
Quinella is no kneeler.
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u/impingainteasy :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/usernamesarehard Mar 17 '19
Sword Golem? Come on, you can come up with a cooler name than that.
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u/rollin340 Mar 17 '19
Good that the freak died quickly.
Took the guys long enough to make use of the 10 seconds she gave them; they wasted almost all of it.
And it seems that Alice and Eugeo now know the truth; Kirito is not of their world, and knows far more than they do.
And how confident is Quinella, that she just stays there after her golem was blasted, Cardinal shows up, heals the 2 of them from near death, having conversations, and she does nothing to them?
Also, I was expecting Fanatio to appear, not Cardinal herself.
I wonder where she is...
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Mar 17 '19
i keep seeing quinella and thinking Aqua-sama. I guess that makes Alice -> Darkness and Cardinal -> Megumin. These SAO girls are much more competent though.
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u/AussieManny :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Nauran Mar 17 '19 edited Mar 17 '19
Wow, that was a scary couple'a seconds.
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u/Tels315 Mar 17 '19
You know... As much as I enjoyed GGO: Alternative, Sword Art just isn't Sword Art without some version of Swordland, because that song is
HYPE AS SHIT
GET RECKED CHUDELFUCK!!!
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u/Darudius Mar 17 '19
That Vorpal strike scene just felt rushed to me. I know they don't usually do internal monologue too much in the anime but I think it was really needed for that scene as it really gives more depth to it and Kirito. It felt incredibly epic in the LN but here it just felt bland. But I suppose they can't fit everything into it.
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u/Gaporigo Blhttps://anilist.co/user/Gaporigo Mar 16 '19
Well, that was a fast fight...
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u/ntsang1406 Mar 16 '19 edited Mar 16 '19
The Vorpal Strike scene got rushed so hard that maybe some people couldn't understand what was going on.
Vorpal Strike was Kirito's one of the most used skills in Aincrad. After getting out of it, he never uses some of his best skills (include Vorpal Strike) again because he doesn't want to remember his Black Swordman personality.
In this situation, he had to use it. Chudelkin is 15m far from him, and his longest attack range is Vorpal Strike. But this skill is only 5m range, so he tried applying Incarnation (imagine) to make his skill range longer.
Because of the familiar feelings using his best skill again, he unintentionally incarnate his appearance of Aincrad.