What is on that pizza? Is that… shrimp? and broccoli?! Urp.

——

I really cannot tell whether I’m being impatient or Accel World is just paced poorly. I’m leaning towards the former though, since there wasn’t any real pacing problems I can see. I don’t know why I’m always so surprised every week that this show is so slow. It’s been 20 episodes; I should know the routine by now. But every week I’m left disappointed and annoyed by how much was achieved. This could have something to do with the foreknowledge of reading the wiki article without actually having read the details of how it happens. Knowing where the story is going to end up does not answer how it ends up there.

I have to admit that this slower pace does build the tension really well. Not knowing if Chiyu is telling the truth (not so much) or what’s going to happen to Haru in reality (more interesting) are amazingly well done. The entire thing made me anxious for what was going to happen next, especially when it came to the Chrome Disaster breakout. It felt really perverse seeing it happen and enjoying it as it happened. Who’s to say whether the armor will take over completely either. Between the hidden camera accusations and the amazingly pervasive inferiority complex, Haru’s mental state looks precarious. I’m sure he’ll pull out of it in typical shounen hero fashion, but that doesn’t mean it’ll happen for sure. There’s so much up in the air that he might actually slip into “the dark side.” All in all, it makes for a really comprehensive rising action you can’t not praise.

I have say that this was a solid show from Accel World, though I say it begrudgingly. Not my speed, but still entertaining. Maybe it’ll be better as a rewatch later…

GO Rating: 4/5