It’s interesting to see how many things this series is doing at the same time. I mean, every episode has its main focus, in this case Sera, but at the same time it really takes every chance it gets in order to flesh out its other characters a bit as well. I mean, we have Sera here who is worrying about his position in the team, but at the same time: he isn’t the worst player in the team. His attacks may not have been scores, but he actually kept quite a bit of pressure on the opposing defences, which allowed Murakoshi to score, which at the same time showed that he had very much learned from Tatsumi, back at the start of the series.
Also, while Sera is currently fearing Natsuki to kick him out of the team, Natsuki isn’t the least bit worried about Sera, but rather only has eye for Tatsumi, wanting recognition. In the meantime, this episode kept dropping hints that Sera’s stand-in, Sakai also has his own issues. So, if I got this right, then we have Sakai who has issues with Sera but is being ignored, Sera has issues with Natsuki but is being ignored, while Natsuki is having issues with Tatsumi while he’s (largely) being ignored.That’s quite elaborate, considering that this episode also succeeded in throwing in some tactics, making every team different with minute details and how past plays affected their strategy, while it at the same time didn’t forget the fans and the press, which also got their moments in this episodes beyond mere cameos.
Also, Sera’s injury. Seriously, I don’t know anymore. This is the third time now that this series has made a big deal of an injury that afterwards didn’t turn out to be anything major. They’re definitely building up to something with that, but I think that episode sixteen is still a bit too early to start using this trump…
Speaking of which, can some manga-readers confirm how far we’re into the manga right now? As in, how many volumes does it have, and does this series look to be on schedule?
Rating: ** (Excellent)
Well the manga has 15 volumes and is still ongoing and only 3 volumes have been translated. So the anime itself it ahead of the translated version of the manga.
Seriously, your blog sucks. You have no right to win the Otaku Web Circle Jerk Tournament.
lol Yotsubou, then who has the “right to win”?
also, what is this “right to win”?
evidently psgels has this “right” since was IN the tournament, and he won it. i agree with most of his newer reviews, and i agree with ALL of his “first impressions”. his “first impressions” allow me to know which new anime series i should watch.
no one wants your cynical attitude, Youtsubou.
Shoot, I just looked it up and the manga is still ongoing, which means the anime won’t be complete. :/
Do not feed the troll! 😀 Trolls are full of their own air already hahah.
I wonder how they’ll end the series though.
I loved how detailed and specific this post was regarding the different players, and all of the stuff that’s been going on at once. I agree about Sera’s injury, though I liked Tatsumi’s reaction..it was like..hey we don’t see him like that too often. Maybe it’s possibly more serious than we think. :O We’ll see~
From the covers only I think we are in v.6
cover of v.6:http://picturedumper.com/picture/20100718/3fb26db548/giant_killing/gk06cover.jpg