Season 1 of SAO was great. Since I am a pretty pro gamer (meaning in the games I play my KD ratio is very high and my ELO is always in the 2000s and I BETA test like Kirito and I play in tournaments), I can empathize with Kirito a lot and even started to make references to Kirito about myself. The story and the concepts kept me interested throughout. The show managed to catch my attention from the very first episode and the use of video archetypes kept me constantly amused. With a good mix of action and romance, the show quickly moved up in my list of top anime.
The characters, I felt, was lovable too. As I have said, I can emphasize with Kirito and want to actually be someone like Kirito. He is awesome. Asuna is lovable too. She would make a perfect wife for a gamer being beautiful, kind, hard working, gamer, a good cook, and did I mention she can make really good sandwiches? The part with Yui is so cute. They would make a beautiful family.
I loved the ending also. I felt like I got still got the kick from an ending where the main character dies like in Elfen Lied but just when I started to wish it was a happy ending It was all good again. I thought they ended it beautifully with Kazuto searching for Asuna in the end.
Im not gonna bother reviewing the bonus episodes because then this show wouldn't deserve a 10 and I want to give the show a 10 so badly. Bonus episodes I'll rate it as maybe a 7 or an 8.
