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Aug 20, 2025 7:44 AM
#1
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Jul 2025
2
I can't believe I’m saying this, but Alicization mogs not just every modern anime, but even some of the most critically acclaimed titles in this genre. I never thought SAO could reach this level, and that's coming from someone who actually enjoyed the earlier seasons.

And honestly, Kirito deserves way more appreciation here. He grew on me a lot in this season! Deep down, he's someone who carries his pain quietly, who fights so others don't have to, and who always puts his heart on the line for the people he loves. That's what makes him so human, and why his journey here felt so moving and real.
sdyy101Aug 20, 2025 8:18 AM
Aug 20, 2025 7:49 AM
#2

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Jul 2015
13911
First half of Alicization was definitely the SAO has been since Aincard arc. Sadly, it didn't lasted.
Aug 20, 2025 7:52 AM
#3
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Aug 2025
14
Honestly ya Alicization is what truly made SAO my favorite series.
Aug 20, 2025 7:55 AM
#4
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Mar 2021
942
whole sao is a masterpiece bro....!
Anime Rules the world
Aug 20, 2025 7:57 AM
#5

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Aug 2021
884
Piromysl said:
First half of Alicization was definitely the SAO has been since Aincard arc. Sadly, it didn't lasted.

alicization is great but war of the underworld is pretty average
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Aug 20, 2025 8:17 AM
#6

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Sep 2016
24798
It has a few masterpiece episodes.
*kappa*
Aug 20, 2025 8:24 AM
#7

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Dec 2021
987
I agree with the latter part of the post. Alicization did give some significant developments to Kirito's character. Overall he isn't as bad of a character as sometimes people make him.

๐“ข๐“ช๐“ด๐“พ๐“ป๐“ช
๐“š๐“ฒ๐“ท๐“ธ๐“ถ๐“ธ๐“ฝ๐“ธ
Aug 20, 2025 8:56 AM
#8
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Nov 2018
1890
For what it was it was okay. I watched the whole thing but never had the desire to revisit it.
Aug 20, 2025 9:03 AM
#9
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Aug 2025
24
it's good, but definitely not a masterpiece
Aug 20, 2025 9:06 AM
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Jul 2023
28
It is a masterpiece. And the best Arc of SAO
Aug 20, 2025 9:14 AM
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May 2021
140
OMG I thought I was crazy for liking this arc . it's crazy that this arc was supposed to set up war of the underworld only for war of the underworld to be complete trash
Aug 20, 2025 10:29 AM

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Jul 2024
23
Just stand there and sprinkle some logic into your emotions and you'll realize you're talking nonsense
Aug 20, 2025 10:40 AM

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Jul 2021
343
I like SAO. Alicization is not a masterpiece.

It is peak SAO in that it absolutely forfeited its chances of being so much better with countless ridiculous writing decisions that make me question my sanity for liking it in the first place, while contemplating the possibility that even I could have done better, despite never having written any fiction in my two decades of existence. Just like shield hero but with better animation.

Also, I loathe anything with koyama yasumasa's name on it. His involvement in this project is alone enough to preclude it from being a masterpiece.
Aug 20, 2025 11:23 AM
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Sep 2021
31
Eugeo!!!!!!!!!!!!! Loved him!!! ๐Ÿซถ
Aug 20, 2025 11:33 AM

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Jul 2015
13911
DespairMoon said:
Piromysl said:
First half of Alicization was definitely the SAO has been since Aincard arc. Sadly, it didn't lasted.

alicization is great but war of the underworld is pretty average

Indeed. Second half of Alicization was very trashy again. The romance is overall the worst aspect of the series.
Aug 20, 2025 11:34 AM

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Apr 2024
1685
Where's the option for it completely sucked ass? I like the first seasons of SAO, but this season I dropped because it was stupid.
Aug 20, 2025 12:57 PM
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May 2025
5
war of the underworld was INSANE. Id say Aincrad Arc is still peak but Alicization is pretty much on par.
Aug 20, 2025 12:59 PM

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Sep 2018
15099
Loved it a lot so I can agree. Underworld s2 is my fav.
Aug 20, 2025 1:14 PM
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Jul 2020
179
Yeah, no. Not even close. I remember watching this season weekly when it came out and finding parts of it good, better than the first two seasons, and then other parts were just the worst. Having an entire episode just be an exposition dump, the main villain going out in the most braindead way possible, and my favourite moment that I quote all the time: "Eugio turns into a flying sword and fucking dies."
Aug 20, 2025 1:32 PM
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Aug 2025
1
Alicization geniuenly made me love SAO and its sad not many will experience it cause of them dropping it early on
Aug 20, 2025 10:18 PM
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Apr 2020
85
alicization was so good, I didn't think sao could ever reach season 1 peaks but it did
Aug 22, 2025 12:28 AM
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Jun 2016
13
first part of alicization its amazing sadly the war is trash
Aug 22, 2025 2:52 AM
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Sep 2022
7
facts bro facts...
Aug 22, 2025 9:03 AM
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Jan 2024
4
Alice, Eugeo and Bercouli are my favorite SAO characters and first half of alicization was great but then the actual war was bad. A few nice ideas but mostly pretty mid. Not seeing Kirito for a while was good as it could focus on better characters, sadly that's not what they were going for in the end.
Aug 26, 2025 10:08 AM
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May 2023
1
seanmk said:
Yeah, no. Not even close. I remember watching this season weekly when it came out and finding parts of it good, better than the first two seasons, and then other parts were just the worst. Having an entire episode just be an exposition dump, the main villain going out in the most braindead way possible, and my favourite moment that I quote all the time: "Eugio turns into a flying sword and fucking dies."

I wish I could like posts because this here is amazing
Aug 26, 2025 12:05 PM

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Jun 2022
1248
I consider entire sao anime series to be very good with accilization being the best of the series. I am proud enjoyer of SAO.
Greatest shitposter under the heavens.

Greatest anime tourist on the planet earth.

Greatest fan of corporations.

The greatest sell out move which was done in fictional storytelling was Gordon Freeman cutting ponytail.
Aug 26, 2025 12:08 PM

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Jun 2022
1248
Reply to Gwanster
seanmk said:
Yeah, no. Not even close. I remember watching this season weekly when it came out and finding parts of it good, better than the first two seasons, and then other parts were just the worst. Having an entire episode just be an exposition dump, the main villain going out in the most braindead way possible, and my favourite moment that I quote all the time: "Eugio turns into a flying sword and fucking dies."

I wish I could like posts because this here is amazing
@Gwanster I am glad there is no like/dislike system on mal, this system damaged so many people way of thinking I cannot even know where to begin. If you do not like the post but have nothing to add then do not interact. And also youtubers with many subscribers many views and likes massively surpassing dislikes does not mean the video is good and on avareage many of those videos even with a lot of likes are poorly informed, full of misinformation and made up things so on and so forth. Fact checking youtubers by checking out the sources if what they are saying is correct was and always will be the best.
Greatest shitposter under the heavens.

Greatest anime tourist on the planet earth.

Greatest fan of corporations.

The greatest sell out move which was done in fictional storytelling was Gordon Freeman cutting ponytail.
Aug 26, 2025 5:33 PM
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Jun 2024
16
Dude, Alicization was so fucking good. Thank you for this post, cuz now I'ma plan on rewatching it again soon. Eugeo and Alice are such amazing and lovable characters. Eugeos story made me cry so hard when I first watched the show many many years ago.
Wish7Aug 26, 2025 5:36 PM
Aug 27, 2025 6:02 AM
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Jan 2020
76
I wouldn't call 'masterpiece' anything in the whole SAO series
I don't like shooting and long distance weapons but the best part of SAO is in the first 10 eps of second season, that GGO killer part was very, very immersive, I could feel the fear in the main characters when they met the villain, truly a great part that one.

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Itโ€™s time to ditch the text file.
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