Impression
Dat ass. The above two shots were my favourites, but rest assured there were many more this episode. There’s usually a few every week, but I found myself noticing it a bit more this time. I wonder why?
Also, I felt sorry for that poor lizard. Why did he have to die…
Okay, onto more sensible matters. We had a lot of answers this week surrounding the mystery that is Death Gun, although I felt slightly perturbed that Kirito managed to deduce everything so skilfully – I’m not sure things were that straightforward in the novels. It does make sense -and is a nice twist, given that the foreshadowing has been all sitting quietly in place- but it’s a bit of a stretch for him to suddenly work it out after staring at his surroundings, which may just have included a shameless fast zoom into Sinon’s ass. Anyway, it’s good that they’ve re-established the concrete fact that Death Gun can’t somehow produce magical deaths in-game – “Death Gun” can kill, but it’s more to do with his real-life injections instead of his in-game pistol. And because of all the setting up that’s required to pull off a “kill” -including what must be a substantial amount of stalking with and without his invisibility cloak- he and his partner can only kill predetermined targets instead of anyone indiscriminate like Kirito, who coincidentally never entered his details into the sign-up terminal either way. Having a random stranger making preparations to kill you while you’re technically unconscious sounds as scary as fuck, by the way – that can’t have been good for Sinon’s mental state, especially as she’s already troubled by the whole trauma thing. All the second Death Gun’s being restrained by is that weird notion of making it look like “true death”.
There were a couple more scenes this episode set in ALO, featuring Klein, Kirito’s legal wife and the rest of the harem meeting that shady bastard Kikuoka, who reveals that he was actually in on everything. Well, he did look startled that Death Gun was a former Laughing Coffin member, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d somehow actually known that too. At least he’s telling the truth that Kirito is in no actual danger for once, if you go past the reassurance that the AmuSphere doesn’t even connect to the heart. Death Gun doesn’t know who he is in real life or where he’s diving from – even if he knew the latter, I doubt any random guy would be able to get into his hospital room with Nurse Aki there. So Kirito won’t be getting hurt. But Sinon on the other hand…
I’m going to admit I actually forgot Sinon and Kirito were having this conversation during BoB – it feels like they spent ages in that cave! Unless Death Gun manages to outsmart them, it’s better off -and safer- that Kirito acts as the decoy while Sinon goes for the kill. The downside is that they’ll be separated, which’ll make it harder for Sinon to survive should Death Gun go for her. Oh well, it’ll be a change of pace – they spent a lot of the episode in reaaaally close proximity to each other. Which is both glorious and heartbreaking for shippers, depending on exactly which ship you’re on.
I just hope Asuna left before the live feed started broadcasting them.
This is a moment I’ve been waiting for with this adaptation. No matter what someone may think about Sinon’s trauma, THIS moment of fear and horror is something anyone can understand. What Death Gun and accomplice or accomplices are doing really is creepy as hell.
“I’m not sure things were that straightforward in the novels.”
I recall there being a fair bit more talking involved to help them work things out. Probably wouldn’t have gone over very well in the episode: people are complaining about it dragging enough as it is.
“Oh well, it’ll be a change of pace – they spent a lot of the episode in reaaaally close proximity to each other. Which is both glorious and heartbreaking for shippers, depending on exactly which ship you’re on.”
Heartbreaking for the Kirito x Sinon shippers, since he really is incapable of loving anyone other than Asuna.
The worst thing is that, unless you trigger a forced logout there’s an inability to wake up, which means that “Death Gun” is able to do whatever they like without any repercussions until she does so. It’d be bad enough if they broke in when she was sleeping (and it’s a similar vulnerability) but doing it during the BoB guarantees that they can’t be caught in the act. It’s uncomfortably creepy, but I can’t deny it’s been well thought-out.
I’m sure there would still have been complaints had there just been constant action week on week – it’s hard to please everyone with this series! I don’t mind the talking so much as I do the fact that Sinon spent that time all over Kirito. Similarly, the focus of Mother’s Rosario isn’t really action either, although it has its moments.
At first I shipped Kirito x Sinon, but then I remembered how much I hate Kirito. I mean seriously, there was like a full 5+ minutes of the episode where the harem just glorified Kirito for being a such a wonderful self-sacrificing person. Sinon would be much better off with that guy she tournament-zoned. =_=
I’m also not a fan of that ship. These days I feel that Sinon is best girl, but I’d like to think that’s something different to supporting her relationship with Kirito. Also – while you might not like Kirito, you can’t possibly dislike him more than you do Tatsuya onii-sama. Unless you’ve had the pleasure of not being acquainted with that show, which would be for the better.
Which guy? You mean Spiegel?
The name “Tatsuya onii-sama” doesn’t ring a bell… but I just googled him and apparently he’s from Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei? But I haven’t watched it, and it sounds like you don’t recommend it. xD
looks up his name Yeah, that’s the guy! He’s kind of timid, but I like him with Sinon much better. The rest of the harem can kiss Kirito’s feet without her. >.<
I wasn’t sure how to bring it up, but I fully second Wanderer. You’ll understand in time.
Also, I don’t recommend Mahouka’s anime adaptation at least. The novels do have their flaws, but the adaptation was butchered Higurashi-style. Avoid at all costs!
“Sinon would be much better off with that guy she tournament-zoned.”
…No. No she wouldn’t. She really, REALLY wouldn’t.
THIS. That guy is a coward asshole.