Wow. Honestly, as Kirito's sword skill cast a light over him, I though for a moment "Damn, his uniform kinda looks like his Aincrad appeara- wait, shit, it's really there!"

While Chudelkein did die somewhat gruesomely, my sympathy for him didn't last very long after I remembered all his past actions. Rest in peace pieces.

Kirito and Quinella openly speaking about the other side made for an interesting watch, especially Quinella's retort to Kirito "Do you spend your lives trying to please the higher powers that control *your* world?"

Alice and Kirito getting impaled left me choking in disbelief, especially with how easily that monster took him down. Nice to see (narratively speaking) how Eugeo still can freeze under intense pressure. He's come a long way, but he's not perfect.

Never have I felt so bad for an arachnid. Sleep well, Spider-Kun.

Also, is it a coincidence that Alice, Eugeo and Kirito seem to (at least to me) represent the Luminous, Cryogenic, and Umbra elements respectively?

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

My thoughts on this episode:

1. Chudelkin's fight didn't last long lol. He got killed surprisingly quick. Kirito's move where he changed into his Aincrad outfit was super cool!

2. Seeing the gang get shanked by the sword golem like that was brutal. Was not expecting that.

3. RIP Charlotte. Never before have I felt so sad for an arachnid.

Overall, very good episode. Can't wait to see what happens next! Loving Quinella, she is such a scumbag and that's why I love hating her.

Whoa, that is some bloodbath. The sword golem just destroyed them like it was nothing! I am really looking forward to what would happen in the next episode!

It was glorious how Kirito went full Kirito, pity it lasted only a while

Does Cardinal's speech about how NPC type characters can still develop a heart/love also validate the existance/persistence of Yui? I hadn't really thought about it before but it seems like Kirito wouldn't have been so surprised that an NPC could make thsoe decisions given his experience with Yui.

I dont often get hyped. But when it's sao. Goddamn it happens.

...holy fuck though this is easily one of my favourite anime seasons I’ve ever seen, the music, the emotion. Quinella’s face when Kirito exposed her was hilarious, her refusal to bow down to her creators, 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

- Chudelkin was defeated way too fast, wish he's suffer more for what he's done to other.

- Temporarily 'Black Swordsman' and his strongest move, Vorpal Strike

- I thought Eugeo would be more surprise that Kirito know a lot like regain he's already his memory or even think Kirito didnt lost memomry at all.

- Rath's guys looked like they're from Chamber of the elder.

- Sword Golem is super OP, one shot Alice through her 'Eternal Immortal' Fragrant Olive Sword like nothing at all and also one shot Kirito.

- Poor little Charlotte, we'lll remember you. My tear leak too much than it's supposed to be.

- Cardinal arrived, Avenger assemble!

Solike, just waiting on crunchyroll or funimation to update with new

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Can't wait to see chudd get fk'd up. Hated that guy in the books, hate him more animated.

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I got a fanboy boner when Kirito got his coat from S1 back. Also after watching that scene I felt something.

Kirito, somewhere deep down in his heart perhaps actually misses being in Sword Art Online? Or is that my perspective being the viewer? Is it related to, him being at his strongest when he was in SAO?

Sword Golem is exactly what the people of Kirito's world are looking for.

I liked the subtle look to eugeo after his acknowledgement of where he's really from.

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.

Admin had a line that I've been waiting for this whole season. She said to Kirito, (paraphrasing): "Do the people in your world strive to satisfy its creators?" This season establishes that it is possible to have fully-conscious intelligences, based on humans, in a simulation. If that is possible, then how do we know that the "real world" isn't someone else's simulation? I hope the story goes down this rabbit hole some day.

So, Eugeo and Kirito can use sacred arts without saying "System Call" or did I miss something?

That 10 second Chudelkin fight tho

Cardinal = Best girl and Kirito's old school coat from SAO is baller

Wish the fight with Chudelkin would have lasted a bit longer, at least he gotten taken out though. Seeing the sword golem being powered by the piety module reminds me of how the Dwemer automatons in Elder Scrolls are powered by soul gems, now there needs to be mod for the sword golem to appear in Dwemer dungeons in Skyrim.

All i can say is i wont be rude against siri next time

I have to be honest here:

The lethality of this last fight and the pacing of the show don't mix. It was quite literally a two-move victory within three minutes of the show, followed by a lot of talking and then a curbstomp fight. Chudelkin's death should have been very satisfying, but it wasn't, especially since the last episode ended with him summoning that fire golem and said golem looming menacingly over the trio.

I don't like it. I don't know if it's this short in the novel or if that fight was truncated for the anime, but it should've been longer or at least something of a struggle for that moment to be satisfying.

Thought Eugeo was imagining those scenes but damn, they were real lol F for the Spider 😔😔

Episode Thoughts:

Best. Episode. Yet.

• Kirito's original SAO outfit combined with the original version of Swordland AND Eugeo + Alice fighting Quinella alongside him?!?! The nostalgia alone makes this my favorite episode so far, not to mention the overall greatness of the scene!

• New Alice has easily become one of my favorite characters! I really hope that she stays in her current state and doesn't change any memories (which is looking increasingly likely).

• Is it just me, or did anyone else here the piano theme used around 4:56 in this video at some point? I'll have to go back and check, but if they did I'm glad as it's one of my favorite recurring themes in the series. Also, if anyone happens to know the name of said theme, I'd greatly appreciate it if you told me!

• I'm super happy that the outside world was talked about in this episode. Hopefully it will be more frequently discussed throughout the rest of the show and that we'll also be able to spend more time with the characters out of the Underworld. I still cant wait to see what their next move is and how it impacts Kirito, Eugeo, and Alice!

• I'm also really enjoying how the themes of virtual worlds tieing in to the real one have become more prominent during this episode. I hope that these themes continue to come about more now that Kirito's had that discussion with Quinell.

• HOLY SHIT THEY JUST GOT BODDIED! Quinella ain't playing around!

• RIP Charlotte. You were a good spider for the 2 episodes that you were in before this. (On a related note, I hope that we get to see more of Cardinal from now on and that she becomes a part of the Underworld gang)

Cardinal's Picks:

(The 5 characters that I want Cardinal to save)

1.) Eugeo

2.) Alice

3.) Cardinal

4.) Bercouli or Fanatio

5.) Selka

Final Thoughts: This episode was absolutely FANTASTIC! The nostalgic moments, intense and awesome fights, discussions about the state of the Underworld and its ties to the real world, and the return of Cardinal all made this my favorite episode yet! I've never been as excited for another episode ever! All in all I'm still stunned at how enjoyable and good this episode was! AMAZING!

This week's screenshot stitches. Lots of Alice looking badass, Admin looking sexy, and of course...the Black Swordman.

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Sword Art Online: Alicization - Episode 22 Stitches

Quinella's hair censor is evolving... not sure how they're going to handle the fight scenes.

Clips of it happening in this episode: https://youtu.be/m0ZDZ4hEOR0

[deleted]

Quinella best girl nudist.

This whole season has been short fights, sadly. Won’t be surprised if next week it lasts half the episode sigh.

System call Black Swordsman Form activate!

I like how she low key called Kirito a Bastard.

The heck was the small guy fight, I was hyped as hell last week only to him get killed with one hit, I waited a whole week to finally see a big boss fight only to the boss get hit killed so they could start talking again the whole ep... Will the ep 23 get at least 3~4 minutes of fight? Dialogue is important but...

Is the Chudelkin fight longer in the LN? Cause that was kind of a let down..

No Charlotte's web?

Hmm 2 more episodes and nothing more about asuna and the real world especially those two creeps we saw last time in the real world

How did Kirito's Aincrad skill work that brought back his old uniform? could someone explain this?

I messed up so bad. I stated binge watching the season without realizing that it wasn't complete. Now Im at this point and I have to wait weeks to complete the arc like I'm back in the 90s.

Quinella = Myne = worst girl

Change my mind

I haven't watched anything of Alicization yet, is this a good time to jump in or is it a fucked up cliffhanger?

I asked the same question the previous cour finale and was told to wait, so here we are.

Is anyone else just waiting for Kirito to duel wield swords?

Where would I start reading the light novel if I watched episode 22?

CHARLOTTEEEE 😓😓😓😓😢😢😢😢😭😭😭😭😭