The Most Metal Way to Die

Sword Art Online: Alicization- War of Underworld Episode 38 Review/Recap

Okay, people, I will be the first to admit that I had mixed feelings about this episode. Which is not what I wanted to have, since I had been waiting for this moment since Asuna joined the war. On the one hand, this took the moment I waited for since the start of the anime and made it less cool than in my mind. On the other, they closed out with one of the best fights in Alicization, and one that showed us a pretty metal way to die.

LINK START!

Recap

As Asuna looks on, Klein appears in front of her to cut down some of the American players. Then, suddenly, Agil appears and takes out even more. One by one, all of Asuna and Kirito’s friends and allies begin to dive into Underworld. Lisbeth’s speech to the players of Alfheim Online managed to win over some of them. In total, 2,000 players converted their accounts, and Yui was able to send them into Underworld. The sight of all her friends coming to help brings tears to Asuna’s eyes. Her resolve strengthened, Asuna and her friends begin to push the Americans back, while Silica and Lisbeth help the Underworlders heal. The battle takes a new turn.

On the Ocean Turtle, the Project Alicization staff realize that the presence of all these players means that word of Underworld will become public, though they think its for the best. Now the people of Underworld can’t be used for war. Then Higa notices something about Kirito: whenever the people (girls) closest to him came into Underworld, his brain showed activity. This gives Higa an idea. If they connect his fluctlight to that of Asuna, Leafa, and Sinon, they can heal him.

In the Underworld, the clash between Bercouli and Vecta continues. Even though he’s fighting like crazy, he’s still outgunned. Desperate, Bercouli gambles on using his sword’s ability to manipulate time on one last attack. Vecta comes close to stopping him. However, thanks to a last minute save by Bercouli’s dragon, the Integrity Knight’s able to use his time abilities to attack Vecta’s past self. As a result, Vecta’s obliterated. Alice awakens not long afterwords, only to learn that the effort was too much for Bercouli. Her mentor and father figure died as a result. Still, a pretty metal way to die.

Review

Like I said at the start, I had mixed feelings about this episode. This was supposed to be the moment when the cavalry appears. In most big battle scenes, there’s a moment when the heroes get help when all hope’s lost. The Knights of the Vale in Game of Thrones, the portal scene in Avengers: Endgame. It’s a crowd-pleaser and necessary for impossible foes. That said, I was hoping the moment where all the friends Asuna and Kirito have made in the series would take up more time in the episode. This was the perfect moment for all the secondary characters to get a shining moment.

Instead, though, we wasted a third of the episode on more exposition that could have been summed up pretty easy: they’re gonna use the girls love for Kirito+anime logic+anime bs to save him.

What I did love, though, was the fight between Bercouli and Vecta. It was visually impressive, with some of the best animation in the series. In addition, the fact that Bercouli took out Vecta before dying was a cool thing to watch. Not to mention, I felt bad seeing Alice cry over her mentor’s death. Bercouli, though, has no regrets. He kept Alice safe, and Underworld can live on, along with Fanatio and their unborn child. Yeah, Fanatio’s pregnant with Bercouli’s kid. And killing a God-Emperor’s a metal way to die.

The fight’s not over yet, though. Gabriel’s diving back into Underworld with his personal account, and if Vassago’s who I think he is, the heroes are in big trouble. We need Kirito soon!

I Give “End to Eternity” a 2.8/5. Could have been better, but a good fight at the end.

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