The Worst Episodes of Sword Art Online

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Worst Episode
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   6.2/10(619 votes)

   #1 - The Queen of the Lake

   S2:E1510/18/2014

   It's reported that the Holy Sword Excalibur has been discovered inside ALO. Hearing the news, Kirito and Leafa decide to take possession of Excalibur before other players get to it first.

   Director:Shu Watanabe

   Writers:Muneo Nakamoto, Atsushi Takayama

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   Director:Shu Watanabe

   Writers:Muneo Nakamoto, Atsushi Takayama
2. 

   6.2/10(380 votes)

   #2 - The Seal of the Right Eye

   S3:E192/24/2019

   Seeing Alice’s reaction when he mentioned the name Selka, Kirito decides to tell her the truth about the Integrity Knights. Meanwhile, after being knocked unconscious during his battle with Bercouli, Eugeo awakes on the top floor of the cathedral.

   Director:Shunsuke Ishikawa

   Writer:Yukito Kizawa

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   Director:Shunsuke Ishikawa

   Writer:Yukito Kizawa
3. 

   6.5/10(606 votes)

   #3 - The King of the Giants

   S2:E1610/25/2014

   Kirito and the others are tasked with subjugating the Frost King Thrymr, and a quest to recover Excalibur. It's Yui's guess that this isn't a quest planned by the game admins, but something automatically generated by the system. And if that's the case…

   Director:Hidetoshi Takahashi

   Writers:Muneo Nakamoto, Ryousuke Suzuki

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   Director:Hidetoshi Takahashi

   Writers:Muneo Nakamoto, Ryousuke Suzuki
4. 

   6.7/10(871 votes)

   #4 - The Truth about Alfheim

   S1:E2111/25/2012

   While Asuna continues her attempt to escape, another woman in Kirito’s life tries to make sense of her emotions.

   Director:Heo Pyoung-kang

   Writer:Muneo Nakamoto

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   Director:Heo Pyoung-kang

   Writer:Muneo Nakamoto
5. 

   6.8/10(879 votes)

   #5 - To the World Tree

   S1:E1811/4/2012

   Leafa is making enemies leaving her area and group to team up with Kirito. On their way to neutral Territory, they speak more of the rules and areas of the ALO.

   Director:Takayoshi Morimiya

   Writer:Yukito Kizawa

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   Director:Takayoshi Morimiya

   Writer:Yukito Kizawa
6. 

   6.8/10(596 votes)

   #6 - Excalibur

   S2:E1711/1/2014

   Kirito and the others are taking on Thrymr, the Boss lurking at the bottom level of the dungeon. But unable to make much of a dent in Thrymr's HP, they soon find themselves in grave danger. Just then, their new ally, Freyja, raises her voice…

   Director:Hirokazu Yamada

   Writer:Yukie Sugawara

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   Director:Hirokazu Yamada

   Writer:Yukie Sugawara
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7. 

   6.8/10(588 votes)

   #7 - Forest House

   S2:E1811/8/2014

   In an upcoming update of ALO, Floors 21-30 of New Aincrad will be unlocked. Asuna, Kirito and Yui revisit their dream of once again living together in their log cabin on Floor 22.

   Director:Kosaya

   Writer:Muneo Nakamoto

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   Director:Kosaya

   Writer:Muneo Nakamoto
8. 

   6.9/10(630 votes)

   #8 - Crimson Memories

   S2:E78/16/2014

   The man in the ragged cloak is an SAO survivor, and he might also be a player Kirito fought with to the death... This thought consumes Kirito, and his anguish is palpable - to the point that it worries Suguha.

   Director:Shu Watanabe

   Writer:Yukito Kizawa

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   Director:Shu Watanabe

   Writer:Yukito Kizawa
9. 

   7.0/10(877 votes)

   #9 - Captive Queen

   S1:E1710/28/2012

   As Kirito learns about the game from Leafa and the hatred between the races, Asuna learns the truth of her role from the Fairy King.

   Director:Yoshiyuki Fujiwara

   Writer:Yoshikazu Mukai

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   Director:Yoshiyuki Fujiwara

   Writer:Yoshikazu Mukai
10. 

    7.0/10(859 votes)

    #10 - The Lugru Corridor

    S1:E1911/11/2012

    Something isn’t right; Recon has sent Leafa a message “I was right. Be careful. S." What does he mean and will Leafa and Kirito have the time to figure it out?

    Director:Heo Pyoung-kang

    Writer:Shuji Iriyama

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    Director:Heo Pyoung-kang

    Writer:Shuji Iriyama
11. 

    7.1/10(911 votes)

    #11 - Land of the Fairies

    S1:E1610/21/2012

    A new MMO allows users to fly and encourages player killing. Kirito has joined this new game in search of Asuna and is pleasantly surprised with what he finds.

    Director:Yasuyuki Fuse

    Writer:Yukie Sugawara

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    Director:Yasuyuki Fuse

    Writer:Yukie Sugawara
12. 

    7.1/10(768 votes)

    #12 - The World of Guns

    S2:E17/5/2014

    A year has passed since SAO was cleared. Summoned by Kikuoka of the Virtual Division at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Kazuto learns of a series of bizarre murders linked to the popular VR game, Gun Gale Online (GGO), the only game in Japan played by pros.

    Director:Tomohiko Ito

    Writer:Tomohiko Ito

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    Director:Tomohiko Ito

    Writer:Tomohiko Ito
13. 

    7.2/10(1059 votes)

    #13 - The Girl of Morning Dew

    S1:E119/16/2012

    The newly married couple is enjoying their time away from the front lines. But a new guest will take them all the way back to the beginning.

    Director:Heo Pyoung-kang

    Writer:Yukie Sugawara

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    Director:Heo Pyoung-kang

    Writer:Yukie Sugawara
14. 

    7.2/10(960 votes)

    #14 - Return

    S1:E1510/14/2012

    Kirigaya is adjusting to his life outside of the game, but he hasn't forgotten about Asuna. A recent visit to her in the hospital, he meets Sugou Nobuyuki.

    Director:Shigetaka Ikeda

    Writer:Muneo Nakamoto

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    Director:Shigetaka Ikeda

    Writer:Muneo Nakamoto
15. 

    7.2/10(657 votes)

    #15 - Memories of Blood

    S2:E37/19/2014

    In real life, the player Sinon is a high school student named Shino Asada. On her way home from school, she’s dragged into an alley by delinquent girls. Their leader, Endo, tries to extort money from Shino, but she bravely refuses.

    Director:Hironori Aoyagi

    Writer:Muneo Nakamoto

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    Director:Hironori Aoyagi

    Writer:Muneo Nakamoto
16. 

    7.2/10(621 votes)

    #16 - What It Means To Be Strong

    S2:E119/13/2014

    After escaping from Death Gun, Kirito and Sinon lay low in a desert cave. There, Kirito speculates on how Death Gun murdered other players. In doing so, he hits upon a certain terrifying possibility.

    Director:Daisuke Takashima

    Writer:Muneo Nakamoto

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    Director:Daisuke Takashima

    Writer:Muneo Nakamoto
17. 

    7.2/10(585 votes)

    #17 - Zekken

    S2:E1911/15/2014

    Hearing rumors about a brilliant player known as Zekken, Asuna decides to mount a challenge. But when Asuna logs out, she is told by her mother to take an exam to transfer into an academically oriented high school.

    Director:Shigeki Kawai

    Writer:Muneo Nakamoto

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    Director:Shigeki Kawai

    Writer:Muneo Nakamoto
18. 

    7.2/10(585 votes)

    #18 - The Sleeping Knights

    S2:E2011/22/2014

    Asuna is asked to help the guild “Sleeping Knights,” which has decided to disband soon due to the members’ circumstances. Before they do, they want to defeat a Floor Boss with only their party.

    Director:云♫黑斋

    Writers:Muneo Nakamoto, Ryousuke Suzuki

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    Director:云♫黑斋

    Writers:Muneo Nakamoto, Ryousuke Suzuki
19. 

    7.3/10(628 votes)

    #19 - One Little Step

    S2:E1410/4/2014

    Kyouji attacks Shino, saying he'll kill himself after she's dead. Kazuto saves her at the last second by jumping Kyouji. During the fight, Kazuto is hit with Kyouji's poison syringe, but miraculously it doesn't work and Kirito is saved. The next day Kazuto and Shino go to meet Kikuoka, and discuss the incident. Kikuoka has a message from one of the captured Death Guns...

    Director:Tomohiko Ito

    Writer:Yukie Sugawara

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    Director:Tomohiko Ito

    Writer:Yukie Sugawara
20. 

    7.4/10(1115 votes)

    #20 - Murder in the Safe Zone

    S1:E58/5/2012

    A player has been killed inside a safe zone and not by the known means. Asuna and Krito take it upon themselves to find out how and why this is happening.

    Director:Yasuyuki Fuse

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa

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    Director:Yasuyuki Fuse

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa
21. 

    7.4/10(1077 votes)

    #21 - Illusionary Avenger

    S1:E68/12/2012

    Kirito has figured out the how and now he has to figure out the why.

    Director:Kazuma Satou

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa

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    Director:Kazuma Satou

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa
22. 

    7.4/10(872 votes)

    #22 - General of the Blazing Flame

    S1:E2011/18/2012

    Kirito and Leafa have made it to the meeting and Kirito’s bluff as an ambassador has been called out. If he can survive in a fight against the Salamanders General Eugene, his plan to prevent a war might work.

    Directors:Makoto Hoshino, Takahiro Shikama

    Writer:Naoki Shouji

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    Directors:Makoto Hoshino, Takahiro Shikama

    Writer:Naoki Shouji
23. 

    7.4/10(502 votes)

    #23 - Ocean Turtle

    S3:E511/4/2018

    In the real world, Kazuto Kirigaya lies unconscious. At Kikuoka’s request, Kazuto is moved to a well-equipped hospital, but when Asuna and Suguha try to visit, they’re turned away. Suspicious, Asuna and the others split up to find out more about Rath.

    Director:Koji Kobayashi

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa

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    Director:Koji Kobayashi

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa
24. 

    7.4/10(553 votes)

    #24 - Project Alicization

    S3:E611/11/2018

    Asuna infiltrates Rath, the research lab in the Ocean Turtle, where she relentlessly grills Kikuoka about Kazuto's whereabouts. Kikuoka reveals that behind the development of the Soul Translator is a mind-blowing objective of epic scale.

    Director:Hiroki Hirano

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa

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    Director:Hiroki Hirano

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa
25. 

    7.4/10(479 votes)

    #25 - Ruler and Mediator

    S3:E131/6/2019

    Kirito and Eugeo have been rescued by the young girl, Cardinal, who has secluded herself inside the Central Cathedral’s Great Library. Cardinal explains to Kirito how the Axiom Church and the Taboo Index came to be, starting with Administrator’s past.

    Director:Hiroshi Kimura

    Writers:Muneo Nakamoto, Yukito Kizawa

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    Director:Hiroshi Kimura

    Writers:Muneo Nakamoto, Yukito Kizawa