Story (4/10): Sword Art Online has an interesting (yet not completely unique idea) setting as the first arc revolves around a large amount of people becoming trapped in the anime's namesake: Sword Art Online - a VRMMORPG - where if you die in the game you die in real life and the only way to beat the game and escape is to defeat the boss on the 100th floor. Thus begins the starting point of our journey where we follow main character Kirito on his journey to meet this challenge head on and might as well collect a harem of girls on his way! This part of the show is actually decent with the first few episodes being surprisingly thoughtful and episode 3 being really emotional due to that looming fact that death could occur at any moment which is the main focus of early episodes. Yet, this is ruined though by countless side stories and time skips that make me feel nothing for most of the other characters in the show as they are in 1 episode and then vanish into obscurity. When this arc finished I was actually satisfied with the conclusion (thinking it to be the end) only to learn that there would be another arc (really...?) which made me hope that it wouldn't ruin the what I thought was an okay story...I was wrong. The second arc is like a massive Fuck You to the viewer...but I can't really say much more about it because of massive spoilers but the overall ending of this season is not bad not great but okay.
Art (9/10): A-1 pictures why did you have to do such brilliant animation for such a mediocre show! You deserve so much better! Honestly though the animation suits the show and the fight scenes are incredibly well done considering this company doesn't do a lot of heavy action shows. The openings and endings were also well animated.
Sound (6/10): Whilst I found the opening songs enjoyable I never hesitated to skip the ending songs unless I wanted to view the animation that was done for them. The OST is composed by Yuki Kajiura who is one of my all time favorites but I am sad to find that I only liked 2 songs on this soundtrack 'Swordland' and 'Luminous Sword' which is ironically basically the themes of two characters that I hate! But otherwise the songs didn't really get be pumped up like it did with the Fate/Zero Soundtrack or Madoka Magica one which is kind of sad (but we all have our opinions). I rather watch the show in Japanese because I feel like that version expresses what emotions that the characters have better than the dub. Also I am sick of hearing Bryce Papenbrook in every anime dub I watch...because all I can hear when he voices a character (like Eren from AOT or Shirou from F/SN: UBW)is...fucking Kirito.
Characters (5/10): This is going to be fun *evil laugh*
Main:
-Kirito: We see the story through his eyes and yet he does not make any real progression in terms of character except that his is an OP Solo Player (which is impossible!) and that he attracts girls just because the story demands it so. However he does fight amazingly and does stuff unlike another certain male lead from another popular anime series (...do ya hear me Guilty Crown! Sword Art Online wrote a better male lead than you and yet I still think you are the better anime) but he also in love with the female lead (who I also hate).
-Asuna: creators...why did you ruin this person. She was hyped up in the first episode she was introduced to appear as a strong and capable despite being a beginner in the game. Then we see her a few episodes later after time skips and she has become a unlikable annoying tsundere that only cares about Kirito. She also is basically Princess Peach for the entire second half...
Others: They are all more enjoyable than the two main characters combined. They have interesting personalities and all the girls deserve Kirito way more than Asuna does!...except Leafa because of reasons...that appear in the second half that I can't mention because of spoilers.
Overall (6/10): As much as I hate on this show along with some of my friends I have to admit that the show is not terrible but its not a masterpiece like some people make it out to be. Its an average show which got a more enjoyable sequel which it did not deserve but its worth watching once to make your choice if its good or bad.
