ANIME MONDAY: Sword Art Online – “Return” Review


Previously on Sword Art Online:

Kirito defeated Akihiko Kayaba and successfully cleared “Sword Art Online”. Having awoken from his 2 year long coma, Kazuto Kirigaya now tries to adjust to the real world, but he still searches for Asuna. Spoilers Ahead.

2 months have passed since Kazuto cleared SAO, and he is still having some trouble adjusting to life outside of the game. He tries to get better acquainted with his “sister” Suguha, as well as visiting Asuna who is still in a coma. His most recent visit to her bedside introduces him to Sugou Nobuyuki, a friend of Asuna’s family. He tells Kazuto of his intentions to marry Asuna in one week and tells the young boy not to visit her anymore. Distraught over the impending loss of his love, Kazuto begins to despair…until he receives a picture from Agil.

No the pic isn’t in bad quality that is how it appears on Kazuto’s computer.

We take a step out of the game and explore the real world in this episode, which is a good thing. The world itself has changed since the SAO incident. Even after the game was cleared by Kazuto, 300 people (including Asuna) are still in a coma. This adds to the mystery as to why they are still unconscious and also introduces Sugou into the plot. Sugou is possibly one of the most over the top villains I have ever seen in an anime, he has all the tell tale signs: he sniffs Asuna’s hair (gross), touches her face (weird), threatens Kirito, and does a bunch of other douchebaggy crap. He is however responsible for keeping Asuna alive as his company bought Argus (the company that created SAO) after it went bankrupt.

Sugou

We are also fully introduced to Suguha in this episode. She is Kazuto’s cousin, but due to their growing up together calls him her big brother. She has her own feelings for Kazuto (weird but Japan has different beliefs regarding the subject) but knows he is in love with Asuna. She is extremely loyal to him and looks up to him which is most likely where the crush originated though Kazuto’s knowledge about is completely unknown.

Kazuto himself has the most development as he is the one who has to readjust. He still has nightmares of his time spent in the game and still goes to see Asuna. He has a kendo match with Suguha and uses his stance from when he was in the game, he is surprisingly agile as he was in the game but he is eventually caught. This leads to s few humorous moments when Sugu is constantly confused as to what he is talking about half the time.

Kazuto & Suguha

“Return” is a nice episode that introduces new characters, expands the world, and gives us another mystery to solve. Things are set up well enough and the reveal t the end of the episode is good enough to leave the audience wanting more. The game starts next week as Kazuto races to save Asuna.

4/5