"As long as I'm alive, I won't let anyone in my party die. I won't let that happen again."
FULL EPISODE SPOILERS AHEAD
Well, can't say nothing happened this episode, but it does start us off on a subplot that has no bearing on the real "rescue Asuna" plot. While it is an interesting one, it would certainly be better suited when there isn't someone's real life on the line.
In fact, I would loved to have seen this subplot in the Aincrad Arc, as it could totally fit if they had spread the arc out for a longer time. It's all about espionage, politics, and how to get as much money as you can the quickest way possible.
So, politics.
But the fact of the matter is that this episode starts us off on a detour that really doesn't mean much in the end other than to further Leafa's crush on Kirito. There is some pay-off toward the end that comes of this, but I think the means heavily outweighs the end. And, really, there are only a few cool action scenes and some good art that keep this episode as being pretty good, and not just average. It's also the first episode in a while where we're almost fully dedicated to being in the game, and nobody goes to the outside world.
Alright, so, let's get into it. The episode starts with Kirito practicing some of his Sprigan trickery magic because the plot will have need of it later in the episode. Leafa makes fun of his progress until she gets a cryptic message from Rekon saying his was right about something. Leafa figures it out but leaves Kirito in the dark about it. Yui realizes they're being followed and Leafa destroys the bat from the end of last episode that was following them.
They make a break down the tunnel they're in and make it to a large clearing. There's a great, big, beautiful lake and in the middle of it is a really cool looking city. We only get a quick shot of it before returning to Leafa and Kirito running but it's still a really cool looking city and it's very well-animated. One of the finer pieces of animation from the ALO arc, I must say.
The two rush onto a bridge to try and make it into the city but are stopped and are forced to fight, since apparently the water beneath them has extremely high level monsters that eat players up the second they make the jump. There, they are faced with what seems to be a significantly smaller number, twelve, of Salamanders than were shown at the end of last episode. And none of them are actually brawlers. The group comprises of three shield-users, three healers, and six mages to attack from the rear. Like, the far rear.
Before Leafa can charge into battle with him, Kirito urges Leafa to stay behind as he is going to handle it on his own, and he wants her to heal him. After two desperate attempts and two quick healings, Kirito charges in again, this time trying to buy time for the mages to prepare their attacks. Yui, somehow knowing what Kirito is planning without him ever having told her, convinces Leafa to shield him from the attack of the mages. With that time bought, Kirito then uses his imitation magic to transform into Gleam Eyes.
Yes! It's super cool to see Gleam Eyes back in action (though not with his sword, but, forgivable) and ripping through the Salamanders. He doesn't look quite the same, but, I think that's because Kirito doesn't want to remember what Gleam Eyes looks like. Though I am curious how he was even able to get Gleam Eyes to appear, since he is from a different game. Is it because they're running on the same programs and servers as SAO? Or does Gleam Eyes exist in ALO somehow?
Are there no bosses in ALO?
Anyway, Kirito takes down all but one, and then coerces that Salamander to spill everything he knows about their attack in exchange for all the dropped items and money he got from the fallen players. The Salamander opens up and says that they were just told to make an attack on two powerful players, and that a large party of them is advancing north, but not for the World Tree. Kirito holds up his end of the bargain, and then in a rather humorous moment remembers what it was like to be Gleam Eyes and pretends to eat Leafa's hand, who instantly slaps him, leaving a bright red mark.
Leafa checks for Rekon after Kirito reminds her, and finds that he is offline. So, she decides to log out to see what's up. Suguha wakes up and Rekon calls her instantly, having called her several times in the past few hours. There, he urgently warns her of Sigurd's betrayal of the Sylph and that he plans to ruin a major alliance between some of the races at an upcoming meeting.
Sigh.
As interesting and intriguing as all of this political stuff is, I can't help but think in the back of my mind how over the top this scene is. I mean, in the background you have heavy rain. Rekon is calling Suguha and telling her all of this hastily like it's the end of the world. Like someone's life is on the line...oh, wait, someone's life is on the line.
I get that this is all important stuff for the two of them and that they've worked really hard as Sylphs to build this class, but, come on! There is a constant nagging in the back of my mind saying, "Hey, Asuna. Hey, Asuna." It's just as annoying as it sounds, too.
Like I said, though, this would be much better suited in Aincrad where the stakes are real. Imagine if someone like Kuradeel had struck a deal with the Holy Dragon Alliance and they were about to wage war against the Knights of the Blood Oath and Kirito and Asuna had to race against the clock to prevent it from happening. That would be tense, that would be geared toward the story. Here, though, the tension is alleviated because there feels to be hardly any real consequences and it isn't part of the main story! It's just a subplot that we have to explore because reasons, when this time could be better spent getting to Asuna and building the relationship between Leafa and Kirito while on the way to the World Tree.
I wouldn't mind if they came across the plan while on the way to the World Tree, but, no. They go in the complete opposite direction than they're supposed to, and take a large chunk of time out of their mission to do this.
Leafa returns and Kirito agrees to go with her, where Leafa explains the situation: the Commander of the Sylphs is meeting with the leader of the Cait Sith class to discuss an alliance of sorts to empower both classes to get to the top of the World Tree. Sigurd, one of the Sylph commanders, has been working with the Salamanders in secret and has tipped them off to the meeting, so the Salamanders are sending all of their forces to ruin the meeting, slay the Cait Sith leader, and thus spark a much larger war than is happening and have some members join the Salamanders.
It's confusing and over the top, I know. Leafa even thinks that Kirito would join up with the Salamanders after they tried to kill the two of them twice. Girl, you're crazy.
Kirito makes a heartfelt speech about never leaving his friends and how the game isn't just a game, as the player and the character are one in the same in the virtual world. The latter half of that speech I rather enjoy, actually, as it raises a good point. As shown literally in the Aincrad Arc, you are who you are in a virtual world. The character is based off of your actions and no actions from the game. Their decisions are yours.
Leafa, of course, starts to tear up and of course she's falling in love with him. The two, now reaffirmed in their mission, make a quick burst for the exit, ending the episode.
Well, great. Like I said, this episode is pretty good with it's obvious flaw that it's taking a major detour away from the whole reason Kirito is in the game. But there is a good battle scene, the animation for the city and the lake is very well done, and Kirito's speech is real and meaningful.
So, how long will we detour from the important plot? Tune in next time to find out! See you then.
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