After the cliffhanger from the end of the last episode of Sword Art Online I expected action right off the bat, but Asuna and Kirito run away after a brief glimpse of Gleam Eyes. After their encounter they stop to eat some new type of sandwiches that Asuna has made. While they are enjoying their food Klein shows up which leads to an awkward meet and greet. The Aincrad Army comes around and demands the information Kirito and Asuna have gathered about the area. Even after many warnings the Aincrad Army goes into the boss fight anyway and Kirito ends up having to save them using an ability he has never revealed before.
The Aincrad Army shows that not everyone has gotten used to the idea of staying in the world of Sword Art Online. Their leader was pushing them to exhaustion and willing to go into an unknown boss fight just to make progress. He bulldozed his way into information to help accomplish his goal as well. At this point people really wanting to get out of the game must be desperate like the Aincrad Army. Two years is a long time to be living a virtual life and to be away from your loved ones.
While Kirito had the most awesome action of this episode, Klein stole the show. His personality really lightens everything up and makes it fun. His guild is just like him too. The way they all reacted to Asuna and Kirito was priceless. It reminds me of a group of girls more than guys. I hope that in the future we will see more of Klein.
Teleportation crystals are pulled out at anytime when people are afraid of death, but yet again they prove ineffective. First in the trap room and now in a boss room, which from the reactions of the characters they must have been able to do previously. They must be something you can only count on in a normal area. Hopefully this will be a lesson to other groups to play it safe since the crystals are not always reliable.
Cooking proves to be a bit more difficult than in previously appeared. Asuna has to figure out how to make flavors that she knows from the real world by mixing different flavors in Sword Art Online. Soy Sauce and Mayonaise take on a new level of difficulty when you have to discover how to make them through experimenting. The meat does not seem to be different if the rabbit is any indication, so it is a bit strange that the seasonings in the online world are unique.
Kirito really is making a long list of things that he hides from people now. Usually it is his level, that he is a beater, who he is, and now what abilities he has. It is surprising that people who know about this stuff still feel safe around him. He will definitely be more hated than ever now for his new ability and for hiding it. Some players will think that he has had this all along and could have saved many others if he could take a boss down by himself. Kirito still remembers what has happened in the past due to his secrets, but he keeps doing it. Dread of repeating those mistakes appears to be the only reason he revealed his new ability though.
