Sword Art Online - Episode 15 Discussion / Poll

[Dark Wing]

Originally Posted by Kazu-kun

It's not the same for male or females. Even when a male character needs help, they're usually not objectified this way. Asuna isn't only disempowered but also objectified as the prize for the hero to win. There's all kind of wrong with these sort of tropes.

Anyway, we'll see what happens.

I have no doubt that she'll find away out of this and help beat that guy to a pulp.

[Tagle]

lmao, Sugou is casted by Koyasu

what a perfect match!

[Algent]

Originally Posted by shadow1296

valid point except once he's married to her he becomes the heir to the company, the main reason he's marrying her, and doesn't need her anymore and can just kill her and blame the nerve gear n heathcliff(forgot his real life name). so in truth kirito has one week to save asuna's life

It's true, he clearly stated she is only alive because of him (which also make him suspicious about those still trapped).

[mod edit: removed LN hint]

[Vsin]

*sigh* yet ANOTHER show with (semi) incest romance? Seriously, is this some sort of crazed trend among light novel writers or something? And no, that's not really a spoiler considering how the Ep spends several minutes telegraphing that Sugaha *probably* has feelings for Kazuto, and the only thing missing was "Ore no imotou ga konna kawaii wake ja nai!" (coughAccelWorldcough) with matching intonation.

At least it's clear that the relationship isn't the main one, especially since even Sugaha herself makes it plainly clear that Kazuto's heart only belongs to Asuna.

With the Ep having ended on that picture of "Asuna"...I'm very worried about pacing here, because:

Spoiler for LN Stuff:

That didn't even complete Ch1, and the Prologue is pretty darn short. [mod edit: removed discussion of future content]

[Seihai]

Nobody mention the triple monitors? They're cool as hell. Wonder what you do with 3 of them.

[Miraluka]

Originally Posted by Dr. Casey

Well... I can understand that, but considering how the author treats males and females very equally both in Sword Art Online and Accel World, I don't think there's any sort of gender bias at play here. I think it's simply a case of human beings are sometimes in a position where they're vulnerable and need help, male and female alike; there's nothing wrong with having a female occasionally fill that role, because it's something that happens to everyone... and I don't think there's a person in this world badass enough that they wouldn't need help when in a coma. Even if you can't help but dislike it no matter what, Asuna is the main heroine of the story, she'll continue having lots more to offer just like before once this small bump is over.

For those who forgot here is a reminder: "Being Taku is suffering" .

[Tagle]

Originally Posted by Vsin

*sigh* yet ANOTHER show with (semi) incest romance? Seriously, is this some sort of crazed trend among light novel writers or something? And no, that's not really a spoiler considering how the Ep spends several minutes telegraphing that Sugaha *probably* has feelings for Kazuto, and the only thing missing was "Ore no imotou ga konna kawaii wake ja nai!" (coughAccelWorldcough) with matching intonation.

At least it's clear that the relationship isn't the main one, especially since even Sugaha herself makes it plainly clear that Kazuto's heart only belongs to Asuna.

With the Ep having ended on that picture of "Asuna"...I'm very worried about pacing here, because:

Spoiler for LN Stuff:

That didn't even complete Ch1, and the Prologue is pretty darn short. [mod edit: removed discussion of future content]

Spoiler for LN stuff:

Yeah, I suspect the same. [mod edit: removed hint at future content]

as for the comment about incest romance. Well, it's a popular setting in Japan lol ;p

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by Vanish

Nobody mention the triple monitors? They're cool as hell. Wonder what you do with 3 of them.

Most anyone who does any serious work with computers uses at least two monitors, and many want more. (One of my programmers at work uses three monitors, I usually use two but I sometimes use a tablet as a third.) The reason you want that is because it's a faster way of multi-tasking, particularly for programmers. For example, you might have one monitor with the code, one monitor with the output, and another monitor with reference material or your E-mail (etc.). I usually end a computer session with dozens and dozens of different programs and windows open, so having them spread over multiple monitors helps make it more sane.

Given that he's also a gamer, though, it's also possible that he uses it in games. There are some games and video cards that support that sort of multi-monitor setup even now to give you a more immersive experience.

[Tagle]

Originally Posted by Vanish

Nobody mention the triple monitors? They're cool as hell. Wonder what you do with 3 of them.

You could see the triple monitors in EP1. I have been using triple monitors for a while. I thought the tech would be more advanced and elegant, kinda disappointed

[Miraluka]

Originally Posted by Tagle

lmao, Sugou is casted by Koyasu

what a perfect match!

Takao Kuroi from Idolm@ster the only villain that got away without paying for his crimes .

Oh, about the brocon thing, if there is this kind of relationship then its 99% sure they're not blood related at all or just cousins love, you know that is legal in some countries like Japan .

[thundrakkon]

Originally Posted by Klashikari

Meanwhile, color me a bit disappointed the author in the end pulled the "sister not related in blood making a triangle" plot line, as it just asking for more predictable issues...

Well, technically, Suguha is Kazuto's first cousin, if I interpret it correctly. Suguha's mother did mention that Kazuto's mom is her sister... unless they go with the "street sister" route.

An interesting start to the new arc. It looks like the new fiance Sugou might be the final end boss that replaces Heathcliff in the previous arc. The fact that the new company housing the servers and developing the technology, with Kabaya missing, makes you wonder if they are still connected in some ways. Sugou might be a developer on the original SAO.

In the end, though, I'm betting that if it comes down to it, Asuna will abandon her family and inheritence if it meant being able to stay with Kazuto.

[Algent]

Originally Posted by Algent

[mod edit: removed LN hint]

Sorry, I was talking about the OP but it's true I shouldn't have wrote it like that.

Originally Posted by Vanish

Nobody mention the triple monitors? They're cool as hell. Wonder what you do with 3 of them.

For gaming it's good, because with only 2 you end up with the middle... in the middle of the game window which is often worse than using 1 screen.

[Esebian]

Originally Posted by Vanish

Nobody mention the triple monitors? They're cool as hell. Wonder what you do with 3 of them.

Well as gamer he most likely will do this

[GundamZZ]

At least, he spends more time with his cousin. Due to the lack of interaction, she is more like a NPC. The show has a new focus. The current episode kind outlines Kirito's reason for playing online game again. It's very personal this time.

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By the way, he uses three monitors. It's kind few. I use six once awhile.

[Green²]

Originally Posted by relentlessflame

... (The only thing that was a bit funny at first is that Suguha doesn't seem to really understand what happened in SAO, but they also say later that it's considered bad to talk about it, so perhaps he hasn't yet told her all the stories beyond the essentials.)...

That's the thing that had hit me the hardest this episode. Though I feel that he hasn't told her even the essentials. She couldn't even piece together the comparison of the bamboo sword to a sword that would normally be used throughout the game.

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by Green²

That's the thing that had hit me the hardest this episode. Though I feel that he hasn't told her even the essentials. She couldn't even piece together the comparison of the bamboo sword to a sword that would normally be used throughout the game.

Well, clearly he did tell her about Asuna, though -- but I guess that was a necessity given that he kept going to visit her. I suppose, considering his comment about not wanting to be weak in front of her, perhaps he decided to really not tell her anything. I might have thought that she'd research a little bit about the game he was playing and what was going on, but perhaps it wasn't enough to make the connection.

[Awrya]

Originally Posted by relentlessflame

Well, clearly he did tell her about Asuna, though -- but I guess that was a necessity given that he kept going to visit her. I suppose, considering his comment about not wanting to be weak in front of her, perhaps he decided to really not tell her anything. I might have thought that she'd research a little bit about the game he was playing and what was going on, but perhaps it wasn't enough to make the connection.

It seems only the government and RECTO know about the players, avatar and real life names.
Unlikely that they know what happened in the game, since the government exchanged information with Kirito, so the public knows even less, which means Sugu wouldn't be able to get any useful information.
Though normally you'd make the connection, if your family member is trapped in a death game called Sword Art Online.
She may even think he played it safe, staying in town/safe zones and not exposing himself to any danger.

[Krono]

Originally Posted by thundrakkon

Well, technically, Suguha is Kazuto's first cousin, if I interpret it correctly. Suguha's mother did mention that Kazuto's mom is her sister... unless they go with the "street sister" route.

Yep, she's his first cousin.

[wandering-dreamer]

I think Suguha started making some connections, his mention that he's been practicing swordsmanship "kinda" along with his weird stance and comments, it would probably be pretty easy to look up what kinds of weapons people could have in SAO and put that together.
In any case, I liked how this episode introduced the new arc more than the novels did, sure it was slower but it actually showed what kind of relationship Kazuto and his sister have and how Kazuto is adapting to being in the real world again. Normally I like stories to have both a MMO component and a real world component (probably why I liked .hack//Quantum more than .hack//Sign, okay there were multiple reasons there) so I'm happy to see the anime focus on this part.

[Arya]

Really, this seems a different show now, different pace and different tone, a more serious one enhanced by the pace that usually was a bit too fast in the game. I was expecting Asuna waking up at the end of the episode, so the fact that she didn't make me think that she won't until the end of the show. And I for once hoped she had woken up just to punch that villain in the face.
Anyways even if I really liked Kazuto's sister, the introduction of a love triangle seemed a bit unnecessary. Just only because Asuna/Kazuto love has been portrayed as a true love so a love triangle (weakened by the relation by blood, even if lightened by the "ops, you are not my brother" card ) will not work as it should in other contexts. Still, she is cute.