Baby Steps 2 Episode 8: The difference between the two of us

Man, Baby Steps has been firing on all cylinders lately, and this is probably one of the best episodes from either season thus far. Bittersweet in the most emotionally satisfying way, filled with suspense, this episode concluded one of the best matches the series has had to offer (and in 2 episodes no less!).

This week really had the audience compare the /speed of evolution/ between Miyagawa and Ei-chan. It’s clear who is ahead; the series consistently drives home the point that Ei-chan is just an incredibly fast learner who is able to adapt and grow, always searching for loopholes in his own play and becoming better all around. That’s not to say poor Miyagawa didn’t work hard – in this week’s episode we get to finally see how much his defeat from Ei-chan truly affected him, and how he reflected on that (more on that later though).  The episode’s first half, as well as the last few minutes of the previous episode show us the extent of Miyagawa’s growth. Unlike Ei-chan, he’s not as flexible a player – which makes sense, considering how he had been playing tennis a certain way all his life, whereas Ei-chan is very much a blank slate. He instead creates new weapons based on his existing strengths – namely fast serves, and of course the drive volley.

Unfortunately for him, Ei-chan is just the worst kind of opponent – Ei-chan once again finds ways to break his style of play (1/81 control, Ei-chan is ridiculous) and preventing him from using his beloved ground strokes. The match drags for a bit with an extremely suspenseful volley between the two – the pacing was damn near perfect. Tennis matches can both feel like an eternity, and pass by in a flash. It’s the best players that have the privilege of being able to really analyze and adjust their play according to the circumstances, stroke by stroke. Both Ei-chan and Miyagawa put up a fight, but Ei-chan won out with just a greater arsenal of weapons, and more flexibility while in court.

Of course, Miyagawa unfortunately made things harder for himself. He had basically given up and got back up too late. This is another vital difference between Miyagawa and Ei-chan – that of how they overcome fear (or more specifically, pressure). While Ei-chan has always shown to be one with incredibly bravery and perseverance, the episode explores the other side of the spectrum with Miyagawa. Both players had their professional careers on the line; but unlike Ei-chan’ Miyagawa probably never really, truly, expressed his own ambition and motivation, thus never being able to overcome that pressure of needing to succeeding.

Through this we once again see the effect Ei-chan has on other players (and why that makes him such a great protagonist, IMO) – he is critical of himself, but also of others and their play, albeit unconsciously. He not only shows them their weak spots – he forces his opponents to face them, both in and out of court. We’ve seen various players reconfirm their passion and ambition for the sport thanks to Ei-chan, and this time it’s Miyagawa’s turn. It’s that introspective nature of Ei-chan that really sets Baby Steps apart from other sports anime, I think.

The match finally ends with Miyagawa accepting his bitter defeat, and perhaps realizing the difference between him and Ei-chan (a little too late perhaps), and it’s just a nice and subdued, bittersweet moment for the series. Miyagawa also breaks down and cries, but outside of court. I think that that particular scene of him crying really does say a lot about him, unfortunately right now I feel unequipped to put what that says into words…