Jan 5, 2013
Let me just say this up front: If you don't like Kirito as the main protagonist, you're not likely to enjoy Sword Art Online.
A lot of people go into the plot of the show at this point, but I'll pass considering that the summary above will do a much better job that I could muster. Besides, you are here for the review and the recommendation, not for the plot since, hopefully, the plot of interest thereof has brought you here in the first place. Oh, and there are bound to be some out-of-context spoilers...I apologize.
So, why did I like Sword Art Online? To put it
...
simply, I enjoyed watching Kirito and Asuna's story unfold. Interestingly, I came into watching this series late and with very low expectations. A friend of mine recommended it to me, but with these words: "The first two episodes are great, but 3-7 are kinda meh. But it gets really great again in episode 8!" Not the highest of praise, is it? But I think it helped me to appreciate the entertaining story-telling that was taking place.
The premise itself was intriguing, "10,000 people trapped in a video game where death was real." and once Kirito and Asuna found their romance, I was hooked. I loved their relationship and what I loved even more was that Asuna never took a backseat to Kirito. Maybe people may argue otherwise, but the way I saw it, she was always right beside him, and in many ways, she provided him strength, both emotionally, and as a reliable warrior who, in Kirito's own words he "...could never match in speed or accuracy". I love their relationship in that they visually showed that they LIKED each other, something a lot of Japanese couples in anime tend to shy away from. They even get married! How cool is that? As a married woman myself, it was nice to see something so rare as a married woman protagonist. Asuna was strong, beautiful and protected Kirito as much as he protected her. At least...till the second half...
Now, I can deal with Asuna being a damsel in distress. I wasn't pleased by it, but I could deal with it. Heck, in a way, Asuna "saved" Kirito in the first season by being someone who he could love as an equal and who "wouldn't die", so it was fine that he had to do the saving this time...it was even neat to see his single driven passion to rescue her. No...if there was a problem with the second half, thy name would be Suguha. Nicknamed "moe-boob" by me and my husband, Suguha was the thorn in what could be one of those epic romantic rescue love-story type of things. And really? Did she HAVE to be all incest-y? I honestly believed that I would like her character better if she had just fallen in love with Kirito in the game only, and not actually liked her brother-cousin irl. It would've been a much more sympathetic reveal. It also would've been nicer if, as his sister, she would've been his support in rescuing Asuna instead of being her eventual love rival. *sigh* It was a stupid plot line that the show could've done without. And it could've certainly done without the ridiculous, and excessive to the point of ludicrous, Sugu fanservice. The show went from mild to -BAM- boobs in your face! If you made that a drinking game, your liver wouldn't last till the final episode. (And really, why the dancing??? Gah!)
Rant aside, I like Kirito and Asuna enough to watch their adventure to the conclusion. Yes, everything female tends to fall over backwards for Kirito, but he's far more attractive and likable than the average harem protagonist, so I don't really understand the hate. Either way, it provided me with entertainment in both cheering and ripping on the show depending on the situation. So, who would I recommend this show to? Someone who's more of a casual watcher and doesn't hold anime up to the level where every show must be a masterpiece of great art. This show is by no means a masterpiece, but I don't think it was ever supposed to be. It was a fun ride, and I enjoyed the adventure.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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