Sao Watch Order
The best way to watch Sword Art Online (SAO) is to begin at the beginning of SAO Season 1, which is followed by SAO Season 2, SAO: Ordinal Scale film, SAO Alternative: Gun Gale Online spin-off, SAO Season 3 Part 1, SAO: Alicization Part 2: War of Underworld Part 2, and SAO: Progressive film (upon release). This sequence aligns with the chronological sequence of events and gives a more cohesive viewing experience.
Sword Art Online (SAO) is a well-known Japanese light novel that has been transformed into various media formats, including manga, anime, and video games. The series is spread across various timelines and alternate realities; deciding on the best sequence to watch SAO is a difficult task for newcomers and those who are already followers.
Sword Art Online (SAO) Overview
Sword Art Online (SAO) is an anime show with a huge following that has gathered a significant fan base since it first debuted in 2012. The show is set in a virtual MMORPG, Sword Art Online, where players are entrapped in the game and have to climb to the top to be free. SAO has a multi-layered story and well-crafted characters that have won the hearts of millions of gamers.
Plot Overview
The story of SAO is centered around a group of players stuck in the game after Akihiko Kayaba, the designer of Sword Art Online, deactivates the log-out option. The players cannot leave the game until they have completed all 100 levels of the game’s building, Aincrad. The story follows the main character, Kirito, as he struggles to get through the game by enlisting the help of other players. Kirito is in love with a player who is also a friend of Asuna.
Themes
SAO explores a variety of themes in the series, for instance:
Virtual Reality: The series examines the idea that virtual reality is real and what effects it can have on society. The notion of being trapped in a virtual universe is a major theme in the show, raising questions about technology’s risks.
Love and relationships: SAO explores the bonds with the characters, including the romantic relationship between Kirito and Asuna and other characters. The show also explores the idea of romantic love and the ways it may influence people’s behavior.
The importance of friendship and trust: The series explores the trust and friendships that form between the characters when they attempt to get out of the game. The bonds among them are tested throughout the series and highlight the importance of loyalty and trust.
Characters
SAO is home to many characters, each with distinct personalities and stories. The main characters are:
Kirito: Kirito is the protagonist in the story. Kirito is a skilled swordsman stuck in the game and must struggle to get up to the top to escape. Kirito is a quiet and shy character who has romantic feelings for Asuna.
Asuna: Asuna is an incredibly tough fighter who grows closer to Kirito throughout the series. At first, she’s portrayed as an independent and strong character, but she becomes vulnerable as the story grows.
Sinon: Sinon has the potential to be an expert sniper and is Kirito’s trusted ally during his Gun Gale Online arc. She is suffering from PTSD and has a difficult time dealing with her life; however, she eventually overcomes her fears and builds close bonds with Kirito.
Adaptations
SAO is adapted into various media, such as manga, light novels, and anime. The anime adaptation comprises four seasons: SAO Season 1, SAO Season 2, SAO Season 3 (split into two parts), and SAO: Alicization. The War of the Underworld This series is also being developed into a video game, Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization, and a live-action show is in the process of being developed.
Sword Art Online (SAO) is an animated series that is popular with a rich plot and well-constructed characters. The show looks at issues like friendship, virtual reality, love, and relationships. Fans around the world have loved main series characters like Kirito, Asuna, and Sinon. SAO has been made into various forms of media, including manga, light novels, video games, and anime, as well as a live-action TV series being developed.
Main Storyline Watch Order
Sword Art Online (SAO) is an anime show that has become a hit with a complicated storyline that spans many seasons and thematic arcs. Watching the show in the right sequence is essential to fully comprehending the story and the characters’ development. The primary storyline watch sequence follows the chronological sequence of the events in the story and gives viewers an easier and more consistent watching experience.
SAO Main Storyline Watch Order
The main storyline that you can watch on Sword Art Online is as follows:
SAO Season 1: This season explores what happened in the Aincrad Arch, where players are stuck in the virtual reality MMORPG Sword Art Online.
SAO Season 2: This season continues the incidents during the Phantom Bullet, Calibur, and Mother’s Rosario Arcs.
The SAO: Ordinal Scale film follows what happened in SAO Season 2 and introduces an AR game known as Ordinal Scale.
ASO Alternative: Gun Gale Online: The spin-off series is set during SAO Season 2 and follows the characters of a different group who play Gun Gale Online. Gun Gale Online
SAO Season 3 Part 1: This season is about the sequence of events in the Alicization episode, in which Kirito is stuck in a new virtual world called Underworld.
The SAO: The Alicization: War of the Underworld Part 2: This season follows SAO Season 3 and covers the happenings during the War of the Underworld arc.
SAO: Progressive film (upon publication): This movie retells the events of the Aincrad storyline and will give more details on the events of the initial season.
Benefits of the Main Storyline Watch Order
The option of watching SAO within the primary storyline sequence can bring many benefits, including:
Coherent Story: The story being told in chronological order can improve the coherence of the narrative and make it easier to comprehend.
Greater understanding: The story is best seen in chronological order, which will give a better understanding of individuals and motivations and the story’s overall development.
Enhanced viewing experience: The story being read chronologically may provide the viewer with a completely different experience and enhance the emotions associated with the tale.
Character Development
A watch of SAO as part of the primary storyline watch sequence can help you gain a deeper knowledge of these characters as well as the motivations behind them. Kirito, Asuna, Sinon, and many other characters are subject to much character growth throughout the story. Watching the story unfold in the right order will allow viewers to get the meaning behind the characters’ actions and their connections to other characters.
Plot Coherence
SAO has a complicated plot that includes several story arcs and non-linear storytelling. Watching the series through the storyline in its main order will enhance the consistency of the plot and help you follow it. It also makes it easier to grasp the story’s overall arc and the relationships between the various episodes.
When you watch Sword Art Online (SAO), the main storyline order is to follow the story in the sequence in which events take place instead of following the sequence in which episodes and seasons were announced. This provides a distinct experience for viewers and may increase the story’s coherence. The primary storyline to watch in SAO can be found here: SAO Season 1, SAO Season 2, SAO: Ordinal Scale Film SAO Alternative: Gun Gale Online, SAO Season 3 Part 1, SAO: Alicization: War of the Underworld Part 2, and SAO: The Progressive Movie (upon release)
Spin-offs and Alternative Stories
Sword Art Online (SAO) includes several spin-offs and alternate stories set within the same universe but with different characters and storylines. These stories may provide additional background to the main story or even explore various concepts and themes within the SAO universe.
Spin-offs
SAO Alternate: Gun Gale Online is a spin-off show that is set in the course of SAO Season 2. The series follows a completely different number of characters that play the video game Gun Gale Online. The principal character will be Karen Kohiruimaki, a tall and self-conscious student at a college who plays an avatar named LLENN in the game. The show explores themes such as acceptance of oneself, friendship, and even competition.
Alternative Stories
SAO: Ordinal Scale (SaO) is a film following an event from SAO Season 2. The movie introduces a brand-new augmented reality game named Ordinal Scale. In it, players can use augmented reality technology to take on monsters in real-life places. Kirito, the protagonist, is expected to uncover the truth about the game’s mysterious beginnings and defend his fellow players from the new threat.
The SAO: Progressive The series is a collection of light novels that tell the details of events from the Aincrad arc with greater depth. The series focuses on the events that transpired at each level of Aincrad and provides greater context and character growth than the original. SAO: Progressive SAO: A progressive film is scheduled to be released shortly and will tell the more in-depth story of the Aincrad sequence.
Benefits of Spin-offs and Alternative Stories
Alternative stories and spin-offs could offer a variety of advantages to fans of the SAO series, such as:
Another context: spin-offs and alternate stories can add additional context to the story’s main theme, filling in the gaps and answering questions not answered in the main story.
Exploration of themes: Spin-offs and alternate stories are a great way to explore different themes and concepts in SAO’s universe, allowing for an understanding of the universe and the characters.
New characters and perspectives: Spin-offs and alternate stories may provide new perspectives and characters, offering an entirely new perspective on the SAO universe and the characters.
Character Development
Spin-offs and alternate stories are a great way to develop characters for the characters of the SAO universe. For instance, an SAO alternate, Gun Gale Online, provides deep character development for LLENN/Karen, investigating her struggle with acceptance and her progress as a participant. SAO: Progressive offers further personal development for Kirito, Asuna, and other characters, allowing viewers more insight into their motivations and personalities.
Story Expansion
The spin-offs and alternate stories are a great way to expand the story in the SAO universe. SAO: Ordinal Scale introduces a new threat and examines the implications of augmented reality technology within the SAO universe. SAO: Progressive gives additional information about the events of the Aincrad arch, extending the world-building and lore in the SAO universe.
Spin-offs and alternative stories may give a better understanding of the SAO universe, its characters, and the overall story. SAO Alternate: Gun Gale Online, SAO: Ordinal Scale, SAO: Progressive, and SAO: Progressive are all spin-offs and alternate stories that uniquely expand the SAO universe. These stories provide more context and examine various themes and concepts while introducing new perspectives, characters, and ideas. Alternative stories and spin-offs can help with characters’ development and story growth, making the SAO series more enjoyable.
Chronological Watch Order
Sword Art Online (SAO) is a story with a complicated plot that spans several arcs and seasons. Watching the series in the proper sequence is crucial to comprehending the story and the development of characters. The chronological order of the watch follows the chronological order of stories instead of the order in which the seasons and arcs are revealed.
Chronological Watch Order
The watch order in chronological order to be used for Sword Art Online is as follows:
SAO Season 1: This season focuses on what happened in the Aincrad Arc, where players get stuck in the virtual reality MMORPG Sword Art Online.
SAO: Extra Edition: This special episode occurs following all the drama of SAO Season 1, and it is an overview of the Aincrad storyline.
SAO Season 2: This season continues the happenings from the Phantom Bullet, Calibur, and Mother’s Rosario arcs.
The SAO: Ordinal Scale film takes place following an episode of SAO Season 2 and introduces the first AR game, Ordinal Scale.
ASO Alternative: Gun Gale Online: The spin-off series is set in the course of SAO Season 2 and follows the characters of a different group that plays in Gun Gale Online. Gun Gale Online
SAO Season 3 Part 1: This season is about the happenings of the Alicization episode, in which Kirito finds himself stuck in a brand new virtual world dubbed Underworld.
The SAO: The Alicization: War of the Underworld Part 2: This season follows SAO Season 3 and covers the major events in the War of the Underworld arc.
SAO: Progressive film (upon release): This movie retells the events of the Aincrad storyline and will give additional details about the events of the initial season.
FAQ’s
What is the Sao series watch lineup suggested?
Sword Art Online: Extra Edition, Sword Art Online II, Sword Art Online Movie: Ordinal Scale, Sword Art Online: Alicization, and Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld are the suggested viewing orders for the Sao series.
Does the Sao movie have to be seen before the second season?
Even though it isn’t absolutely required, seeing Sword Art Online: Extra Edition before the second season can improve the viewing experience because it adds some more background and character development.
Before or after watching the original Sao series, should I watch the Sao Alternative Gun Gale Online?
A spin-off series called Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online features a separate cast of characters but is based in the same fictional world as the main Sao series. After the main Sao series’ first season, it may be seen at any time.
Can I watch Sao Extra Edition without watching the original film and still understand the plot?
It is possible to skip the Sao Extra Edition film and still comprehend the main plot. It largely acts as a review of the first season and adds a few more sequences that give the characters more background information.
Is it necessary to watch the Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld spinoff series?
Yes, it is crucial to see Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld since it wraps off the series’ central Alicization plot arc.
In what sequence should I watch the Sword Art Online: Progressive series?
The Aincrad arc, the first arc of the primary Sao series, is retold in Sword Art Online: Progressive. As a result, it may be viewed following the premiere of the main Sao series. It is important to keep in mind that the anime version of Sword Art Online: Progressive has not yet been made available as of April 2023.
