FULL EPISODE SPOILERS
These knights are not sleeping. I want my money back!
Just kidding. I didn't pay for anything. Sorry guys.
Today (yesterday's because I was busy so sorry about that again)'s episode introduces us to a new set of friends that will be around for a little while, known as the Sleeping Knights. The characters shown in the opening, you know. Most of them are kinda just token characters except for like one or two but that's forgivable. They don't really do much in the episode except provide for the playful atmosphere we're going to be dealing with for this episode and the next.
Before we get a significant emotion bomb dropped on us. Yay.
In that, it was still a fun episode to get to sort of know the group and get a feel for their personalities. I'm not sure how old the characters are, but I imagine that they have to be at least as old as our normal heroes. They feel like little kids, though. But it's good, it adds a certain youth element that was really only visible in Silica before.
All of the focus this week is on this group, too. Kirito shows up in the coolest of ways, but that's pretty much it. Get used to this.
The main purpose of it is to get Asuna out of the environment she is comfortable in so we can see her strengths and weaknesses and allow her to grow from these new people, in a visible way that isn't overshadowed by the presence of other familiar characters. Having Sinon and Asuna in the same group right after Sinon went through an amazing, life-altering arc probably would be smart if you're trying to do the same for Asuna.
The episode opens with Siune, one of the Sleeping Knights--their mage--explaining to Asuna why it is they want her help: so they can have a full party of seven to attack the Floor 27 boss. They tried on Floors 25 and 26, but failed. Basically, they want to get their names on the Monument of Swordsmen, which is sort of like a Hall of Fame for players that have completed a Boss Raid. The main catch is that if multiple parties go on a raid, only the party leader (in this case, Yuuki) would be on the wall, so they want to do it alone. Asuna agrees to help, thinking about how similar this is compared to her old ways of being the Second-in-Command. Siune also notes they only have three months left to do this before they have to part ways because of a busy schedule, and Yuuki remarks that she couldn't let Kirito in because he knew her secret. Hmm.
A secret you say? I hope it's not gut-wrenching and tear-jerking.
Though where everyone was super serious and all that back then, everyone is more lighthearted and friendly here. Makes for a much different atmosphere.
As everyone parts ways, Asuna is suddenly disconnected by her mother, who pulled the plug on her Amusphere. Uh, I feel like that would be dangerous. Yanking someone out of the virtual world could lead to serious head trauma and probable seizures. Good going, Ma.
Her mother reminds her of the dinner scene a month ago...okay...and tells her that should this happen again, she will confiscate the Amusphere. Asuna just takes the punishment, unsure of what to do.
Two things: wow, what a mean person. I mean first you leave your kid vulnerable to injury, sheesh. Second: has it been a month between episodes? Seriously? Did it take Asuna and Yuuki a month to fly to the Sleeping Knights? What's going on here?!
The next day (or month, who knows anymore?) Asuna meets up with everyone, looking a little distraught but is brought back to herself by Yuuki's playful attitude, and she gives the run down of how they will attack the boss.
They go, walking through a hallway similar to Gleam Eyes' hallway, with the group making a bunch of jokes and just having a good time. I really like that. It's a game, we're supposed to have fun in it. I kind of forget watching this show, and especially an arc like this, that it's actually okay to die and nothing bad is really going to happen. So, why not dance around and just hang out with friends? It's fun, that's what it's all about!
They spot some people "waiting" for their other party members before walking into a room that looks like the one Gleam Eyes is in and...
IT'S not Gleam Eyes wow what the heck. What a let down. I miss that guy. He was fun.
Anyway, in an off-screen battle they get absolutely crushed and wind up back at the town from before, when Asuna calls them over and lets them know that those three people were actually spies, watching as the Sleeping Knights fought to watch the boss's attack patterns and figure out the weakness. As their spirits get down that they won't get to this boss first, Asuna hurries them back to the boss room.
However, almost an entire guild is already there waiting for the rest of their members to get in so they can begin their run. Asuna politely asks for them to step aside, and when they say no, Yuuki asks for a fight. I like Yuuki. She's fun.
Her indomitable spirit, too, awakens an old flame in Asuna--that also makes her realize how she can deal with her mother--and she steps up to fight alongside the party as the rest of the guild shows up to take them down. However, they are stopped by something far more threatening than any boss.
YUI, er, KIRITO arrives to hold them all off to buy Asuna and the Knights some time, immediately ending the episode.
Darn it, SAOII, why must you keep leaving me hanging like this?!
Not a whole lot happened this episode, but it was still a fun one, setting up a big fight on the way as well as leaving us with an awesome Kirito moment. One against fifty? The other guild better get a few more members.
Next time, Asuna and the Sleeping Knights vs. Not Gleam Eyes, and Kirito and Yui vs. That Other Guild! See you then.
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