Director: Tomohiko Ito,
Starring: Haruka Tomatsu, Cherami Leigh, Kanae Ito. Stephanie Sheh, Kouichi Yamadera, Marc Diraison, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Bryce Papenbrook,
Running Time: 175 minutes
Certificate: 15
SWORD ART ONLINE returns for the concluding part of its story line. These last selection of episodes give closure to all the plot elements that came before, but there’s still a feeling that the entire season could have just extended the original premise or ended after the first arc.
The main focus now is the love triangle between Kirito, Asuna and Kirito’s sister who has fallen in love with her own brother within the virtual world. This is a deliciously complex area that the show could explore, as it highlights the positives behind the characters without them knowing who is who. It gives a whole new meaning to anonymity and the dangers that go with it without ever being exploitative or insensitive. The show even makes it more complex when it reveals that Suguha, Kirito’s sister, may actually knowingly love her brother.
Unfortunately though, the show sort of wimps out at this point. I am by no means a lover of incest, but in a plotline that rolled back on the threat, shortened the years in a virtual world to a measly week, and gave us a villain who seems focused on rape and sex just for the sake of being evil, the incest angle was the most daring thing these last few episodes had going for it.
The beauty of the show may be enough to propel fans through this final slump, but when a show constantly reminds you of how good the first half of its run was, it’s hard to stay focused and not reminisce. The vocal work remains another triumphant spot with little change, and there are moments of true sensitivity and sweetness but this would have worked so much better had the two arcs been switched around chronologically.
[usr=2]SWORD ART ONLINE Part 4 is released on DVD and Blu-ray on 31st March via Manga Entertainment.
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