u/MyNameIsNotAJ

Probably a dumb question, but compared to Sinon and Leafa, who both get logged in looking like their GGO and ALO avatars respectively, why doesn't Asuna have her blue hair instead of keeping her usual chestnut hair?

Everyone who came from ALO retaining their avatars makes sense, as they converted their characters, but I don't recall any mention of Sinon or Leafa converting theirs, and I assume Asuna didn't either.

https://preview.redd.it/vy5y4di17oth1.png?width=386&format=png&auto=webp&s=805ae1c24b75ecbe206ba943142bf41799b1b773

https://preview.redd.it/jzhq4y5eeznh1.png?width=492&format=png&auto=webp&s=2b6d2f9ab9dcc61e73ebff122eeca98c22210dc4

https://preview.redd.it/8t525vnyn7dh1.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=305d7d473588f40283a0f1861989f409bfb299c3

I'm really enjoying the variety of character pairings in UR so far. After around 12 volumes of most of the characters being separated from each other because of the Underworld, it's honestly so refreshing to have everyone together again, working towards a goal.

Ruis Na Ríg is a really cool main base of operations, and I'm a bit sad that they'll eventually have to leave it to head toward the centre of the world.

https://preview.redd.it/31it4ho2a3bh1.png?width=2190&format=png&auto=webp&s=e5c9cf4a23901677a7728ef589652fe0b057d30b

I still have no idea how Grian managed to make 110 episodes during Season 6...

So I'm about halfway through Unital Ring 3 at the moment, and something has been kinda bugging me about Kirito's character, and it's that it really doesn't feel like his time in the Underworld has affected him that much. Everything with the UR is obviously distracting everyone a lot more, but I feel like Kirito is acting too... normal.

At the beginning of Alicization, Kirito gets trapped in the Underworld for 2 and a half years. I don't think he recalls a lot of the 6 months while he was comatose, but 2 years is a lot of time to be away from your family, friends and the girl you want to marry. He spent more time with Eugeo than in Aincrad and in the real world post-SAO. Despite this, it's rarely mentioned and his upcoming birthday is still being branded as his 18th, despite mentally almost being 20.

Kirito almost dies from cardiac arrest before waking up in the Underworld. He then goes on to almost die multiple times, loses Eugeo in a pretty traumatising way, and then gets his fluctlight fried, losing another 6 months of his life. Eventually, he does reunite with everyone, even if his reaction to seeing them again was still a little underwhelming.

After he leaves the Underworld and his memory of the 200 extra years gets erased, things just go back to normal for the most part. He gets that really nice moment with Suguha at the end of Lasting but aside from that, I don't feel like Kawahara has really tapped into the extent of Kirito's trauma from being away for so long.

Kirito is now 4 years behind the non-SAO players his age, and 2 years behind Asuna and the others. Surely his grades would take a hit, but it seems like everything is fine, allowing him to spend all of his time diving into UR. Grades probably aren't his highest priority, but surely his parents have a say, but I don't think they've even appeared so far.

Also, I know they were trying to save him, but I feel like Kirito should have been way angrier at Kikuoka. They practically kidnapped his dying body and took it out to sea, didn't tell his family where they were taking him, and accidentally got him trapped in the Underworld.

Finally, it doesn't feel like there's been any change in dynamics between him and any of his friends, aside from Alice being added to the group. I think it could be interesting to have him develop some kind of separation anxiety from people, mainly Asuna, now that they're in a sort of death game again.

Does anyone else feel this way about Kirito's character so far? I do think there are aspects of his character that have changed because of his time in the Underworld, and I am only halfway through part 3 so things might change. This wasn't supposed to slate Kirito's character, because I actually really like UR so far, but I feel like, for the situation he went through, there should have been more lasting effects present in parts 1 and 2.