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Toonami |OT7| I Don't Believe It

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kayos90

Tragic victim of fan death
I've said before that the setting of SAO is a good one with a lot of potential and that SAO just hasn't been able to capitalize on it in any way whatsoever. People might be identifying with that potential and not the actual execution.

That's the closest I can get you to an answer. If it's not that, then all I can say is people have bad taste.

Thank you. You actually pretty much nail one of the three reasons I like the show.
 

BatDan

Bane? Get them on board, I'll call it in.
SAO's setting isn't even that original. We have .hack, and Log Horizon is catching on. Granted, Log Horizon is new, but still... you can have the premise without it sucking.
 

kayos90

Tragic victim of fan death
To sort of divulge on what I actually think on some of the narrative facets of SAO, here's something I wrote a while back.

No. This is definitely not the case. So bad so good would be Valvrave. If I had to put it properly I would say Valvrave isn't good by any standards honestly. There are no redeeming elements of that show that makes me care about it at all. The theme it presents, the events that happen, and the characters do not make me care.

Sword Art Online is different though. While I think the way the episodes were laid out and the events executed were cheesy, poor, and completely unrealistic I think there are redeemable elements in there. I can understand being stuck in a video game that has aspects of real life can make it appear as though your life in the video game is actually real. I can understand that sometimes people get desperate and try to look for things to attach themselves to. I can also understand and believe that, despite the ludicrous romantic background Asuna and Kirito have, their interactions are genuinely sweet for the most part. There are many aspects of SAO that scream out potential and that fascinates me. Even if the show fell flat on its face I enjoyed it because those sparks of interest still exist. With Valvrave, it's just a roller coaster ride of stupidity. That's all it'll be known for. With SAO I can go on and on about why it's neat.
 

B-Dubs

No Scrubs
SAO's setting isn't even that original. We have .hack, and Log Horizon is catching on. Granted, Log Horizon is new, but still... you can have the premise without it sucking.

I never really said it was original, I said it has a lot of potential which is true. None of the shows you've listed has managed to live up to that potential though. Some are better than others, but none are quite as good as they could have been. Part of it might be vision or money or skill or any number of things.
 

kayos90

Tragic victim of fan death
SAO's setting isn't even that original. We have .hack, and Log Horizon is catching on. Granted, Log Horizon is new, but still... you can have the premise without it sucking.

I don't think something has to necessarily be original to hook an audience. Having said that, SAO and .Hack came out around the same time so... lol.
 

Zonic

Gives all the fucks
I think it might be the idea of escapism. They might not be really finding enjoyment with the show, but with what it represents. I've said before that the setting of SAO is a good one with a lot of potential and that SAO just hasn't been able to capitalize on it in any way whatsoever. People might be identifying with that potential and not the actual execution.

That's the closest I can get you to an answer. If it's not that, then all I can say is people have bad taste.
I remember making a post trying to figure out why SAO was popular & I think escapism was really close. I'll link it here instead of retyping it.

tldr: SAO is similar to Love Hina in which the main demographic see it as an anime to which they want to be the male character because of what's happening around him (i.e Love Hina = Thirsty, almost naked girls, SAO = video games, sword fights, AND thirsty, almost naked girls). The main characters are more focused on being vessels for certain viewers. Had I been a teenager boy at the peak of puberty when SAO came out, I probably would have enjoyed it similar to liking Love Hina, maybe even more because it has the added bonus of being in a video game and sword fights.
 

kayos90

Tragic victim of fan death
I never really said it was original, I said it has a lot of potential which is true. None of the shows you've listed has managed to live up to that potential though. Some are better than others, but none are quite as good as they could have been. Part of it might be vision or money or skill or any number of things.

I think a big part of it is that people don't capitalize on the idea of the MMO world setting and how it relates to the real world. That's one of the big hooks with this kind of premise. Otherwise why not just make a fantasy world show? Y'know? I think SAO and .Hack both tried to do this but executed it poorly.
 

bigkrev

Member
So I am digging through the Neogaf Anime of the year list, trying to find SAO defense. It's actually refreshing that most people totally shit all over it, despite it finishing in the top 15 of 2012. Firehawk12 had this to say, among a chorus of others

firehawk12 said:
Fuck Japan award: Sword Art Online. This is the worst show ever to have been produced by a culture. Take the solipsism of The Newsroom, the depravity of K-Town or any other reality show of that ilk, and the sad humanity exhibited exhibited in shows like Honey Boo Boo and you'd STILL get a show that is morally, ethically, and spiritually more justifiable than Sword Art Online. The bar has been set so low that I can even see merit in a show like OniAi. Fuck you SAO... just fuck you.


Here is a collection of all comments of people that ranked SAO, removing anyone that just put it on their list and didn't comment.
toddhunter said:
7. Sword art online : I enjoyed watching it. It was fun.

BGBW said:
3. Sword Art Online

A revolution in story telling. The concept it simple, what if you were trapped in a game where you could die. Stripped of all the harmless fun and now forced to battle for survival, the characters throughout the show struggle with harsh moral judgements and often have to question the ethics behind their decisions. Does one leave weaker players behind in order to escape faster or do you stay behind and accept this new life so you life in not danger from battle. Meanwhile you see snapshots of the real world and how people are coping with their loved ones lost in a coma and the police force franticly hunting for the master mind behind this devilish scheme.

Brazil said:
Sword Art Online - I liked the genre shift into comedy after the second episode.

Maedhros said:
6 - Sword Art Online

A breath of fresh air. This type of anime, since .hack, was everything I hoped for when I played MMOs back in the day (and got the terrible Ragnarok Anime instead). Too bad the source material isn't really that good, but A1 studios made the animation be enjoyable despite the problems. Here, waiting for the next season, since this is extremely popular in Japan.

Warnen said:
1) Sword Arts Online, like the 1st part much better then 2nd part but still great.

Lain said:
Sword Art Online ; Great implementation of how a next generation MMO should strive to be, impossible bullshit aside. Asuna would make for a great wife.

Blades64 said:
3. SAO: Once again, the first part is much better than the second. It's also visual porn, as there are some nice environments, and also some nice fights thrown in here and there. Don't shoot me.

Xilium said:
10) Sword Art Online ; Setting wise, I like this show more than Accel World. In truth, this show annoys me almost as much as I enjoy it. The romance plotline of the show just slows it down way too much and feels like a completely different show. If it were just that, the show wouldn't be so low on my list (its annoying but I've gotten used to it) but the fact that Kirito is basically a walking Deus Ex Machina and is always defying the laws set within the show is what annoys me the most. I'm used to hero's in these shows getting stronger in a rediculously short amount of time compared to everyone else, but Kirito is just straight up trollin' and doing stuff that shouldn't even be possible. Other than those two things, I really like the show but it really is a love-hate relationship.

gokeiks said:
3. Sword Art Online ; It's partly just because I have a soft spot for stories involving MMOs in other media, but it was a damned fun ride. Even if the LN is better and it could have used some better pacing.

faithless said:
2. Sword Art Online; Silly, screaming, fighting, crying

cnet128 said:
* Sword Art Online ; The lesser of the year's two Kawahara series still had a lot to enjoy, but was overall distinctly more generic than Accel World, both in its characters and its setting. Despite starring the most textbook Gary Stu the world has ever seen and occasionally feeling a little aimless, though, it had plenty of adventure, plenty of emotion, and plenty of action. Now, if only the anime directors hadn't seen fit to cut one of the most enjoyable parts of the ALO arc...

Now, while doing the research in the thread, It came to my attention that there was another MMO themed anime that very same season, Accel World. So even saying that you liked the setting is an invalid argument to me- I love pro wrestling, and I would never call TNA Impact a watchable show.
 

B-Dubs

No Scrubs
I remember making a post trying to figure out why SAO was popular & I think escapism was really close. I'll link it here instead of retyping it.

tldr: SAO is similar to Love Hina in which the main demographic see it as an anime to which they want to be the male character because of what's happening around him (i.e Love Hina = Thirsty, almost naked girls, SAO = video games, sword fights, AND thirsty, almost naked girls). The main characters are more focused on being vessels for certain viewers.

I don't think the Love Hina comparison is entirely apt as Love Hina is generally not only one of the first stories of it's kind but it manages to hit certain emotional points fairly well. As far as the harem genre goes it manages to stand as not only one of the first, but one of the better ones (I am of course speaking about the manga and not the god awful anime).

Basically what you are saying though is that SAO is popular for the exact same reasons that Twilight and the average harlequin romance story is.
 

kayos90

Tragic victim of fan death
I don't think the Love Hina comparison is entirely apt as Love Hina is generally not only one of the first stories of it's kind but it manages to hit certain emotional points fairly well. As far as the harem genre goes it manages to stand as not only one of the first, but one of the better ones (I am of course speaking about the manga and not the god awful anime).

Basically what you are saying though is that SAO is popular for the exact same reasons that Twilight and the average harlequin romance story is.

I definitely do not like SAO for the same reasons people like Twilight. Ugh. Just thinking about it.... BLEGH.
 
"the characters throughout the show struggle with harsh moral judgements and often have to question the ethics behind their decisions."

we've only seen half the series at this point. that being said, when the FUCK did any of that ever happen?
 

kayos90

Tragic victim of fan death
"the characters throughout the show struggle with harsh moral judgements and often have to question the ethics behind their decisions."

we've only seen half the series at this point. that being said, when the FUCK did any of that ever happen?

I think we've sort of seen a part of it but it was just badly represented in the entire show lol. I guess? I have no idea. I assume he means the Kuradeel murdering scene and being asshole red and yellow players.
 

Zonic

Gives all the fucks
I don't think the Love Hina comparison is entirely apt as Love Hina is generally not only one of the first stories of it's kind but it manages to hit certain emotional points fairly well. As far as the harem genre goes it manages to stand as not only one of the first, but one of the better ones (I am of course speaking about the manga and not the god awful anime).

Basically what you are saying though is that SAO is popular for the exact same reasons that Twilight and the average harlequin romance story is.
Yeah, I guess it could be put like that. My mind just went to Love Hina because I liked it as a teen & I probably would have liked SAO as well since I probably would want to have been Kirito for the women, games, and swords in the same way I wanted to be Keitaro for the women despite not being anything special.

I'm not usually one to analyze stuff (it's the reason I always hated English in High school & college), so I'm still learning on how to fully express my ideas/opinions for more "deeper" stuff.
 

kayos90

Tragic victim of fan death
If it makes you feel any better the LN is actually sorta better cuz it narrates Kirito's thought process and stuff a lot.
 

B-Dubs

No Scrubs
I think a big part of it is that people don't capitalize on the idea of the MMO world setting and how it relates to the real world. That's one of the big hooks with this kind of premise. Otherwise why not just make a fantasy world show? Y'know? I think SAO and .Hack both tried to do this but executed it poorly.

That's the thing. So far SAO hasn't even really tried to broach this topic and .Hack did it poorly. There's just so much focus on the game and it ignores the obvious drama that is going on outside. The things that the family members of the trapped players are going through, the people trying to get them out, the people covering the story, there's a lot of interesting things to go over that no one ever bothers to do. A story like this should be half LOTR and half Bebop/GITS style real world story telling.

Yeah, I guess it could be put like that. My mind just went to Love Hina because I liked it as a teen & I probably would have liked SAO as well since I probably would want to have been Kirito for the women, games, and swords in the same way I wanted to be Keitaro for the women despite not being anything special.

I'm not usually one to analyze stuff (it's the reason I always hated English in High school & college), so I'm still learning on how to fully express my ideas/opinions for more "deeper" stuff.

It's the kind of thing that takes a lot of practice. There's a book called S/Z by Roland Barthes which goes over how to do a close reading and he even does it to a story at the end. Having said that it's pretty dense and it usually gets assigned when you're being taught how to do this in college. I just bring it up in case you're interested.
 
I think we've sort of seen a part of it but it was just badly represented in the entire show lol. I guess? I have no idea. I assume he means the Kuradeel murdering scene and being asshole red and yellow players.

but Asuna and Kirito were totally fine about killing Kuradeel, and the red and yellow players are just faceless antagonists. i mean, there's being badly represented and there's not existing in the first place.

i've seen a bunch of people try to say stuff about this show commenting on the human condition or some bullshit (the Kotaku thing from a while back being the main example), and i don't get it. this show is pretty clearly about as subtle as Naruto. it never explores any of this in detail, if it's even there to begin with. when it wants to make a point, it beats it into your fucking skull in the most comically blunt way possible ("MOMMY, DADDY"). it just seems like so many people try to pin meaning on these things that don't have any. are they trying to sort of rationalize their enjoyment of this show or something?
 

kayos90

Tragic victim of fan death
That's the thing. So far SAO hasn't even really tried to broach this topic and .Hack did it poorly. There's just so much focus on the game and it ignores the obvious drama that is going on outside. The things that the family members of the trapped players are going through, the people trying to get them out, the people covering the story, there's a lot of interesting things to go over that no one ever bothers to do. A story like this should be half LOTR and half Bebop/GITS style real world story telling.

I think it's intentional in trying to stay away from the real life aspect, as hard it is to actually believe that. I mean, if you actually think about it, the game actually mimics many aspects of life. People still need to eat. People still need to rest. People go out and have jobs or do whatever to make a living. There are groups, organizations. There are assholes, etc etc. There are various aspects of the game that actually mimic real life except the fact that it's set in a fantasy world and they have to fight for their life. I mean... even fighting to get out of the game is sort of trivial as everyone dies and who knows what dangers exist in the real world that can get a person killed. Numerous people die from car accidents or whatever stupid shit occurs. In that sense people dying from losing to monsters actually isn't the MOST outrageous thing in the world because dying from monsters is sort of sucking at life I guess... Though this is really one way of looking at it.

So, where am I going with this? I think the whole point of the way it's outlined and the focus on the MMO is done so the audience sort of gets accustomed to the idea that SAO is the world they're living in and Kirito, through some sheer optimism (I guess? I have no idea), is portrayed fully living in SAO like he would in the real world.
 

Zonic

Gives all the fucks
It's the kind of thing that takes a lot of practice. There's a book called S/Z by Roland Barthes which goes over how to do a close reading and he even does it to a story at the end. Having said that it's pretty dense and it usually gets assigned when you're being taught how to do this in college. I just bring it up in case you're interested.
Hmm, I'll have to see if my library has this (thanks for the info, BTW). One main reason it was hard for me to fully voice why I liked or dislike something (songs, movies, decent amount of games, etc.) was due to the fact I had hyperlexia (think dyslexia, except for low reading skills & high comprehension, it's reversed), so my comprehension skills were lower than average. However I've noticed lately it's been kind of interesting to find out why something just doesn't work. I think this started when I watched We Without Wings on Funimation's YouTube channel earlier this year & it just "clicked" into my mind why I didn't like the series after watching the final episode.
 

B-Dubs

No Scrubs
I think it's intentional in trying to stay away from the real life aspect, as hard it is to actually believe that. I mean, if you actually think about it, the game actually mimics many aspects of life. People still need to eat. People still need to rest. People go out and have jobs or do whatever to make a living. There are groups, organizations. There are assholes, etc etc. There are various aspects of the game that actually mimic real life except the fact that it's set in a fantasy world and they have to fight for their life. I mean... even fighting to get out of the game is sort of trivial as everyone dies and who knows what dangers exist in the real world that can get a person killed. Numerous people die from car accidents or whatever stupid shit occurs. In that sense people dying from losing to monsters actually isn't the MOST outrageous thing in the world because dying from monsters is sort of sucking at life I guess... Though this is really one way of looking at it.

So, where am I going with this? I think the whole point of the way it's outlined and the focus on the MMO is done so the audience sort of gets accustomed to the idea that SAO is the world they're living in and Kirito, through some sheer optimism (I guess? I have no idea), is portrayed fully living in SAO like he would in the real world.

If that's the case the show could very easily have had a set up similar to Inuyasha and still worked in exactly the same way. A bunch of people get warped to another world where science and fantasy are mixed and have to find a way to survive and find their way back. Shit, Samurai Jack does just that except billions of times better.

Hmm, I'll have to see if my library has this (thanks for the info, BTW). One main reason it was hard for me to fully voice why I liked or dislike something (songs, movies, decent amount of games, etc.) was due to the fact I had hyperlexia (think dyslexia, except for low reading skills & high comprehension, it's reversed), so my comprehension skills were lower than average. However I've noticed lately it's been kind of interesting to find out why something just doesn't work. I think this started when I watched We Without Wings on Funimation's YouTube channel earlier this year & it just "clicked" into my mind why I didn't like the series after watching the final episode.

Well if you want any help with it don't be afraid to ask. I'm pretty into the whole mechanics of stories thing.
 

kayos90

Tragic victim of fan death
but Asuna and Kirito were totally fine about killing Kuradeel, and the red and yellow players are just faceless antagonists. i mean, there's being badly represented and there's not existing in the first place.

i've seen a bunch of people try to say stuff about this show commenting on the human condition or some bullshit (the Kotaku thing from a while back being the main example), and i don't get it. this show is pretty clearly about as subtle as Naruto. it never explores any of this in detail, if it's even there to begin with. when it wants to make a point, it beats it into your fucking skull in the most comically blunt way possible ("MOMMY, DADDY"). it just seems like so many people try to pin meaning on these things that don't have any. are they trying to sort of rationalize their enjoyment of this show or something?

I think rationalizing is definitely on way of thinking. However, this implies that they must think of reasons why they're enjoying the show after being attacked or argued upon. Another way of saying "rationalizing" to me is "justification." People are justifying and trying to vindicate themselves as to why the show they like is actually good or whatnot. Like I said, this is merely one way of looking at it.

Another reason is that people are just not versed in literature or the various narratives the world has to offer so they legitimately think it's good.

Maturity is another reason.

I'm sure there are numerous reasons. =/

If that's the case the show could very easily have had a set up similar to Inuyasha and still worked in exactly the same way. A bunch of people get warped to another world where science and fantasy are mixed and have to find a way to survive and find their way back. Shit, Samurai Jack does just that except billions of times better.

I think the thing is that the author wanted the MC, Kirito, to experience firsthand the various aspects of the new world which was created from something he was very passionate about rather than a pre-existing world. I have no idea. This me trying to think of reasons that would make sense...
 
i think the lack of an outside world is supposed to create a sense of claustrophobia and being trapped.

key word being "supposed" because the time skips completely undermined that.
 

kayos90

Tragic victim of fan death
i think the lack of an outside world is supposed to create a sense of claustrophobia and being trapped.

key word being "supposed" because the time skips completely undermined that.

Pacing in this show suckssssssssssssssss.
 

B-Dubs

No Scrubs
i think the lack of an outside world is supposed to create a sense of claustrophobia and being trapped.

key word being "supposed" because the time skips completely undermined that.

That might be it, but at the same time looking at the outside world wouldn't need to undermine that feeling. Look at the scene at the crossroads with the airplane in Hitchcock's North by Northwest. It's set in the most wide open area you can imagine and is still a suffocating scene that conveys a sense of claustrophobia better than any other attempt I've seen in popular storytelling.
 

grandjedi6

Master of the Google Search
Sword Art Online is a pandering sexist mess with bad pacing, bad story and bad characters. It's not that complicated why it sucks.
 

foxuzamaki

Doesn't read OPs, especially not his own
My interpretation of SAO when I was watching it up to episode 13 or so before it appeared on toonami a year ago was that it originally started out as being in the game, but eventually it just changed to adjusting in the new world, they have been there for 2 years, it takes so much time and so much manpower to move on to different levels to even get out of the game, they live there everyday, alot of people as they say in the show just kinda give up and live in the town, which is what asuna and kirito do before having second thoughts.
 

kayos90

Tragic victim of fan death
Sword Art Online is a pandering sexist mess with bad pacing, bad story and bad characters. It's not that complicated why it sucks.

I don't think people are arguing that it doesn't suck. We're just trying to have a discussion on why it's not entirely terrible and if there are any what are redeeming aspects of the show. In addition, try to understand and find out why people like the show.
 

B-Dubs

No Scrubs
Sword Art Online is a pandering sexist mess with bad pacing, bad story and bad characters. It's not that complicated why it sucks.

Pretty much. The reasons why it's that way, what the story does that cause these things, can be interesting though. At least more interesting than the show itself.

Personally I'm just trying to figure out why anyone would like this. Escapist fantasy is all I could come up with.

Plus I like to talk about stories and why they work or don't work.
 

Levyne

Banned
I don't think people are arguing that it doesn't suck. We're just trying to have a discussion on why it's not entirely terrible and if there are any what are redeeming aspects of the show. In addition, try to understand and find out why people like the show.

It is entirely terrible.

It has good animation.

Because people can live out their fantasies vicariously.
 

kayos90

Tragic victim of fan death
If you guys want to see bomb numbers then you should look up sales for Shin Sekai Yori (From the New World). THAT was a bomb.

It is entirely terrible.

It has good animation.

Because people can live out their fantasies vicariously.

Thanks. I guess that concludes your participation in this discussion.

Why are we spending so much time discussing SAO?

I have no idea.
 

kayos90

Tragic victim of fan death
Are you deciding that?

No. If the point of the discussion is to discuss why something is not terrible and your stance is "something is entirely terrible" there is nothing you have to contribute. It's logic. It's not something I decide. It's something that you chose for yourself. Anything you say after having made that statement is pointless, irrelevant, and fruitless.

My interpretation of SAO when I was watching it up to episode 13 or so before it appeared on toonami a year ago was that it originally started out as being in the game, but eventually it just changed to adjusting in the new world, they have been there for 2 years, it takes so much time and so much manpower to move on to different levels to even get out of the game, they live there everyday, alot of people as they say in the show just kinda give up and live in the town, which is what asuna and kirito do before having second thoughts.

I think it's moreso the fact that they want to spend more time with each other and going out to the frontlines would endanger their time and their lives, something which they wanted to avoid at the moment. Even if this is the reason it's pretty bullshit cuz there are plotholes.
 

grandjedi6

Master of the Google Search
I don't think people are arguing that it doesn't suck. We're just trying to have a discussion on why it's not entirely terrible and if there are any what are redeeming aspects of the show. In addition, try to understand and find out why people like the show.

Pretty much. The reasons why it's that way, what the story does that cause these things, can be interesting though. At least more interesting than the show itself.

Personally I'm just trying to figure out why anyone would like this. Escapist fantasy is all I could come up with.

Plus I like to talk about stories and why they work or don't work.
I assume people like it for the same reasons people like harem anime, or at least view it as a legitimate romance story.

There's a reason why it's called pandering. It's suppose to appeal to an audience and give them what they want with little effort. And just like Twilight, it has a "perfect" "normal" main character and a series of love interests who don't exist outside of their affections for the main character. Throw in good animation and the faulty MMO premise, and it's not hard to see why it's gained a fanbase.
 

kayos90

Tragic victim of fan death
I assume people like it for the same reasons people like harem anime, or at least view it as a legitimate romance story.

There's a reason why it's called pandering. It's suppose to appeal to an audience and give them what they want with little effort. And just like Twilight, it has a "perfect" "normal" main character and a series of love interests who don't exist outside of their affections for the main character. Throw in good animation and the faulty MMO premise, and it's not hard to see why it's gained a fanbase.

I'm sure your initial statement is true. However, I think it's foolhardy to say that this is the primary, if not sole, reason as to why people like the show. I've already stated why I like the show and I don't even like harem shows. I don't deny it's pandering, but to say that people like it because it's solely pandering seems a tad assumptive and you sort of misrepresent the people we're talking about.
 

Jintor

Member
My interpretation of SAO when I was watching it up to episode 13 or so before it appeared on toonami a year ago was that it originally started out as being in the game, but eventually it just changed to adjusting in the new world, they have been there for 2 years, it takes so much time and so much manpower to move on to different levels to even get out of the game, they live there everyday, alot of people as they say in the show just kinda give up and live in the town, which is what asuna and kirito do before having second thoughts.

I think this makes internal show logic, but from the POV of a viewer, it feels unearned because there's barely any real showing of people, say, coming to terms with being trapped inside the game, or of contemplating what's happening out in the real world at all up until this episode, etc.

The idea of making the best of a bad situation to the point where you're accepting MMO/foreign rules as reality is something that could easily be an interesting philosophical and moral quandry (hell, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance actually explored this pretty well, come to think of it, to the point where a lot of people ended up interpreting the protagonist as the villain of the story!) but SAO doesn't bother. It sort of sets it up by implication but never really actually addresses it, so it comes off as both unsatisfying and ultimately unearned in any way.
 

kayos90

Tragic victim of fan death
I think this makes internal show logic, but from the POV of a viewer, it feels unearned because there's barely any real showing of people, say, coming to terms with being trapped inside the game, or of contemplating what's happening out in the real world at all up until this episode, etc.

The idea of making the best of a bad situation to the point where you're accepting MMO/foreign rules as reality is something that could easily be an interesting philosophical and moral quandry (hell, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance actually explored this pretty well, come to think of it, to the point where a lot of people ended up interpreting the protagonist as the villain of the story!) but SAO doesn't bother. It sort of sets it up by implication but never really actually addresses it, so it comes off as both unsatisfying and ultimately unearned in any way.

Yup. Sound perfect. both points are extremely important and in all honesty I was sort of upset at the show because of actually how it was portrayed in relation to the LN. Both are done better in the LN, though not by much, and the internal narration from Kirito gives the reader a much better idea of how people live, adjust, etc etc in the game world. I think the bold statement is probably the biggest problem I have with SAO. It has interesting ideas that it sort of brings up and you can sometimes see it but it doesn't really fully dabble in it. Greatly disappointing.
 

Levyne

Banned
No. If the point of the discussion is to discuss why something is not terrible and your stance is "something is entirely terrible" there is nothing you have to contribute. It's logic. It's not something I decide. It's something that you chose for yourself. Anything you say after having made that statement is pointless, irrelevant, and fruitless.

Arguing over a cartoon is not something I plan to expend my energy and free time continuing, but man, you really changed my opinion of you. I thought you were pretty cool but you are coming across like an ass trying to defend a show you admit is terrible but still feel some reason to defend because you "like" it and are trying to search for deeper meaning which I feel, isn't there.

And apparently my contribution has been outlawed, or restricted, by myself, or something, anyways.
 

Jintor

Member
Yup. Sound perfect. both points are extremely important and in all honesty I was sort of upset at the show because of actually how it was portrayed in relation to the LN. Both are done better in the LN, though not by much, and the internal narration from Kirito gives the reader a much better idea of how people live, adjust, etc etc in the game world. I think the bold statement is probably the biggest problem I have with SAO. It has interesting ideas that it sort of brings up and you can sometimes see it but it doesn't really fully dabble in it. Greatly disappointing.

Most of the time it doesn't even give the impression it realises it's brought up anything of interest.

It feels like most of the show's few good points are accidental.
 

grandjedi6

Master of the Google Search
  • The characters' apathy to getting out of the game. Now this idea could work with better execution. In Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, we see how crappy everyone's lives are in the real world before everyone ends up in magic land. So it makes way more sense why all his friends fight the main character in trying to get out of the magic world. But SAO doesn't do this. Indeed, everyone's lives seem pretty good in the real world so their apathy for getting out just comes off as bad writing and stockholm syndrome.
  • The MMO premise could have been interesting... if the author knew anythign about MMOs when writing it. Instead the logic flaws just hurt the basic premise and make the viewer question things more often. It kills the suspension of disbelief. You gotta do your research!
  • The pacing is just bad and hurts every aspect of the series.
  • The world they are trapped in would be a lot more threatening... if they didn't portray the game as super awesoem and fun and even idyllic in numerous occasions. How is there suppose to be any threat when we spend several episodes in a cottage on a farm with no troubles?
  • The relationships are god awful. The main character is perfect and all the girls are stereotypes that exist only to like Kirito. In fact, that applys to every character. Everyone only exists to Kirito's benefit and when they aren't they simply don't exist. You never get the feeling that off-screen characters are doing anything important. Because they aren't. Everyone is just NPCs that exist only when Kirito is there.
  • Which brings up another point: NPCs. What's the difference between NPCs, AIs and real gamers? Nothing. They all act the same. That's super stupid and hurts the viewers emotional connection to the story.
  • And don't get me started on the obvious plot twists the story relies upon. Or the faux emotional problems.
 

kayos90

Tragic victim of fan death
Arguing over a cartoon is not something I plan to expend my energy and free time continuing, but man, you really changed my opinion of you. I thought you were pretty cool but you are coming across like an ass trying to defend a show you admit is terrible but still feel some reason to defend because you "like" it and are trying to search for deeper meaning which I feel, isn't there.

And apparently my contribution has been outlawed, or restricted, by myself, or something, anyways.

I'm not trying to be an ass. It's essentially driveby posting. A discussion was to be had. You run up and say something that is completely opposite of what would incite more discussion. There's nothing more to be said if your post contradicts the purpose of the discussion. It's the art of discourse and discussion. If there is no more knowledge to be gained then the discussion is over. Most immature posters continue conversations because they fail to recognize that a conversation is over and continually argue resulting in a circular discussion. If you see any FFXIII thread, that's actually what causes so many of the rifts between the posters. I'm sorry that you don't think I'm cool any more but I was merely pointing out and explaining my original post. If you don't agree then, I'm sorry to hear that. If any of my posts sounded ill-mannered, then that was not my purpose and I apologize for it.

Most of the time it doesn't even give the impression it realises it's brought up anything of interest.

It feels like most of the show's few good points are accidental.

Yup. I really wish the game would've dabbled more on the idea of yellow players and Laughing Coffin actually. Too bad we didn't get it cuz that would've been funny/awesome/cool/insert something that could be considered positive?

Yes. Which is really why it's hard for me to gleam if it's intentional authorship.
 
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