Forum SettingsEpisode Information
Forums
Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online (light novel)
Available on Manga Store
New
Nov 10, 3:22 AM
#1

Offline
Nov 2018
11
I've got to say, my opinion on season 2 is settled; it's bad. I remember enjoying season 1 when it came out, but that was seven years ago. Now I'm questioning whether it's just nostalgia making season 1 seem better in my memory, or if season 2 genuinely isn't as good.

Does anyone else feel like season 2 is missing something? Maybe our standards have just changed, or maybe the quality has actually dropped. It feels like it lacks some things that made season 1 enjoyable, whether it's the plot, animation or something else. I'm curious if others feel the same way
FlowMALNov 10, 3:26 AM
Nov 10, 3:45 AM
#2

Offline
Apr 2013
36979
I mean that last episode is probably the worst in the whole franchise, so I agree that season 1 was simply better.
Nov 10, 3:48 AM
#3
Offline
Nov 2023
933
I’m happy with it. It never set out to be overly deep, but there’s enough plot twists to keep things interesting. It gets a high score from me so far for not trying to be more than the FPS that it is. I hope we get a bit more of the real world characters after SJ3 ends though…
Nov 10, 3:55 AM
#4
Online
Jul 2023
478
i haven't watched the latest episode but it is definitely a downgrade, not bad tho, the plot is just lacking
Nov 10, 4:43 AM
#5
Offline
Apr 2013
669
I'm watching this show with my best friend, and we both find this show just incredibly boring. The writing feels like a joke to us, and the only reason we haven't dropped it yet is because we're past episode 3 I guess.
Nov 10, 5:21 AM
#6

Offline
Apr 2021
2647
You are putting your pre-assumptions on what it should be, so it is a biased analysis.

I came into it without any expectations, so I am enjoying the current episodes.
Note: I don’t lazily watch 3-5 episodes, biasedly compare to other anime, or unfairly judge by surface level similarities. With every anime I start, I watch the entire series, both Japanese Sub & English Dub, then judge each anime based on what they present, to give an honest and fair rating.

Nov 10, 7:14 AM
#7

Offline
Apr 2021
2647
Play2X said:
I'm watching this show with my best friend, and we both find this show just incredibly boring. The writing feels like a joke to us, and the only reason we haven't dropped it yet is because we're past episode 3 I guess.

Anyone who likes “Gintama”, I automagically discount their opinion, that garbage should have never been made.

πŸ˜‚πŸ€¦πŸ»‍♂️
Note: I don’t lazily watch 3-5 episodes, biasedly compare to other anime, or unfairly judge by surface level similarities. With every anime I start, I watch the entire series, both Japanese Sub & English Dub, then judge each anime based on what they present, to give an honest and fair rating.

Nov 10, 8:17 AM
#8
Offline
Apr 2013
669
Reply to ejleon
Play2X said:
I'm watching this show with my best friend, and we both find this show just incredibly boring. The writing feels like a joke to us, and the only reason we haven't dropped it yet is because we're past episode 3 I guess.

Anyone who likes “Gintama”, I automagically discount their opinion, that garbage should have never been made.

πŸ˜‚πŸ€¦πŸ»‍♂️
@ejleon Thank you for that absolutely worthwhile opinion. Unlike you I don't need to hide my likes and ratings. Also, despite you apparently being older I have the mental fortitude to not go around and hate on people because they have different opinion from my own.
Nov 10, 9:17 AM
#9

Offline
Apr 2021
2647
Play2X said:
@ejleon Thank you for that absolutely worthwhile opinion. Unlike you I don't need to hide my likes and ratings. Also, despite you apparently being older I have the mental fortitude to not go around and hate on people because they have different opinion from my own.

Oh silly goose, my comment was done calmly with love and concern for you, not that you’d understand how “crowd pleasing” you really are.

If you spent as much time online as I have, you’d also hide your details from people, like you, because you people always attack those that disagree with your own personal opinon.

You people are all about yourselves, and you imagine that your own personal opinion means something, when in the scheme of reality, our own personal opinions are absolutely irrelevant.

Yet you chose to defend your own personal opinion at all cost, even insulting and mocking another person”, when they disagree with your own personal perspective.

I said, anyone who likes “Gintama” was not worth hearing, because that anime is awful, which is an opinion, so you should not care about my own personal opinion as much as you chose to respond, which demonstrates my point, you crowd pleasers are zealots, attacking anyone who disagrees with you, so not worth my time.

And all you need to do is send a friend request, but you are not mature enough to befriend someone who disagrees with your own personal opinion.
ejleonNov 10, 10:44 AM
Note: I don’t lazily watch 3-5 episodes, biasedly compare to other anime, or unfairly judge by surface level similarities. With every anime I start, I watch the entire series, both Japanese Sub & English Dub, then judge each anime based on what they present, to give an honest and fair rating.

Nov 10, 10:50 AM
Offline
Nov 2022
265
Play2X said:
I'm watching this show with my best friend, and we both find this show just incredibly boring. The writing feels like a joke to us, and the only reason we haven't dropped it yet is because we're past episode 3 I guess.

Relatable πŸ˜‚

Yeah story seemed to have stagnated a bit, but too far in now to quit. Would take something incredibly stupid to get me to drop now
Nov 10, 11:06 AM

Offline
Apr 2021
2647
Kaze1214 said:
Play2X said:
I'm watching this show with my best friend, and we both find this show just incredibly boring. The writing feels like a joke to us, and the only reason we haven't dropped it yet is because we're past episode 3 I guess.

Relatable πŸ˜‚

Yeah story seemed to have stagnated a bit, but too far in now to quit. Would take something incredibly stupid to get me to drop now

Could you please elaborate on what the problems are with this anime?

I genuinely respect your opinion and would like to hear your honest criticisms of the anime, in any aspect, so I can incorporate your thoughts into my perspective.
Note: I don’t lazily watch 3-5 episodes, biasedly compare to other anime, or unfairly judge by surface level similarities. With every anime I start, I watch the entire series, both Japanese Sub & English Dub, then judge each anime based on what they present, to give an honest and fair rating.

Nov 10, 11:44 AM
Offline
Nov 2022
265
ejleon said:
Kaze1214 said:

Relatable πŸ˜‚

Yeah story seemed to have stagnated a bit, but too far in now to quit. Would take something incredibly stupid to get me to drop now

Could you please elaborate on what the problems are with this anime?

I genuinely respect your opinion and would like to hear your honest criticisms of the anime, in any aspect, so I can incorporate your thoughts into my perspective.

The plot just isn’t as good as Season 1. That’s it. I don’t think I really need to provide a plethora of reasons for it.
Nov 10, 12:04 PM
Offline
Dec 2012
66
For me the main problem is that there's simply little emotional investment in anything happening here. There's no real sports drama "Grrrr I want to be the best at this game" aspect going since LLENN was kinda roped into it, but the anime isn't really using that angle to that to explore LLENN's relationship with the other characters either (Her "promise" has been barely relevant), or not being into GGO as much anymore or any kind of ennui thing like that. Squad Jam 3 is just kinda happening, I guess, both to LLENN and the audience.

This is to say nothing about how contrived the Betrayer Team twist is (No serious e-sport would ever do something like this) or the end of episode 6. The story just being thin excuse for more action could be forgiven if the action was better.

Season 1 was not my favorite anime or anything, but it at least had like a real story arc and character motivations. It was competent production compared to this.
Nov 10, 12:25 PM
Offline
Apr 2013
669
Reply to ejleon
Play2X said:
@ejleon Thank you for that absolutely worthwhile opinion. Unlike you I don't need to hide my likes and ratings. Also, despite you apparently being older I have the mental fortitude to not go around and hate on people because they have different opinion from my own.

Oh silly goose, my comment was done calmly with love and concern for you, not that you’d understand how “crowd pleasing” you really are.

If you spent as much time online as I have, you’d also hide your details from people, like you, because you people always attack those that disagree with your own personal opinon.

You people are all about yourselves, and you imagine that your own personal opinion means something, when in the scheme of reality, our own personal opinions are absolutely irrelevant.

Yet you chose to defend your own personal opinion at all cost, even insulting and mocking another person”, when they disagree with your own personal perspective.

I said, anyone who likes “Gintama” was not worth hearing, because that anime is awful, which is an opinion, so you should not care about my own personal opinion as much as you chose to respond, which demonstrates my point, you crowd pleasers are zealots, attacking anyone who disagrees with you, so not worth my time.

And all you need to do is send a friend request, but you are not mature enough to befriend someone who disagrees with your own personal opinion.
@ejleon While I am aware of some really old reviews I wrote which certainly are some 'crowd pleasers', as you'd put it, I am rather happy with the fact that for at least the last roughly 5 or more years I have changed my online behaviour in a more positive way. Not that I really was as bad as a lot of people are, but I am firmly in the camp of trying to let everyone live with their opionions, even to the point that my original comment specifically uses words like 'we find x boring' rather than 'x is boring'. So, yes, I actually hope my opinion pleases the crowd... or at least doesn't offend someone who might like a show for reasons I am unaware.

I have seen your date of birth, just like you probably have seen mine, and I think we are both well beyond 'If you do as much x as I do', don't you agree? Like, I have lost the mayority of my hair and my beard is one half grey... I have yet to see anything that'd force me to keep my likes and dislikes to myself. If I'd feel that embarrased about them, why do I even have them? Also, 'you people' is, as you probably know, a fallacy. I haven't attacked you personally, nor do I intend to do so. Do we perhaps have vastly differing opinions? Perhaps, sure. The fact that we are discussing shows that we at least disagree on this show. But I certainly won't insult you about it.

Again, a fallacy. I am firmly aware that my rating, just like yours, ultimately means next to nothing. However, if someone asks for my opinion in a discussion, yes, for the sake of that discussion since it was asked for, it actually does matter.

I didn't insult you, while you on the other hand went out of their way mocking me and directly attacking a show they apparently don't like. Sorry to say, but you are doing everything you try to blame on me.

Here, again, we see you doing things you blame on me. Not just do you play your own opinion up to being the only worthwhile, you also claim your opinion as factual truth. The score of Gintama begs to differ. The original has over a million entries and a total score of 8.91. As you yourself recognized before, your opinion in this case simply does not matter in the grand scheme of things. You are of course free to THINK that Gintama is bad, and if you say that you feel like Gintama isn't a good anime, or even sucks, sure, feel free. I would in that case hope that you at least have some reasons for disliking Gintama, but even if not - your personal opinion is your own, I won't challange you on it.

Honestly, I simply don't care for your scores. I merely pointed out that it is hillarious how you hide your own likes, only to attack someone elses. But after multiple fallacies and false accusations, I probably shouldn't even be surprised anymore. If you want to discuss, both my pinwall and dms are open. You probably already found out that I usually answer to the random insults people throw my way because of some old reviews, and that I usually try to engage those people in fair and open discussions if they feel like it, yes?



Given your latest post, and in hope to bring this back on track, allow me to answer your question.
One of the biggest problems with the show is the writing. The premise feels rather weak for me with that promised battle, while there were no apparent stakes that got me involved (and some actions by characters, such as those MG dudes mowing themselves down honestly felt like even the characters themselves don't care for the tournament or... anything really). This whole season just feels to me like good ol' Bilbo Baggins: Butter, stretched thin on too much bread. Second, the pacing felt really off sometimes as well. I think episode... 3? was the one where I first noticed it, where we had basically a catch-up on everyone else, without really advancing the main characters. The main reason I actually went online and answered on this forum question though was the last scene in this weeks episode (6), with that one girl having M in a headscissor and trying to kill him, while Ren stands 5 Meters from him, with multiple weapons, and just watches in awe. I can understand the reasoning of not wanting to hit M with the P90, sure, but what stopped her from... taking two steps and punching this girl? Or pulling out a pistol or knife and solve the problem? What stopped M from throwing his body to the ground, which would've taken a lot of leverage out of the move? Instead he just... stood there for a cliffhanger.

By the way, given that we both don't care for each others opinions, while as usual the sequel is higher than its original, the show had a huge loss of engagement, from 600k to a mere 80k. More anecdotal, but from all my friends (around 100 people who sent me random friend requests), only 6 even have added that show yet. And two rated it a 1, which I personally find really harsh, but anyway. There seems to be not a whole lot of interest in that show, and I begin to understand why. I also liked season 1, especially Ren, but so far our MC has basically been comic relief, and the show feels to me like an attempt to make something out of nothing. The author of the LN seems to be an avid reader of Koumei.

Welp, @Raxivace pretty much summed my feelings to that seasons plot up pretty well.
Nov 10, 3:08 PM

Offline
Apr 2021
2647
I didn’t look at your date of birth, what does that have to do with anything? I don’t get what your youth or my middle years have to do with this anime being good or bad. If anything now, I’ll just tell you happy Birthday on April 30th next year, if you don’t mind. I hope you will say something on Nov 23d for me. (It’s around the corner πŸ˜…). I don’t judge people based on how old they are, that would be unfair.

I said you could send me a friend request and see my scores, but you have not done so, so it is not my fault. I’ll send you one, so you can friend me and see my scores. Maybe that would be fair to you? I just don’t like letting anyone know my mind, that has a lot of problems with it.

I watched the first season of Gintama [actually I tried twice]. I tried the Japanese SUB, and then tried the DUB, but I hatred both. The anime is just not good in my opinion, in fact, it seriously made me question why there are multiple Gintama anime in the top 10 on MAL anime.

It is not funny and it is rather childish immature and silly, it has no value as an anime in my opinion, it is a unique brand of useless material in the universe, it made me “cringe” (did I use that right? πŸ˜…), it was tasteless and so awful to watch, it basically was just unbearable and annoying.

It is and was nothing personal at all, but how am I supposed to trust a person, after seeing that one of their FAVORITE ANIME is an anime I disliked so very much, but the crowd pleasers love. Wouldn’t you want a person to prove why they like such an anime or to prove why they claim GGO is so terrible?

Look, my comment was about the anime, not about you personally, but I guess the “crowd pleaser” remark was a personal insult/mock of you, so I will retract that statement and sincerely apologize for labeling you. I am sorry.

That Lord of the Rings comment was really out of place, the books were definitely better than the movies, in my opinion. πŸ˜…

GGO in my opinion, is the best SAO anime, it surprised me so much in the first season, it was a breath of fresh air after watching SAO. I hate Pito, but LLENN was one of my favorite characters in anime. It was just free “I don’t care” fun and action, so different from SAO’s “I am trying to be dramatic and serious” attitude, it really made an impression on me. I thought “If I played in a virtual game, this one is where I would want to go”, that is how much fun I had.

Yeah, this season is nothing to write home about, I am kind of disappointed with this second season and it feels a bit forced, especially having another Pito vs LLENN battle 🀦🏻‍♂️.

Leading up to the change in rules, a bunch of nobodies were taken out by the main cast or side characters from the first season, but at least it was fun to watch everyone battle it out over hating LLENN’s team or to betray each other.

After the rule change, most of the characters stopped caring about the actual tournament, many just wanted to give up, commit “game suicide”, which was understandable, it was such a drastic change. But the core of the remaining characters pulled themselves together to fight on, despite such stupid rules, and so far have presented a great battle royal. It is just great to see them all doing their best to kill one another in the game. I am having fun again watching the sure inanity, it for me is another breath of fresh air, to see an anime not care about teams and characters, but to present a killing game as it is supposed to be, characters killing each other in a “free for all” way.

You mention the chokehold, didn’t you see LLENN try to aim her gun and then Miyu Shinohara [Fukaziroh] say “I’ll kill them both” [ given it was dragged on for a couple minutes more than it should have, just to end the episode on a cliff hanger ] but they are not just standing there, they are trying to figure out how to approach the situation, in close quarters, without killing themselves or M, and taking out the female character, in the best way possible with limited movement, it isn’t as easy as you make it sound.

Edit: Why in the world do you care so much about what others think? How is that any different from a crowd pleaser, instead of being Individualistic? I don’t watch anime because others like or dislike it, I watched anime because I like it. Who cares whether the last season was considered #1 or the worst anime in history, by other people, I watch whatever anime whenever I want. I will rate anime according to what I think and not care about what others think. That is my freedom and privilege as an anime watcher. I don’t care that others make fun of me for saying that “isekai anime is the best genre”, I enjoy what I enjoy, and I am happy about it. You talking about how many people “added the anime”, really makes me think you just care about how others feel, rather than thinking for yourself about an anime. Can you prove me otherwise? What is an anime that you like that other people hate?

I hope you have a good weekend and all goes well.
ejleonNov 10, 8:09 PM
Note: I don’t lazily watch 3-5 episodes, biasedly compare to other anime, or unfairly judge by surface level similarities. With every anime I start, I watch the entire series, both Japanese Sub & English Dub, then judge each anime based on what they present, to give an honest and fair rating.

Nov 10, 4:57 PM

Offline
Apr 2021
2647
Kaze1214 said:
ejleon said:

Could you please elaborate on what the problems are with this anime?

I genuinely respect your opinion and would like to hear your honest criticisms of the anime, in any aspect, so I can incorporate your thoughts into my perspective.

The plot just isn’t as good as Season 1. That’s it. I don’t think I really need to provide a plethora of reasons for it.

With all due respect, “it isn’t as good as last season”, doesn’t really mean as much to me, as you actually explaining your own personal thinking about the problems with this season.

Never mind … I’ll just move on to discuss with others from here on out, since you don’t see me as worthy of hearing you express your true and honest thoughts about this anime.
ejleonNov 10, 5:01 PM
Note: I don’t lazily watch 3-5 episodes, biasedly compare to other anime, or unfairly judge by surface level similarities. With every anime I start, I watch the entire series, both Japanese Sub & English Dub, then judge each anime based on what they present, to give an honest and fair rating.

Nov 10, 5:55 PM
Offline
Apr 2014
17
I just enjoy that this show has no stakes and focuses instead on just being a light hearted discretion. Of course, Shangri La frontier is basically the superior version of this show, but I actually look forward to this show every week as well.

It’s certainly more enjoyable than seeing Kirito being comatose for a long time and all the serious things going on in the main story.
Nov 10, 6:18 PM

Offline
Jul 2011
936
My problem with this season is that it feels the same as last season. It's a big tournament, with the same people competing as last time and doing the same thing. It would have been fine if this show had done a different type of tournament or at least had the characters doing something different, like a raid boss or some kind of dungeon event. I don't hate this season, but I'm already getting bored.
Nov 11, 5:57 AM
Offline
Nov 2022
265
ejleon said:
Kaze1214 said:

The plot just isn’t as good as Season 1. That’s it. I don’t think I really need to provide a plethora of reasons for it.

With all due respect, “it isn’t as good as last season”, doesn’t really mean as much to me, as you actually explaining your own personal thinking about the problems with this season.

Never mind … I’ll just move on to discuss with others from here on out, since you don’t see me as worthy of hearing you express your true and honest thoughts about this anime.

With all due respect, I don’t care what your opinion of my thoughts are.

I don’t care for the plot compared to last season. That’s all I said. Those are my actual thoughts on the show. I don’t have to have a deep reason for why I think that way. Hell, my MAL bio says as much. I base my opinions on feeling. So I don’t usually have deep thoughts on plots. Didn’t say the show was bad hell I will probably give it a 7/10 like last season, just doesn’t feel as good as the previous season. The stakes just aren’t there. Stop being such an elitist brother.
Kaze1214Nov 11, 6:13 AM
Nov 11, 8:00 AM

Offline
Apr 2021
2647
Reply to Kaze1214
ejleon said:
Kaze1214 said:

The plot just isn’t as good as Season 1. That’s it. I don’t think I really need to provide a plethora of reasons for it.

With all due respect, “it isn’t as good as last season”, doesn’t really mean as much to me, as you actually explaining your own personal thinking about the problems with this season.

Never mind … I’ll just move on to discuss with others from here on out, since you don’t see me as worthy of hearing you express your true and honest thoughts about this anime.

With all due respect, I don’t care what your opinion of my thoughts are.

I don’t care for the plot compared to last season. That’s all I said. Those are my actual thoughts on the show. I don’t have to have a deep reason for why I think that way. Hell, my MAL bio says as much. I base my opinions on feeling. So I don’t usually have deep thoughts on plots. Didn’t say the show was bad hell I will probably give it a 7/10 like last season, just doesn’t feel as good as the previous season. The stakes just aren’t there. Stop being such an elitist brother.
@Kaze1214 I didn't comment on your "thoughts/feelings" about the anime, I commented on your unwillingness to explain further so others can understand.

For someone trying to be in the medical field, your lack of communication skills, will only cause you more headaches.

I am not "elitist", I was just taught by my father to be able to communicate my thoughts and feelings to others, because he thought it was am important part of interacting with people.

By the way, I said you did not see me as someone worthy to hear your further thoughts/feelings, that is not "elitist" of me, that is saying that you see yourself as above me.

I actually do respect you, I sent a friend request because I liked what you said on other anime, so I’m looking up at you, not down at you.
ejleonNov 11, 8:23 AM
Note: I don’t lazily watch 3-5 episodes, biasedly compare to other anime, or unfairly judge by surface level similarities. With every anime I start, I watch the entire series, both Japanese Sub & English Dub, then judge each anime based on what they present, to give an honest and fair rating.

Nov 11, 9:44 PM
Offline
Sep 2021
1086
bunch of clowns on here
Nov 13, 2:22 PM

Offline
Apr 2021
2647
Saimatsu_Fan said:
bunch of clowns on here

Please keep comments to discussion about anime, and not about insulting / mocking people in the comments.
Note: I don’t lazily watch 3-5 episodes, biasedly compare to other anime, or unfairly judge by surface level similarities. With every anime I start, I watch the entire series, both Japanese Sub & English Dub, then judge each anime based on what they present, to give an honest and fair rating.

Nov 16, 12:55 AM
Offline
Apr 2013
900
S2 isnt over yet, there's still quite a number of eps left for them to turn things around. Not that I know.

I would say that I am (slightly) disappointed, since I was expecting s2 to be better than this. Right now its like maybe slightly equal or slightly worse
Nov 16, 1:29 AM

Offline
Jul 2014
5406
Thing is, season 1 wasn't even that good to begin with. It was a decent "turn your brain" off kind of show and nothing more, at least fun to watch for the most part. But it looks like a masterpiece compared to the frankly terrible writing on display throughout this second season.
Nov 17, 4:31 AM
Offline
Nov 2014
10
Like I can understand that there is zero risk this time so it doesn't have the urgent feeling in season 1 and it is battle royal which .... like be honest, was really good ideas at the time when the story was written
But not now, 10 years later, when it already peak and dead down with Fortnite and Pubg.
Though I really enough the show for what it is and I am enjoying it
Can't wait for the ep8 to see how LLEENN get out of this twist

More topics from this board

Poll: » Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II Episode 8 Discussion

Stark700 - 3 hours ago

8 by Aleksu »»
3 minutes ago

Poll: » Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II Episode 7 Discussion ( 1 2 )

Stark700 - Nov 15

52 by Ashhk »»
Yesterday, 2:13 PM

Poll: » Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II Episode 5 Discussion

Stark700 - Nov 1

30 by M1kasaYu1 »»
Yesterday, 8:42 AM

» Did the first season look this bad visually?

JohnDowson - Nov 7

15 by EgatammaN »»
Nov 20, 9:55 AM

Poll: » Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II Episode 6 Discussion ( 1 2 )

Stark700 - Nov 8

51 by RioFS »»
Nov 19, 4:15 AM

Preview MangaManga Store

It’s time to ditch the text file.
Keep track of your anime easily by creating your own list.
Sign Up Login