Oh man, these two episodes. They both were amazing in their own ways. These were possibly the two most important matches in the second season when it comes to character development. First of all the creators still wanted Chihaya to play Shinobu, but also: Nishida versus Arata. And the thing is that both matches had incredibly obvious outcomes. You see? Tension isn’t just making the results as close as possible!
When Arata first was matched up against Nishida, I didn’t think much behind it. But holy crap, that match was intense. I mean, this match really went back to the beginning of this show, where Nishida and Arata still had this rivalry. And it was so tragic: Nishida has actually more experience: his period of not playing was actually pretty short. And yet, Arata just blew him away. I love how Nishida’s frustrations didn’t just go away with winning the team finals. His struggles, they were awesome!
But seriously. The energy and the tension in the match between Chihaya and Shinobu was even better! The way in which Chihaya set the tone of the match right at the start. That was done amazingly! The match was not meant to give Chihaya a chance: there was no way she would win with that hand of her. It was meant for character development: Shinobu’s loneliness really got fleshed out some more here: she finally got to the age where she can just play people her age, and she finally met someone who didn’t mind it if she went all out. That showed so much promise for that third season. If it’ll ever come… yeah.
Rating: 6/8 (Awesome)
They are currently somewhere around volume 17-18 of the manga out of 20 currently out volumes so if their ever is a 3rd season wont be anytime soon :\ or maybe a 12 episode one
Maybe we’ll get a 3rd season next year in spring or summer? Or maybe fall? It would be possible, considering every season of chihayafuru covered about 40-50 chapters of the manga. I’m assuming season 2 ends with chapter 91 or 92. Right now there are 113 chapters I think. So fall 2014 could be possible, or earlier, if they slow down the pacing.
Anyway, Chihayafuru was amazing as always. Really, I can’t put my love for this series into words. I just hope they don’t ever stop making an anime out of it. Ahhh, I wish I could buy it. But there probably won’t ever be an european release. I think the french started releasing the manga, but… I can’t read french…at all. Even though I learned it in school. I forgot everything about it.
yup x.x i was actually surprised when it got a s2 because the dvd sales were so low, but love the series nonetheless
“And it was so tragic: Nishida has actually more experience: his period of not playing was actually pretty short.”
Nishida actually quit for a good three years. He quit after getting destroyed by Arata in elementary school and started playing again during his first year of high school. The duration of Arata and Nishida’s quitting is roughly the same.
So glad this end of this season has finally included Arata, he was sorely in need of some airtime.
It’s too bad we don’t know any rivals other than Retro for Taichi in B class, his rival for this season has pretty much been himself. Just for some extra icing on the cake for the end of the season.
I want a 3rd Season!