Sword Art Online II "Mother's Rosario" Review

 FULL EPISODE SPOILERS

Well guys, this is it. The final episode. It's been a long time since we first started this journey, and a lot has changed over the course of it. Seven straights weeks and here we are. As the Season 2 finale, how's the episode hold up?

Amazing.

Beautiful.

The best of the whole season.

Sword Art Online II "The Dream Begins" Review

FULL EPISODE SPOILERS AHEAD

In the penultimate episode of SAOII, we continue our absolute tear-fest as we have two beautifully done scenes of Asuna with Yuuki and then another one, with a bit of an interesting twist, with her mother. Both establish the paired character wonderfully both with Asuna as well as on their own and add another element to this story of growth for Asuna.

Sword Art Online II "The End of the Journey" Review

FULL EPISODE SPOILERS

Secrets are out, tears are out, and I just can't even handle all of this anymore. Why, SAO, why?!

This episode is really, really good. It's probably one of the most emotional since the traumatic episodes back in the early GGO episodes and carries a ton of weight with it. It's all handled very well. There are only, really, four characters playing prominent roles and not a one feels out of place, out of character, or just there to bring down the story.

Sword Art Online II "The Monument of Swordsmen" Review

FULL EPISODE SPOILERS AHEAD

You know I realized how weird it is when Yuuki isn't smiling this episode. Like it makes me sort of uncomfortable. It's unnatural!

This is also the first episode in a while to feature a boss battle. I suppose you could count Thrymr, but, eh. That was part of a quest, not necessarily part of the game as a whole to advance the state of things for the players. In fact, I think it's safe to say we haven't seen a boss raid since...the Skull Reaper? So around Episode 13 of Season 1, yeesh.

Been a while, hasn't it?

Sword Art Online II "Sleeping Knights" Review

FULL EPISODE SPOILERS

These knights are not sleeping. I want my money back!

Just kidding. I didn't pay for anything. Sorry guys.

Sword Art Online II "Zekken" Review

FULL EPISODE SPOILERS

Zekken! Asuna's mom! So much new! And both work so well. One I really like. One I like but it's that kind of like where you hate it happens to the character but understand that it's actually good development and drama.

Sword Art Online II "House in the Forest" Review

FULL EPISODE SPOILERS AHEAD

Serving as a segue between last episode and the final arc of this season, this episode does a good job of keeping us intrigued as to what it going on by playing on all of our heartstrings and trying to make us all cry in its first half. Does it work?

Do you have a soul?

Sword Art Online II "Excalibur" Review

FULL EPISODE SPOILERS AHEAD

Much like the first episode of this little filler-arc, the episode goes from fast and exciting to kinda slow toward the end, but has the benefit of a cute closing scene as well as a pretty funny credits scene with the whole group that I had a big grin on my face for the duration of.

Sword Art Online II "King of the Giants" Review

FULL EPISODE SPOILERS AHEAD

Attack on ALO, am I right?

While yesterday's episode focused on how our group had come together for a fun little adventure, this episode showed what our group is capable of when under pressure to save the virtual world. Oh yeah, that's at stake now apparently. Cool beans.

Sword Art Online II "Queen of the Lake" Review

FULL EPISODE SPOILERS AHEAD

Man, talk about relaxing. I don't think we've gotten an episode so far where there isn't someone's real life on the line or where we're supposed to be able to just kick back and watch the show without worrying about something massive happening suddenly. It's just...fun.

Sword Art Online II "One Small Step" Review

FULL EPISODE SPOILERS

Son of a gun that last scene got to me SO BAD. Ergh. I was just wrapping my head around everyone suddenly using first names and then that happened that I was caught off-guard. Normally this would be just another time running through SAO but for me, this was the first time I got to see this last scene because on every platform I would watch it, the episode would freeze up right at that point.

So thank you, Hulu!

Sword Art Online II "Phantom Bullet" Review

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What's gonna work? Teamwork!

I get the feeling that's what this episode was going for, as Sinon saves Kirito's life, and then Kazuto saves Shino's life. Because that's how things work, I guess.

Sword Art Online II "Bullet of a Phantom" Review

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Time to bring your swords to the gun-fight, as we've got a good old fashioned Aincrad smackdown coming at you these next two episodes!

Sword Art Online II "What It Means to be Strong" Review

FULL EPISODE SPOILERS

Well we've hit the brakes on this season, now haven't we? Though I suppose being constantly hit over the head with action isn't necessarily the best way to go about things, I would prefer not to have an episode and a half of just our two heroes sitting in a cave, and then several minutes dedicated to the players in ALO spewing dialogue and exposition we already knew about.

Sword Art Online II "Death Chaser" Review

FULL EPISODE SPOILERS AHEAD

If I told you there'd be a car chase in SAO a couple weeks ago, would you have believed me?

Such is life, my friends.

Sword Art Online II "Death Gun" Review

"Don't forget. It's not over. Nothing is over. It's show time."

FULL EPISODE SPOILERS AHEAD

Wow, talk about a total turn-around. This episode went from "oh yeah let's team up!" to "OH MY GOD SINON WHAT IS HAPPENING" in quite literally a second. 'twas a twist, I must say. And while this episode does focus up on the new, or rather official, teaming up of Sinon and Kirito, there is also a renewed focus on our buds back in ALO, who are watching the stream of GGO. Not sure how, really, but whatever.

Sword Art Online II "Bullet of Bullets" Review

FULL EPISODE SPOILERS AHEAD

Well, the big GGO tournament is upon us, folks! Thirty players. Ten kilometers. One champion. Let's do this!

The episode really does make it feel like this is a big event. The Superbowl of GGO, if you will. And yes, I am totally referencing the Superbowl because it happened last night. Apex 2015 was better, though. 3 AM EST hype!

Sword Art Online II "Crimson Memories" Review

FULL EPISODE SPOILER

This is going to be a relatively short review for a multitude of reasons: 1. Not much happens, it's a "calm before the storm" type of episode. 2. Apex is going on right now, so, I'm writing this and listening in on the Melee Top 48. Gotta get this done real quick like.

Oh, and the Superbowl or whatever, but, I don't like either team nor the halftime performance choice.