I will gladly wait 3 more months, so A1 can reproduce and polish the animations/visuals to be like this cour.

Mannn, Kirito release recollection next cour gonna be bonkers.

Get a feeling so complicated, but we ended off right at the end of the decade so no complaints here.

The 'murican players really are ruthless, them and their cheesy lines. So this is a zerg rush.

It's fascinating seeing all the present Integrity Knights in action (go Renri!). And Iskahn's moment was truly amazing (as is everything about him), didn't remember it well but Dampe's throw was really something else. Meanwhile A-chan's really having it rough, glad to have had Iskahn make it in time.

I feel like I remembered the mix-up differently, granted the anime's doing a great job at visualising it. Alice's anger was really sweet, all up until she was plucked by Vector. Old man Berc's on the rescue though.

And so descended the «Sun Goddess - Solus», overpowering the enemy with her «Rays of Light», reuniting with her good friend.

It did feel a little weak though. 'twas a heartwarming cliffhanger, better end than last season's. With how consistent the art and animation has been, and the artwork of the April 2020 key visual, I am sufficiently excited for «Lasting».

To think we're now close to the end of the WN-LN content, it's been an amazing seven years. Happy New Year's.

Next: The Great Underworld War.

Judging from this episode, I can only imagine how bloody will the scene gets in the future. They aren’t joking around with them.

I said it in my comment in r/anime too, but damn.

They skipped that cute Kirito x Asuna moment and simplified how Asuna healed her arm... that was quite disappointing...

The copy paste from the novels :

The only thing that broke the resulting silence was a weak, wordless grunt from Kirito.

“Ah…aa…”

His hand moved, trying to touch Asuna’s wounded arm.

“Kirito…are you…worried about me?” she mumbled. When Ronie noticed her injured arm, she shrieked.

“M-Miss Asuna! Your arm—!!”

“I’m all right. This is really only a kind of temporary wound for me,” she said, lifting the arm, which was severed a bit below the elbow.

Rath’s Takeru Higa had given her a broad explanation of the technology behind the Mnemonic Visualizer that gave shape to the Underworld. Every object was generated by the Seed program, just like in ALO, but to Alice and Kirito, who were diving through The Soul Translator, and to the artificial fluctlights like the girls here, everything in the world was a kind of “shared memory” loaded from the simulation’s Main Visualizer. It was another reality, materialized with the power of imagination.

The life (hit points) given to the Stacia super-account was vast. It was practically at the maximum number that could be designated, so not even a hundred swords piercing her with normal attacks would reduce her life to nothing.

But when the red soldier had hit her arm with that huge battle-ax, Asuna had felt true, pure terror. She’d imagined that massive ax easily chopping her arm off, and her imagination had turned it into reality.

Kirito’s right arm was the same thing. His numerical life had recovered already, but the arm wasn’t restored. It was because Kirito continued to punish himself.

Asuna put her good hand over the place where her bandaged left arm was severed. She focused her mind on it, internally chanting.

I will not be afraid again. I will not give in to anything…not until I’ve protected Kirito and the rest of this world.

A little glow appeared inside her wound. The warm light extended silently in front of her, re-creating her lost left arm. She smiled at the girls, who stared at her with the wonder of having witnessed a miracle. Asuna caressed Kirito’s head with her new hand.

She whispered to her paramour, “See? I’m fine. I’m sure we’ll rescue Alice, too. So when you’re ready…you don’t have to blame yourself anymore…”

She didn’t know if he understood her, but she could feel the tension in his skinny body begin to ease, bit by bit. She hugged him again, stronger this time, and lifted her head.

I love how Sinon's first thoughts after decimating a hundred enemies was how her slow firing bow suited her playstyle more.

Can't wait for her to wield her Hecate in the fight against Vector.

Wow, that was stellar! There was a real underlying sense of urgency through nearly every moment, and finally seeing both sides team up to face the only true enemies in the world is so satisfying.

The weird sound effects and digital disappearing of the real world players really emphasizes how much they're unnatural and don't belong in Underworld. Similarly, Vector's cold expressionlessness, coupled with his Incarnation against Alice was appropriately chilling.

Using the PoH almost-reveal (everyone should have figured it out by now anyway) as part of the cliffhanger was fantastic too. Shino's arrival was wonderful; her bow is badass, and I definitely teared up at Asuna being so happy to see her again.

All in all, this was a dramatically better cliffhanger than if they had simply split by volume.

I liked it overall, not gonna lie. You could tell they were trying to rush the animation, but imo I feel like the quality wasn't that downplayed at all. Important scenes had more attention and flair to them. The... disarming scene was somehow not as graphic as I thought it was, but that Iskahn scene was fucking amazing. Definitely the highlight of the episode, and Solus' descent was breathtaking. Iskahn's voice actor was the star of the show too, imo.

I just felt like the episode could've been done better... Episode 11 was beautiful (though fair enough there wasn't that many fight scenes) but Episode 12 kinda went a little bit downhill. My big guess for Terraria's arrival is probably on the first episode of part 2? Hopefully we can get back the usual quality on the second half, I want them to work on this as delicate as possible.

Those post credits scene will surely bring chills to people's spines, and will definitely solidify to anime-watcher's perspectives that Vassago will unleash hell on part 2.

Anyways fellas. Time to turn into Kiritato and die off before part 2 airs.

Didn't expect Asuna to Incarnate her arm back this soon.

I'm disappointed that they kind of just rushed past how Asuna regenerated her arm. it was more poignant in the novel

I'll be honest, A-1's strict adherence to the LNs (plus the Ordinal Scale shoutouts, to be fair) is exactly why I wasn't looking forward to this Season. Alice had so much potential in Part 1, with her firm belief in fighting for her people...only for her to be reduced to harem member #18 throughout all of Part 2. Heck, I still remember how mad I was when I read the start of this arc and she thinks to herself that "how could Eldrie understand that Kirito WAS (as important as) the world to her". Really, the guy you had one conversation with? She spends the rest of her time pining over him and hoping he's safe and only joins the war effort for his sake, not for the world or her friends and family (she only thinks of Selka once in all of this second half, and that's during the attack on Rulid at the very beginning) and finally gets kidnapped by yet another creep of an antagonist and will spend the next 11/ 12 episodes unconscious so Kirito can save her as he does with almost every girl that has the misfortune to meet him.

And yeah, let's not forget how this Season dialled the harem aspect all the way up after the slight reprieve we had in Part 1 either (and it'll only get worse later). I'll be honest (again), I'm still convinced Eugeo only died so Kawahara could add Alice to the harem without upsetting Eugeo's fans. It didn't work for me at least, and that's...the only reason I'm looking forward to Lycoris. Hopefully the addition of Medina means Alice doesn't spend all of that game pining over Jesus-kun too...

Congrats to A-1 for an absolutely masterful adaptation, they have easily made this the best installation of Sword Art Online with absolutely gorgeous visuals, sound design, music and animation. Many of these scenes I've waited years to see done and I was not disappointed at all. A break is well deserved and I can't wait to see the final 11 episodes. and more of best girl Alice.

This installation has improved upon all of the major complaints that SAO haters have had to say for years. No Kirito, stakes, good development, etc and at the core of everything it's tackled the main point of SAO, showing just how blurry the line between reality and the virtual world is. They're both just as real.

Sinon's arrival was simply beautiful and gave me goosebumps. Definitely just as I imagined whilst reading it. Isakahn's eye pull was also just as disturbing as I'd imagined. My only wish is that they would have left off with Vassago mentioning his SAO account and had him like smirk as he walked out the office to head to dive. Would have been a nice detail, but it is what it is.

Otherwise, it's been an amazing 12 weeks, see you all in Spring. It makes me sad to think we could be nearing the end of SAO anime for a while . I've still got volume 23 to read through and whatever else they put out in the next few years, including Lycoris, but I'll miss watching it consistently.

For the haters who instantly review bombed the season when it dropped, at this point if you don't like SAO, just don't watch it. It's been 7 years, don't torture yourself watching something you don't enjoy just for internet points. I promise you it's ok.

Alicization is lasting.

I don't remember all the details from the ln, kind of works to my benefit though. Plus honestly, other than Sinon from here onward is probably my least favorite part of the ln. Episode was great for the most part. My only real complaint is the last few minutes felt rushed, worse yet, Solus's entrance felt rushed. Funny how it ends as if the next episode will air next week. So that's it if I remember correctly regarding Alice no? That's one disappointment I have with the ln. After everything she gets no final battle, or I guess to be more specific, no last badass moment from her. Though I suppose fleeing is the smartest choice.

Please tell me that this guy is from laughing coffin

First of all:

Ow. My Eye.

Wasnt quite expecting the eye pull scene to be as gorey as it was. They certainly put a lot of care and attention into it.

The animation for this episode had moments where it was pretty strange, though. Asuna doing a "Yameteeeee" scream - the animation didnt really line up. She didnt look like she was screaming in despair or anger. A lot of that sorta scene had some pretty lame battle animations - i never, ever, accept close-ups of people faces as they scream and attack as good action scenes. It really stuck out, to me, since most of the other scenes in War of Underworld have been genuinely great. Some art was off, too. One scene had some pretty thick lines left on it, for some reason, some faces were pretty unbelievable, and the like. Like earlier instances, i think they simply ran out of time to refine this episode.

Its a bloody good thing that they are taking a break, then, isnt it?

Changing tacks, funny moment time: These soldiers can run pretty fast, considering they are following a horse riding at full gallop without falling behind, and have been doing so for quite some distance.

Followed by a Subtitler funny. There are reasons that exclamation marks exist - for example, having a character sacrifice themself? Perhaps you should chuck in a couple exclamations, so that it reads with some emotion. Unless you were going for this kinda effect.

But then, almost as if nothing else matters, Best girl arrives.

What else can be said except i want that entire scene giffed and playing on loop for ten hours straight?

Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone.

So, over this past christmas break, i may have spent $145 on the last set of the LNs so i can catch up. I might just be able to continue hanging in these threads come April. Woo.

Ive been genuinely surprised at how much ive liked this set of Alicization episodes. The first part of Alicization underwhelmed me and left me somewhat disappointed and scared of this set, but even taking this weeks sub-par episode into account, ive been consistently entertained and impressed.

Sure, bits have failed me, disappointed me, and the front fell off a couple times, but im still pleased with the finished product.

And its not like previous arcs of SAO adaptations haven't had issues, mind. I remember Kirito and Sinon sitting in a cave and talking for what felt like forever.

...Still, we are only half done. A lot of the shiny and explosive bits are now behind us, so itll be interesting to see how this adaptation resolves.

Yeah, it didnt get up to my expectation.

Asuna just stick her forearm back rather than complete regeneration is kinda awwww for me.

Sinon’s descended should get more screen time like 1.3-1.5 to be appreciated more by Underworlder, i mean it’s a miracle by their Goddess.

Nice NSFW Asuna tho

Nice Iskhan&Sheyta cute moment. Looking for forward for when they are family-planning during their fight.

On the other hand, nice hype for Vassago with both red eye and bit of original SAO reference.

Man, that was honestly quite...disappointing, for the last episode of the cour. Like, anyone else felt it was all EXTREMELY rushed? A lot of the scenes, battles, and details that made all of this much more impactful in the novels were glossed over or outright skipped. Hell, Asuna losing her arm was almost an afterthought scene here, for God's sake o-O

Shino's entrance as Solus LOOKED cool, but it was also missing a lot of the things that made it good...hopefully that will be fixed next episode, at least. Too bad we have to wait 3 months for that...especially because we get that scene when she sees Kirito too XP

And not gonna lie, after the credits, seeing Vassago do his full-on "PoH-face" was quite chilling.

does anyone know a site where I can read the light novel?,I've been looking for one for a week but couldn't find it

Just loved that reunion of Sinonon and Asuna

im sure there were faults and its been like year since i read the vol 16 and 17 but, yeah, this is good, i dont even care to whine about small details

This has been so boring. I get why they need to use so much CG with the scale of the conflict but it's just looked so awful. Wish they were taking more liberties in adaptation because these books have not turned into coherent episodes of a tv show

Holy fuck was that rushed as fuck.....