**UPDATE!: As of 18/5 I decided to drop my Haikyuu coverage since I’ve entirely run out of compliments for this delightful little series, and also because my life has been in quite the mess lately. I did originally plan on covering the next 2 episodes as well, but then I fell ill, my internet got cut off over the week and yeah. I think you get the drift. If my schedule clears up after Soresekai is completed for the season, coverage may continue in the Summer season since it’s probably 2 cours, but no promises for that since that season is dangerously close to the start of college life for me.
This episode was mainly focused on the practice game between the first years, as Kageyama and Hinata play to try and get accepted into club again. The jerk of a first year Tsukishima Kei knows of Kageyama’s problems as a setter back when he was in middle school, and continuously tries to destroy him internally. In the midst of all this, Hinata and Kageyama continue to try and score some more points, until Kageyama figures out a way to put Hinata’s potential to proper use.
This was yet another solid episode for Haikyuu!!, while not as intense as the first 3 episodes, it’s more due to the nature of the content covered this week than an actual decline in quality of the series. It’s really been a standard shonen sports anime so far, and I’m glad it doesn’t try to hide it. Haikyuu!! doesn’t put on airs, and is pure, straightforward fun for all sports anime lovers. There’s simply nothing wrong with that.
This week was all about Kageyama dealing with his inner demons, how he has to get over the fact that he was way too self-centered, way too demanding to the point where his teammates completely left and gave up, refusing to stand on the same court as him, and he actually ended up being benched for the rest of the game. Getting ticked off at Tsukishima’s mention of his nickname ‘The King’ was not a good sign for Kageyama, and it was beginning to seriously affect his performance in the practice game, but a little help from Hinata who easily helps him put things into perspective and tells him that he’ll spike any toss Kageyama does, along with words from Sugawara. Sugawara tells him that he should learn to put Hinata’s insane athleticism to use, to match his toss to Hinata’s spike. Eventually the two pull off something neigh impossible – with Hinata’s eyes closed he spikes the ball that Kageyama accurately tosses straight into his hand at the exact timing.
Yeah, the whole combo thing was kinda hard to buy. I’m a teeny bit worried we’re going to see some more of this ridiculous play, and I really hope this doesn’t happen. It needs to stay more Ookiku Furikabutte than Kuroko No Basket for me to keep matches interesting, otherwise it runs the risk of devolving into ridiculous powerhouse after ridiculous powerhouse of ‘superpower’ sports which often cheapens the experience of sports anime for me. Still, this was a good opportunity to continue developing the relationship between Kageyama and Hinata as teammates (And possibly friends! We’re making progress!) and the show took it. Hinata exhibited complete trust in Kageyama’s abilities and promise that he’d toss the ball to him, which should definitely lift up Kageyama’s spirits and perhaps get him to understand the true meaning of being in a team, even if he was the ‘best’ player among the rest.
Once again, I’m still not completely sold on Tsukishima. Not that I’ve never seen characters of his ilk (and honestly they aren’t hard to find, even in the real world) but damn is he incredibly unlikable. He doesn’t flinch even when Daichi tells him that he has a bad personality, and it’s come to a point where he actually seems to really enjoy being a jerk. He needs to do a little more than this to become a more compelling character, right now his role seems to be completely relegated to that of being fuel to the fire that is Kageyama and Hinata’s relationship. Speaking of Daichi, I’m surprised he let Tsukishima off, even with plot armor Tsukishima really needs to be taught a lesson. And shouldn’t his hostile behaviour earn him a ticket out of the club too, given how he is technically not even trying to be nice to his potential teammates? I’unno Haikyuu, you need to do something about this jerk.