Sword Art Online - Anime Speculation & Theories (for anime-only viewers)

[Mairsile]

Well, the stage is set of the rest of the season:

Spoiler for New Game:

The players remaining in a coma, including Asuna, are playing another MMO. Kirito will start playing the new game and will attempt to clear it before Asuna is married to that jerk.

[Insane]

Man, what the hell is going on with the second arc.

1) This arc is trying to really make us hate the antagonist… and really really hate him that simply slaughtering him wouldn't enough.

2) I am sure the season will great, but I had that feeling while watching the episode that I wanted Asuna to wake up and then live on with Kirito from where they left off.. is there a need to drag it that much further? The anime would be awesome if the first arc would be all that it had…

3) The new world design does not appeal to me… the elf pointy ears is just a turn-off… the first arc world was way prettier and nicer. Yeah, the one thing that I really appreciated about the first arc of SAO was the lack of most high-fantasy aspects (i.e. no magic, humans as only playable species, etc). I’m rather disappointed that Kirito and co. will be flying around with pixie wings for the next dozen episodes or so.

[relentlessflame]

For the antagonist, as I said in the other thread, let's at least wait and see what happens and if he's really really as simple a villain as we saw portrayed this last time. If he is that simple, well, he'll clearly be defeated soundly anyway. Methinks he hasn't really thought through his brilliant plan. Hating such an idiot isn't even necessary.

As for having things "pick up where they left off"... I think that's hard precisely because of the way the first story ended -- their relationship developed so much that what realistic obstacle can get in the way? As you say, ending the story there would be one possibility, but given that it didn't end there, they have to find a way to bring Kirito/Kazuto back into the game world. It's a bit of a turn as far as the story goes, but I think it serves a purpose.

As for the new game's designs... I guess it's obvious that it'll be a matter of taste. I, for one, really like the new design -- always been a big fan of "high-fantasy". I liked the world of SAO, but the new world looks beautiful to me too from what we've seen in the OP/ED. But yeah, clearly different people will have different preferences here. In the end, the base characters are the same regardless of the avatar they're playing as anyway.

[backbone]

Originally Posted by Insane

1) This arc is trying to really make us hate the antagonist… and really really hate him that simply slaughtering him wouldn't enough.

2) I am sure the season will great, but I had that feeling while watching the episode that I wanted Asuna to wake up and then live on with Kirito from where they left off.. is there a need to drag it that much further? The anime would be awesome if the first arc would be all that it had…

3) The new world design does not appeal to me… the elf pointy ears is just a turn-off… the first arc world was way prettier and nicer. Yeah, the one thing that I really appreciated about the first arc of SAO was the lack of most high-fantasy aspects (i.e. no magic, humans as only playable species, etc). I’m rather disappointed that Kirito and co. will be flying around with pixie wings for the next dozen episodes or so.

1) Most epic villains usually have one ultimate rule "Hated by viewers" in order to provide awesome satisfying feelings when he get beaten up by the MC

Spoiler for Comparison to Accel World:

(Remember when Noumi got crushed by Haruyuki in Accel World, all of viewers cheered like crazy)

2) If Asuna were to be "freed" from VRMMO prison, then she would probably keep being glued to Kirito throughout the story, thus absolutely prevent any other girls to make more developments with Kirito (In this arc's case, it's Sugu)

3) It's just a matter of taste. Probably you're a hardcore fan of pure action or martial arts story that completely devoid of fantasy setting.

[spawnofthejudge]

Originally Posted by backbone

2) If Asuna were to be "freed" from VRMMO prison, then she would probably keep being glued to Kirito throughout the story, thus absolutely prevent any other girls to make more developments with Kirito (In this arc's case, it's Sugu)

Sugu's story could be compelling regardless of Asuna's current status, as she's his little sister and I remember there being implications that they had a falling out before SAO's release and Kazuto's resulting two year bedtime. We could have had Asuna and Kazuto figuring out their relationship in real-life (which could be weird at times) while we got to see them navigate themselves in a world they'd left for two years. I can't imagine it would be 100% smooth sailing.

(Also - who's Miss Goldenhair from the OP? That's our other girl for this arc, other than Yui's return (yay!))

However, without putting them back into a VRMMO, it's just not the same story anymore. And Kayaba was defeated in-game, but still apparently hasn't been found. There's a thread I don't think it would be smart for the show to drop.

Re: New Evil Guy - My fiance already hates him so much she was vibrating when we watched the episode. They certainly did a good job with that part, but I think he has something to do with keeping some - at least Asuna, but maybe others - of the players trapped in the new game. It's like relentlessflame's thought - he can't be that simple, can he?

[blakstealth]

I feel like she's gonna be a character that will come to have feelings for Kirito, only to be crushed in the end. D:

[itoastmysocks]

dunno if this was posted here yet or not.. but preview for ep 16

[RDF2050]

Spoiler for Translation:

Originally Posted by AnimeFan500

ALfheim Online, a virtual MMO similar to SAO.
Agil informs me there's news that a character like Asuna was sighted there.
The info is uncertain, but if we can't rescue Asuna then our fight won't end.
I... decide to put the NerveGear on once more!
Next time: Sword Art Online 16: "Land of Fairies"

Here is the translation done by a fan in MAL. I don't know if it correctly translated.

[blakstealth]

Hope Sugou doesn't take the touching/harassment to the next level. ;_;