Sword Art Online II Episode 19 Discussion

willardhwright said:
Well, for once, this isn't back and white, it's perfectly in-character. We know since quite a while that Asuna comes from a really rich family and that she had a lot of pressure on her. We also know about the arranged marriages since Sugou at the very least. It is a fact that a lot of rich families work like that IRL. Just because a lot of people cannot relate, it doesn't means that it is "black and white" or that it shouldn't be done this way. We are NOT talking about a "classical" family like most people would have here, and the pressure put on the children is also something common enough IRL so it isn't really questionable. Asuna doesn't come from your typical average family, and keep in mind that japanese families are even worse than ours; even moreso when it comes to this kind of family. Cultural differences.
This point of the story is quite accurate and it isn't really manichean, we clearly see that her mother want her daughter to be successful. She however has too much of a trauma about her own past to take other people into account. That's not black and white; we clearly see the "why". It still doesn't make it right for her to decide of someone else's life.
Some things happen in real life too, and the middle ground isn't ALWAYS the perfect answer. Even if it's short, what Asuna says to her mother about her being ashamed of her own past is enough to avoid the black and white issue; she has a reason to do what she does, so it's understandable. However, it doesn't mean that she is right in the slightest.

SweetKotomi said:

But it's only 59 F when converted. In real life it's not cold, it's generally cool if there's isn't any wind.

TheDeedsOfMen said:
Simply the fact that something is realistic or has an in-universe explanation doesn't imply that it's presented with any real moral ambiguity.

willardhwright said:


Moral ambiguity implies that there IS any moral ambiguity. In this case, in the strict sense, there isn't an objective one; parents may have some preferences and things that they would like better, such as having an heterosexual son because they want a grandson; it doesn't change the fact that everyone is living its own life, and denying it is starting to go on a subjective, slippery rope.

And what COULD count as a moral ambiguity on said subjective POV is clearly here. There is a reason Asuna told her about her past before leaving, and it's all about this. She wants her daughter to have a successful life, yes. However, no matter the "ambiguity", the way she's doing it is wrong. She may means well, yes; and she says it REALLY often. Hell, the whole discussion is about this.
But she only MEANS well because she's more or less blinded and projecting herself on her daughter, and doesn't take enough factors into account. Basically, she's short-sighted. Something "morally ambiguous" doesn't have to be solved by a statu quo where both people are wrong. We see very clearly that she doesn't do it just because she's a control freak and because it's fun for her. We see her PoV aboutthis, and why she's doing this, and it's not because she is evil per se. It doesn't change how twisted this is. Just like how Kayaba was understandable, but definitely not "right" in S1.

Qans said:
Finally an episode that isn't shit, looks like another member has joined the competition! Welcome to Kirito harem, V/Yuuki!