ahem, bc i've seen this a lot... is sao actually a harem or not? and if it isn't then why do they say it is? and if it is why is that bad? (although i'll admit one thing i'd change about sao is that the girls would have crushes on each other instead. ) but yeah idk that genre at all, and i was wondering.

I wouldn’t call SAO a “harem” anime: Kirito is in a stablished relationship as early as Episode 10, and except for Suguha’s, all other crushes get little to no significant focus in the show. Silica is arguably not even into him, Lisbeth had one episode about it and then it was never brought up again, and Suguha’s arc was about her actively rejecting those feelings over how messed up they were. I think the crushes were a poor writing choice too, but nothing comes out of it. 

I suppose some people classify SAO as such because it more or less fits a literal definition of a harem? A male protagonist surrounded by A Bunch of Girls. It’s not wrong in that aspect, but it isn’t the Classic Idea of Harem Anime that is brought to mind and that it is criticized for; there are no romantic rivalries or love triangles, who Kirito is ending up with is not a question or focused on, nor does he have to “make a choice” from his selection of Fine Pieces of Ass whose main character traits are fawning/angsting over him. By season 2 they’re just a normal group of friends whose past romantic interests outside of Kirisuna might as well not have existed.

I mean, I don’t know, I’m not some sort of authority on the matter; those are just my two cents. I 100% agree regarding the girls having crushes on each other, though!

- Mod Fil