Sword Art Online: War of Underworld Spanish dub review episodes 13-23

 Sword Art Online: War of Underworld 

Spanish dub review episodes 13-23 

    ¡Bienvenido! Welcome back to Learning Spanish With Anime! This entry will cover the final episodes of Sword Art Online's War of Underworld arc, which includes many of my favorite scenes in the entire series, and features some of the best performances yet from the Spanish dub actors. 

    Part 2 opens with the appearances of Sinon and Leafa in the Underworld. Sinon enters the battle right in Asuna's moment of need, rescuing her and the Human Empire soldiers, as well as Kirito in the wagon. Sinon's reunion with Kirito is equally touching in the Spanish dub, and Ronie's reaction was just as amusing when she notes, "Kirito tiene muchas amigas" ("Kirito has many (women) friends"), and so was the teasing reply from Sinon, "Sí, y no somos las unicas" ("Yes, and we're not the only ones"). Later, Asuna is shocked when Sinon mentions the abilities of her Solus account and asks, "¿Puedes volar?" ("You can fly?") This leads them to form a plan where Asuna's team will hold off the red knights while Sinon flies ahead to assist Bercouli in saving Alice. 

    On the other side of the battlefield, Leafa has a rather unceremonious but hilarious entrance as she falls from the sky and lands right next to orc leader Lilpilin. Although his first instinct is to take her prisoner and bring her to the emperor, Leafa's kind and inquisitive nature causes him to drop his guard despite his prejudice against humans for looking down on him in the past. Leafa's response to Lilpilin, "Pero eres tú una persona" ("But you are a person"), is slightly different from the original dialogue in which she calls him a "human", but I feel this line works better and still maintains the heart of her message. The novel even has one instance where she used the term "person" instead of "human", so it's not a complete divergence from the source material. 

    Regardless, her intent is clear in how she views Lilpilin - "igual a mi" ("same as me"). This revelation leads him to break the seal of the right eye in order to help her fight DIL. Lilpilin does use the word "human" in this scene when he strikes back at the leader of the dark mages and gives Leafa an opportunity to finish the battle. With the overwhelming power of the Terraria account and Leafa's natural skill as a swordswoman, DIL is defeated at last. In the final line of this scene, Leafa calls Lilpilin a friend ("amigo"). 

   The battle between Bercouli and Vector was fantastic, as always. Gabriel's voice actor did a great job shifting from the tone he normally used when speaking to something more sinister, but at the same time bored by his opponent, which reflects Gabriel's true nature. Bercouli's VA showed a great range of emotion in this scene too, from his anger at Vector when he shouted "Por es tu culpa... Ahora muere, bastardo!" ("Because it's your fault... Now die, you bastard!") to his perfectly feigned confusion towards the end of the fight, and his kind words to Alice. Unfortunately, Sinon arrives too late to save Bercouli, and Alice breaks down in tears over her loss in another stunning performance. When Gabriel awakens in the real world following his defeat and finds out PoH returned to the Underworld using his own personal account, he says he also wants to go back in. ("Yo también quiero volver a entrar.")

    At the battleground in the ruins, a large group of MMO players from Japan appear to aid Asuna and the Human Empire's army, which was desperately fending off the American players. Asuna's words when she finds out Yui was a major driving force behind this plan were very sweet - "Muy bien hecho, hija mía." ("Very well done, my daughter.") Renly meeting Liz and Silica was another rare wholesome moment during the war. At first, he approaches with caution and asks, "¿De dónde vienen estos caballeros?" ("Where do these knights come from?") The casual, cheerful introductions from the girls and the relief in Renly's voice when he realized there are other kind people like Asuna from the real world were a perfect portrayal of this scene.

    Just as Asuna and friends are beginning to feel like they can win their battle, PoH arrives on the same battlefield with a team of Chinese and Korean players which vastly outnumbered hers. They quickly overpower the combined Japanese players and Human Empire soldiers, and after they are all captured by PoH's army, Asuna convinces the people of the Underworld to surrender, pleading with them, "Ustedes tienen que vivir." ("You have to live.") When Asuna asks what PoH wants, his words and tone of voice in the Spanish dub, "¿Qué no es obvio?" ("What is not obvious?"), match the original dialogue very well, and his response to Asuna's shock that his goal all along was to drive Kirito and other players to kill in SAO was delivered with the same enthusiasm - "Sí, por supuesto que sí."

    PoH's background story was also portrayed very well in the Spanish dub. Many of his lines as a teenager are direct translations of the original or very close to it, and his voice actor perfectly captured his sarcastic, guarded comebacks during this scene when he asked what his father was doing here ("¿Qué haces aquí?") and his reply after being told about his half brother, "Ese no es mi problema." ("That's not my problem.") Young PoH's reaction as the conversation slowly builds to the real reason behind his father's sudden visit, "¿Y qué?" literally means "And what?" which is very similar to a common English phrase among teenagers, "So what?" When the truth is revealed, PoH's words "¿Así quiere eso?" ("So you want that?") which vary from the English dub drive home the implication that he knew his father wanted something but was still shocked when he found out exactly what that was.

    His father's response surprised me in how close it was to the light novels. Rather than the previous anime dialogues which presented the situation as blackmail, in the Spanish dub he says in no uncertain terms, "No puedes negarte." ("You can't refuse.") This portrayal feels much more accurate to the original story, where PoH made it clear that he wasn't given a choice.' 

    I was happy to hear Asuna's heartfelt prayer for Kirito to awaken used nearly identical phrasing in Spanish as in English, "Tú tienes mi corazón, mi vida, todo lo que tengo." ("You have my heart, my life, everything I have.") Kirito's line at the end of the episode, where he's shown in his dream state, is also the same, "¿Todo fue un sueño?" ("Was it all a dream?")

    The scene where Asuna's memory of Yuuki encourages her to fight is just as impactful in the Spanish dub, with a beautiful line from Yuuki - "Tienes que proteger a la persona que amas." ("You have to protect the person you love.") When Kirito awakens at last, Asuna greets him with the familiar phrase "Bienvenido, Kirito." ("Welcome, Kirito.") His response is another great example of my favorite couple's more romantic dialogue in the Spanish dub -  "Hola, amor. Ya estoy de vuelta." ("Hello, love. Now I'm back.") 

    PoH's dialogue with Kirito during their fight also stays very close to the original, using the same phrasing on many occasions, and even when they vary slightly, his lines still have the same spirit as the ones I've watched so many times. As the battle begins, he warns Kirito "Si no peleas en serio, mi deceptionarás" ("If you don't fight seriously, you'll disappoint me") and later boasts "Si no quieres hacerlo y prefieres morir, está bien. No te preocupes." ("If you don't want to do it and prefer to die, that's fine. Don't worry.") Once Kirito turns the tides and begins to power up his sword when PoH is unable to do the same, he delivers one line with the same frustration in his voice as in the English dub - "¡Hijo de perra!" ("Son of a bitch!") I've learned a few colorful phrases from PoH since I started watching the Spanish dub, and this one was the most fun to spot then play again just to make sure he really said what I thought he did. 

    The translation choices continued to be great throughout Kirito's fight against Gabriel, starting with Kirito's fading resolve when surrounded by Gabriel's powerful Incarnation. The only answer he can come up with for the question of his own name is "No puedo recordarlo" ("I can't remember it"), but after a little encouragement from Eugeo, he announces himself as "Kirito el espadachín" ("Kirito the swordsman") and then asks Gabriel "¿Cuál es tu nombre?" ("What is your name?") Gabriel's response in the Spanish dub makes an interesting distinction by saying "Mi nombre real es..." ("My real name is...") when the original version, even the novel, only implies he gave his real name without saying it outright. Gabriel's voice becomes truly chilling after his avatar transforms into an angel of death and he threatens to steal "tus recuerdos, tu corazón, y toda tu alma" ("your memories, your heart, and all your soul").

    At the end of the battle, Kirito says the same farewell to Eugeo that he used following their fight against Administrator on the top floor of Central Cathedral, "Hasta siempre, hermano." Meanwhile, Asuna informs Dr. Koujiro through the control panel of her intent to stay by Kirito's side in the Underworld, having realized there was something he wasn't telling her. She expressed her desire for the Rath team to protect Alice, saying she is a sweet girl ("ella es una chica dulce") and then offers her final message before the max acceleration phase begins, "Todos... Por favor... Perdoname." ("Everyone... Please... Forgive me.") In the original, her words were, "Thank you. I'm sorry. Goodbye." 

    When Kirito is surprised to find Asuna waiting at the World's End Altar, she says she already knew ("ya lo sabía") and asks him, "¿Por cuánto tiempo estaremos en este mundo?" ("How long will we be in this world?") Of course, his answer doesn't worry her, as they're just happy to be together again ("juntos otra vez"). Their reunion in the real world later is equally adorable, with Kirito greeting Asuna and calling her pretty ("Hola, bonita") in another example of the Spanish dialogue between couples being more openly romantic.

    Even now that the battle is over and he knows he's safe, the memory of Eugeo still weighs heavily on Kirito's mind, and he breaks down in tears after returning to his home. Suguha's lines as she comforted Kirito were just as touching in the Spanish dub, "Puedes hablar conmigo, hermano" ("You can talk to me, brother"), and encourages him to open up to her about his experiences there, all the good and bad in the world ("todo lo bueno y lo malo del mundo"). 

    Soon after, Alice disappears from Rath and shows up at his home in hilarious fashion. Just like in Alicization, she and Kirito have great banter. The scene where Alice speaks with his dad was comedy gold as well. When she calls Kirito the greatest swordsman in their world, he acknowledges this by saying that Kirito is a great hero in this world too ("Él es un gran héroe en este mundo también") and then using his old nickname from SAO, much to Kirito's shock. However, the very best part of the exchange was Alive addressing Kirito's dad as "suegro", which means "father-in-law". In the English dub, she simply said "father", but this makes her intent even more clear rather than just hinting at it.

    The reason Alice showed up is because she insists she needs to talk to Kirito in person ("necesito hablar contigo en persona"). After hearing her concerns, Kirito reassures her about her place and purpose in this world and how he sees her - "Tú eres mi esperanza. Pero no solamente para mi. Todos confiamos en ti. Tu eres nuestra esperanza." ("You are my hope. But not only for me. We all trust in you. You are our hope.") His words, and a brief sword fight, are enough to convince Alice that she can live in this world ("Yo puedo vivir en este mundo").

    This entry ends the Sword Art Online: Alicization & War of Underworld review series! Check out my translation guide below for common and key phrases from this episode. I'm planning an expansion for my blog soon which will include more anime reviews, comparisons between light novels/manga and their anime adaptations, and also continue my Learning Spanish With Anime series, so I hope you'll enjoy reading. ¡Hasta luego!

 

Voice Acting: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Translated Script: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommended Proficiency: Moderate/Intermediate

Key phrases: 

• Genera todos los elementos - Generate all elements
• Nuestros corazones están unidos - Our hearts are united
• Se buscan voluntarios - Volunteers wanted (the message PoH instructed Critter to post online seeking reinforcements from China & Korea)
• Matando a todos - Killing everyone (variations of this phrase are used several times throughout the season)
• Muchas gracias por tu servicio - Thank you very much for your service (Sheyta to her dragon, Yoiyobi)
• Simplamente no puedo morir - I just can't die (Leafa describing the Terraria account's healing abilities, both a blessing and a curse) 
• ¿Sabes qué es la fuerza? - Do you know what strength is? (Iskahn when the sky in the Dark Territory turns black and the stars representing the hopes of everyone in the Underworld begin to appear)
• Un sueño para proteger - A dream to protect (Kirito and Kikuoka both consider the Underworld to be this)

Common phrases:  

• Aún así - Even so
• Tengo esperanza - I have hope
• Cuenta con nosotros - Count on us
• Levántate ya - Get up now
• Voy a entrar - I'm going in
• No voy a perder - I'm not going to lose
• No es así - It's not like that
• Espera un poco - Wait a bit
• No te atrevas - Don't you dare
• Creo que si - I think so
• Estamos bien, ¿verdad? - We're fine, right?
• ¿Qué dices? - What are you saying?
• Pero no esta vez - But not this time
• Es mi nombre de jugador - It's my player name
• No tienes que ayudar - You don't have to help 
• ¿Ellos verdad están aquí? - They are really here?
• Claro que si. Aquí estamos. - Of course. Here we are.
• ¿Usted conoce a estas personas? - Do you know these people?
• Mucho gusto / Encantada de conocerte - Nice to meet you
• Es un placer conocerte - It's a pleasure to meet you
• El placer es mío - The pleasure is mine
• Eso me recuerda... - That reminds me...
• Oye, hablando de eso... - Hey, speaking of that...
•  ¿Estás comiendo bien? - Are you eating well?
• Seguramente no me conoces - Surely you don't know me
• Es justo lo que esperaba - It's just what I expected 
• No tengo otra opción - I do not have any other option 
• No tienes que disculparte de nada - You don't have to apologize for anything
• ¿Estás allí? ¿Me escuchas? - Are you there? Can you hear me?

Sword Art Online: War of Underworld Spanish dub episodes 4-7 review

 Sword Art Online: War of Underworld

Spanish dub episodes 4-12 review

    ¡Bienvenido! Welcome back to Learning Spanish With Anime! While I was still in the process of rewatching this season, it was unfortunately removed from Crunchyroll due to licensing changes, and I was unable to finish. However, I did have the chance to watch War of Underworld's Spanish dub nearly a year ago. My Spanish back then wasn't quite at the level it is now, but I will still be able to finish this review series based on memory, the notes I took from my first viewing, and video clips that I managed to find on YouTube. As a result, the reviews for the rest of this season won't be as in depth as the previous ones, and will be completed in two halves with this entry covering the remainder of part one, and the next covering part two. 

Gabriel as Emperor Vector and PoH as a Dark Knight

        Following the end of the previous episode, in which Gabriel and PoH logged into the Underworld as Emperor Vector and a high level Dark Knight, the representatives of each faction in the Dark Territory are summoned before them. Although most seem excited by the concept of war, Gabriel realizes that not every fluctlight will blindly follow his lead when Shasta declares, "Antes de ofrecer mi espada, tengo una pregunta." ("Before I offer my sword, I have a question.") Gabriel, skillfully playing the part of the emperor, responds with what he seeks -  "Sangre y terror. Fuego y destrucción. Muerte y gritos." ("Blood and terror. Fire and destruction. Death and screams.") This line was delivered with the same impact as the original, and the exact same wording as well. 

    It's interesting that Shasta asks what Gabriel seeks because the meaning of his player name in GGO, Subtilizer, can be translated as "one who seeks", and we see exactly what that is in a flashback to his childhood. Young Gabriel was fascinated by the idea of the human soul, and his clear, thoughtful speech is very easy to understand even for someone still learning the language, which makes it all the more unnerving to hear word for word when this child delivers lines like, "Los humanos no pueden vivir sin sus cabezas." ("Humans can't live without their heads.") After young Gabriel is shown killing his childhood friend Alicia in this flashback scene, he expresses interest in doing the "experiment" again with much enthusiasm, saying "¡Quiero ver mucho más!" ("I want to see much more!") Gabriel reminisces about this event while looking forward to continuing the experiment when he finds Alice, who has been overlapped with the memory of Alicia in his mind. His line here is also a direct translation of the original, "Tu alma será dulce." ("Your soul will be sweet.")

    PoH's dialogue with Gabriel in response to the suggestion that he might need to make speeches to his subordinates also makes it clear why he signed up for this mission, "No me interesa en esas estupideces. Yo quiero solo atacar." ("I'm not interested in that stupidity. I just want to attack.") Interestingly, some of his lines are a little more vague as to his intent in the Spanish dub, like when he asks, "¿Crees que puedo dar un pequeño paseo por el centro ahora mismo?" ("Do you think I can take a little walk downtown right now?") The English dub uses the phrase "blow off steam", which is a little less innocent than a walk, but it does match up closely with the original Japanese dialogue. His comment about "las mujeres y la sangre" ("the women and blood") in place of his "women and murder" line from Japanese and English does seem like he's being intentionally vague and making a direct reference to Gabriel's line regarding blood and pain in the Underworld. It adds a layer of mystery not present in the original, like he doesn't want to tell Gabriel everything, and is very reminiscent of a later conversation they had in the novel which was not adapted into the anime where Gabriel questioned his reasons for coming. 

    When Gabriel arrived in the Underworld as Emperor Vector and made his declaration of war, the residents of the Dark Territory raised a cheer for the emperor's conquest against the Human Empire, "¡Larga vida al emperador!" ("Long live the emperor!") At the end of the episode, they do the same, but out of fear for his power this time after seeing Shasta's incredible assassination attempt fail, led by Dark Mage leader DIL shouting "¡Larga vida al rey!" ("Long live the king!")

    The Human Empire is preparing for war too, and Alice knows they are running out of time when she shows up at the army camp with Kirito. Although Eldrie has concerns about her ability to fight while protecting Kirito, Bercouli doesn't seem worried. After a test of clashing Incarnate power, Bercouli reassures Alice, "Su corazón no está en este lugar, pero no está muerto." ("His heart is not in this place, but his soul is not dead.") 

    This episode had some very heartfelt scenes, first when Ronie and Tiese broke down in tears upon learning the fates of Kirito and Eugeo and were consoled by Alice, and later when Eldrie begged Alice not to speak as though this would be the last time they see each other. Brilliant performances all around, especially the emotion in Eldrie's voice. 

    The voice acting in the opening scenes of the war are fantastic. Deusolbert in the Spanish dub sounds very reminiscent of his English dub performance with clear, direct speech and a strong conviction. His promise to the faint memory of his wife was heartfelt, "Lo protegeré con mi vida." ("I will protect it with my life.") 

    I was also quite impressed with the goblin and orc voices in the Spanish dub. Even as someone who is still learning the language, I found their voices easy to understand. The goblin leaders in particular are chilling when they deliver their threats, such as Shiburi calling Deusolbert and humans "carne" ("meat"). Interestingly, the voice of orc leader Lilpilin appeared to be the same as any other human, in contrast to the English dub and the light novels where he and the other orcs are shown to have difference speech patterns. 

    As far as the demihuman residents of the Underworld, the best performance was given by Sigurosig, the leader of the giants. The scene where his fluctlight overloaded and broke down was just as chilling in the Spanish dub, as he started repeating the phrase "No puede ser" ("It can't be") which then devolved into broken speech during his fight with Fanatio. 

    Iskahn and Sheyta's first battle was an excellent adaptation, with great chemistry between the two of them. Their voices and tone both match well with the English dub, and their banter was very fun to watch. Iskahn's opening line is a nearly direct translation of the original when he meets Sheyta on the battlefield, "¿Quien eres tú, y que estás haciendo aquí?" ("Who are you, and what are you doing here?") He also has a great, entirely new comeback when he joked that Sheyta wouldn't be able to prevent a child from passing through. ("Tú no podrías impedir que paso un niño.")

     Later in the same episode, the confrontation between PoH and Ronie has a somewhat mixed translation. The scene starts off with a good adaptation of PoH's lines, some of them even literal translations like "matando el tiempo" ("killing time") or slightly different wording that still captures the spirit of the original dialogue as seen in his reaction to being faced with a whole squad of soldiers to fight, "¡Perfecto! ¡Esto es lo que quería!" ("Perfect! This is what I wanted!") and also his orders to the Dark Knights, "¡Vamos a divertirnos!" ("Let's have fun!") However, the choice to change his lines during the fight itself was a poor choice, in my opinion - while the original dialogue focused on PoH's excitement for player-killing and made no derisive comments towards Ronie or her combat abilities, the Spanish dub places emphasis on referring to her as a helpless girl, which couldn't be further from the truth. Even though she was outclassed by PoH's years of experience in life or death battle, she nearly caught him off guard (which he even admitted to himself in the novel) and successfully defended against his first few sword strikes. So far, this is the only time I've totally disagreed with a translation choice. 

    Asuna's arrival in the Underworld is met with even more hostility from Alice in the Spanish dub when she enters the scene and demands to know, "¿Quién demonios eres tú?" ("Who the hell are you?") Asuna's response is portrayed with the same emotion and in many cases the same words, like her declaration that "Kirito es mío." ("Kirito is mine.") Bercouli, as always, was totally smooth as he convinced the two to talk things out, and his VA captures his relaxed tone of voice well. Ronie's VA also did a great job with her adorably awkward request to join Asuna and Alice in sharing their stories about Kirito, "Me gustaría saber más sobre él." ("I would like to know more about him.")

    The battle begins the next day with a face off between the Human Guardian army and a group of pugilists and Dark Knights who managed to cross the canyon Asuna created when she appeared in the Underworld, but thanks to a daring leap of faith from Iskahn, an alliance is formed between them and his pugilists. The determination in his voice and this declaration make it clear that he no longer intends to serve Emperor Vector if he can help it, "Mi gente y yo ya podemos hacer lo que queramos." ("My people and I can now do what we want.") 

    Meanwhile, back in the real world, PoH wakes up and slowly remembers the details of Asuna dropping his Dark Knight account down a hole and knocking him out of the Underworld, but seeing a familiar face from Aincrad only excites him. Despite my issues with the translation of his dialogue in an earlier episode, PoH's VA always does a good job portraying the excitement in his voice as well as the hint that he's planning something. His lines in this scene are very similar to the originals, like his reaction to Asuna's presence in the Underworld, "¡Es mi día de suerte!" ("It's my lucky day!") and his remark about the account he plans to dive back in with, "Tengo una perfecta para jugar." ("I have a perfect one to play.")

    Check out my translation guide below for common and key phrases from this episode, and stay tuned for my next blog post, which will cover the remaining episodes of the War of Underworld arc. ¡Hasta luego!  

Voice Acting: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Translated Script: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommended Proficiency: Intermediate

Key phrases: 

• Comandante de los caballeros - Commander of the Knights, or simply Knight Commander (Shasta's title in the Spanish dub, instead of "General" used in English, which mirrors Bercouli's title as Integrity Knight Commander)
• Destruido en la última fase - Destroyed in the last phase (the message written on the gate between the Human Realm and the Dark Territory) 
• Magos oscuros - Dark mages 
• La noche antes de la batalla - The night before the battle
• La persona más fuerte de este mundo - The strongest person in this world (Fanatio says this about Bercouli)
• Mejor espadachín de todo los tiempos - Best swordsman of all time (Alice later says this about Kirito) 

Common phrases: 

• Ya veo - I see
• Hasta ahora - Until now
• Hermosa vista - Beautiful view
• Despierta, cariño - Wake up, darling
• ¿Quieres jugar? - Do you want to play? 
• Podrías hacerlo - You could do it
• Ya comenzó - It already started
• Vamos a ver - We'll see
• No era un tarea fácil - It was not an easy task
• Eso es todo por ahora - That's all for now
• Yo siempre vuelvo - I always come back 
• ¿Como te diste cuenta? - How did you realize?
• Entonces ire a dormir un poco - Then I'll go get some sleep 
• ¡Este es nuestro momento! - This is our moment!
• Por exemplo, como eso - For example, like this
• Asi es, soy yo - That's right, it's me (a more direct translation of the first half of this phrase would be "it is so") 
• Es un maldito imbécil - He's a damn imbecile (PoH calls Critter a variety of insults, including this one)

*All images are from Sword Art Online: War of Underworld, screenshots taken by me

Sword Art Online: War of Underworld Spanish dub episodes 0-3 review

 Sword Art Online: War of Underworld 

Spanish dub episodes 0-3 review

    ¡Bienvenido! Welcome back to Learning Spanish With Anime! This entry begins my review series for Sword Art Online's War of Underworld arc following the cliffhanger ending on the last episode of Alicization. 

    The first surprise to me was that the recap episode, which sums up the events of the Alicization arc from Asuna and Alice's point of view, was actually dubbed in Spanish when it hasn't even been dubbed in English. There's no new content here, but it is a nice reminder of the key plot points moving into the next arc.

"Este es el mundo que tu salvaste." ("This is the world that you saved.") - Alice

    The scenes set in Rulid village during the Alicization arc were some of my favorites to watch in Spanish, and the same is true for the opening episode of War of Underworld when Alice returns with Kirito, who never quite recovered from the events of the finale. The dialogue between Alice and Selka is perfect for anyone still learning the language because their casual conversations focused mainly on their everyday life in the village are very easy to follow, and Rulid itself is one of the most beautiful, iconic locations in the anime. 

    The events of the last six months are summed up during a brief flashback sequence, showing how Alice and Kirito came to have a home just outside the village border. Somehow, hearing the village elder tell his daughter to go away ("vete") sounded even more harsh in the Spanish dub than it did in English. Although it was only half a year since their brave stand against Administrator, Alice has spent several months around people who show indifference and cruelty towards her and Kirito, and now her bitter tone of voice has none of the same resolve as she remarks to the comatose Kirito that she doesn't understand why they fight to protect these people. ("No entiendo por que peleamos para proteger esta gente.") 

"Este pueblo será su tumba." ("This town will be your grave.") - Alice 

    After a short meeting with Eldrie, in which he gives an impassioned speech begging Alice to return for the coming war and she refuses on the basis that she no longer feels able to fight, her resolve is tested by an attack on the village. The knowledge that her sister is in danger and the sight of Kirito trying in vain to stand and protect Rulid moved Alice to vow that she will fight in his place. ("Yo pelearé en tu lugar.")

    Although many of the townspeople are reluctant to follow her direction at first, even going so far as to accuse her of being a witch ("una bruja"), Alice reveals at last that she is a knight and protects the village from a horde of invading goblins and orcs. Alice's threats are delivered with an inspiring strength of will that sends the (remaining) invaders running. One thing I've really enjoyed about using anime to supplement my Spanish study is learning cool lines like the one Alice says here. 

    It was heartwarming to see Alice's father begin to accept her again after the revelation that she's an Integrity Knight. His line during this scene, "Cuidate mucho, hija", which translates to "Be very careful, daughter", is much more personal and a notable difference from both the English and Japanese versions where he calls her "milday" or "lady knight".

    Back in the real world, as the assault team led by Gabriel infiltrates the Ocean Turtle, Asuna and the Rath team have retreated to the sub control room. Asuna's voice actress did very well portraying her sudden shift in emotions as she went from fiercely interrogating Kikuoka to feeling exhausted and overwhelmed by the situation. 

    Higa's dialogue when he explains the decision making process that has been damaged in Kirito's mind is mostly easy to follow even with an intermediate grasp of the Spanish language because he uses a very simple concept to illustrate his point to Rinko - deciding whether or not to have an extra serving at her favorite restaurant. Interestingly, the food in question is called "beef bowl" in the original, and in the Spanish dub, it's translated as "arroz con carne" (literally, "rice with meat") - which seems to be a specific variation of the dish.

     Meanwhile, the assault team in the main control room is busy preparing for their next move, which involves Gabriel and PoH entering the Underworld as Emperor Vector (the super account of the "lost children of Vector" myth) and a high level dark knight. The bickering between PoH and Critter, the team's hacker, is just as much fun to watch in the Spanish dub. PoH's nickname for Critter translates literally into Spanish ("cuatro ojos" = "four eyes"), and many of his remarks are very close to the original lines, such as "Atrévete a repetirlo" when he's daring Critter to repeat himself and "Solo quería darle una lección a este gusano." ("I just wanted to teach this worm a lesson.")    

    A few lines of dialogue were actually spoken in English, just like in the original Japanese version, such as Critter's "Yes, boss" and Gabriel saying "Your soul will be so sweet" in Sinon's flashback to the Gun Gale Online tournament. However, at the end of episode 3's opening scene, Gabriel is speaking in Spanish when he says he hopes Alice's soul will be delicious.  

This adorable proposal is interrupted by the arrival of Gabriel and PoH in the Underworld! 

    Just before Gabriel and PoH log in, we're introduced to two new characters in the Dark Territory - Shasta, leader of the Dark Knights, and his second in command Lipia. Their discussion shows that the Dark Territory is only now becoming aware of Administrator's death at the end of Alicization, and Shasta plans to use this opportunity to initiate peace talks with Bercouli (whom he refers to as "el viejo Bercouli" or "the old (man) Bercouli"), though Lipia objects to the dangerous idea of taking down the leader of the Dark Mages first claiming that it's madness ("es una locura"). Then Shasta completely stuns her with a surprise marriage proposal.

    Shasta's proposal to Lipia - "¿Te gustaria casarte conmigo?" ("Would you like to marry me?") - sounds even more romantic in the Spanish translation when compared to the original Japanese line ("Isn't it about time you officially became my wife?") and the English dub version ("make it official and become husband and wife"), but his tone of voice still gives the same impression that he's uncertain about her answer. Shasta's dialogue sounds more romantic in general, with him even calling Lipia "love" when he asks her how many years they've been together. ("¿Hace cuántos años que estamos juntos, amor?")

    Now that all of the major players are entering the Underworld (or preparing to), the war this arc was named for is about to begin. Check out my translation guide below for common and key phrases from this episode, and stay tuned for my next blog post, which will continue my weekly reviews for the War of Underworld arc. ¡Hasta luego! 

Voice Acting: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Translated Script: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommended Proficiency: Moderate/Intermediate

Key phrases:

• ALO - the abbreviation for ALfheim Online is read as a single word (which sounds like "ah-lo") rather than pronouncing individual letters, the same as SAO 
• Alma humana - Human soul (look, it's Gabriel's favorite phrase)
• El jefe de la guardia - The head of the guard
• La sala principal - The main room (control room taken over by Gabriel's team during the raid)
• Caballero oscuro - Dark knight (PoH's avatar, as well as the faction of knights in the Dark Territory led by Shasta) 
• Las artes oscuras - The dark arts (used in reference to the dark mages) 

Common phrases: 

• Come - Eat
• ¡Basta! - Enough! / Stop!
• Toma asiento - Take a seat
• Estoy de acuerdo - I agree
• Hace mucho frío - It's very cold
• Eso lo entiendo - I understand that
• ¿Estás cansado? - Are you tired?
• ¿Te gustaría ir? - Would you like to go?
• Qué hermoso lugar - What a beautiful place
• ¡Eso es tan emocionante! - That's so exciting!
• Entonces a trabajar - Then (get) to work 
• Esto es tu culpa - This is your fault
• Es demasiado peligroso - It's too dangerous
• ¿Oye, dónde estan todos? - Hey, where is everyone? 
• No tenemos tiempo ahora para eso - We don't have time for that now
• No hay tiempo para explicaciones - There is no time for explanations
• Necesitamos resultados, no excusas - We need results, not excuses
• ¿Qué está aquí? ¿Cómo me encontraste? - What are you doing here? How did you find me?
• ¡Atención todo el mundo! - Attention, everyone! (Literally, "Attention, all the world!") 
• Ya me encargo - the literal translation is "I'm already in charge", but it's more commonly used to mean "I'll take care of it/I've got this" 

*All images from Sword Art Online: War of Underworld, screenshots taken by me

Sword Art Online: Alicization Spanish dub episodes 22-24 review (finale)

 Sword Art Online: Alicization

Spanish dub episodes 22-24 (finale)

    ¡Bienvenido y Feliz Año Nuevo! Welcome back to Learning Spanish With Anime, and Happy New Year! This is the final batch of Alicization episodes before War of Underworld, and it's been a lot of fun rewatching my favorite series again in my second language. 

   The battle against Chudelkin that served as a cliffhanger at the end of the previous episode came to a swift end shortly after this one began in a beautiful show of special effects, but the main focus of the episode is a confrontation with Administrator. Alice's voice actress excells in scenes of raw emotion like this, and Kirito's cool and clever dialogue provided a good balance. However, Administrator realizes the truth about Kirito as well and makes an accusation of her own - "Eres un humano del mundo exterior." ("You are a human from the outside world.")

    Kirito tried to reason with her, warning her about all of the things that would be lost if the Dark Territory's invasion is successful due to her own arrogance - "Las montañas. Los rios. Los pueblos. Las ciudades. Todas las personas incluyéndote." ("The mountains. The rivers. The villages. The cities. All people including you.") Instead, Administrator reveals a creation of her own intended for this very purpose, The Sword Titan. Kirito recognizes it for what it is, an automated weapon ("un arma automatizada"), but Eugeo is the first to realize it's connection to the fragments of memory embedded in the ceiling of the cathedral. Administrator boasts that it's a machine of death and destruction ("una máquina de muerte y destrucción"), and when it proves too much to handle, Cardinal steps in to protect them.

      Administrator takes pleasure in the fact that Cardinal can't fight the Sword Titan due to the presence of its human soul, and her mocking tone and maniacal laugh fit her personality so well. Her VA really showed the depths of her character in this scene as Administrator acted amused by their struggle, like a game of cat and mouse, until finally losing her cool when she realized she might be in danger. Likewise, Cardinal's outrage upon hearing Administrator's plan and the sense of helplessness that followed displayed a good range of emotion for a character who is usually shown to be calm and collected. All of the voice actors in SAO so far seem to have great chemistry and play off of each other's performances nicely. 
    However, for anyone still learning the language, the detailed explanations related to the Sword Titan, fluctlights and the system itself during episodes 22 and 23 can be a lot to take in. Administrator and Cardinal's rapid fire dialogue moves from one big reveal to the next in record time, and may require multiple viewings to catch all of the important information.  

"¡Tus rayos no tienen efecto sobre mi!" ("Your lightning has no effect on me!") - Alice holding the line during Eugeo's transformation

    Through the same technique Administrator used to create the Sword Titan, Eugeo asks Cardinal to fuse him with the Blue Rose sword before she dies so that he can fight back. The drastic shift in Administrator's voice and speech when she realized she's in trouble is a good indication of her mental state, and her VA did a great job shifting from her former pompous attitude to her desperate shrieks of, "¡Te voy a matar!" ("I'm going to kill you!")

    Although Eugeo managed to wound Administrator, the grave injuries that he suffered shocked Kirito to his core. He sounds absolutely heartbroken in this scene when he tries in vain to heal Eugeo with sacred arts and cries out, "Por favor, funciona!" ("Please, work!") It was especially emotional when he said "Eres mi mejor amigo! Eres mi hermano!" ("You're my best friend! You're my brother!") because this line is different from both the English and Japanese dialogue - here, Kirito calls him "brother". 

"Ahora, salvemos a Alice juntos." ("Now, let's save Alice together.") - Eugeo

    This is one of the things I love about the Spanish dub. Kirito and Eugeo always say they're best friends in the English and Japanese versions, and in the Spanish dub as well, but hearing them call each other "brother" adds even more depth to their relationship and really drives home the reason why Kirito was so devastated by this loss. Eugeo was more than just a friend; he was like family, the only one Kirito had during his two years in the Underworld. 

    When Eugeo says goodbye to Kirito, he uses the phrase, "Hasta siempre, hermano" - also calling him "brother". Literally, the words "hasta siempre" translate to "until always", but the meaning behind it implies a farewell that is likely permanent (or at least implies a very long time apart). It pairs really well with the "stay cool" phrase Kirito taught to Eugeo, which he uses again here, and the way Kirito explained it's not used as a casual goodbye. 

    Kirito, snapped out of his shocked state by Alice jumping between him and Administrator to protect him and Eugeo's encouragement, proceeds to battle the ruler of the Underworld and wins, but not without taking significant damage himself. After a heartfelt goodbye, Eugeo and the memory of young Alice depart while reassuring Kirito, "Estaremos contigo para siempre." ("We will be with you forever.")

    Now that the battle is over, Kirito examines the control panel summoned by Administrator and establishes a link to the real world at last. However, he finds out that not all is well for the Rath team on the other side...

Two familiar faces from the GGO scene in the first episode - PoH (left) and Gabriel (right)

    A brief shift back to the real world gives us a glimpse of the assault team attacking the Ocean Turtle, along with the two main antagonists of the following War of Underworld arc. PoH's relaxed, confident tone of voice even as the sounds of gunfire ring out in the background fits the leader of Laughing Coffin very well. I loved the translation of his line for the Spanish dub - "Sí, yo lo se, bro. No es mi primera vez." ("Yeah, I know, bro. It's not my first time.") When compared to the lines used in the English dub ("I know what to cut") and the original Japanese version ("I wouldn't mess up like that"), all three are great and portray the same kind of cool confidence, but the fact that he basically brags about having experience with breaking and entering in the Spanish dub adds an interesting layer to their dialogue. Ultimately, their actions in the real world result in a power surge which causes Kirito to fall unconscious.

    This concludes Sword Art Online: Alicization's Spanish dub. Check out my translation guide below for common and key phrases from this episode, and stay tuned for my next blog post, which will begin weekly reviews for the War of Underworld arc. ¡Hasta luego! 

Voice Acting: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Translated Script: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommended Proficiency: Intermediate/Advanced

Key phrases:

• El titán de la espada - The Sword Titan
• El fin del mundo - World's End (the place where Kikuoka tells Kirito to go with Alice, same name meaning as in English)
• Llamada al sistema. Remover protección del núcleo - System call. Remove core protection (this command is used before the synthesis ritual and before Eugeo's transformation)
• La técnica de cuatro golpes - The four strike technique (description given for multi-hit sword skills; number depends on the technique)

Common phrases: 

• Descansa - Rest
• ¿Esto es para mi? - This is for me? 
• Es mi oportunidad - It's my opportunity
• Entonces, vamos a pelear - Then let's fight
• Por fin termino - Finally finished
• O mejor dicho - Or rather/Or better said
• No te atrevas - Don't you dare
• Por supuesto que lo sabía - Of course he knew
• ¿Ahora lo entiendes? - Do you understand now?
• Levántate una vez más - Get up one more time 
• No importa las veces que cayas - It doesn't matter how many times you fall
• Dime, ¿quién es esta persona? - Tell me, who is this person?
• ¿Cómo puede ser tan insensible? - How can you be so insensitive?
• No puedo matar un humano - I can't kill a human
• ¿Eso es todo lo que tienes? - Is that all you have?
• ¿Qué crees que estás haciendo? - What do you think you're doing?

*All images from Sword Art Online: Alicization, screenshots taken by me

Sword Art Online: Alicization Spanish dub episodes 18.5-21 review

 Sword Art Online: Alicization

Spanish dub episodes 18.5-21 review

     ¡Bienvenido! Welcome back to Learning Spanish With Anime! We're getting close to the end now, and this group of episodes focuses a lot on the bonds between the main trio of the Alicization arc before setting up for the big battles to come in the finale.

    After a recap episode in which Kirito recounts the events of his Underworld journey to Alice, he also shared with her all of the information he learned from Eugeo about her past in Rulid village, as well as the secret they discovered about the Integrity Knights - that they were taken from their lives and had their memories stolen. When Kirito asks, "¿Recuerdas tu infancia, o tus padres?" ("Do you remember your childhood, or your parents?"), Alice cannot recall any memories of the distant past, not from her real childhood or the heavens the Integrity Knights were supposedly summoned from, according to the lies told by Administrator.

    Although Alice's memories have been sealed away, there are fragments that remain which are deeply tied with her emotions, much like Eldrie when Eugeo mentioned his mother's name. This was one of the most beautiful and emotional scenes in the whole series for me, when Alice describes the feelings in her heart from hearing her sister's name. "No puedo recordar su rostro ni siquiera su voz, pero estoy seguro que no es la primera vez que digo su nombre. Siento que mis labios y mi corazón la requerdan muy bien." ("I can't remember her face or even her voice, but I'm sure it's not the first time I've said her name. I feel that my lips and my heart remember her very well.")

    Alice's voice actress did a truly stunning job in this episode, portraying all of her emotions so well from her heartfelt sadness, her sobs as she mourned the life that was taken from her, to her rage against the system when she shouts into the night that she is not a puppet ("¡No soy una marioneta!") and declares her will to fight - and ultimately, her pained screams when she overcomes the seal of the right eye. It was a very moving performance. 

    Sadly, at the same time that Alice managed to free herself from the bonds of the seal, Eugeo became ensnared in Administrator's trap. Her calm, almost gleeful tone of voice when she planted morbid false memories in Eugeo's mind was chilling. Even as he lost the will to fight, the memories of Eugeo's loved ones called out to him before his recollection of them was sealed away, with little Alice pleading for him to run ("Corre!") and Tiese's final words of warning before a firewall formed between them, "No la escuches. Eso no es amor." ("Don't listen to her. That's not love.")

"Yo protegeré tu flanco derecho." ("I will protect your right flank.") - Kirito

    When Alice awakens from her traumatic experience and finds that Kirito had carried her up the next few floors on his back, her initial concern for him quickly turns to embarrassment and outrage. I really appreciate the way Alice's VA can switch from one emotion to another so well, going from subtlety to extremes. It's important in portraying a character like Alice, who has a great deal of inner conflict and still isn't sure how to feel about Kirito. 

    In an amusing twist which diverged from the original dialogue, he responds to Alice's question about carrying her up the tower with "Sí, lo hice pero no fue nada fácil" ("Yes, I did, but it wasn't easy") and then jokingly asks for a thank you kiss (a combination of the words "gracias" for thank you, and "besito" which means little kiss). Needless to say, Alice did not find it humorous. I thought it was kind of funny, but only because I knew he was kidding - Alice definitely seemed to have taken him seriously.

    While searching the higher floors of Central Cathedral for Eugeo, they are confronted with some unsettling truths - the first being that Bercouli has been frozen in place by Chudelkin, and Eugeo was taken. This was a nice calm but emotional scene before the more startling reveals, and I like Bercouli's nickname for Alice in the Spanish dub, "Pequeña", which means  "little one".

    The next shock comes when the two of them discover the source of the mysterious face that appears every time a taboo is broken, a room filled with people encased within pods attached to the wall, and Kirito asks if they are heads without bodies. ("¿Son cabezas sin cuerpo?") Alice is quick to point out that is not the case, but catching this line gave me a good laugh. Another point of interest in the Spanish dub is that Chudelkin's title is translated as "Dignatario" (meaning "Dignitary") rather than Prime Senator. The other senators - or, as Kirito refers to them, heads without (visible) bodies - are referred to as dignitaries as well. Alice's interrogation of Chudelkin was great, especially when she rejected the Synthesis title and insisted that she is not a number. ("¡No soy un numero!")

    When they find Eugeo at last, the moment is bittersweet because he appears as an Integrity Knight with his memories sealed. Even as Kirito asks "¿Recuerdas quién soy yo?" ("Do you remember who I am?") and tries to remind him "Soy tu mejor amigo" ("I'm your best friend"), he received little response from Eugeo. He also tried the same tactic he used with Alice when hanging from the ledge of the cathedral, calling her an idiot. ("¡Eres un imbécil, Eugeo!")

    After he provided so much strength and emotional support when Alice needed it, she is the one reassuring Kirito now that it won't be impossible to save him ("No será imposible salvarlo").

    Eugeo's voice actor does a great job showing how different and empty he is with all of his happy memories sealed away and only devotion to Administrator remaining. He sounds like a completely different person. Kirito engaged him in a fierce battle while desperately trying to remind him of all the people he cares about and his goal of saving Alice, pouring his heart and soul into his words and sword strikes.  

    When Eugeo activates his Enhance Armament and freezes Kirito and Alice in place, Kirito sounds absolutely heartbroken when he says "Amigo... ¿por qué?" unable to understand why Eugeo would do this when in fact, this was the moment when Kirito was finally able to get through to him. Eugeo's plan was to keep his friends safe while he faced Administrator alone.

    Well, that didn't work out the way he hoped, but it was heartwarming to see Kirito and Alice catch up with him, reuniting the main trio at last. It was awesome seeing Alice finally get to tell off Administrator too, further cementing the decision to fight against her and what she represents. The episode ends with the three of them preparing to fight Chudelkin, whose high pitched overly fanatical voice was harder to understand this time around during his outbursts of anger and groveling, now transformed into a giant creature made of flame elements (which sounds a lot cooler than it looks).

    Check out my translation guide below for common and key phrases from this episode, and stay tuned for more weekly episode reviews of Sword Art Online: Alicization's Spanish dub. My next blog post, which will conclude the Alicization storyline before moving into War of Underworld, will come during the first week of the new year. ¡Hasta luego! 

Voice Acting: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Translated Script: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommended Proficiency: Intermediate 

Key phrases: 

• La tierra prohibida - The forbidden land 
• El brazo de encarnación - Incarnate Arms (literally, "the arm of incarnation") 
• El sello del ojo derecho - The seal of the right eye
• Llamada al sistema. Genera elemento de sombra - System call. Generate shadow element

Common phrases: 

• Hace muchos años - Many years ago
• ¿Dónde estoy? - Where am I? 
• Es muy pronto - It's too early 
• Tú mismo lo dijiste - You said it yourself
• ¡No lo hagas! - Don't do it!
• Debes tener frio - You must be cold  
• Hola. ¿Cuánto tiempo? - Hello. How long (has it been)? 
• Ella siempre está preocupada por ti - She's always worried about you
• Por ahora es imposible - For now it is impossible
• Adelante, habla. No tengas miedo - Go ahead, talk. Don't be afraid

*All images are from Sword Art Online: Alicization, screenshots taken by me

Sword Art Online: Alicization Spanish dub episodes 15-18 review

 Sword Art Online: Alicization

Spanish dub episodes 15-18 review

    ¡Bienvenido! Welcome back to Learning Spanish With Anime! Picking up right where the previous episode left off, as Kirito and Eugeo continue to climb the floors of Central Cathedral following their victory against Deusolbert, they encounter two suspicious girls.

Linel and Fizel playing innocent

    The young girls claim to just be curious about the "intruders" in the cathedral, but their innocence was only an act, as Kirito and Eugeo soon find out when the girls stab them with poisoned daggers and introduce themselves as Linel Synthesis Twenty-Eight and Fizel Synthesis Twenty-Nine. My first impression was that Linel and Fizel sounded older in the Spanish dub, but it's probably a more realistic tone of voice for girls around eleven years old than the traditionally high-pitched voices we're used to hearing in anime. 

    As they drag the paralyzed Kirito and Eugeo up the stairs, Linel and Fizel explain the sordid story of their past, how they were the sole survivors of Administrator's experiments in the art of resurrection. The way they recount the tale with little emotion matches their portrayal in the English and Japanese voice acting, and so does Linel's cheerful attitude when she assures Eugeo, "Pero no se preocupen. Nosotras somos muy buenas matando gente." ("But don't worry. We're very good at killing people.")

    Linel and Fizel's plan to claim credit for taking down the intruders themselves backfired when Kirito turns the tables on them, and tells them to watch his battle with the Integrity Knight they mocked - Fanatio Synthesis Two.

    I was surprised to hear how deep Fanatio's voice sounded when she was wearing her helmet. Personally, I think it would have worked better for the reveal if it was simply difficult to determine the gender of the voice behind the mask, because I felt a voice change to that degree (with their lack of modification tech) was unrealistic, but that's the only criticism I have of the dub. Once the helmet comes off, Fanatio's voice fits her perfectly. 

    Fanatio's internal struggle was never as compelling to me as the stories of the other main Integrity Knights, but I enjoyed Kirito's clever realization that there must be someone Fanatio loves and hearing him say he was fighting so that she, and everyone including the Knights, could express her love ("expresar tu amor"). His admission that the best swordsmen he knows are women was great too.

"Quiero protegera todos en este mundo. A ti, Alice, y a ella también." ("I want to protect everyone in this world. You, Alice, and her too.") - Kirito

    When Fanatio was wounded by their battle, the absolute anguish in Kirito's voice at the knowledge that his sacred arts would not be enough to save her felt very real. So was Eugeo's surprise at Kirito's concern for his enemy as he reminds him, "Ella intentó matarte" ("She tried to kill you"), and his quiet reflection on Kirito's words that even the Integrity Knights are just fighting for what they believe in. Kirito ends up using one of the special daggers given to them by Cardinal to transport Fanatio for life-saving healing arts, but that's one less that they have to use for Alice and Administrator.

    The next person they come across following the battle is not another Integrity Knight, but a girl who operates an elevating platform which can take them to higher floors. Kirito's laid-back tone of voice when he speaks with her is an amusing contrast to Eugeo, who is curious but much more cautious at first, warning that it could be a trap ("Podría ser una trampa").

    Kirito asks the girl who operates the lift, "¿Podrías decirnos tu nombre?" ("Can you tell us your name?") However, she surprises both of them when she answers, "No recuerdo tener nombre." ("I don't remember having a name.") She sounds somewhat robotic in her speech at first, and there's a quality to her voice that's almost haunting, but when Eugeo brings up the topic of dreams, she shows genuine emotion when she tells them, "Me gustaría poder voler cómo los aves." ("I would like to be able to fly like the birds.") 

    On their way to the next room, as the two of them consider the fate of those who had their memories stolen by Administrator, Eugeo asks, "¿Cardinal se encarga restaurar la todo, verdad?" ("Cardinal is in charge of restoring everything, right?") But Kirito dodges the question, knowing that's not exactly Cardinal's plan even if they were to defeat Administrator.

    The elevating platform allowed them to speed up their journey and bypass a number of floors. When they arrive at the 80th floor of the Central Cathedral, they find Alice at last, seemingly resting without her sword. However, they realize they were mistaken when the beautiful flowering tree behind Alice transforms back into her divine weapon, the Osmanthus Blade, a sword which she proudly proclaims can split rock in two ("partir la roca en dos"). 

    The resulting duel was short but sweet with an impressive strategy team strategy by Kirito and Eugeo, and an even more impressive counter move by Alice. The clash between their blades did in fact split rock in two, blowing a hole straight through the cathedral wall. Kirito and Alice fall from the building, while Eugeo watched in shock as the stone wall repairs itself, leaving them separated. 

"¡No, basta! ¿Qué haces, idiota? ¿Cómo eres tan inconsciente?" ("No, stop! What are you doing, idiot? How are you so oblivious?") - Kirito

    Kirito managed to catch himself and Alice, hanging from the outer wall of the cathedral by his sword, but she was not happy to be saved by a criminal. The exchange between them in this scene is hilarious as Kirito repeatedly calls her "idiota" in frustration that she seems to be working against his attempts to save her life. The combination of fury and embarrassment in Alice's voice is perfect when she shouts back, "Cómo te atreves a insultarme?" ("How dare you insult me?") And of course, Kirito's response is to tell her to shut up. ("Callate!") 

    I had forgotten how much I love this scene - and really, this whole episode. It's great in every version I've watched so far. Kirito and Alice run the full range of emotions here, from their early frustrations to Kirito's tearful confession about the truth behind their crime, that it was only to save Ronie and Tiese ("Sólo fue para salvarlas"), eventually forming a sort of partnership where Alice even allows herself to be vulnerable and accept help from Kirito. Both VAs did an excellent job portraying that development. 

    The reveal that there are minions (same name in Spanish, but also called "monstruos de la tierra", or "monsters of the earth", by Alice) mounted on the outer wall to guard the upper floors of the cathedral comes as quite a shock to Alice, who begins to question the intentions of Administrator and the Axiom Church for the first time. The fact that Kirito's offhand remark about a festival in the capital seemed to bring back memories that she once attended the event herself, which she shouldn't have if she were truly summoned from the heavens for the sole purpose of carrying out her mission, also gave her pause.  

    Meanwhile, back in the real world, Asuna noticed that a ship which was supposed to be guarding the Ocean Turtle moved out of position, hinting at something ominous to come. And inside the Central Cathedral, Eugeo continued to advance up the tower alone until he found the next Integrity Knight in their path (in the bath) - Bercouli Synthesis One. 

"Te preseno a mi espada, la perforadora del tiempo." ("I introduce you to my sword, the piercer of time.") - Bercouli

    Bercouli's deep voice suits him well, and nicely portrays his relaxed and thoughtful tone. He explains to Eugeo that his divine weapon, a sword created from the system clock ("el reloj del sistema"), has a unique ability - while Alice's sword cuts space ("cortar el espacio"), his sword cuts time ("cortar el tiempo"), which makes for an especially challenging and exciting battle. Eugeo's strategy with the fake sword is one of the most brilliant I've seen in SAO. 

    As Eugeo is trapped inside the ice with his opponent, Bercouli points out that his strategy will kill them both ("matános a los dos"), but Eugeo calmly replies, "No, solamente a ti." ("No, only you.") While the memory release ability of his sword drains both of their life, Eugeo reasons that his overall life values are higher, and would ultimately allow him to outlast Bercouli. 

"Es una historia demasiado fantástica para ser verdad." ("It's a story too fantastic to be true.") - Bercouli 

    After learning Bercouli's name, Eugeo is shocked by the revelation that the Integrity Knight he's fighting now is the same legendary hero from the stories told in his village. Like a child who was crushed to learn a harsh truth about someone they used to idolize, there is such sadness in Eugeo's voice when he asks, "¿Tú mataste al dragon?" ("Did you kill the dragon?") The same dragon from his own legend, which they found in the ice cave near Rulid. 

    It seems Bercouli is giving serious consideraction to his words when their conversation is interrupted by the weird, bouncy little clown named Chudelkin. I've never really cared for this character, but his voice actor does a great job with creating a voice that fits his strange appearance, and the frequent shifts from high pitched to low gives the sense that he's unstable and dangerous more so than the English voice I'm used to hearing. Bercouli calls him out right away for deceiving the Integrity Knights and insists, "Este niño no es ningúna asesino del reino oscuro." ("This boy is no assassin from the dark kingdom.") Chudelkin responds by freezing Bercouli, and Eugeo is left facing an uncertain fate.

Snack time on the outer wall of Central Cathedral

    At the same time, Kirito and Alice are sharing a snack of steamed buns (courtesy of Cardinal) as they plan their next move. When Kirito mentions the name of Alice's sister, Selka, it strikes a chord in her heart that she can't ignore, and finally, Alice agrees to hear him out. 

    Check out my translation guide below for common and key phrases from this episode, and stay tuned for more weekly episode reviews of Sword Art Online: Alicization's Spanish dub. The next blog post will feature some major turning points in the story, with Kirito and Alice working together towards a common goal. ¡Hasta luego! 

Voice Acting: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Translated Script: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommended Proficiency: Intermediate 

Key phrases: 

• Recuerdos - Memories
• Fortalecer Armamento - Strengthen Armament (used in place of "Enhance Armament") 
• Genera el elemento aéreo. En forma de ráfaga. - Generate aerial element. Burst form. (The sacred art which operates the lift.) 
• Llamada al sistema. Redefinir objeto. En forma de cadena. - System call. Redefine object. In the form of a chain. (Alice's command to turn her gauntlet into a chain.)
• Llamada al sistema. Genera elemento metálico. En forma de cuña. - System call. Generate metallic element. Wedge shape. (Kirito's command to create metal wedges for climbing.)

Common phrases: 

• ¿Estás allí? - Are you there?
• Ahora prepárate - Now prepare yourself
• Tienes que vivir - You have to live
• Sí, ya me dijiste - Yes, you already told me
• Disculpa la tardanza - Sorry for the delay
• Esta es la verdad - This is the truth
• Tengo tanta hambre - I am so hungry
• No tengo ningún problema - I have no problem 
• ¿Qué tenemos aquí? - What do we have here?
• No necesitas disculparte por eso - You don't need to apologize for that
• Debe ser algo muy importante - It must be something very important
• Ahora voy levantarte - Now I'm going to lift you up 
• No hay tiempo para discutir - There is no time to argue
• ¿Cómo te lo explico? - How do I explain it to you?
• Yo no tengo ningún maestro - I don't have any teacher
• ¿De qué estás hablando? - What are you talking about?
• ¿Qué demonios estás hablando? - What the hell are you talking about? (this phrase courtesy of Bercouli) 

*All images are from Sword Art Online: Alicization, screenshots taken by me