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Sword Art Online II
Episode 19

by Nick Creamer,

Sword Art Online reaaally kicked it into high gear this week, offering what could easily be the best episode of season two. As usual, it was split into two distinct halves, but for once, each of those halves delivered in spades. We started off with an emotionally taxing conversation between Asuna and her mother before finally moving into the duel with Zekken, with each of these two setpieces offering a very different glimpse of SAO at its absolute best.

The first half of this episode revealed what last week's episode only hinted at - the very tense relationship shared by Asuna and her mother. These firsts scenes evoked an effectively sterile and creepy atmosphere through their lighting and music, and that atmosphere did great work in emphasizing the pressure Asuna is living under. The raw content of their conversation wasn't terribly surprising - Asuna's mother is overbearing and deeply concerned with status, and seems determined to push Asuna into the conventionally successful life she wants for her. For some reason, the human drama exhibited in SAO's real-life segments always seems more grounded and effectively portrayed than the videogame drama, and that remained true for this very relatable conflict here. In addition, the small details of their conversation really helped sell their relationship - I particularly liked the repeated refrain of Asuna leaving documents like her report card or transfer notice on her mother's desk, emphasizing the very distant and professional relationship they share.

Though Asuna's mother is clearly overbearing and unsympathetic, her demands actually do come from a human place, and some of her lines here spoke nicely to the overarching themes of Sword Art Online. I liked how she played both sides of the question other characters have struggled with regarding the validity of online interactions - though she starts off with “if you're meeting your friends using that machine, you're not really meeting them,” she's equally willing to pull “I don't trust anyone who spent their time murdering others in that world.” And whether or not it's true, the idea that Asuna's school is secretly dedicated to monitoring the stability of its charges is a really compelling one. Sword Art Online has always had a problem with creating believable antagonists, but it looks like Mother's Rosario might finally be putting an end to that streak.

This episode's second half moved away from the immediate character focus, and finally gave us the duel last episode promised. The shift to Alfheim made it immediately clear how much the work of the episode's first half came down to aesthetics - the color palette and shot framing of Alfheim really helped emphasize how much more free Asuna feels in this world. And the fight itself was very likely the best Sword Art Online's ever managed.

Though the centerpiece fight three weeks ago featured plenty of impressive animation, it was largely in service of the characters showing off in very ostentatious, “floaty” ways. Here, the excellent animation actually created a strong sense of flow and fighting drama. The contrast between Yuuki's effortlessness and Asuna's determination in the beginning, the impressive spinning pans throughout the battle, and even the specific choreography of their exchanges were all top notch. One great example - the shaky cut from a parry to Yuuki's eye to show her concentration, which then opens wide as she gets punched in the gut, letting the audience feel the same surprised shock she does by "hiding" Asuna's movements. Another - the way the show very coherently portrays Asuna taking a stab to the gut and countering by moving into the blow, creating a visually comprehensible reversal without the characters having to explain anything. Just really great fight scene work all around.

I wish Sword Art Online were always as good as this week would indicate. Reasonable character drama and excellent fight scenes. I am on board with all of that!

Rating: A

Sword Art Online II is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Nick writes about anime, storytelling, and the meaning of life at Wrong Every Time.


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