Sword Art Online II - Episode 6 Discussion / Poll

[Faerie]

Originally Posted by chaos_alfa

The anime left out the explanation from the light novel. Sinon was missing her shots on purpose, she tried to get a rise out of Kirito.

It didn't leave it out so much as not make it too obvious. I've not read the novel (except for the odd excerpt- thanks M.A.D) but I noticed she was doing it on purpose after the first few shots- but I can see how this can easily be missed.
Apart from that, I do agree with 3R, though. Sadly, every female gets a bit of that treatment sooner or later. Personally, I can chose to ignore it until it gets Asuna or Leafa levels of disgusting.

---

Oh, on that note: what comes along with Asuna's lack of independent personality and Kirito's womanising and all related complaints is that I can't actually see why on earth he'd want to stick with her out of all his options. Heck, if he honestly cheated on her, or left her for someone like Sinon, I couldn't blame him for a second.
I wouldn't even be upset, despite my deep dislike for that sort of thing.
It's the the fact that it's utterly clear that this isn't even a possibility that confuses me.
It doesn't make sense. Why bother putting this stuff in, then?
As it is, it's nothing but a waste of time and degrading to the entire female cast (including and in particular Asuna).
Either make Asuna someone fit for the MC or just let the guy get with someone who is...

[Darthtabby]

Originally Posted by Tenzen12

Exactly! Taking girls on romantic rides, hugging, openly flirting with them in front of guys who has crush on them and playfully bitting them into ears while never mentioning he has someone is all just accident.

He used a motorbike so that Sinon wouldn't miss out on the BoB sign up due to him, he was having fun teasing/annoying her in the scene where that guy she knows showed up, and he caught her to prevent her from falling backwards in the latest episode because he's a gentleman.

Not really sure what you're referring to with the playful ear biting part.

[Dark Wing]

Originally Posted by Faerie

Either make Asuna someone fit for the MC or just let the guy get with someone who is...

Have you read SAO: Progressive yet?

[Xellos-_^]

Originally Posted by DMurphy

Meanwhile, Kirito pretty much effortlessly wins against a much more experienced player than him. On his first day of playing the game. While she's shooting at him from barely any distance at all. Because she wasted all her shots before hand somehow failing to hit him because she's just so emotional about him.

she didn't fail to hit him. She deliberate shot around him to get a rise form him becuase she notice he was just standing for her to shoot. For her point of view, he was treating her like a joke. Someone not worthy of him fighting.

[DMurphy]

Originally Posted by Xellos-_^

she didn't fail to hit him. She deliberate shot around him to get a rise form him becuase she notice he was just standing for her to shoot. For her point of view, he was treating her like a joke. Someone not worthy of him fighting.

I'd have to check to be sure, but I'm pretty sure she literally said 'Why can't I hit him' at least once.

EDIT: Checked, she doesn't. She does, however, look completely surprised and alarmed at not hitting him. Nothing about that scene suggests she's doing it deliberately - I realise she does in the light novel, but that really doesn't seem to be the case here.

[Kafriel]

Meanwhile, Kirito pretty much effortlessly wins against a much more experienced player than him.

Well, there was the fight with the guild-hopper dude in ALO...of course, Kirito won that one, but it felt...iunno, normal?

[Tenzen12]

Originally Posted by Darthtabby

He used a motorbike so that Sinon wouldn't miss out on the BoB sign up due to him, he was having fun teasing/annoying her in the scene where that guy she knows showed up, and he caught her to prevent her from falling backwards in the latest episode because he's a gentleman.

Not really sure what you're referring to with the playful ear biting part.

That was in ALO, and for these others stuff these are excuse not justification...

[Darthtabby]

Originally Posted by Faerie

Oh, on that note: what comes along with Asuna's lack of independent personality and Kirito's womanising and all related complaints is that I can't actually see why on earth he'd want to stick with her out of all his options. Heck, if he honestly cheated on her, or left her for someone like Sinon, I couldn't blame him for a second.
I wouldn't even be upset, despite my deep dislike for that sort of thing.
It's the the fact that it's utterly clear that this isn't even a possibility that confuses me.
It doesn't make sense. Why bother putting this stuff in, then?
As it is, it's nothing but a waste of time and degrading to the entire female cast (including and in particular Asuna).
Either make Asuna someone fit for the MC or just let the guy get with someone who is...

Probably because the author knows the audience likes cute girls. For that matter the author probably likes them himself.

(I should note -despite how amused I am by Kirito's ability to unintentionally charm girls, I'm glad the author stopped feeling the need to have every new girl go totally head over heals for him with the later volumes. It was getting to be a bit much.)

Would it surprise you to learn that a number of us actually think Asuna and Kirito have a pretty good relationship? I was actually impressed by their ability to talk things over in a mature fashion after their in game marriage in season one. Being able to "talk things over in a mature fashion" may not seem like much but sadly its something that a lot of anime couples sorely lack.

Now if you were to criticize the lead up to them getting together I might be more inclined to agree. That was awkward. Asuna is not cut out to be a tsundere.

[DMurphy]

Originally Posted by Kafriel

Well, there was the fight with the guild-hopper dude in ALO...of course, Kirito won that one, but it felt...iunno, normal?

The guy with the sword that phases?

Actually, that's a really great example, because Kirito actually does struggle in that fight, and it feels less jarring when he wins.

So often, though, that doesn't happen, and he wins pretty much effortlessly.

[kyp275]

Originally Posted by Triple_R

Sinon suddenly loses her ability to properly aim just because Kirito has her that hot and bothered? Man, that is horribly cheesy, even if you put aside how it can come across as rather misogynistic.

As others have pointed out, Sinon did not lose her ability to aim, she was simply missing her shots on purpose because of how pissed off she was at Kirito for throwing the fight on purpose.

I have to say the anime did not do a very good job at making that obvious though.

Originally Posted by DMurphy

Which, again, had the other party cheating to make sure nobody could win, remember? It was a plot point that he was using his admin privileges to make himself an immortal object. Kirito pretty much only ever fails if it's a situation where someone else is cheating.

So far, I guess. It won't stay that way though.

Meanwhile, Kirito pretty much effortlessly wins against a much more experienced player than him. On his first day of playing the game. While she's shooting at him from barely any distance at all. Because she wasted all her shots before hand somehow failing to hit him because she's [I]just so emotional about him.[/I

Again, she did not miss him because she was emotional, she was doing it on purpose. Also, Sinon's rifle is bolt-action, she would not have had time to chamber another round even if she had ammo left. The setup of that duel plus the weapon of the participants pretty much guarantees the fight will be decided by whether Sinon's one shot will hit or not.

[screaming4vengence]

Originally Posted by Darthtabby

I'm not going to say whether your prediction is right or wrong, but as someone who has read some of the source material your comment gave me a good chuckle.

no spoilers

i havent read the LNs so i really im just going off the feel.although i do really appreciate things people who have read them to chip in and explain things better than the show did.

honestly wouldnt be mad if asuna got killed by death gun(her face just ...kinda creeps me out,no idea why) which goes against my prediction but i got a feel someones dieing.either way someone kirito likes will most likely die soon,he needs more motivation and anger (insert sith lord meme) to get what needs done finished and so...whos it going to be.

Originally Posted by kyp275

the fight will be decided by whether Sinon's one shot will hit or not.

not if theyre in a humvee .i felt the need to yell BOOM HEADSHOT after that.

[Triple_R]

Originally Posted by DMurphy

Thank you for putting this entire thing into words way better than I did.

I thought you put your own criticisms of Kirito pretty well. But in any event, you're welcome.

I wanted to make it clear that my issue isn't with Kirito winning a lot, and being the best at what he does. Heck, that much alone just makes him sound like Marvel Comics' Wolverine.

My issue with Kirito is how he wins, at times. Too many curbstomps and total embarrassments of the opposition, in my opinion. Kirito vs. Sinon should have been this huge, engaging, and highly competitive contest, given how the two characters and their interpersonal dynamics have been superbly built up so far. Maybe we'll get that later on, and that'll make me a bit more forgiving of how "Round 1" went. But right now, "Round 1" leaves a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.

Honestly, it's funny how much I think Vince McMahon (of WWE fame) would improve both this show and Aldnoah.Zero if he was overseeing both.

Originally Posted by kyp275

As others have pointed out, Sinon did not lose her ability to aim, she was simply missing her shots on purpose because of how pissed off she was at Kirito for throwing the fight on purpose.

Originally Posted by chaos_alfa

The anime left out the explanation from the light novel. Sinon was missing her shots on purpose, she tried to get a rise out of Kirito.

Thanks for the info. It looked to me like Sinon was targeting Kirito right in the head, given how the crosshairs of her scope looked when she was aiming her gun towards him. So this is what I thought - I noticed how flustered Sinon was getting with Kirito's slow walking towards her, and I remembered what she said to Kirito about how you have to keep calm in order for your gun to have a good aim. So I figured she was losing her calm and that this was screwing up her aim (since the crosshairs seemed to be fine).

I'm glad to know that wasn't it, though the truth still has some issues, as it still means that Sinon sort of lost sight of winning. I dislike it a bit since Sinon previously made it very clear that she was going to make Kirito pay for tricking her about how he's really a guy.

Originally Posted by Faerie

Oh, on that note: what comes along with Asuna's lack of independent personality and Kirito's womanising and all related complaints is that I can't actually see why on earth he'd want to stick with her out of all his options. Heck, if he honestly cheated on her, or left her for someone like Sinon, I couldn't blame him for a second.
I wouldn't even be upset, despite my deep dislike for that sort of thing.
It's the the fact that it's utterly clear that this isn't even a possibility that confuses me.
It doesn't make sense. Why bother putting this stuff in, then?

I think the show wants Kirito to have his cake and eat it to.

The nice, reliable, and steady girlfriend that's always there... but also a James Bond-like flirtation (admittedly minus the sex) with a new girl in each new SAO narrative.

Whatever you think of Asuna, I think this is how it's hoped she'll be perceived at this point in the story.


Oh well, hopefully Sinon will get some good moments in upcoming episodes to make up for this episode.

[screaming4vengence]

Originally Posted by Triple_R

I
Whatever you think of Asuna, I think this is how it's hoped she'll be perceived at this point in the story.


Oh well, hopefully Sinon will get some good moments in upcoming episodes to make up for this episode.

and this is why i think someone will die soon,spot on.

[Darthtabby]

Originally Posted by Triple_R

My issue with Kirito is how he wins, at times. Too many curbstomps and total embarrassments of the opposition, in my opinion. Kirito vs. Sinon should have been this huge, engaging, and highly competitive contest, given how the two characters and their interpersonal dynamics have been superbly built up so far. Maybe we'll get that later on, and that'll make me a bit more forgiving of how "Round 1" went. But right now, "Round 1" leaves a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.

Honestly, it's funny how much I think Vince McMahon (of WWE fame) would improve both this show and Aldnoah.Zero if he was overseeing both.

If you can look past the outcome of the duel I think the important part this time around was less the duel itself but what the characters ended up saying to each other.

[kukuru]

Wait wait...

A hero shouldn't be hero like?

A top ranked fighter shouldn't act top rank fighter like?

There's a reason the government recruited him into GGO.

And FYI. All games after SAO is in many respects SAO clones. GGO is a SAO clone.

He has the stats
He has the experience
He has the familiarity
He has the bloodlust

Saying He can't win because he's a newbie is false absolutely false. Undeniably false.

All it has suddenly replaced is having bullets aim at him instead of magic spells and range attacks of ALO.

Some people just want a Shakespearean tragedy, no matter what happens.

[DMurphy]

There's a pretty massive difference between Shakespearian tragedy and 'oh hey maybe Kirito should sometimes fail in circumstances that aren't rigged against him' and 'maybe not every woman he encounters should be attracted to him.'

Nobody's asking that someone pour poison into Klein's ear and for Asuna to drown herself and Kirito to die in a duel.

We're asking that Kirito as the God of Thirteen-Year-Old Axe Bodyspray Wearing Boys' Power Fantasies maybe be toned down a notch or two.

[Random Wanderer]

Originally Posted by DMurphy

There's a pretty massive difference between Shakespearian tragedy and 'oh hey maybe Kirito should sometimes fail in circumstances that aren't rigged against him'

Maybe you should just keep watching the show.

[Tenzen12]

...or maybe not. I will, because Shinon but it's not like there isn't that option.

[Jerseykid]

If only he had a romantic interest in every game and they never knew about each other and one day they all meet up in a cafe

[screaming4vengence]

honestly though every girl in SAO is to kirito
as misa amane is to light yagami
each helps move the plot along...but somehow they seem...annoying
hopefully the number of them goes down and were left with sinon ...