The show is about a virtual reality MMO called Sword Art Online(SAO). Our hero Kirito is a teenager who was a part of the Beta Testing for SAO and as such started the game with a slight advantage over the others. That first day of SAO coming out everyone logged on, but soon realized they couldn't log out. The creator of the game shows up and tells everyone about the world he created. He wanted to play a real game with the players. Their virtual reality helmets would kill them if they died in the game. If someone in the real world attempted to remove the helmets that would also kill them. The only way to leave the game would be to beat it. Thus starts us off. Clans are created, relationships are formed, people start into various roles within the world. Some people develop their fighting skills to advance level by level to attempt to beat the game. Some people develop other skills such as smithing, cooking, fishing, etc. People start to settle into the new world, some resent it, others relish in it. Kirito decides to remain as a loner. He joins up with some people here and there, but all of his experiences teach him the dangers of working with others. I don't want to talk too much about Kirito's specific experiences because I don't think I could talk about them without giving away spoilers. Characters die here and there in the show. At one point Kirito even has to solve a murder mystery which was rather interesting. 2 years pass throughout all of season 1. But the main theme in it all is Loss. Loss of life, loss of love, loss of friendship, loss of family, etc. Kirito eventually falls in love and they get married within the game perimeters, but additionally pledge love out of game as well. Season 1 ends with the end of the game and everyone being released.
Season 2:
But wait, not everyone got out after all. Kirito's love is one of 300 who for whatever reason didn't get out of the game. We learn of Kirito's family life and what happened over the last few years while he was in a game coma. Kirito learns that his love is trapped within a new VRMMO called Alfheim. So he joins the game. (He can log out from this one. So it is constantly his quest to find her, and his home life). He learns he has to pretty much beat this new game to get to her. So he starts off on that quest. This season talks a lot about rape and sex. His love is betrothed in real life to this man who constantly talks about how is planning on taking advantage of her while she is in the coma. Kirito is also rushed on time to save her because the wedding will be soon. He meets up with a character who is unbeknownst to him and her, his sister. She falls in love with him, not knowing he is her brother. They travel to find his love. He never specifies exactly why he is trying to beat the game and doesn't reveal his loves name till much later. Stuff happens, Kirito gets shanked in real life. More stuff happens. Happy ending.
I absolutely loved season 1. I didn't like season 2 very much at all. As such I cannot give 1 score for the show as a whole. But Season 1 gets to receive a 10.5 out of 11. And Season 2 gets the unfortunate score of 3 out of 11.
