I haven't ever seen any other RPG-based anime before, so I didn't have anything to compare SAO to. When it started out, I really liked it. The characters were well-drawn, they had interesting enough personalities not to make me drop the show, and the story was progressing well. However, that all changed when the second season started. (That was the second season, right?)
WARNING: RANT AHEAD (************FULL OF SPOILERS************)
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The story got side-tracked on this random incestful story line (they grew up together as siblings, I don't care if they're cousins, I think it still counts) and the show started to go downhill. This "plot twist" was really random and only detracted from the show. Instead of exploring the cool capabilities of magic in the new game world or other interesting possibilities, the writers got bogged downs with random crap. "OMG, it will be SUCH a plot twist when she finds out Kirito's her brother and she confesses her love!" "Let's have Asuna almost get raped. Now THAT is exciting." "How about we virtually leave out all of the characters from the previous season until their obligatory appearance in the last episode, even though them interacting in the new world would be fascinating and they were really important!" There is honestly so much they could have done with the plot, and I'm frankly disappointed. If I wanted to watch ecchi, that's what I would watch. So stop distracting from the good points of this anime! Gah!!
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Rant over. *********END OF SPOILERS*************
This show started out promising, and although the concept isn't super unique, it was well-executed and I enjoyed it for the first season. I would recommend not watching the second season; you don't really have to to feel like the show is resolved.
