[NoirX]

Originally Posted by Vmem

well, I don't want to get into GGO yet, but considering SAO will at least last up to episode 14 and we have a 26 episode season, that'll leave at most 12 episodes for ALO. Even though you're right that the fight parts are a significant part of the ALO arc, the plot is almost entirely driven by the slice-of-life parts. even the fight scenes often result in character introspection that ultimately serves to change/improve character interactions. Given the short length the anime arc will be, I feel most of the fights in ALO will be cut

speaking of which, are we allowed to openly discuss episode 14 predictions here (with LN background in mind?)

Spoiler for all of LN ALO arc text-anime episode 14 prediction:

I believe that the skull reaper fight will be skipped almost entirely, perhaps only spanning the beginning of the episode for 1-2 minutes, then cut to opening theme. most of the episode will focus on what's going on in Kirito's head, as SAO reaches an end. I believe the episode will end not when Kirito wakes up from his bed, but when he receives the picture of Asuna form Agil, or the moment he puts on his Amusphere to log in to ALO. (at least I think that would be an interesting note to end on)

Answering your question about discussing anime predictions, yes it's free to discuss it openly here. And as for your predictions, you forgot to include Heathcliff vs Kirito's fight there. The fight will take half of the episode(like the one in Kirito's first duel with Heathcliff). Also there's the afterwards of the fight which take abit of time as Kayaba is having talk with Kirito. So Kirito recieving Asuna's being a captive picture will most likely shown early to the half part on episode 15 which also includes he dives in to ALO world. making Kirito get the picture at episode 14 will ruin the sign of an ending arc and a start of a new arc because the episode tittle itself is already quite clear it signifies the end of something.