Yowamushi Pedal: Glory Line – 16

Wait – so Sohoku were still in this race?

It’s been so long since we’ve had hide or hair of anybody from Sohoku that I’d almost forgotten they were still part of this cast.  Never mind theoretically the protagonists.  This episode didn’t focus on the more interesting members of the Sohoku Six and it hardly dispelled all the concerns I have over how this season has gone, but it was still good to have them back.  Where that leaves us with another two months of episodes still to go is an open question.

As it turns out, Naruko is still gamely hanging on to the tail end of the lead pack.  That’s a tall order, though – to HakoGaku and KyoFushi he’s a pest they’d just as soon drop as quickly as they can.  That means he can’t expect any help in terms of protection from the wind or general drafting.  It’s also somewhat questionable how much good he can do up there, since once it comes time for serious racing he’d have no chance against the team tactics he’s up against, and he’s not a climber anyway.

Sohoku may have the old gang back together, but they’re still over 5 minutes behind the front.  And it’s not as though the two strongest teams in the race aren’t making up the lead pack – in fact, Sohoku has had to do more work desperately trying to hold their team together than either of the front-running teams has in trying to win checkpoints.  And if that weren’t bad enough, Kumamoto Daichi has passed Sohoku too, determined to catch the front and redeem themselves for last year’s humiliation at the hands of Hiroshima.

If Sohoku does indeed catch up, Yowapeda is going to have to work to convince me it was realistic.  Maybe Onoda could when the climbs start, but the team as a whole?  As I said, work to do.  Manami would certainly like for Onoda to catch up, that’s for sure, and we don’t have much of a narrative arc if that showdown doesn’t happen again sooner or later.

Omake:

Waka Okami wa Shougakusei! – 03

Waka Okami is kind of the classic children’s anime – timeless, Ghibli-esque, with just enough of an edge to keep it from becoming too sweet.  It’s one damn fine-looking show, too – reflecting the popularity of this novel series in Japan.  If the TV series looks this good, I can’t wait to see the movie.

This ep deals mostly with Okko starting to learn how to be a future Waka Okami – and predictably screwing up in the process.  She is, after all, 12 – and a refreshingly accurate 12, too.  She’s not preternaturally mature of competent – clever yes, but prone to bad judgment and clumsy.  When you’re running a traditional Japanese ryokan (especially in the face if modern luxury competition) the sorts of mistakes Okko makes here are just not the kind you can afford.  I’m glad for her sake that Okko’s grandmother is a patient woman.

The interesting element we see this week is Uri-bo starting to become a real help to Okko.  He, after all, has been around the inn for a lot longer (hints suggest since Mineko-san was a little girl) than she.  I like the story so far, but what really intrigues is just what Uri-bo’s backstory might be – how did he becomes a spirit that’s tethered to the old inn?  I still feel like the exploration of that question is where Waka Okami wa Shougakusei! is going to level up in terms of depth and dramatic heft.