122 Comments
Arsenic Sulfur21 votesSAO abridged: The only parody series that gave a character more development over one episode than the entire original series.
bulldoggamer3 votesPlease have you seen hellsing abridged? And also why does everyone on the internet hat SAO, it makes me really sad.
Kitty Darkstar1 votesI gave up on SAO after episode 4 because episode 3 left a huge scar on my heart
bulldoggamer1 votesIs episode three the one with sachi? http://67.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7k6cortCh1r2bzago1_500.gif
Kitty Darkstar1 votesYes
bulldoggamer2 votesHehe that's not even the saddest moment. Also have you watched clannad?
Kitty Darkstar1 votesIt may not be the saddest moment, but it's just terrible storytelling.
No, I have not watched clannad. I don't think it's for me.
bulldoggamer2 votesIt's my favorite story ever. It has characters on a whole other level and is the most emotionally rewarding show ever. Your time put in is well worth it. I disagree with you on the bad storytelling part but i would love to hear your reasoning for why you think that.
Kitty Darkstar1 votesBuilding up a character as a main character, and then killing them off before they actually get ANY character development? That's not very good storytelling.
Plus, he seemed to have forgotten all about her in the next episode.
bulldoggamer2 votesA few things.
- There is a time skip at the start of the next episode.
- Kiritos traumatic experience with The Moon Lit Black Cats dictates much of his behavior throughout the rest of the series. And as a result leads to him being a very real and relateable character.
- The writing technique is something that i found to be very effective for how early on they used it in the show, if it would have been used later it just would have felt really out of place. It starts off portraying that the people trapped in SAO have really adjusted to their situation and have grown somewhat comfortable. It luls you into a sense of security by playing off tropes used in stylistically similar shows. Oh, hey we have our cast of main characters now, we have a clear love interest, Kirito is opening up and allowing himself to connect to people. Time to get comfortable and watch the story play out with our new cast of characters. Psych! This is still a place where people die, and here's a swift kick in the balls to remind you not to get comfortable because this isn't your run of the mill story. And now your main character is scarred and broken so we can really build off these emotions to craft an interesting and unique narrative.
- You should really watch at least until episode 7, because that has the high point of the show IMO.
Kitty Darkstar1 votesI don't really like having my trust broken, though.
I was able to watch the next episode, but it was just boring, and episode 5 just kept on with that theme.
bulldoggamer1 votesHow did that break your trust? I don't understand.
Kitty Darkstar1 votesNeither do I, but it broke me.
bulldoggamer3 votestoomanyfeelsman
Mylon Requiem1 votesThank you for this. I have long since lost all patience for people who dismiss SAO as either complete shit or simply being "generic" and mediocre. It's true that the pacing (of the first half) is poor, shot-by-shot "camera-work" uninspiring, and supporting cast rather filled with tropes, but there is in fact thought, effort, and substance present for every boring trope and archetype that supposedly exists in this show.
bulldoggamer1 votesHey man i'm just saying what i see. But no problem the fan base tends to be terrible and i think thats why a bunch of hate is thrown toward the show.
Alleo2 votesI wouldn't recommend Akame Ga Kill then......that's the entire anime in a nutshell.
Kitty Darkstar1 votesGuess that's one where you can judge a book by its cover
Alleo4 votesShould have titled it "Akame Ga Kill All The Characters".
Kitty Darkstar1 votesThat's perfect
EMeta2 votesOr just "Game of Thrones"
MigYalle2 votesI recommend finishing it, Season 2 wont feel as fulfilling tho
VoidStaresBack2 votesI actually enjoyed Season Two more than Season One, but that's mostly because I liked the season two characters better.
Mylon Requiem1 votesDeath Gun is the series' only good villain, tbh. Kayaba is a cop-out antagonist, and Sugou is just a lecherous coward. Death Gun poses as an actual formidable threat, and gives the show a much needed level of suspense.
DeynaTaggerung1 votesI think because there basically isn't any character development and the second season was basically the first season all over again but with a different game and some slight differences.
Now don't get me wrong I loved that show and really enjoyed watching it a lot. It captured tension and excitement very well. I just can't look at it critically and say it had a good plot, especially compared to other good shows in a similar genre like log horizon.
bulldoggamer1 votesespecially compared to other good shows in a similar genre like log horizon.
I think thats where i may differ a bit. I don't compare it to other shows, i look at it for what it is and what it was trying to do and base my opinion off of that.
Also i believe you may be confusing the second arc with the second season. The first ALO plot is still in season 1. And you would be crazy to think there isn't character development is that arc. Kirito mending his relationship with his family, him adjusting to the mindset of death not being permanent. Figuring out how his real life relationship to Asuna is going to work/ saving her from that one assface. The second arc was very different but it feel the same because Kirito treats it with the same intensity of first arc and the psychological state of Kirito is just fascinating at that point. Unless you're talking about Gun gale this whole time and i just misinterpreted what you meant. It's prob better if you clarify which arc(s) you're talking about, otherwise i would have to write a book to cover all the ground.
DeynaTaggerung1 votesHaha yeah, second arc of the first season is what I meant. And you're right, saying it was the same thing all over again was probably out of line(that's code geass),. I do think it had areas that felt redone though, especially towards the end where Kirito does the same "nope the rules don't apply to me" as in the first arc. There was better development in the second one and it stuck to less characters and actually spent more time on them instead of throwing them away after one episode(which admittedly the first arc started to do towards the end of it).
Also I think it's rather impossible to think of how good or bad something is without comparing it in your head to other things you found good or bad. Going back and rewatching some of the anime I started with I've found new appreciation for things that I didn't even think about when I hadn't seen as much, I've also noticed things I've seen done better and realize where weaknesses are.
And as I mentioned before, I have a love hate relationship with SAO because I find it both awesome and frustrating at the same time.
bulldoggamer1 votesI just get frustrated that people call it objectively bad. If something was actually as bad as was being claimed then it wouldn't have the massive fan base it does. But hating something just because it's popular and without good reason ruffles my jammies.
And very few people know this but the reason characters are thrown away is because those characters come from a collection of short stories written after the alphiem arc had concluded in the light novels. They never were a part of the original story of SAO but were included in the anime for world building purposes.
But i pose you with this question. How concrete are the rules when the person who created them has full power to change them at any time?
DrCyanide1 votesSOA was good for about two episodes, then went mediocre. They had so much they could do with the plot, but then they decided to do nothing, choosing to make a bland story about a bland guy that, for some reason that's never explained, every girl in the universe instantly falls in love with. Season 2 makes an attempt to repair the damage, and is somewhat successful, but can't leave it's bland protagonist behind, nor can it ignore his ability to make every girl fall in love with him.
If you want a better anime with a similar theme, watch Log Horizon. The two came out about the same time, but the difference between them is night and day. Sadly, SOA started to rub off on Log Horizon, and they felt compelled to have two girls fighting for the love of the protagonist in a way that just didn't fit the rest of the story.
bulldoggamer1 votesbland protagonist
https://media.giphy.com/media/vk7VesvyZEwuI/giphy.gif http://i.imgur.com/wWVXVCB.gif
Or i will find you. https://media.giphy.com/media/EsSQ5BX2aLrTq/giphy.gif
bulldoggamer1 votesYou are also super caught up in what you wanted it to be, rather than enjoying it for what it is. Sure it could have been a cool long running series like naruto, where they have a main cast that basically runs around going on adventures in Alpheim, but that isn't what the source material was.
Kirito attracts the ladies because hes mysterious and has a good heart. It's not that hard to figure out. He makes women feel safe and they like that.
SOA used the plot as a catalyst for exploring the psychological state of unique people in a state of trauma. It's about the characters and their state of mind rather than the next plot twist.
DrCyanide1 votesI'm fine with SAO being short, that's not a problem. Log Horizon is equally short, but manages to create adventures and characters that have infinitely more depth and feel better longer.
Kirito attracts the ladies because hes mysterious and has a good heart. It's not that hard to figure out. He makes women feel safe and they like that.
He's not mysterious though. He's an emotionless mass with a high level. I watched SAO with my wife and neither of us could get why more than half a dozen girls fell in love with him as soon as they saw him. Mysterious is only intriguing, and towns were considered safe, so feeling safe doesn't cut it either. Both of us felt that Asuna as a character was absolutely gutted when they tried to make her fall in love with Kirito, and their relationship felt all wrong in large part because Kirito seemed relatively emotionless about her the whole time. It felt like "oh, look, some girl is with me. It's better than being alone, so I'll smile and go along."
SOA used the plot as a catalyst for exploring the psychological state of unique people in a state of trauma. It's about the characters and their state of mind rather than the next plot twist.
Log Horizon is similar, but does an infinitely better job of showing the trauma and making the characters feel believable. You can understand what's going on and relate to it (most of the time), rather than looking at it and thinking "no one would act that way".
bulldoggamer1 votesI never once thought no one would act that way. It's likely due to Kirito having a personality type that about 6% of the population has. I have that same personality type. I can choose the amount of emotion i want the other people to see and i specifically choose what to display and what to hide. If you talked to me you would figure i'm a pretty emotionless blob but i just have control over what emotions i outwardly display. And Kirito displays those same traits.
"He makes women feel safe and they like that." Secure might be a better word now that i think about it.
Kirito seemed relatively emotionless about her the whole time
He seemed emotionless towards Asuna because he didn't want to get attached, he was scared about what happened with Sachi and didn't want history to repeat itself. But he also opens up more as the series goes on, and it gets to the point where shes pretty much stuck with him because there no way he would ever let her go. Just think about their time at the cabin. They're practically an old married couple at that point.
Asuna wasn't much of a character before she fell for Kirito. She was basically Lt. Armstrong from FMAB but toned down. But she really grew when Kirito showed her she could still enjoy life even when in the game.
I have log horizion on my list. But it's one that i'm kinda waiting on since i know i'll have trouble looking past that it isn't as good as SAO.
DrCyanide1 votesHe seemed emotionless towards Asuna because he didn't want to get attached, [...] Just think about their time at the cabin. They're practically an old married couple at that point.
You do realize those two points are completely opposite extremes, right? How can he be emotionless towards someone and like an old married couple at the same time? Old married couples practically have love oozing out of them.
They weren't like an old married couple. They weren't like a young married couple either. They were like two 6 year olds playing house, where one side is putting a lot more effort into it than the other. You can count the number of times Kirito initiated anything romantic or affectionate towards Asuna on one hand, she was always the one reaching out to him in a one-way relationship. A relationship that Kirito seemed to completely forget about when he went to Gun Gale.
Observe below gif.
From the second season, where they started to feel the pressure from Log Horizon and flush him out.
Asuna wasn't much of a character before she fell for Kirito. She was basically Lt. Armstrong from FMAB but toned down. But she really grew when Kirito showed her she could still enjoy life even when in the game.
They turned her from a character with ambitions and leadership into someone who could only think about Kirito... just like Lisbeth, Scilica, his own sister, and every other girl he came across. You could swap the voice actor and the character model and you'd never know that it wasn't Asuna on his shoulder.
I have log horizion on my list. But it's one that i'm kinda waiting on since i know i'll have trouble looking past that it isn't as good as SAO.
That's like saying you're waiting on going to Disney World because you know you'll be comparing every ride to the ones at the county fair.
Seriously, the only thing Log Horizon isn't as good at is having every girl fall in love with the protagonist.
bulldoggamer1 votesThat's like saying you're waiting on going to Disney World because you know you'll be comparing every ride to the ones at the county fair.
I'd be more the other way around. I know i won't ever enjoy a show more than SAO. Nothing will make me so fascinated with every aspect of the show from the very start. I've watched season 1 four times in the 2 years i've been watching anime. SAO is just a perfect culmination of everything i want from a show, it's very unlikely i will enjoy something more.
When you've had the best nothing is ever going to be able to live up to it. I'm not saying i won't like Log Horizon it's just there is no way it will be able to reach the level that SAO set.
Rakan Garfield1 votesI also used to think SAO was the best show I'd ever see, but it really isn't. Not enough time is spent on supporting characters to make me feel like they were really living in the world.
Log Horizon is (imo) 10x better than SAO. More characters are given focus than just the main character, and the world is examined a lot more.
Steins;Gate is infinitely better than SAO as it examines every part of the world it creates, and develops every character, while still having a complete story that ends just on time.
Not saying that SAO is terrible, but it's definitely not the best. Not by a long shot.
bulldoggamer1 votesI've seen Steins;Gate. It's fantastic but the first 6 episode or so are nearly unbearable. I've watch a good 50 or so shows since SAO and Clannad and Fruits basket are the only ones that come close IMO.
Vesarixx6 votesI really preferred the abridged series over the actual show, though it's not the only time that's happened, code ment is another example
RisenDarkKnight1 votesWhat show is this from?
Zarvanis11 votesSword Art Online. An incredibly poorly written and terribly paced shounen that is possibly the most popular anime of all time. It's the kind of show teenagers adore for it's flashy visuals, action, and generic wish-fulfillment protagonist, but adults with any understanding of what makes a good story will see it for the mess that it is.
But don't get me wrong. It's not even close to being the worst anime ever. Mars of Destruction gets that title. It's just... really not good.
It gets a lot of undeserved hate because of how popular it is. Some people will insist it's 1/10 trash, but it's really not.
3/10, maybe. Trust me, the difference between a 3 and a 1 is immense in anime.
The abridged series is actually pretty good, all things considered.
Theiki Kayle3 votesMeh, not really the most popular anime of all time. Maybe recently, but there's a lot more anime I'd consider A LOT more popular. All things considered, Pokemon is an anime, so is Dragonball, One Piece, Digimon, Naruto etc.
Sinlaire1 votesI would accept the 3/10 rating in my own opinion but because i generally dont count the whole ALO set as, anything really, i would give it a 5/10.
As a whole the premise was rather new and refreshing with the execution of animation, art style, and character differentiation being rather well done in my opinion. Very few of the characters felt very bland or generic with the exception of a few of the bad guys who came and went for story progression.
The short comings were naturally the ALO mess and of course the over played tension of the Gun Game saga when the threat of death wasn't really as present as it seemed to be. The characters i thought were rather lovable (Shinon being bae and Asuna bland trash) even with a wreck of a story past the first dozen episodes.
Zarvanis2 votesIf you want to get seriously critical, the wreck starts in episode 4. It's when it goes from promising to mediocre, and then it plummets into the abyss, finally hitting the bottom at the 2nd arc.
Sinlaire3 votesAtleast it received some CPR in Gun Game. Shinon was adorable and had some excellent character growth. Pronounced dead shortly after though. Please inform the family.
DeliverTheTibber1 votesTo Be Honest Its Not The Worst Written Idea.I Have Seen All The Episodes And Have Read All The Manga.The Anime Is Kinda Bad, I Would Give It A 3.5/10 But The Manga Is Surprising Really Good.The Art Is Good,The Story Is Waaaaaay More Understandable Than The Anime.But Everything You Have Said In The Comment I 100% Agree With!
But I Kinda Liked Mars Of Destruction :P
ModAcademy Kayn15 votesWhy... why did you capitalize every single word...
Jahsuo Onfroy1 votesthe show was promising until Kirito just pulls hidden powers out his ass, breaks the game, then forces us to endure some really edgy and weird sexual violation shit that goes on in the next arc
bulldoggamer1 votesI've never really gotten why people hate the gleam eyes fight so much. I find it beyond epic and it's the high point of the entire series for me. I realize it's a raid boss and you aren't supposed to be able to basically 1 v 1 (he did have some help) a raid boss. But he was also incredibly over leveled to the point if you weren't on the front lines you wouldn't be able to do damage to him. But i guess MMO fans aren't able to suspend their disbelief enough to really be able to enjoy the fight for what it is. I was the same way with Guren Lagon, after the fused for the first time i turned the show off and won't touch it since.
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