Asuna is back! \(^o^)/
Overshadowing Asuna's return was the murder mystery case that developed in this episode. The two deaths that occurred further drove home the point that SAO is not just a game, but a survival game where death is real. While PKing can be fun in regular MMOs (in fact, I sometimes get a kick out of seeing people rage when they are killed), this is not the case in SAO. One shocking PK in a safe area has already spurred a full-out investigation and caused many witnesses to now cower in fear. With the serial killer still on the loose, action must be taken fast as time may end up being a killer for many of the traumatized players.
Throughout the episode, my prime suspect of the murder constantly changed. At first, I had actually thought it was Asuna who planned it all, given her selfish attitude in the beginning and the slight pause in her explanation of the situation to Kirito. However, on top of her being a main character, there doesn't seem to be a reason for her to do such a thing. So when Yoruko came forward and showed that she was on the verge on losing control of herself, I had suspected it may have possibly been the guilt of murdering a fellow guild member that was too much for her to handle. But yet again, this guess of mine seemed unlikely for two reasons. First, it doesn't seem logical for one to kill someone who was on the same side as them (i.e. in the vote to decide on what to do with the ring), and second, she ends up being killed too. And so, my suspicions then shifted towards Schmidt, whose reaction to hearing about the story of Kains' murder and Grimrock's supposed involvement seemed very fake. Given that he's a tank and the leader of the Divine Dragon Alliance's defenders, there shouldn't be any reason for him to be scared about death by PK if he stays close to those in the alliance. And while Grimrock is also a suspect, I have a feeling the true identity of the murderer is going to be someone who either hasn't been introduced yet or has escaped suspicion.
Compared to the earlier episodes, this one didn't feel as rushed, partly because it's the first side story that hasn't been condensed into one episode. It also reminded me of CSI (and crime dramas in general), a series which I really enjoy due to the psychological aspects and thrilling suspense it offers. It's unfortunate how quickly the episode ended as 24 minutes felt like only four. I assume this arc will be wrapped up next week and hope that the next episode will be just as, if not more, entertaining than this one.
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