victoireblanc

To put things frankly, Sword Art Online: Alicization as an anime is a huge letdown compared to its light novels (Volume 9 - 18). 

As a reader of the original light novel version of the Alicization arc, I felt that the story was pretty decent and engaging except for the ending (of events in Underworld) which flopped lifelessly on the ground. When I heard an anime adaptation was coming out with the astounding animation from the Fate series (Unlimited Blade Works, Fate/Zero), I was genuinely excited to see an improved SAO, one that incorporated a more cohesive plot alongside its original spectacular - or at least entertaining - battle scenes. However, the series was/is not going the way I imagined it would. Technically, it does follow the source material but in a very awkward, unaesthetic fashion.

(Positives)

- I entirely appreciate the more human-like side that Kirito shows (though really inconsistently) and love even more the characters of Eugeo and Alice which are realistic and understandable.

- Furthermore, Alicization creates a more developed setting for characters to journey through by introducing a new world and its concepts.

- ADAMAS was really fun to listen to on loop~

For me, Episodes 16-20 were the high point where the anime became interesting and easy to follow.

(Negatives)

- The colorful sword fights were toned down and their lengths were chopped into unsatisfying bits and pieces. 

- Kirito now acts like a mentor which weirds me out a lot.... (which is to say his character is like a mosaic made of a motley of pieces and parts)

- Villains are still as cliched as ever.

- The animation feels off sometimes. It's not dynamic enough during the already short battles.

- But, as the greatest factor, the anime doesn't fit the plot line. Some scenes which were meant to be impactful come off as cringey or unsympathizable. Important character or plot development points are entirely skipped. This point probably encompasses all the other negatives (except for animation) because it means the anime as a whole just doesn't feel right.

My conclusion and advice is: just skip the anime and read the light novels if you're interested to see how the SAO world advances. Even the battle scenes are better in the LN...