SAO: Gun Gale Online Season 2 Episode 1 Recap & Spoilers (2024)

It can be argued that Sword Art Online was one of the most influential anime of the 2010s. It played a huge role in kickstarting the isekai/video game world genre, a genre which has only become more popular as time has gone on. While Sword Art Online isn't quite as relevant on its own, it's last few television series have been quite solid. That includes Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online, a spin-off series from Keiichi Sigsawa and Kouhaku Kuroboshi, the creator of Kino's Journey.

This series follows a new protagonist--LLENN, or in the real world, Karen Kohirumaki. A university student, Karen travels into the VRMMO Gun Gale Online to create her ideal self, only to find herself enjoying the competitive aspect of the game more than she could've thought possible. The previous season of Sword Art Online Alternative ended with LLENN locked into battle against her friend and rival Pitohui in Gun Gale Online's second Squad Jam tournament. Though it's been six years since the first season, the second season picks up right where the last left off. Episode 1, "What Happens Twice Will Happen Thrice", sees LLENN, Pitohui, and their friends team up for the third Squad Jam.

The Dawn Of The Third Squad Jam

LLENN and her New Team Find Themselves Dealing With a New Challenge

Episode 1 of this new series opens with protagonist LLENN running from a hail of bullet fire from her opponents. As she runs, she complains about how she's seriously going to die, all while the rest of her teammates tease her over voice chat about how she's too small for any of the bullets to actually hit her. Seconds later, the rest of the team is introduced: her real-life friend Fukaziroh/Shinohara Miyu, and Pitohui's bodyguard, M. From the team's hiding space, Fukaziroh cheers her on, while LLENN angrily mentions that if she dies she'll come back and haunt them. At that point, Pitohui reminds her that they're still only playing a game, and it'll probably be impossible to come back as a ghost inside a VRMMO while she's still alive.

As her real life friend, Fukaziroh notes that LLENN is just diligent enough to figure out how to come back. Screaming about how cruel they are, LLENN mentions she'll remember everything even if she doesn't die. In the middle of their conversation, though, rockets are suddenly sent into the sky to summon even more nearby teams. As Pitohui wonders if LLENN will really be alright, the stoic M points out that while he's unsure of her chances, this was a problem the Third Squad Jam would've brought regardless.

A Return To Gun Gale Online

A Surprising Event Forces LLENN to Meet Up With Old Friends

See Also

The 10 Best Anime Like Gun Gale OnlineSword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II - New Season, Same ExcitementSword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II ‒ SEASON PREMIERESword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II - A Prelude to Massacre

From here, the episode cuts back to the past, taking things back into the real world. There, Karen tries to enjoy a sleepy day in bed when she gets a text from Pitohui's RL self, Kanzaki Elsa. The text reads, "This time I'm going to kill you sure!", briefly freaking her out. After sending it, Elsa is revealed to be traveling on a highway with her manager, long-time friend, and GGO partner, Asougi Goushi/M. Goushi tells her he just got a news text, and Elsa reminds him of her exhaustion, declaring herself the sleepiest person in the world. She threatens him with violence if she's disturbed, before Goushi explains the news message is the official announcement of the third Squad Jam. Immediately, she confirms that she's in, but also punches him in the face, nearly causing them to wreck.

Back in game, LLENN meets Pitohui and M again, with Pitohui squishing her in a hug before teasing and asking if Karen's virtual avatar got even smaller. At a table together, LLENN drinks juice while Pito talks about the Third Squad Jam. LLENN quickly states she has no intention of joining again, before Pito reminds LLENN that she came in first place in the original, and second place in the second Squad Jam. More importantly, that LLENN can't escape from her vengeance. LLENN nonchalantly responds that she's not falling for that, and no longer wants to battle Pito because it's draining.

Quickly running out of cards to play to convince her to join, Pito asks LLENN to team up with her. Though LLENN is still wary, Pito next reminds her of the promise she made to Team SHINC, the group of high-school girls she confronted in the second Squad Jam from season one. After their match, both LLENN and Team SHINC met in real life, where they promised to face one another again. To fulfill her promise, LLENN is begrudgingly forced to join the Third Squad Jam.

Back in the real world, the girls from Team SHINC learn they'll get another shot to fight Karen, and learn she'll be teaming up with Pitohui and Fukaziroh. They all excitedly talk about this new opportunity to finally beat LLENN, while back in Gun Gale Online, other teams talk about how much fun they plan on having. Unfortunately for the heroes, nearly all of them have a grudge to settle against either LLENN or Pitohui.

Calling up Miyu/Fukazirou, Karen learns that the the rules are basically the same as the previous Squad Jam, but that there will be new special rules announced on the day of the Squad Jam. Though Karen is concerned about the rules, ultimately she decides it doesn't matter if she can finally settle the score with SHINC. Their last battle was one of the best fights in isekai anime, so it stands to reason the rematch will be even more intense.

Introducing The Challengers

Before The Squad Jam, All The Enemies Meet Again

After a short amount of time for everyone to prepare, it's officially time for the Third Squad Jam to begin! The major teams are already confirmed, and fortunately the announcer is there to remind viewers of who everyone is. Many of them are from both the first and second Squad Jams, and most of them have their own reasons to go after Team LLENN.

First up is Team Memento Mori, a powerhouse team of experienced players who lost to LLENN and M in the first Squad Jam thanks to M's clever tactics. Next, they introduce the winner of the second Squad Jam, Team T-S. In the bar where the main broadcast happens, Team T-S is booed for the way they won--avoiding all combat and finishing LLENN off after her climactic match against Pitohui. The next team is Team LLENN themselves, given the rather uncomfortable name of LPFM for LLENN, Pitohui, Fukaziroh, and M. Lastly, is Team SHINC, a group of high-school girls whose avatars are all awesome-looking tough girls everyone calls "Amazons". Team SHINC is known for their awesome battle against LLENN in the previous Squad Jams.

In the background of the bar, a new pairing looks on, promising to runamok even though they've been ignored. Finally, there's team KKHC enters. Though the others have little respect for this team who got betrayed by Pito in the last game, they do respect their partner Shirley for sniping Pitohui in the last game. When they get alone, Shirley's team agrees to do what they can to help, but ask her if they can even be of use among so many heavy hitters. Shirley reveals she has a new plan, pulling out a mysterious bullet.

The crowd begins to wonder where Team T-S is, planning to boo them on sight because of the cowardly way they won the last Squad Jam. Surprisingly though, they already seem to be present in another area of the bar, choosing not to wear their signature outfits. Still, they're confronted by a man who presents them with a message card.

Finally, LLENN arrives with the rest of her team, yelling at Fukaziroh for wasting time eating ice cream and playing Alfheim Online, one of the many other games within the Sword Art Online universe. They barely get the time to get settled before everyone else begins cheering wildly over them, as they're the closest thing to an iconic hero and villain team-up this game will ever get. They've clearly won the crowd over, but even their fandom doesn't allow Pitohui to get away with telling everyone, "if we see you on the field, I'll be happy to kill you". Still, LLENN gets to confront Team SHINC's face-to-face just before everyone gets teleported to a waiting room for the Squad Jam.

One Last Conversation

Team LLENN Gets to Converse One Last Time Before the Squad Jam Starts

Sitting in the waiting room before the Squad Jam begins, LLENN, Fukaziroh, and Pitohui get an awesome "transformation" sequence as they equip all their weapons. This includes LLENN equipping her new-and-improved P-90 chan, which she promises not to let get destroyed ever again. It also shows Fukazirou obsessing over her grenade launchers, Leftina and Rightina. Meanwhile, M talks about the improvements he's made to his shield to make it more useful. Finally, Pito excitedly suits up and claims she'll be playing for keeps.

While they're getting equipped though, Pito confirms that she hasn't had the time to prep properly. In the previous Squad Jam she was able to completely change equipment when she meant to "get serious". This time, she'll have to go all out from the start. Still, she mentions it's been a long time since she played GGO because of her tour dates in real life. M mentions he hasn't allowed her to log in since a single session for Pitohui can take hours, as Pitohui is always aiming to be one of the best gamers. Unfortunately, that meant M hadn't had the chance to play either.

With LLENN realizing none of them had played GGO in a long time, she angrily mentions that she didn't need to play at all if everyone else had been too busy to play. To soothe her sulking friend, Pito causes a box to materialize that she says is a gift. LLENN excitedly opens the box to find a box full of plasma warhead grenades. Still, LLENN is far less excited about it than Fukazirou. A fact that LLENN realizes seconds later, fussing at Pitohui, who brushes it off.

Seconds later, LLENN watches as Fukazirou stores the grenades in her belt. LLENN asks if it's a good idea for her to do that, as they might go off if she's shot in the back. Fukazirou says she has confidence in her friends looking out for her...then says she'd rather not die a lonely death, even if it means taking out her friends. LLENN gives a wry smile and says she'll make sure to stay away from her, only for Fukazirou to frustratedly point out that they're supposed to be partners.

In the end, LLENN agrees they are partners, but that she wants to be the one to take out her true rivals--the members of SHINC. Just before everything begins, Pitohui asks them to go hands in, and gives a speech to hype everyone up. However, her speech boils down to "one for all, and all for me". Pitohui proudly declares she'll be the last one standing, and that nothing will suffice other than victory, just before the Squad Jam begins in full and they're all teleported off to battle.

Looking Ahead

The Squad Jam Is Ready to Begin

The first episode of Sword Art Online Alternative - Gun Gale Online II is mostly about re-familiarizing the audience with the main cast. Every important main character, supporting character, and even antagonists are brought back in. While there are a lot of faces to remember again, it never feels too busy. On the contrary, for anyone who recently watched or rewatched the episode, it might even feel like filler. Still, it was smart not to assume everyone naturally remembers everything from six years prior.

This next episode promo sets up the events happening at the beginning of this one. They learn the third Squad Jam is being held on a sinking island. To avoid drowning, they all agree to go for the center of the island, and ask LLENN to be their decoy. It's a plan she greatly disagrees with, but goes for nonetheless. Sword Art Online Alternative isn't for people who prefer the fantasy elements of the main series, or like that everyone falls in love with Kirito. Instead, it's high-octane action all the way, focusing on tense showdowns between teams wielding lots of dangerous weapons. While this episode might be light on action, it's already set up plenty of future opponents for the protagonists to take on.