pso2 anime might have been <_< at times but it seems to actually be worth it for Episode 4 plot
stuff like embodied weapons, earth's bullshit technology level, and the reason why the pso2 game even exists on earth is getting talked about more
Mother, the leader of Mother Cluster (that Rina was part of, and controls all the world's technology infrastructure), is basically trying to take over the world and is preparing to launch preemptive attacks on ARKS. Earth's aether is analogous to ARKS' photons although aether seems to transmit data more effectively (but Earth essentially has the same potential for bullshit technology like the ARKS do), and those who have high aptitude for aether can access PSO2 on the aether-based network. One level above them are those who can physically materialize in PSO2, and Mother tends to formally brainwash/recruit them at this point, making them her agents in exchange for high positions in society. Aether powers tend to manifest as weapons, but this one villain could manifest them as explosions that could summon underlings so who the fuck knows. Current point in the story is Hitsugi (red haired girl) trying to figure out what the fuck to fight for, with Mother attempting to kidnap her, probably due to her cooperation with ARKS.
pso2 anime by itself does feel like a bunch of weird asspulls, but it does kinda fit into pso2 the game. i mean episode 2 had time travel shenanigans retconning your entire history with ARKS so you were the bad guy in the eyes of everyone else, or something ---
