loved the whole episode. It gave me goosebumps all the way. The ending is spectacular too.

Best episode so far

I like how they established that even in the state Kirito is in there is enough of him still present to where he can fight back to an extent. Looking forward to the battle to come next week.

The calm before the storm

Lovely dragons love

So much character development for Eldrie Synthesis Thirty One.

Best girls return, with tears

Nice moment Alice Vs Fanatio, Bercouli gotta bail out

Liena-senpai and Eugeo’s senpai Two new Knights

Full Army line up from both Human empire and the Dark land with spectacular Great Eastern Gate crumbled to dust. So much HYPE

Fanatio rly thought a lap dance would bring kirito back to reality lmao

Asuna arriving is gonna be such a thor moment when he arrives in Wakanda.

Wondering where Asuna is but I’m super excited for next week!!!

Every time they play a scene with the ED music I get goosebumps. Absolute banger!

did Kirito just freaking parry an attack with his mind?

Holy hell I am hyped right now!

This episode was so damn good, maybe the best of the season so far.

Alice and Fanatio’s conversation was so funny.

NO GOD. PLEASE NO DEATH FLAGS FOR ALICE.

Also, where the hell is Asuna at?! I keep waiting for her to show up!

Alice with the cutest cock-block of all time on Fanatio who was trying to give Kirito that Ara Ara ;)

That broken Eugao sword damn and lol they brought Kirito to the battlefield. I just hope the hired missionaries weren't tipped about Kirito. Better hope nobody yells out Alice's name since Emperor Vector is there.

It would be phenomenal if we could ACTUALLY hear Eugeo says “Don’t cry. I’ll always be here” the moment Tiese touches the Blue Rose Sword ...

Does anybody know how I can skip time to next week? Thanks.

Really enjoyed all of this episode.

Getting to see more uses of the Incarnate System has been really cool. Looking forward to more of that.

Seeing Tiese and Ronnie again was awesome, especially with the little bit of development along with Alice.

Loved how Alice played off of Fanatio and their little bit of bickering. Was really funny when Bercouli just walked away lol.

Overall, I have really liked the development of a lot of these characters, but I'm so ready for the next episode and the battles to begin. Getting a taste of it during the night raid a couple episodes ago was such a tease.

Past few episodes have been so dark.This is a nice change of tone.

All right did anyone realize that freaking Lena and Gorugorosso were in episode. When meeting( War Couil) they were there.

As in previous weeks, I will try to summarize as much as I think.

As predicted, before the war, there are always consolations, remorse breaking and the establishment of an atmosphere. Reki Kawahara was able to portray very well, in a passage full of drama and dialogue, how this farewell mood is formed in a platoon. The background of war, from a one-way ticket to a disastrous scenario of uncertainty, is very well created with these sentiments. This is why each of the characters (except Deusolberth, Kirito and Bercouli) solves a personal drama before the possibility of death in this episode, and this is commendable as it adds good character development. Follow me with:

In the foreground, Eldrie and Alice, as well as Bercouli himself, leave us stunned in their dialogues with the exorbitant difference of armies. It is not even necessary to explain all the details in order to understand the great disparity of war power on both sides. But most surprising is how we also see here a damaging face to everything Quinella has done. His memory manipulation experiments, the roots of the Axiom Church, were responsible for the loss of nearly 1/3 of the Knights. At the end of the episode, we see, again, the exorbitant difference, in a very well-directed scene and a perfect hook for the next.

Another fact that draws a lot of attention (and, after all, is made to impact) is how Kirito can use the power of imagination even if only by reflex. Bercouli's plan to test this information is extremely creative, drawing on his expertise with the "Clock" sword. But the interesting thing is to see how, from the beginning, Kawahara creates a setting landscape, how the characters gradually discover that Kirito has great combat experience, how they realize his great potential for using the mind in that world. And, after all, this is one more way of setting the viewer about the great relevance of the connection between Fluctlights, about the determinancy of mental connections and responses between souls in that world, as the characters increasingly use this device (Volo, Kirito, Shasta, and now Alice).

Since the beginning of the first half of Alicization, I've been drawing attention to how Kirito, a UWO human, is able to influence each of the Artificial Fluctlights as soon as he comes in contact with them and exposes his worldview, his humanity and his judgment. And it is in this episode that we are exposed to a confirmation of how decisive your entire journey is.

What to comment on Alice's growing development? She still shows great restraint and uncertainty about having "stolen someone else's body," and this is a way of showing how, for humans, it simply doesn't matter what happens, there is always remorse and a attachment to an old drama. But at the same time, not only us viewers but the characters themselves are able to tell how it has changed since its introduction. Ronie and Tiese make this very clear in their speech, stating how she went from being a knight of integrity who imposed fear and submission to a person who acts on her feelings and judgments, as Alice became free from the reins of the Church and the Piety Module.

The character herself puts in a monologue her gradual transition. She faces a clash of reality, of existence, arousing feelings for Kirito and at the same time questioning whether she has the right to develop them. Another noteworthy factor, too, is how well your texts are written. Seriously, when I watch Sword Art Online, every time Alice opens her mouth, I'm awarded philosophical lines and honorable speeches. And her own consideration that the Soul is the most important factor, showing detachment from the body, serves to make clear the character's transition, how much she has become attached to existence, since she herself exists only as a soul, and not as a body. The teaching she used is also not only for the viewer to digest this information better, but to make it clear that she is now able to manipulate the power of imagination.

Another point that deserves great attention is the drama created with Ronie and Tiese, as well as the way they arouse a sense of guilt. If, on the one hand, they are secondary characters and therefore do not receive as much screen time as Alice, on the other hand it is necessary to see how the only passages they appeared in this half already summarize perfectly as they are others to be influenced. greatly by Kirito's ideals. It is Alice's turn, however, to expose how Kirito himself had transformed his worldview. The "message from Eugeo" was a sensational element, and I'm sure many of you shed good tears, just like me. And of course, none of this would be possible without the excellent texts (also of these two characters) and without the impeccable direction, soundtrack and vocal acting combined in this scene.

How could I also forget to mention Fanatio's development (or rather the completion of a development)? From a knight completely inhibited by the difference in her gender, the clash between the reality of her techniques and the previous judgment of her opponents, to a character who can accept her own reality and be able to live with it. This is very evident in Opening, but it is also perfectly highlighted in their dialogues. And she herself expresses gratitude and attributes this change to Kirito's attitude. The following comedy scene reuses the first season's "With my Friends" soundtrack and, at least for me, has achieved its humor goal.

Speaking of gratitude, the drama experienced by Eldrie (since EP1) is finally channeled into a developmental pair for both him and our protagonist, Alice. Not only for her own "farewell" to Kirito, facing the uncertainties of life when entering the war, but also the employment of a completion state of Eldrie. She breaks her master's status with him and thus makes him overcome the "prison" that he himself has created between this bond and his goals. In other words, Alice frees him from his "chains" and exposes him to the point of view she has encountered on her journey: striving to protect what she loves and pursuing her goals and accomplishments. After all, Eldrie was extremely attached to this bond, while remorse from his previous life, before becoming a knight, continued to plague him with uncertainty (as Fanatio, Bercouli, Deusolberth and Alice, Eldrie also have memories before his synthesis that are reactivated).

Finally, a war wouldn't be complete without a plan, would it? And, ladies and gentlemen, what a detailed plan. Only in Fanatio's dialogues, we can already notice the use of geographical advantage, inspection of terrain resources, among others. Of course, in a major war where you start at a disadvantage, you would need a consistent strategy (unlike the Dark Territory squad, which we have not seen strategies for now). However, incorporating this dialogue during preparation is excellent for incorporating more realism into the war that Kawahara portrays. In addition, one episode, in my opinion, excellent from beginning to end, which consolidates the season's 10th grade and raises the record to five episodes. Heavy applause.

So many tones packed into one single episode: Emotions, Despair, Warmth, Life Lessons, Humour, (and a little bit of) Romance, and of course, Suspense.

OMG! Never seen an Alice that kind and caring, a huge change from her cold and cruel personality after encountering Kirito! The scene where she incarnates into Alice Zuberg was phenomenal!

Anyone (almost) screamed out when Alice faces TTTHHHAAATTT closely at Kirito? I know I almost did?

Holy shit unlasting gets the blood flowing. I ‘m excited to see when Asuna get slashing. HYPE

Man, LiSA's ending song deliver. So many emotions on that song.

Kirito is going to fck sht up at the end of this arc, btw love the ending of ep 5

Im just waiting for Kirito to get on the battlefield and fight purely through instinct. Ultra Instinct Kirito with the song and everything.

Next week can't come fast enough, I'm ready for the war to get going lol.

Also, Alice will be crushed when she finds out Asuna and Kirito are a thing.

Another amazing and emotional episode! Still eagerly anticipating Asuna can’t she come sooner!

The ED was gave me the chills so bad. I want to fast forward next week

Sorry for wait on this week's screenshots. I'm at GalaxyCon Minneapolis today and had to take a few hours to get them done in between panels & other Con festivities. Lots of emotional impact moments in this episode, and the screenshots reflect that. Hope you enjoy.

Episode 5 Screenshot Stitches

Episode 4 Screenshot Stitches

Episode 3 Screenshot Stitches

Episode 2 Screenshot Stitches

Episode 1 Screenshot Stitches

All right did anyone realize that freaking Lena and Gorugorosso were in eposide. When meeting( War Couil) they were there.

So am I expecting asuna to show up in about 2 episodes?

Excellent episode. This huge Lord of the Rings esque battle on its way, queue Europe playing the Final Countdown, and they still found time to give some solid character development to 5 seprate characters.

HOWEVER. Asuna needs to get tf in there, my balls have gone from blue to purple.

Makes me think of Lord of the rings the final battle for human against evil i hope that flashing light also summons asuna and like how the tower of sauron fall asuna falls through the world and rekts the dark territory

Being hyped for lol worlds and watching previous worlds songs Rise really fits the current sao, lets go kirito: Proove yourself and rise!

I need help.

I don't remember what the deal is with this "Final Load Test"... Can someone please explain? :(

Oh, Ronye and Tiese reacting to Kirito and the Blue Rose Sword.....

I actually did tear up. That must have been catastrophic for Tiese.

Poor girl. I wanna hug her.

In before Asuna shows up with her leveled character and wrecks havoc

Here we go, LN readers will love the incoming sh*tstorm

My dumbass was confused for the rest of the episode when fanatio showed up. Almost as confused as i was when i thought she was with the baddies in the dark territory last episode. Turns out i dont pay attention to eye colors and names very well. Why the f does lipia and fanatio look so similar?

Love the ending part for this episode. It really made the feeling when LiSA's song played together at the end as the light shines on everyone.

Very emotional.

The last scene when everyone was preparing for the battle coupled with the ED was just epic!

It kinda made me happy that Tiese heard Eugeo’s words because it feels like Eugeo is still there, inside his sword, watching everyone.

I don’t really know how to feel about Alice almost kissing Kirito. First, Alice knew the ‘active’ Kirito for just one day before he became a vegetable so I don’t really feel that Alice has seen enough of him to fall in love (I assume she is in love?). But on the other hand, he was the one who changed her world so it is pretty understandable...mmm. Also, I feel sad for Eugeo. I know that Alice Zuberg died and this is Alice S30 but it still feels sad that the body of the girl Eugeo loved was about to kiss his best friend. And ever since Alice took care of Kirito she never mentioned how Eugeo shook her world, the closest thing was to take care of his sword. This is so confusing...

I wonder how Alice will react to Kirito already having a girlfriend?

Alice is cuter than Asuna.

I'm ready to be thrown tomatoes.

I died a bit when Alice transformed out of her armour. So innocent and cute ;) Give us more

Where is Asuna ?!?!

Nooo where is that alice kiss scene

I feel so blue balled right now rip

But very good episode, interested in this war