Writing About All Things Pop Culture
Well, everyone, I did what I set out to do. I said that I was going to review every episode of Sword Art Online: Alicization, and managed to do just that. Was the season as good as I hoped it would be? At times, it was. But it had its fair share of moments that made us cringe. And pacing problems, to be sure. But for all its faults, I think that the Alicization arc manages to stick the landing with an emotional epilogue.
Well, everyone, we are in the endgame for Sword Art Online: Alicization. And possibly Sword Art Online itself, if they decide not to adapt the new arc from the Light Novels. Gabriel’s been defeated and Alice is safe in the hands of RATH, but the danger’s still not over. After all, Gabriel’s flunkies are still aboard the Ocean Turtle and need to be taken care of. As a result, this episode is basically about tying up the loose ends before we get to the epilogue.
At long last, Kirito the Black Swordsman is awake and ready to kick some serious bad guy ass! PoH is going to get what he deserved!
Did you guys know that Sword Art Online got a movie a few years ago? I’m not joking; there is, in fact, a Sword Art Online movie in subbed and dubbed format. Called Ordinal Scale, it took place in between the events of Seasons two and three of the anime, and is fully canon to the anime’s timeline. However, I never expected that it would play any factor in Alicization. Turns out I was wrong, because two of the characters from that film end up playing a small yet important role in this week’s episode.
By the way, the action this week is actually pretty good, and we see some of PoH’s twisted backstory.
COVID-19 May have delayed this anime, but it can’t keep it down for long. After months of delay, SAO- War of Underworld returns. And I’m gonna cover it!
After hearing that SAO: War of Underworld’s coming to Toonami sooner than I thought, I ask the question: is it being simuldubbed now?
Special thanks to Lesley Aeischliman, whose post informed me about this news.
Gentlemen, thanks to the enemies meddling, the war for Underworld has escalated. It has now become the first Great VR War. Summon the supporting cast!
This is my way of saying that the War for Underworld’s about to get even crazier than it already is.
After waiting for way too many episodes, Asuna finally shows up in Underworld and she’s ready to kick some ass. Alice doesn’t take this well.
I’ve noticed a recurring theme among stories that feature a climatic final battle between two opposing forces. Right before the big fight, there’s always a moment where the cast calms down and prepares themselves for what’s about to happen. Star Wars had their moment with Luke and Leia in Jedi; and Game of Thrones had a whole episode before the White Walkers attacked. Now SAO: Alicization goes through its own calm before the storm as the final battle for Underworld is about to begin.
Sword Art Online has given us its fair share of villains over the years. While at are great hat sinks (*cough* Sugou and Quinella *cough*), I wouldn’t put them on a list of great anime villains. However, the exception to that has to be the big bad for War of Underworld, Gabriel Miller. I said that he’s a sociopath in my last post. However, it’s not until this episode that shows us how much of a gaming sociopath he is.
Back when SAO: Alicization ended the dub of its first half on Toonami, I promised that I would continue reviewing the show when part two came out. Now I intend to keep that promise, and I’m not waiting for the dub. #Swordartonline
