RJ Writing Ink

Sword Art Online: Alicization- War of Underworld Episode 40 Review/Recap

Griefers: a person who harasses or deliberately provokes other players or members in order to spoil their enjoyment. Why am I bringing this up, though? Because after seeing all the suffering PoH’s inflicted on the heroes over the course of the anime, I’d say he counts as one. As Asuna, Sinon, and the others try to hold off the foreign players, PoH’s griefing reaches new heights of jerkdom. Kirito, please come back and kick his butt.

LINK START!

Recap

All across the Underworld, chaos reigns. Sinon is all that stands between Gabriel and Alice. However, she’s horrorified to learn that Gabriel’s also Subtilizer, the sadistic player who beat her in the last Bullet of Bullets Tournament. Only now, he tries to use the STL to steal her soul. It nearly works, but thanks to a good luck charm she got from Kirito, Sinon’s able to snap out of it. And then she somehow brings in her sniper rifle, Hecate, to the game, ready to fight.

Back in the real world, the RATH employees realize what was already revealed to us: the guy that went with Higa, Mr. Yanai, is the traitor. He made the eye-code thing and sold them out for the Americans. Why did he do this, though? Three reasons: first, he used to worked for that slimeball Sugou and wanted to carry on his work. Secondly, he somehow managed to come into contact with that other slimeball, Quinella, and helped her mess with Underworld. Lastly, he wanted Kirito dead for killing Quinella, and was going to ensure that Higa didn’t succeed.

Elsewhere, the Japanese and Underworlders are reduced to a handful of people. Leafa and Lillpin manage to show up and save Iskahn and his pugilists. That’s the only good thing, though. Meanwhile, the Sleeping Knights try to reason with the Korean/Chinese player, but PoH (being a griefer) keeps them all from listening. Overwhelmed, the surviving players and Underworlders are forced to surrender to PoH, who enjoys rubbing it in to Asuna. Then, just to hurt her even more, he finds Kirito and prepares to torture him in front of everyone.

Review

I don’t know which of the three slimeballs we see in this episode is the bigger pervert, sicko, or griefer here. First, we have the scene with Gabriel trying to suck out Sinon’s soul, which is very suggestive in nature. The way he puts his arms around her waist and moves in like he’s going to kiss her made my skin crawl.

Then we have Yanai, who we already met once all the way back in the Fairy Dance Arc. Right when Asuna was about to escape, he’s the one who caught her and proceeded to subject her to tentacle play. I think I repressed the memory of that scene, I was so disturbed.

Then, we have PoH, the biggest griefer and psycho in the series. As if he wasn’t already horrible enough, we learn that he sold out his own guild, Laughing Coffin. Just so he could watch the other players tear themselves apart and become killers! That’s messed up, and Kirito’s still nowhere near close to being awoken.

The good/bad news, though, is that there are only eight episodes left in the season. So, Kirito’s going to have to wake up in the next three or so episodes. And we need him now!!

That aside, I thought this episode was much better than the last one.

I Give “Code 871” a 3/5

Click here to see more animanga stuff.

SAO Dub Returns to Toonami

So with Edens Zero delayed this week, I’ve been looking for other topics to write about until The Owl House premieres tomorrow night. Then this afternoon, I found this post by fellow blogger Lesley Aeischliman. According to her, the dub for Sword Art Online: Alicization- War of Underworld is coming to Toonami on January 18th. Facebook and other posts confirmed it.

This was an unexpected announcement for me. Since the dub for the first half did not air until the sub was almost complete, I assumed they’d be doing the same thing with the second half of the season. Instead, they’re going ahead and airing it while the anime’s on break until April.

I did the math in my head. Currently, there’s twelve episodes in War of Underworld. If they air each week on Toonami uninteruppted, they’ll catch up to the sub by the start of April. That’s when the second half of War of Underworld will air.

Right now, I’m going with the theory that they’re going to try and simuldub SAO: Alicization–War of Underworld. It’s the only explanation that I could come up as to why Toonami would start airing the dub for War of Underworld when its only half done. Personally, I find this prospect to be very exciting. It will help to maximize the hype for such a popular anime. In addition, this would be the best way to let the anime that kickstarted the Isekai craze go out with a bang. Only time will tell if I’m right, though.

Click here to see more animanga stuff.

Sword Art Online: Alicization- War of Underworld Episode 28 Review/Recap

Sword Art Online has given us its fair share of villains over the years. While at are great hat sinks (*cough* Sugou and Quinella *cough*), I wouldn’t put them on a list of great anime villains. However, the exception to that has to be the big bad for War of Underworld, Gabriel Miller. I said that he’s a sociopath in my last post. However, it’s not until this episode that shows us how much of a gaming sociopath he is.

Link Start!

Recap

Through a series of flashbacks, we learn about Gabriel’s past. As a boy, Gabriel was fascinated by the idea of the soul, and longed to understand its power. This grew into an obsession as he got older, until one day, he murdered his best friend and childhood sweetheart, Alicia. As she died, he saw her soul leave her body, leading him to spend his life to experiencing that moment again.

In Underworld, Gabriel assumes the role of Vector and seizes power as Emperor of the Dark Territory. Playing off Underworld’s mythology, he vows to invade the Human Empire, promising its land for all in exchange for Alice. However, that night, a woman who’s opposed to his invasion tries to assassinate him. He kills her, and as she dies, witnesses her soul leave her body. Which he then eats.

The following day, Gabriel presents the frozen head of the woman to everyone, which leads to her leader/lover to attack Gabriel by incarnating himself into a storm. That storm’s then sucked into Gabriel’s soul, revealed to be a black void. Unphased, Gabriel then orders the invasion of the Human Empire to begin.

Review

It’s as I said: Gabriel Miller is a gaming sociopath. He’s got no ability to feel emotion, and his soul’s an all-encompassing void that devours everything. In other words, he’s the most evil person in SAO.

As good as the episode was at demonstrating how much of a sociopath Gabriel is, it leaves out some details from the web and light novels. Before he killed Alicia, he started taking insects apart so he could see their souls. That’s very disturbing! In addition to this, the light novel mentions how he becomes obsessed with Alice due to how she looks like Alicia. Even their names are the same. His ultimate goal is to steal Alice for himself and enslave her for his own, perverted goals.

Gabriel Miller’s the most dangerous enemy Kirito and his friends will ever face, and it will take everything they have to destroy him. I am personally looking forward to the fight between Kirito and Gabriel; we know it’s coming. If the show pulls it off right, this may be one of the biggest arcs anime has seen in a decade.

The war for Underworld is mere days away, and a gaming sociopath is leading the Dark Territory. They have 50,000 warriors to the Human Empire’s 3,000. Even with the Integrity Knights power, the heroes will need a miracle. Since Kirito’s in a coma, then maybe Asuna will do the trick!

I Give “Dark Territory” a 3/5. Getting better.

Click here to see more animanga stuff.

Sword Art Online: Alicization- War of Underworld Episode 27 Review/Recap

Given what I know about the latter half of Alicization, I hoped that the anime would turn itself around. That it would give more of the action that I wanted to see. While the last episode gave us more of the action, it’s back to the exposition here. Pacing problems have been a recurring problem with this season, but I’m still holding out hope for Alicization.

LINK START!

Recap

In a flashback, we learn the identity of the man leading the assault on the Ocean Turtle. His name is Gabriel Miller, and he got hired by the US Government to steal the AI Rath’s developing. They want to weaponize it so they can maintain their dominance in war. The team that Kirito fought in GGO in the first episode was them; they were practicing for the attack.

However, in the present day, Gabriel’s team is locked out of the area where the Fluctlight cubes are. Thus, they devise of an alternative way to seize their target (Alice). Soon, Underworld will go through “The Final Load Test”, where the barriers between the human empire and the Dark Territory will collapse. Finding two god level accounts in the Dark Territory, Gabriel and his lieutenant use them to log in and use the Dark Territory for themselves.

Meanwhile, Asuna decides to take matters into her own hands. She prepares to log into Underworld herself in order to find Kirito and protect Alice.

Review

I get that exposition and flashbacks are important to moving the plot along, but when you use them too much, a show suffers. Pacing problems have been a big problem of Alicization, and I’m worried it will ruin the war to come. I want to see something as big as the final battle in Avengers: Endgame. Instead, we may get something “The Long Night” from Game of Thrones.

That said, this episode tries to fulfill its purpose, but it misses a few key details about Gabriel. In Tokyo, Sinon has a nightmare of when she fought him in the final round of GGO 4; he strangled her to death with his bare hands. Yet I think the show fails to show how much of a sociopath Gabriel truly is. The web and light novels talk about how he’s obssessed with the soul, and with Alice herself. I hope they show more about it, but if not, click here.

With Gabriel about to seize control of the Dark Territory, all out war is now inevitable. Fortunately, Asuna’s coming to rescue her boyfriend/husbando. Fans should know by now that nothing will stand between an angry Asuna and her goals. Pacing problems or not, I look forward to the war.

I Give “The Final Load Test” a 2.75/5

By the way, pay attention to Gabriel’s lieutenant, Vassago. We’ve seen him before, but I’m not giving any hints.

Click here to see more animanga stuff.

Sword Art Online: Alicization War of Underworld, Episode 25 Review/Recap

Back when SAO: Alicization ended the dub of its first half on Toonami, I promised that I would continue reviewing the show when part two came out. Now I intend to keep that promise, and I’m not waiting for the dub. Not when this could be the biggest arc in SAO. In addition, I don’t know if Karandi will be reviewing the second half, and I want to pick it up for them. Therefore, get ready to put on your nerve gear for Sword Art Online: War of Underworld.

LINK START!

Recap

Several months have passed since the death of Quinella, and Underworld’s still picking up the pieces. Thanks to the attack on the Ocean Turtle, Kirito’s been left in a coma in Underworld, Abel to move but unable to interact with the world. To protect him from those who still seek to punish him, Alice took him back to Rulid Village, living just outside the village. Alice makes a living helping the village, but they still see her as a criminal, save for Selka.

Meanwhile, Bercouli told the Integrity Knights of Quinella’s crimes, and her death leaves them vulnerable to the Dark Territory. Knowing they don’t stand a chance on their own, the Knights have issued a call to arms, training the people how to fight for the imminent invasion. Despite all this, Alice refuses to leave Kirito’s side, despite the Knights insistence. However, Alice may not have a choice; late one night, she awakens to find the village in flames. The war for Underworld has come.

Review

I knew going in to this that we’d have to wait to see some action, so I didn’t expect a lot to happen in the first episode. However, I stand by my hopes that the second half of Season Three will be better than the first. I say this because based on what I remember from the Light Novels, War of Underworld is not an exaggeration. Sword Art Online is about to go into a full scale war, and they’re bringing their entire cast of main and recurring characters to bare for it. That’s what I want to see in this kind of story: a war bringing together or reuniting characters from all parts of the show. They may not all get the same time in the spotlight, but it would be awesome to see everyone get at least one moment to shine.

Speaking of spotlight, don’t expect it to be on Kirito for most of War of Underworld. He’s stuck in this catatonic state most of the time. Therefore, this leaves more room for everyone else to grow. On that note, I did like some adjustments the anime makes to the Light Novels. For one, they give cameos to the Integrity Knights that Kirito and Eugeo beat; outside of Bercouli, Fanatio, and a few others, everyone else fades into the background. I’m hoping that we’ll get a scene or two showing them fighting in the upcoming war.

Alice’s Plight

This whole episode focuses on Alice, and I thought this was a great idea. We know how hard Alice has had it: arrested because of unfair laws, losing her memories and have them replaced with lies. Even her hometown sees her as a criminal at best, or a freak at worst. I respect her for remaining outwardly calm, but we know how much it’s eating at her on the inside.

With the war for the Underworld now on her doorstep, Alice will have no choice but to become a knight once more, and I look forward to seeing it. This time, though, she’s fighting for a cause worth fighting for. I know the second half started out slow, but I have high hopes going forward.

I give “In The Far North” a 4/5. A slow start, but this can be the calm before the storm.

Also, can we mention how Kirito attracts girls even while in a coma? I’ve lost count of how many girls are attracted to him by now.

Click here to see more animanga stuff.