"You humans are so complicated."
FULL EPISODE SPOILERS AHEAD
Not that I bobbed my head from boredom this episode, but...
Yeah.
If you've heard about Sword Art Online in the past, then you've heard that the Fairy Dance Arc is where things get pretty bad. Well, they aren't necessarily bad, but, they're not nearly as good as they were in the Aincrad Arc. It's hard to measure up to that arc, too, considering how good and well-written that one was.
This arc, well, isn't. The characters become "meh" and the only real reason you care about them is that you want Kirito and Asuna to come together. No, scratch that, most of the characters are meh. Asuna is awesome, and proves this episode why. She's tough, she's smart, and she believes in herself and her love, Kirito.
Kirito, on the other hand, becomes not as complex. He isn't a beater anymore, as he said, and it feels like he's just another player with a mission. Obviously he isn't, but, it doesn't come off that way at all. Oberon is totally one-dimensional and Suguha/ Leafa is way too complex.
This is the first episode in a few that takes a larger step into the confusing romance that is Suguha's life by using it as one of the focuses of the episode. The episode is basically about Kirito and Leafa going off on their own adventure for World Tree and leaving behind the whole party thing, but it shifts midway to talk to us about how Suguha feels and her conflicting feelings on the same person even though she doesn't know because she can't recognize his voice.
The episode starts with her recounting why she go into virtual reality--because it's awesome--then we see her meet up with Rekon in the real world, who has to ask if she is going to be on ALO that evening rather than just text her. I mean, I'm not saying that meeting up in person is bad, I'm just saying it's weird to see them not text. I don't know, it's no big deal.
Leafa and Kirito meet up at the tavern then go around town to fix up Kirito's gear. He replaces his regular clothes with robes that resemble almost to a point the ones he wore back in SAO, and gets a broadsword, since that's the heaviest weapon the shop owner had and you know that Kirito prefers the heavy weapons. They go to a tower that is meant for players to fly off of--since starting the flight at a high altitude allows for a better duration, which makes sense--when they run into trouble.
One of the Sylph leaders, Sigurd, arrives and asks Leafa why she is leaving. You know I've seen this scene before...oh, right! It's pretty much the same exact situation as when Asuna asked to go on a leave of absence to go with Kirito, before Kirito dueled Heathcliff and was forced into the Knights of the Blood Oath. For me, that's just a sign of laziness to replicate the same situation.
Sigurd is much more forward about not wanting Leafa to leave for some reason, but allows her to go anyway. Leafa then claims she wanted to part ways with the group anyway. Well isn't that convenient.
Before they leave, Rekon asks to join them, then instantly decides not to in order to snoop around and check something out. Bet it has something to do with Sigurd, maybe. Who knows. It's not like he's the only suspicious character on this side of the story.
Meanwhile, in a not-so-happy place, Asuna is being once again dealt with by Oberon, who begins to grow bored with toying around with Asuna. He tries to convince her that the virtual body isn't real so there's no real damage being done.
Oh, yeah, that makes sense. It's not like she has emotions or has a psyche, right? No, that would be ridiculous. Jerk.
This scene is uncomfortable in the not-good way. Normally you can distinguish when a scene is supposed to be creepy and when it's just creepy because it wants to be. This is the latter. It reminds me that the whole purpose for Oberon being there is dumb and his goal is dumb and I just really don't like his character.
Kaiyaba > Oberon by a long shot.
(Thankfully Season 2 delivers one of the best villains yet in its first arc...just a few more episodes...)
But yeah, I feel relieved when he finally leaves the room. And this is what's so great about Asuna and not most of the other characters. Oberon reveals that Kirito is alive and tries to screw around with her by teasing that he'll be at the wedding to watch Oberon marry Asuna, but Asuna isn't paying attention to that. She silently celebrates the fact that Kirito is alive, then focuses up, using the mirror in front of her to watch as Oberon types in the code for the door, so she can escape. Even though it doesn't make sense since it should be blurred, who cares, it's a smart move.
That is why Asuna has now advanced to the best character. She's smart and doesn't let her emotions get in the way of everything. She's very happy that Kirito is alive, yes, but knows that to get to him and really celebrate that fact so she can leave the game, she has to get out and find her way to him. Then, the two of them can defeat Oberon just as they defeated Heathcliff in SAO. Together.
Sadly, all good things must come to an end. We get fan-service of Suguha in a bikini and then she takes a shower where she realizes that she's in love with Kirito maybe and it's all dumb. Yay, fan-service, right? Nope. Remember: she's only 13/14.
There, now it's weird.
Back in the game, the two take a break where Leafa asks Yui if she loves Kirito. Silly Leafa, Yui is an AI, thanks for reminding her. Jerk.
Kirito thinks that they're being followed but Leafa tells him not to worry about it, since even if they are being tracked, whatever is tracking them is small and difficult to notice. The episode ends as we see a small bat is tracking them, and from the shadows of the forest rise the evil Salamander group.
Yay.
So, nothing really happened this episode to further the plot to rescue Asuna. All that really happened was that we learned Asuna may not at all need any rescuing and that the class system is flawed since you can just join them and leave any time you want. So, what's the point again? The guild system in SAO was better. SAO was better.
Did I mention that Kaiyaba was better than Oberon?
Whatever. Now that the plot is stalled, is it possible that it can pick itself back up? Or will we go deeper into the confusing race/ class story that is ALO?
Expect the latter, but just pray that Asuna keeps things going. See you then.
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