[ndm]

Personally I thought this episode was a good one again (no scenes with the bad guy, for one thing!) though it did have a few bits of lazy writing. Firstly, the discussion setting up the Spriggan magic should have come an episode of two back. Having it at the start of the episode and then solving all their problems with the illusion spell five minutes later was too convenient.

I don't have a problem with Leafa being asked to stay back and heal. That's just as important a role as being the dpser, and it made sense since she was clearly much better at magic than Kirito. I saw it as just him recognizing one of her skills which he needed for his plan to save them, certainly not as a put down.

As to whether he should have revealed his plan to her... that probably could have been done and still had the secret kept from the viewer by having Kirito whisper in her ear, but then Leafa I'm sure would have argued with him because she knew better than him how 'useless' illusion magic is and that would have been boring to watch. More dramatic to have the grand reveal to both her and the audience at the same time, so I won't complain.

Really it just comes down to the fact that Kirito knows something Leafa doesn't (and that he doesn't want to tell her in case the GMs find out): that his stats reflect those of a high level character who was played continuously for a few years, when everyone else on the server would have been played part time for what, a year? No wonder he's so powerful compared to them all. I guess his stats were also reflected in his spellpower which is why his illusion was so effective.