I think there are plenty of problems with SAO, even in its first season. The second season gets the most ire since it's the most blatantly pandery thing ever, but even the first season is extremely poorly-written and ill-conceived wish fulfillment trash. This is speaking as someone who did enjoy parts of the first season, but it made me irritated upon a rewatch.
- The vast majority of the season is filler. Consider the fact that only two characters of note (Kirito and Asuna) get major focus, especially with Kirito. They introduce other, more intriguing characters, sure; the problem is, however, that they don't get the spotlight! Their episodes are pretty much filler in the overall context of the story, serving to bring the next point home...
- ...the viewer is supposed to be envious of Kirito. At no point does this show stop being an escapist fantasy, changing games without really dealing with the circumstances around Kirito. He doesn't have weaknesses that don't get solved by Deus-Ex-Machina bullshit, he doesn't seem to have too much of an actual personality behind him, and he has all of these girls after him while still having DA PERFECT WAIFU~. Which brings me to my next point...
- Asuna. What wasted potential for a character. She's introduced as a character who is headstrong and willing to fight. I was willing to buy her falling for Kirito. I was willing to buy her wanting to get away from the front lines for a little while due to not wanting to die. However, the almost immediate 180 from her previous self to her mewling, perfect-wife-in-eyes-of-Japanese-gender-roles, damsel-in-distress-type character is jarring and horrible.
- The stakes actually get out of focus for a little while. Specifically, times like Pina's death and the Dragon encounter with Lizbeth represent general game logic and a lack of appreciation for one's own life. It's one of those things that should never leave focus, but the very real stakes in the game are never on display. Also, you never see, say, the families of players (IRL) grieving, never seeing the full results. Sure, the story takes place inside the game, but in an adaptation, you're allowed to take liberties to show the viewer why they should care. SAO never does that.
- Gaping plot holes. Hi, Kirito's ability from episode 4 dealing with status ailments. Why aren't you brought up when Kirito is paralyzed in a later episode? Because the source author forgot about it in the original LN? Oh, that's only completely unacceptable.
I despise Elfen Lied, and do think it's quite overrated, but I can give credit where credit is due: the OST and sound design are perfect.AmaiHachimitsu wrote:
Elfen Lied is and will forever remain the most overrated/overhyped anime. It's "worth" 2/10 yet people rate it 7/10 or higher. (these are marks taken from a Polish site < some reviewers gave a 9/10...>)
