“I’m looking straight”
When I saw the preview for this episode I thought: ” Why me? I already did the “joint training” fan service episode. Do I really have to do the beach episode? Plus, they already went to the beach in episode 7 “. But actually, it’s okay, fine by me, I get it. Let’s do this, it can’t get any worst right?
So everyone is feeling down since they’ve lost against team Kakyoin.
I’m sorry.
But every time I hear “Team Kakyoin” I picture that:
Anyway, they are all “we lost, so we have no chance in the tournament” even if apparently they had the best time against Team Kakyoin. Weird Sensei says that at least they have a huge improvement potential. I, personally don’t find that reassuring at all. Cuz, if you start really low you still have a big improvement potential right? The last guy in a race is the one who can improve the most. Doesn’t mean he’s going to be number one though. But thanks for trying Weird Sensei.
Nana is still hesitating with her father’s proposition. She looks like she’s considering getting transfered to Kakyoin. But like she told her father, she likes Honan way of “connecting feelings”. So, why is she even hesitating? She’s not even close to her father… If Team Kakyoin was actually composed of mabushi muscly men, I’ll understand, but it’s not so I’m sorry but I don’t get it.
In the meantime Riku is still having his self-esteem and brother complex issues. He has trouble practicing and “connecting feelings” with Takeru. He also gets angry when everyone tries to help him. Riku’s becoming a bit paranoiac and thinks that everyone is looking down on him. Aka: He’s not like his brother, he doesn’t have any talent, his brother will always be better than him so there is no point in trying. We get it Riku.
Well
That’s the only time you’ve been looking straight Takeru
Yes
I like laughing at my own jokes
So Ayumu comes up with an idea. “Let’s go to the swimming pool to do some training since we already had a beach episode and we need to show some muscles or Charibo is going to get mad at us”. Like Takeru, I didn’t understand what part of their swimming pool excursion was “hard training”. We saw Kohinata and Ayumu riding a water slide, Heath and Kyosuke competing in a swimming race… Every time Riku and Takeru were a bit off the mood. Takeru even refuses to compete against Riku, not because he only swims free but because he can’t swim.
God dammit, they are killing all the possible Free ! jokes here.
Not cool.
So, they play volley ball. The idea was to make Riku and Takeru work together but they ended up winning the match without any team play. GOD DAMMIT! THEY NEED TO FIND ANOTHER WAY TO MAKE THEM CONNECT FEELINGS!
Next idea: Nana and the giant ice cream. I think it’s some kind of eating contest (again) if you finish it within 3 minutes you don’t have to pay.
3 minutes?
That’s insane and really dangerous if you ask me.
Up to three people can join of contest. Of course, her goal was to make Riku and Takeru participate with her, what they do. They manage to finish the giant ice cream but feel really bad after that. Smart idea to get sick before a race but eeeeeh…
So the next day, they manage to connect their feelings again. Moral of the episode: ice cream solves everything.
Nana calls her dad and explains him that here at Honan it’s cool, there is hot dudes and that she has no reasons whatsoever to change schools to be in the Team Kakyoin. I have nothing to add. That seems like the most logical conclusion to me but I don’t think we needed to spent another episode on that although we didn’t really, since this episode was full of… nothing ?
Also, Riku’s inferiority complex doesn’t end there since he sees his brother in Takeru. So next episode, more brother drama. It can be nice, or not. I don’t know, I’m at the Meh point. Everything that’s happening leaves me with a meh feeling. I know I’ve hoped for more character development and now that we are finally getting it I’m not impressed. At this point I’ve lost hope… There’s only 3 episodes left, I doubt they’ll conclude everything well.
OH WELL OH WELL. I need to stop being that pessimistic, you’ll never know, maybe the show will surprise me at the end. Maybe… but I highly doubt it
Remember that Takeru isn’t Haruka, cause he can’t swim! >_<
Speaking of Free!, do you know if they've released a subbed version of the Free! prequel movie, Starting Days? That's the one with middle-school Haruka and others.
Yes that way my point. i’m actually sad that they killed all the jokes about Takeru being Haruka… That was a part of the show that I actually enjoyed… Too bad it’s over now :/
As far as I now, I haven’t seen any subs available for Free! Starting Days. I’m not the biggest fan of Free! ever so I’ll probably watch it but maybe not right after its release 🙂
Noriaki “Cherry Boy” Kakyoin is the only Kakyoin I trust.
God they made the boys work together in the most stupidest way. Making them eat a giant bucket of shaved ice won’t help them work together in Stride. But, you know, just another excuse for fanservice. Honestly I am so done with Riku, I don’t care with whatever drama he’ll get next episode but since it’ll be my turn next week, I have to soldier on. >:[
Even the fan service was really average. I didn’t make any Haikyuu nor Free! references since comparing a whole show to just one scene in one episode doesn’t seem relevant to me, buuut dayum those matches were useless.
Also, there’s only 3 episodes left, I wonder how they’re going to conclude the End of Summer tournament in 3 episodes. Either they’re going to speed up the races and lose the only interesting thing that was remaining about the show, or they’re going to lose quickly. Either I’m not okay with that. Plus, next episode looks like there’s going to be a lot of talking about feelings… Yeaah
Oh and Good luck with next episode. Not to sound rude or anything but honestly, I’m glad I don’t have to review it XD I have hard time dealing with unnecessary drama and this whole ” I’m not as good as my brother” stuff is pissing me off too.