Sword Art Online - Episode 9

ProTip: Don't mess with Kirito.

Talk about an epic episode where Kirito shows once again how overpowered his character is. The beginning where he and Asuna went into the boss room gave the viewers a good sneak peak of what was to come, with the epic music and cut scene-like introduction of the boss adding to the experience. Even though they thought they'd need lots of manpower to defeat the beast, it was quite obvious Kirito would end up slaying it in style—and that's exactly what he did. The torrent of emotions and memories that flooded his mind during the battle effectively increased both the intensity of the scene and the emotion involved. In a situation where it was essentially do-or-die, Kirito's selflessness allowed him to make the right decision, possibly having prevented further casualties.

I found the BGM during the boss fight to be especially epic. Visually, Kirito's utter annihilation of The Gleam Eyes with his Elucidator and Dark Repulser was equally as impressive. Putting it all together—slow-motion effects and a flashy combo included—made for one great battle scene; it was arguably the best one of the series yet. And with the strength of the bosses almost surely increasing along with the floors, this might just be the beginning of more great battles to come. The only thing I worry about is the lack of budget to animate the future fights smoothly and with detail.

But for now, the upcoming duel is something to look forward to and focus on. Even though he's riding high on confidence from single-handedly defeating The Gleam Eyes, Kirito sure has guts to accept a challenge from the commander of the Knights of Blood. Given that he acknowledges Asuna, who's the vice-commander, as "skilled" (meaning she must be good at fighting to at some extent), it makes me wonder just how skilled of a fighter this Commander Heathcliff is. Granted, he may be the leader of the guild not because of his physical prowess, but because of his expertise when it comes to leading an army. Regardless, I expect him to put up a good fight nonetheless. I'll honestly be surprised if he wins (fairly) though, since Kirito looks unstoppable right about now.