I’m not going to make this a long post, for one simple reason. If I still have to explain why I’m dropping this show after the past five write-ups, something is seriously wrong. Honestly this week was pretty much the drop-dead moment, the last chance for the series to pull back from the gaping maw of infuriating preposterousness. Clearly, that did not happen – it took the course I feared it would rather than the one I’d hoped. And my experience in cases like this is screaming loud and clear – nothing good can come from dragging this out any further, so get out now.
This I will say – losing Kaze ga Tsuyoku hurts. A lot. There have not been a couple of shows this year that were in my top tier of expectations that have been flame-outs for me, and as the schedule gets more and more generic and predictable and truly notable series fewer and farther between, those hurt all the more. There’s not much margin for error for me in an average anime season these days – the pool of potentially elite shows is so shallow that every one of them has to pan out for the season to be a decent one. Like every season Fall 2018 has some decent series and even a couple really good ones, but it could ill afford to have a Production I.G. adaptation of a novel by Miura Shion have feet of clay.
Dammit, King – you were my last hope. It wasn’t much of a hope, I admit, but I clung to it – perhaps someone in this series would finally give Haiji the reckoning he deserves and wipe the slate clean. Didn’t happen, and Miura made it unmistakable clear where she stands on Haiji with this episode’s events. Truthfully, I haven’t been this annoyed by a series’ skewed perspective since Shigatsu – I suppose it’s only the shows that have the potentially to be so much more that have the power to annoy and disappoint us in that particular way. It is what it is – there’s always next season (which this series will be a part of, of course) – and hopefully the series at the top of the expectations pile actually justify those expectations.
[key]
November 7, 2018 at 11:21 pmPlease give Thunderbolt Fantasy another chance instead.
Guardian Enzo
November 8, 2018 at 6:23 amSo much ground I’d have to make up… But I’ll think about it.
Scampi
November 8, 2018 at 7:44 pmStory-wise it’s very Urobutchi influenced. The difference from his usual tone is probably that the main character is very decent and upright, and at least calls bullshit on Urobutcher’s psychopaths even though the good man is so easy going that he just helps out because the psycho has decent plan. Even if not for the story, I think it’s definitely worth a try just to see the art of puppetry.
Jindujun93
November 8, 2018 at 1:17 amI think the personal kicker was at the very end, when Haiji himself said he didn’t know either – seriously, you’re screwing over other people’s lives for something you don’t really know about either? I’m just barely enduring Run with the Wind at this point, but even my patience for it is running thin by now – honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up in my dropped list by this time next week either.
sherlock
November 8, 2018 at 1:20 amIf you’d have been happier with King wallowing in his misery with trivia shows and mahjong parlors instead of spending his free time (which he obviously still has plenty of) training with his mates, you’re definitely better off dropping this show. At least he’s getting some exercise and positive camaraderie this way. I think the “embrace it and do it for your own sake” strategy is actually the way to defeat Haiji in a way that you haven’t fully considered. It’s no worse than the “no way Jose” method if you’re not dead set on some type of petty revenge against the meddler.
In any case, I thought Fune wo Amu made it pretty clear that the author is big on group dedication and effort in a very Japanese way, so I’m not sure why you’d have expected anything markedly different from this to begin with.
Jindujun93
November 8, 2018 at 1:22 amThe key difference is that (unless memory severely fools me) Fune wo Amu didn’t have anybody in the group who resorted to manipulation and extortion to get what they wanted.
Guardian Enzo
November 8, 2018 at 6:23 amIndeed they did not.
sherlock
November 9, 2018 at 2:50 amI was talking about the fact that if the meddler happens to be the momentum driver of the group, you can’t expect them to get handed their just desserts (in your opinon) in a way that would kill that momentum. I think everything Haiji-haters seem to be wanting to happen would almost certainly kill the momentum. A story tlike that could also be done, of course, but for this author it would be an unusual thing to do.
Wangwang
November 8, 2018 at 8:09 amIt’s your reasoning that make Hajii, and the author, feel so infuriating. The author, just like you, think that just because “you mean well” than you can resort to mean to achieve your goal. The problem is that because the author has complete control of the world, of course everything would lead to a happy ending, and negative impacts from Hajii action would not appear whatsoever. Hajii, in a way, is an author insert character. He is not the main character or OP, but the world favour him over common sense.
sherlock
November 9, 2018 at 2:24 amNo, my friend, it’s your reasoning that causes you to be infuriated, because if you already know that the author is the God of their world and will sort everything out, then you shouldn’t go into that world expecting to see things happen exactly the way you think they’d happen in the real world. Which actually isn’t even the whole real world, just the part of it that’s formed your expectations. Other people may experience things and react to them differently from you, you know.
Simone
November 10, 2018 at 5:13 am“If you’d have been happier with King wallowing in his misery with trivia shows and mahjong parlors instead of spending his free time (which he obviously still has plenty of) training with his mates”
If your purpose is to get a friend you care about out of a self-destructive slump and into doing something constructive you try to find something that THEY would like/want to do, you don’t just coax them into doing whatever it is that YOU want for your egotistical ends because anyway hey, it’s better than slacking off! Also because IRL I think this would only cause more depression and slumping.
sherlock
November 11, 2018 at 11:59 pmAre we talking about Haiji here or the guy who actually did the coaxing in this episode? I thought his reasons made sense. Anyway, you guys are talking about this as though Haiji has kidnapped and tortured these people. He has remarkably little levarage over them, all things considered. It’s even hard to call what he’s doing “manipulation”, since he’s doing it in the open and has no parahormal power that would enable him to control a group of nine people against their will. I think it’s fine if you guys want to hate him, but I honestly don’t see the what the big deal is about what he’s been doing.
Wangwang
November 11, 2018 at 10:37 am“In any case, I thought Fune wo Amu made it pretty clear that the author is big on group dedication and effort in a very Japanese way, so I’m not sure why you’d have expected anything markedly different from this to begin with.”
Going with your logic, if you’ve already read the Enzo opinion on the previous 5 episode than you would have known his opinion about Hajii already. I don’t know why you bother to comment at all. You’ve already know Enzo don’t like people use “good intention” as an excuse to manipulate, so why you reading this post expecting anything different?
sherlock
November 11, 2018 at 11:39 pmThis may come as a surprise to you, but I actually did know about his opinion and didn’t expect anything different. Since this is his final post about this anime, people are going to post some concluding remarks. I do apologize I didn’t clear my post with you ahead of time, but I didn’t know Enzo had hired you to police his blog. I don’t have a problem with Enzo not liking or dropping this anime, I only have trouble relating to his reasons. And I think he could have saved himself some aggravation and quit sooner if he’d been more realistic about what this author would do with Haiji, having made him their momentum driver.
aherlock
November 11, 2018 at 11:40 pmSorry for the double, Enzo, mistyped the name.
foodie
November 8, 2018 at 1:26 amWatch Fune work Amu again because there are plenty of gambits, manipulations, and misdirections to make it happen.
Sour grapes really, over moralizing just ruins critics.
Guardian Enzo
November 8, 2018 at 6:25 amApples and oranges. Handled totally differently. It’s not the behavior of the character that’s the problem, it’s the behavior of the author – that’s what people don’t seem to get.
sherlock
November 9, 2018 at 2:36 amWe get that it’s a problem for you (and a number of others), that doesn’t mean it’s a problem per se, as there are also plenty of those who will continue to watch this anime without having a huge problem with it. If it helps, remind yourself of the fact that this one is the prior work and the author will eventually get to building their worlds in a way that’s acceptable to you.
Guardian Enzo
November 9, 2018 at 7:30 amYou can deconstruct any kind of literary criticism with “It’s meaningless because it’s just your opinion.” It’s the lowest-hanging fruit there is, because it itself is a meaningless criticism. So what? I’ve stated my reasons for feeling the way I do in agonizing (and believe me, with this show it often was) detail. That’s the point of the site. And I don’t think anyone could possibly accuse me of having a pre-standing bias against Miura’s work.
sherlock
November 9, 2018 at 8:22 amIt’s not the behavior of the character that’s the problem, it’s the behavior of the author – that’s what people don’t seem to get.
When I’m responding to a post, I’m responding to the post. With this, you went beyond literally criticism, because people are under no obligation to “get” this if they don’t agree with your stance to begin with.
And I literally meant that since you don’t seem to be in a good place because of what happened in this story, you can always console yourself with the fact that the author has since changed their ways, so that you (probably) won’t have to worry too much about anything coming after Fune wo Amu. There was no accusation.
Guardian Enzo
November 9, 2018 at 8:27 amThis thread is already circular, so not much point in pursuing it. Bring on the next show.
sherlock
November 9, 2018 at 8:26 amliterally criticism -> literary criticism
Flower
November 8, 2018 at 2:55 amAh … for me it was episode 4 … I empathize Enzo: I thought this series had a strong start as well, but … well … yeah. ;_;
Collectr
November 8, 2018 at 8:01 amGive Hidamari no Ki a chance instead!
I’ve said it before, but if the present of anime is generic and formulaic, go back to the future. Yes, the show was broadcast almost twenty years ago – but it wasn’t translated until this year. Think of it as a NetFlix show 😉 It will hit most of your sweet spots – historical, seinen rather than shounen, complex characters, great voice acting – and it’s adapted from a Tezuka Osamu manga.
Seriously, give yourself a break. The percentage of decent shows in the back catalog isn’t necessarily greater than today, but you know exactly what you’re getting, in advance.
Guardian Enzo
November 8, 2018 at 10:10 amThat’s something worth considering for sure.
As for your last point, I disagree to an extent. I would say the percentage wasn’t always greater, but for most of the past 10 years it certainly was.
Collectr
November 8, 2018 at 10:26 pmYou are probably right. I am watching less current anime of late, so I get to skim the cream based on review sites like LiA. Therefore, I don’t see the whole picture. Still, the narrow range of shows being produced is obvious. (When was the last good josei show?) Tropes are beaten to death the moment they show signs of popularity. OVAs are no longer “original”; they are either omitted episodes from TV broadcasts or bundled side-stories to boost manga sales.
Plenty of clunkers in the back catalog (I’m looking at you, Twinkle Nora Rock Me), but at least the prospective viewer has adequate warning.
Guardian Enzo
November 8, 2018 at 10:48 pmThe Josei question is an interesting one, as I can’t think of one of the top of my head. Seinen hasn’t fared much better but at least you get a few per year.
[key]
November 9, 2018 at 4:22 am“When was the last good josei show?”
Chihayafuru? Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu? Sakamichi no Apollon?
Guardian Enzo
November 9, 2018 at 7:37 amIt’s easy to forget Rakugo is josei since it plays like a seinen, but it was published in a Josei mag so I guess that would be the last one. Still almost two years since it finished.
River
November 20, 2018 at 11:29 amJust passing by ~~ if you have read the novel you will find Haiji in novel and Haiji in anime are different – the things that you hate are actually all anime Haiji. There is one important point that anime missed out: Haiji is not only took care of Aotake resident’s meals, but also their important stuff in life, for example he took care of Yukihiko for the whole year when Yuki needs to study for the lawyer test. People in Aotake agree to run because they all like him – the one who took care of their life. The only one who has the running problem was Ouji but in novel he agreed to run with Haiji always patiently waiting for him. I think anime changes are understandable since it’s made the story interesting, it just that anime Haiji is a lot more immature to me so I can understand your point though. In the original Haiji never mock Kakeru like you hate, and Kakeru himself want to run because Haiji told him that he saw the joy from Kakeru running. Shindo agreed to run because he want his parents to be happy, and Musa agreed because Shindo agreed, etc.
Anyway I think it’s wrong to say this is Miura-sensei doing since this episode is most likely nothing like what happened in the original novel. In the original King agreed to run by himself because it might be good for his job finding and for one more inportant point – he doesn’t want to feel left out. He doesn’t want to be the different one among Aotake residents who all agreed to running. So there was a long way for him in training but he still joined in by himself. (The phase about Hakone mountain is actually King’s in the original novel, not Haiji). Or the event about Sakaki too, it’s all different in the novel.
I’m a fan of the original novel and I actually don’t like many part about the anime adaption. Like on episode 1 – Haiji go to the bath using a bike is one of the biggest flaws for me on that episode. He always run to train himself, on the original he only borrowed the bike of another. But it still have the main flow and events of the original, so if you can accept its flaw I believe it’s only getting good from now on. Of course it might be only me who is hoping too, but many good part from the novel which suppose to be happens is not happened yet, so I really hope that it’ll get better.
Guardian Enzo
November 20, 2018 at 11:51 amThank you for letting me know – I actually feel better knowing Miura handled this differently. I’ll be honest, I’ve dropped the anime altogether at this point because it was just pissing me off every week. But if they ever translate the novel I’ll give it a read.
River
November 20, 2018 at 12:27 pmYeah I can see that you’ve dropped it TvT to be honest the anime is pissing me off sometimes because of the changes too haha. As you said before this novel was written when Miura is still young so for me it’s a kind of naive one but I just like it.
I was happy to find your really detailed reviews so thank you :3 if you ever review this anime again I’ll make sure to read it :3
Guardian Enzo
November 20, 2018 at 1:16 pmThanks, that’s very kind of you. I had very high hopes for this series so believe me, it hurts to drop it. I hope you’ll comment on other shows from time to time!
Grace
November 21, 2018 at 8:44 amI’m sure you’d be surprised to hear that episode 8 managed somehow to be the worst what with turning Kakeru into an utter selfish jack***.
Guardian Enzo
November 21, 2018 at 9:09 amSo I heard. Based on the chatter I’m reading I’m gladder than ever I dropped it.
Dein
January 16, 2019 at 1:30 amThis show was recommended to me by a friend and naturally I had to see if you were coverig an IG-produced sports anime. I was frankly amazed to see the coverage end at episode 6, since this seemed like exactly the kind of thing you’d be all over. That fact in itself was already enough to make me want to check out what the heck was going on, and I only got as far as episode 2. After he threatned to kick out one of the guys and imply the other guy could lose his job, all sorts of alarm bells went off in my head. I might give it a few more episodes, but so far the Shigatsu comparison is on point – Haiji would’ve made a great pair with that violin-wielding sociopath. It’s a realm shame, because I was all smiles on episode 1 and it was especially cool to have one of those rare shows focused on young adults, instead of teenagers. But those are becoming quite rare, and even fewer turn out to be good. Here’s hoping this year will bring some suprirses.
On that note, happy (belated) New Year to you, Enzo! Hope you have a great year and thanks for running the best anime blog around!
Guardian Enzo
January 16, 2019 at 6:49 amThank you! And yes, I still bemoan that I couldn’t embrace this series – it checked an awful lot of boxes and should have been different. But reality bites, sometimes.
Pj
January 20, 2019 at 11:44 amWhy on earth did you drop this series? It is one of the best of the season. Maybe you’re not so much into character development in a sports anime or something, but it’s so much fun, plus it’s great to have a sports anime set in college.
Pj
February 11, 2019 at 8:21 amDoes anyone know anyone who is blogging this show? It’s got to be one of the best sports anime I’ve seen though I suppose if you are more into sports anime for the shonen aspect you may not enjoy it since it’s all about character development. The latest episodes have been so great.
elianthos
February 11, 2019 at 10:03 pm@Pj : Lauren Orsini is doing weekly reviews here https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/run-with-the-wind/.138109