Haikyuu 2!! Episode 20: Wiping Out

The gears have been intentionally changed

I feel like the rest of the episodes of Haikyuu!! are going to be really hard to talk about since they’re all going to be matches. But I was actually very surprised that the first set is almost done, because I thought they would really take their time because of the emotions Karasuno has against Seijoh. But the next thing I knew they were already on the set point. Until real problems arise once again for our main characters.

As usual, we get some silly scenes. Such as Seijoh’s guys noticing Yachi and trying to flirt with her. Also Oikawa being a first grader trying to pull the volleyball from Kageyama, letting it go and laughing at Kageyama when he fell over, all while making fun of him. Typical Trash King.

The captains shake hands, a coin is flipped, and it’s decided that Aoba Johsai serves first. Each team gets a pep talk and they’re all ready to finally start playing, and for Karasuno this is a big deal for them. Flashbacks of their loss run through their minds and they use those humiliating emotions as their energy, and the match begins. Seijoh’s coach told the team basically not to underestimate Karasuno as they always have something surprising waiting for them. Oikawa took this piece of advice seriously, saying he learned his lesson from last time.

And surprisingly, Karasuno and Aoba Johsai are completely neck and neck, with Karasuno always leading with one point. They struggle a little bit, such as Kageyama accidentally hitting a serve out of bounds, or the other team figuring out how to mess with Hinata’s quick. That’s one thing that is feared with Aoba Johsai, is that they can think up new defenses and strategies on the spot and implement them in the game, making them quite the force to be reckoned with. But that doesn’t mean that Karasuno’s doing bad, they’re actually doing well. Hinata’s new quick really surprised the other players, and getting that one quick through the block really was a redemption from last time. As well as this, Aoba Johsai makes their own dumb mistakes with bad serves and such. All of this, and the game is pretty even.

It feels so real. Even though Oikawa and the rest are a powerhouse school, they can still make dumb mistakes like their serves hitting the net on their side. Like…you know, they’re not perfect like anime would make you want to believe. Even they can make humanly mistakes like those, even you Oikawa.

Even though things were close, Karasuno was ahead by a few points, ready to take the first set. But finally sending out their secret weapon, they bring out the Mad Dog I think is his nickname. And…he delivers. With another point scored the game was brought to a deuce, so next week will be the battle for the first set and I have no clue who’s going to take it. People watching the match were incredibly surprised with Karasuno giving Aoba Johsai such a hard time, but now it looks like things won’t be such a breeze like it was before because of Seijoh’s new addition. Let’s hope for the best.

Also, I’m guessing that this match might take up the rest of the season as there are only five episodes so far. So we’re probably going to watch this match for quite awhile, and the season will end with another loss for Karasuno, or they’re actually going to win and THEN…..nothing. Because that’ll be the season finale. Ah, I’m used to that. 😀 But we’ll see!