SAO III continues its Alicization arc with Kirito meeting Alice’s younger sister Seika. As Kirito slips further into the VR world & false memories he attempts to uncover the mystery surrounding Alice’s taking from the Integrity Knights and his own role in the event.

Sword Art Online is a 2012 seinen anime series, it is produced by A-1 Pictures and licensed by Funimation (streaming) & Aniplex of America (home video). Season 3 is currently streaming now.

Editor’s Note: This review contains near complete to complete spoilers for Sword Art Online Alicization episode 3.

Alice’s younger sister Seika meets Kirito.

While current events in reality remain unknown, episode three of SAO III takes us back to the new VR world. Eugeo delves deeper into his past with Alice slowly sparking Kirito’s memories of past tests with the world coming back to him. Meanwhile, Kirito meets Alice’s younger sister Seika who goes off searching for clues of her whereabouts.

Eugeo testing out sword skills with Kirito.

THE GOOD: The bonding between Eugeo & Kirito continues as the former begins to share his past. Kirito is slowly coming to realize his own connection to Alice from previous test sessions which were lost and starts an investigation into the matter. After meeting & conversing with Alice’s younger sister Seika he and Eugeo learn that she went off to End Mountains where she is captured by goblins forcing a currently inexperienced Kirito & Eugeo to fight. Just as the battle begins Eugeo has a breakdown from fear.

The pieces to Kirito’s puzzle begin to come together.

THE BAD: No revelations from real world events such as Kirito getting poisoned. Granted there’s 50 episodes total and plenty of time, but there’s no reason why both worlds can’t be shown off simultaneously.

A lack of real-world coverage is SAO III’s biggest issue thus far.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Sword Art Online: Alicization’s anime adaptation is off to a good start, but it is showing issues of pas seasons such as a budding lack of balanced screen time for main characters. Though there’s still plenty of time to focus on Kirito’s real life not doing the VR world in addition to Kirito’s life long-term is a bit of a set back. Otaku Dome gives Sword Art Online: Alicization Episode 3 a 73 out of 100.