I think this was the calm before the storm. After this episode, it’s just going to be gasshuku and tournament. I’ve said this many times before, but I think that it’s after this that this series is going to get less interesting again, simply because the baseball in this series has always been inferior to its slice of life.
In a way this episode felt different from the previous ones. It seemed much more… focused. It picked out various couples of characters, and pushed their relationships a bit further, rather than the more random pacing of the usual Cross Game episodes. We have Kou and Akaishi, Aoba and that female baseball player who made her return, et cetera. It all was about preparing for the upcoming tournament, and getting mentally ready, while the second years kept fantasizing about what would happen as soon as the third years would leave.
Overall it was a very enjoyable episode despite its slightly different style. At this point, there are nine episodes left. At this point I’m not expecting anything of this series anymore: it has already showed off its best for me. For the baseball part, I’m just looking to be entertained. I know that if I’m going to take the baseball games too seriously, I’ll just end up comparing them endlessly to Touch, whose matches granted were much more superior than what we’ve seen here. For me, this show has already been a success. And if it does manage to get the baseball matches right, then that’s just a nice extra.
Rating: ** (Excellent)
Unfortunately, I can’t call a show a success until I see the end of it. And truly into the 20’s I thought Cross Game was going to be (and still might be) one of the best shows to come out of 2009. But Cross Game started to roll down the hill when it decided that baseball wouldn’t appear in any serious form for more than 10 episodes, completely throwing off the rhythm of the show far past where it’s okay to do so. This coupled with the overwhelming presence of Akane, who isn’t a bad addition, but she is seen way too much. There was a good mix of character story with the sports prior to her appearance. With less than 10 episodes left, it’s hard to imagine them wrapping up the series with a satisfying conclusion involving baseball or even the relationships that have been on screen so much in the last episodes.
As someone who has read the manga and following how well the anime has adapted the manga (and kept most of it), there’s some really good stuff coming 😉
[SubSmith] Cross Game EP 42 Everyone’s Summer 720p HD mkv
LINK DOWNLOAD
http://hotfile.com/dl/25687322/c279b59/Cross_Game_42__Everyones_Summer_720p_HD.mkv.html
This last episode felt too much like filler. Just seemed a bit unnecessary unless it’s further effort to get both manga and anime to end concurrently. I guess I’m getting frustrated with all the past delays.
Anyway, favorite part of this weeks episode was how Aoba and Koh looked towards the sunset. Further reinforcing that unspoken connection they have with each other.
Have to agree with leongsh. The remaining material is pretty interesting. It has it’s share of baseball but I think the story never strays far from slice of life.
I can’t believe I watched a 50+ series, but it has grown in me with time.
I like the japanese obsession about the ephemeral, memories, and nostalgia of moments just past. Also, never before this episode did baseball look so japanese to me: this pitcher/batter confrontation had something akin to sumo, or whatever.
Anyways, it was a good ride, and it felt (perhaps too forcefully) that the author was saying good bye before its time.
I agree with Naturaki, and withhold judgment until the end of the series.
hee hee hee ur going to be surprised
I don’t really remember Touch’s baseball matches as being superior, though I did watch it a long time ago. Were the baseball matches really superior in the presentation of gameplay? or was it just that in Touch the rival’s 4th batter was more involved with Uesugi and Minami’s lives than Mishima with Kou? Well, I personally like Cross Game alot better – just feels more mature and subtle to me even though the two are pretty similar.
Although I love the series, I can’t help but be disappointed that Aoba didn’t go train with the girls.