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Oh boy there is A LOT that I really like about the approach they went with this season. Seems like the director change from Ito to Ono is already paying off big time.

• They're finally including Kirito's inner monologues and not even a small amount at that. Anyone who has read a LN and watched the respective anime adaptation knows how much it guts a character when their inner monologues are not or barely included. I love that with this season this seems to change. Especially in this part of the story his inner thoughts are vital cause we as the viewer share this feeling of being lost & dropped in a completely new and unfamiliar world with Kirito. Hearing his thoughts not only fleshes out his character it also lets the audience have a feeling as if we are adventuring alongside him.

• They rearranged the ambulance scene ( many might scream it's cut but there are more than enough reasons to believe it's not ) which I'm very glad about. It certainly helps evoking this feeling of being dropped into cold water that this episode clearly is going for. It also adds a new layer of mystery as to what happened on the outside world.

The shot composition, especially during dialogue is excellent. I didn't expect just sitting/standing at a tree could lead to so many interesting angles and perspectives. I appreciate that in a project that is as slow paced as this one with lots of dialogue, they aim to make even scenes involving just dialogue visually exciting as much as possible.

They kept the sfx from Ordinal Scale which isn't exactly surprising, considering the sound director followed the franchise into Season 3. I really like them alongside the effects as they really give this impression of speed & impact.

Overall they are really taking their time which I'm so glad for.

I love how they kept the scene where Kirito was confused by how to turn the lamp off! It does a good job showcasing that he's not in familiar territory.

okay, I'm really happy with how they adapted the books.

The music direction and the directing itself were really a step up from the original series and whatever A1's done before. I also liked the instances of show not tell for small bits (which gives me hope for cardinal's lengthy speech later!).

That little scene was Jink and sword skills was a nice treat. Selka is so underrated even among ln readers, because god, look at her! She's so cute and kind! Please shower her with love, especially after alice's return.

I loved the simple foreshadowing-- stuff like the old lady giving the boys an apple, or eugeo talking about the 300 years past that make Kirito's deductions more plausible at the end. Details that seem unimportant form a conclusion, not just conclusions out of nowhere.

The tiny touches of realism were just so satisfying. Figuring out the light switch, Kirito smiling after being challenged, Eugeo's head tilt... This is how anime should be. Immersive.

Lastly, I loved how the ending focused on Eugeo. Throughout the episode I just wanted to hug him. How can you love someone even more than before??

I have high hopes for the rest of Alicization! This slow-burn worldbuilding may not be for everyone, but I think they're doing a great job with it. It's very faithful to the source but elevates it even more. Looking forward to the next episode--from the looks of it, it's going to be about the goblins. Fun stuff. :)

Man, when the episode ended I actually cried. I was so spoiled from the 1 hour premiere that I forgot we are back to 24 minute episodes now D:

First off, they did a nice job with Kirito's awakening into Underworld. It wasn't too dragged out like it was in the LN and he met Eugeo almost instantly. The LN had Kirito wander around aimlessly talking to himself for like 5-7 pages and that would be boring as hell if it was animated.

The opening looks a lot more rendered out and colorful. I swear to god it looks different. The colors are more popped out and I can't believe that the animation looks even better than last episode, that's amazing. Also, the scene changes were kind of slowed down (or is that just me?)

As people already stated, Kirito's inner monologues to himself throughout the episode and especially when meeting Eugeo was amazing. Definitely something that I'm looking forward too for the rest of the series.

The anime original scene with Jink (translations have it as Zink?) was epic. Jink was an asshole in the LN's and I'm glad Kirito showed him his place with that <<Horizontal>> sword skill. I just love the look on Kirito's face when he looked at Jink afterward, "Yeah bitch, you thought I was joking? I'm a swordsman, suck it."

The scenes where Kirito and Eugeo go around town was heartwarming. A lot of little put in details from the LN's were added in the scenes.

Translation error, Dark God Vector is named Vecta for some reason lol.

That scene where Selka peeks out the door to see Eugeo and Eugeo looks away was both sad and beautiful. This might sound psychopathic, but I can't wait to see how she reacts to Eugeo in near-death state from getting cut down by the Goblin Leader.

Finally, the foreshadowing to the naked girl herself, Quinella. That little smile at the end gave me chills, they did a nice job in foreshadowing that something big is coming and she's the center of it all.

The ED by the way, poor Eugeo is all I can say. :( beautiful, but yet so teary and sad at the same time.

On a side note, the cut out part which was the ambulance scene in the LN's was a bit eh, disappointing in my books. I honestly wished they added that part, not in this episode, but last episode. Imho, Ep 1 should have ended with Asuna looking at her phone and seeing Kirito's heart rate flatline and go straight to 0. Would have made a nice transition over into Episode 2, but oh well, I'm not going to harp on that too much.

Overall, I'mma be real and rate this episode a 9/10. Would love to rate it a 10/10 as the SAO fan bias in me wants to, but nothing too spectacular happened in this episode apart from that Jink scene. Everything else was pretty normal so nothing too much for me to get excited for.

FORESHADOWING - real talk, holy shit I didn't expect to see her so soon

My my, what do we have here. I have to say this episode is just as good as the last one, everything is so good!

If I remember correctly this scene was different in the novels, were he just picked up grass very fast to check what it was like.

I love, seriously, love the fact that they included inner dialogues, it will make the season 10 times better, but some are hurting me- And you can see how frustrated it really males Eugeo when he almost crushes what Kirito, the all eating man, called rock solid bread

This one here makes me wonder what would happen if they fell the tree, the wrong way

Eugeo's smile is just, too pure

Never did I regret a character not being main more than i have regretted it now. I am sorry Silica, you have been moved from the loli position.

And lastly, what can I say about this? Only can say it made me hyped for the entire season of fights

This is the part of the series I'm really interested to see adapted. So much of it is Kirito's inner monologue and musings about where he is and what the fluctlights actually are. It's not something that can actually be done through dialogue with other people or even shown.

Curious to if they'll use narration or something else.

I love how aspects of the Light Novels are presented through facial expression and actions. It is one thing reading about how characters respect the Taboo Index, but seeing Eugeo talk about it with a plain face made it seem far more real and binding than the same scenes did in the books. Overall, great setup episode!

It feels as slow as the animated LNs should for me. A little bit faster for sure but some detail especially Kirito's monologue was well executed! Also I'm appreciating an original scene with Zink right there, it's a hint for later episode for what will happen. But, I'm sad Selka's scene was limited XD Guess next episode her deban will be longer XD Though I expect scene from interlude 1 but this is enough. Maybe the Interludes will be merged into one whole dedicated episode.

The ED feels sad with Eugeo as its centre. Big applause for A1 for treating best boy!

As for the animation looks clean and barely any decrease in quality from episode 1. I have a high hope for the animation and ofc the story itself.

I can't believe that 23 minutes have actually passed. Is this BNHA again? It is still rather bizarre how fast things went by but I must always remember how pages don't translate to actual minutes.

Kirito's start in the Underworld was done well, going over his memories and his questioning of being in a Virtual World. Different from the novel, the butterfly was a good way for him to realise how realistic his surroundings were. Good to hear his inner thoughts too. I wish I could hear his crazy assumptions about being the Hero set out to defeat the Demon King or jumping off a tree to see how "real" this world was.

The scene where Eugeo gave Kirito his name put a smile on my face, accompanied by the piece that I would dub as 'Eugeo's theme' or something along the lines of 'Innocence' genuinely riled up my emotions, I'm glad that Kajiura was able to capture that feeling.

It was also nice hearing the name of a Sword Skill from Aincrad. In this case, «Smash». And seeing Kiritard comically fail at hitting the target. As well as actively knowing the Skill «Horizontal» that Kii-bou used in the new anime original scene. How bold of you to declare yourself a Swordsman, Kiritard, but you really showed Jink. I partly expected Sister Azariya to be a lot younger though.

The ending was fantastic, I loved its focus on Eugeo and the child Alice and Kirito. How Eugeo looks forlorn without Alice (and Kirito). Near the end with him and Kirito, with his hand reaching out from under the Demon Tree's shade into the sun and joining together with Kirito's hand must be what Eir Aoi meant by 'Iris' inspiring a feeling of hope. The shot with a now confident looking Eugeo under the tree was really cool, I wonder when we will see that Iris finally bloom.

In conclusion, seeing the area of northernmost Norlangarth is quite a sight. Next up: The End Mountains.

Fantastic, bravo! Truly a great start for the 'proper' part of Alicization, and it shows :D!

First of all, Kirito's inner monologues, basically fully included? Perfect! It truly brings the full depth of his character like when you read the novels, and that was just great! Too bad we had to wait so far into the series for them to include such things, but it's still nice~

The meeting (Reencounter OwO) between Kirito and Eugeo was both very touching and smile-bringing in many ways (Also, woah, either Rulid's forest has a massive echo-effect or Eugeo is more than ripped, because those ax-swings were heard very loud). But man, the highlight of the episode was no doubt that sword scene. You could feel the world falling silent the moment Kirito had his hand in a sword again, ready to bow to his awesomeness :P

Also, OMG, Selka-chan is even cuter than I thought she would be animated! Still wondering about the change on her eye-color, but can't complain because she's adorable and great. And kudos to the anime team by showing those shots of Kirito and Eugeo with the villagers all around Rulid, it truly adds depth to the situation and lets you see how real and alive everyone within the Underworld is, not only the important characters but even those in the background nobody thinks about.

Finally...that Eugeo-ending was both beautiful and heartbreaking in SO many ways...I felt like crying more than once while watching it ;w;

PS: And Holy Shit, I can't get over how good the Opening is! SHINY SWORD MY DIAMOND~!

PS2: And Gods, is VECTA really the official romanization for 'Vector'? Because it sounds just...very silly compared to the fan-translated one if that's the case, really. Don't know why, but that's all I can think about when reading it o-O

They finally included Kirito's inner monologues and how Kirito immediately got pissed off when his bro got bullied was so precious. Go Kirito xD

The part with Zink wasn't in the book right? It's been a while since I read the books.

Can someone enlighten me about why Eugeo doesn't remember Kirito, I know it is a feature of STL but still it saddens me that they don't remember each other. I hope they can regain their memories in later parts.

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Loving the way they're adapting this so far! 5/5!

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i was kinda expecting "when does it skip" but .. it didnt, i am so happy with this, they're really going on the long run with this one

so happy with the adaptation thusfar<3

I am juuuust about to finish the LNs for this arc. So don't spoil the series of final battles for me in replies (just in case), but since we know that people from RATH went in and out of Underworld, why in hell didn't anyone ever go in and explain to Kirito what was going on? They would obviously have known that what he was experiencing would drag on for years in Underworld, but only days in the real world. Given his nature, it seems like he would have been fine to just go along as "play" in the world while he waited out healing time and stuff.

Just finished the episode. Having high hopes for the rest of the arc. Can't believe that the next episode is the part in the End Mountains. I really enjoyed the part where Kirito got to show off in the anime. Over all really looking forward to the next episode.

I just can't help but note how some stuff and concepts seem to be brought up in a different manner in the anime, like how Kirito discovers sword skills, and like who explains how the residents in the Underworld came from newborn babies' fluctlights.

I really didn't expect to see Quinella this early other than in the OP.

Makes me really hyped on how they will adapt more as we get further in the arc.

So, today is the day SAO goes all isekai.

Hello again :p! Novel reader checking in.

Yes, I recall this part, too real to be a game but too game to be real :p

I enjoyed him thinking about wheter this was actually a game or not till they bring out the menus.

Anyway, starting out with some thoughts. Nice! There wasn't enough inner thoughts up till now in SAO in general...

What happen Kirto is you happened :p Also... the Bees and Construstion vechicles...

How'd you like that guys? Kirito not being OP as fuck for once and flat out failing? :P (14:36)

Anyway, they don't really mention it... but if I recall correctly, you're not suppose to look at the tree's stats to often... it was some form of Taboo...

Ohhh Zink! How ya been, it's be literal years since I last thought of you :p

And now he's back to a little OP :p Then again, he does pratice the sword at the family dojo... so it's not to far off.

20:00 "Hah... now how do I turn off this lamp?"

That ending... "Are we really going to show this now..?"

She also looks a lot different then I remember.

I was late to the last thread but who else got the spelling of Eugeo's name horribly wrong?

I've always been pronouncing it in some odd Spanish way: eh-oo-ye-oh

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“Is this really a virtual world?”

Those poor anime-onlies are gonna keep asking themselves that for the entire rest of the series!

Can someone give me a little bit info about Taboo Index please. I'm not a LN reader and too curious, so can't wait. Also ı don't wanna read all the wikia because there are so much spoilers.

Watching a 20 minute episode in 10mins. Story so good.

Did kirito die? I'm so confused

Crazy how 2 episodes completely reignited my passion for the series. (Thankfully i haven't missed much since V5 of progressive is out in a month, yay pointless yp release delays /s)

The anime so far is doing a great job of doing what the novel did; putting the viewer in a brand new setting and have them slowly figure things out alongside the MC. Pacing wise the anime is doing good; i thought it was a good move to cut the time kirito spent wandering before meeting eugeo since there was nothing in that span of time that wouldn't come up again later. If it keeps going like this we should be done with v9 by episode 4. Eugeo is best boy!

So far so good

That scene of Kirito using a Sword Skill was Original, right ?

So...will A-1 add a lot of Original scenes or what ?

Speculation: those killed in SAO were killed like Kayaba, having their fluctlight uploaded.