The first real match of the show, and the creators have really shown that they know how to write one. It’s not the kind of match that stands out in terms of technical excellence, like with Ookiku Furikabutte. Instead, they’re all focused on getting the best out of the characters. While it’s less hard to do, it still requires a lot of skills to make this not boring and predictable.
Tatsumi, Gino and Tatsumi proved to be an excellent combination for this series to work with. Murakoshi and that bald guy actually didn’t play a role at all here, even though they were featured so prominently in the first three episodes. If anything, the past four episodes have all been significantly different from each other, in terms of important characters and premise. That’s the sign of a well balanced and dynamic series.
This episode pushed Tsubaki’s character forward; it’s here where we get to know him. The title of “Giant Killing” also makes a bit more sense now, this very much is intended as a self-aware version of David and Goliath, and Tsubaki turned out to be the vital character in this, in how he performs the best when he’s put against huge odds.
There’s one thing that the creators need to watch out for, however. It’s a shounen-syndrome of “cheaters are losers”. Granted, it’s something that you more often see in American animation compared to the Japanese, but it still sticks out whenever the writers look down on the enemy teams by having them cheat, in order to make the protagonists look better. With this case, I could see that player as someone who would fake injury, but let’s not make a habit out of it, okay?
Rating: ** (Excellent)
I’m a little bit disappointed that they decided against showing any sort of “real” football for any of the game action. Granted you can’t exactly do that while adding in all the character’s thoughts and stuff like that, but I definitely think it could use a bit more with maybe some sort of sportscasting on top. The lack of a clock to let us know how much time has passed and things like that also hurt my sense of immersion. It doesn’t really feel like a football game. I think just a few small changes and some more wide-view camera angles would make it feel a lot better and more authentic, even if they don’t need to go all-out with that.
Granted that’s hard to do and would require the artists to display if they had any real knowledge of football, but it would be a great addition.
You’re fast!
I really like this episode, especially Tatsumi and Tsubaki flashback. That flashback dialog and BGM also help build up the momentum–>
–> All for that one goal, it fill in the word “Giant Killing” pretty well. The different tone of Tatsumi when Tsubaki denied to fall to the ground help too. But the most touch line for me is when Tatsumi told Tsubaki that those people whose attention’ve caught by Tsubaki always support him behind his back — That in itself has many more meaning. It means your hard working is not useless and that it’s not like anyone does not care about it. For the hard worker their isn’t anything more reward than that and it’s a big impact for his performance on the pitch.
For Tatsumi, this episode show us again that he does care for both the team and the players but not suck up to them. He even call player’s middle school coach to know more about his player? That’s one hell of a Football Manger for you!
Well my plan this time was to hold off, because I really prefer the game aspects, so I waited and watched episodes 3 & 4 together. It turned out well, and, if anything, I could have held off until episode 5 to watch through the game’s conclusion. To me the most interesting part is the strategies on the field, so ep 3 was merely a prelude to the match which begins in ep 4.
The actual match strategy was presented well. The guy that you mention as a cheater, looked like a freak, with his wild eyes. I agree with what you said, it is a little too easy to work up emotions by presenting the other side as cheaters. The opposing team is supposed to be one of the very best, so I’m not sure that was appropriate, so hopefully that won’t be a staple of the opposing side’s tactics in future matches.
I feel using the word ‘cheating’ is a bit over the top. Although it is seen as dishonest and frowned upon, diving is very much a part of football.
Most of the best footballers dive to get what ever advantage they can get for their team. Whether it be diving to earn a penalty, free kick, get an opponent booked or sent off, its all part of tactics employed in order to win.
So I didnt see that as the creators trying to get us to ultimately dislike the other team, because it was true to what actually happens in football matches.
Yeah, you have flopping and faking injuries in any sport. But I think it’s true that they’re going over the top with making this guy a really dirty player.
I’m liking where this sports series is going. I see nothing wrong with focusing on the characters, since that should make for an interesting watch as well.