So far SK∞ is developing along some fairly predictable lines, but it continues to do so in overall effective fashion. Delivering the familiar well is no less valid a formula than breaking new ground or defying expectations, and there’s enough originality in this premise to keep things feeling fresh. Most importantly the characters are all pretty distinct and likeable (or at least entertaining in Adam’s case). That’s really the key, because I think watching a bunch of guys you don’t like doing this stuff would be pretty boring.
Adam’s arc is more and more taking center stage in the story And as it does, his superficial resemblance to Hisoka continues to expand. Hell, he did everything but call Miya “unripe fruit” during their easy jog through the preliminary round. He even whipped out the playing cards this week – can bungee gum be far behind? The resemblance is only skin-deep of course, and Adam more than anything comes off as kind of a pathetic loser starved for attention – which is certainly a description I would never have applied to Hisoka. This whole business with the aunts is starting to take on an ugly whiff of misogyny, and the less focus on that going forward the happier I’ll be.
The wild card both in the tournament and the Adam arc is Snake, the cap-wearing mystery entrant who storms to victory in Shadow’s heat (the top two advance, though). Adam, looking for his eve – so of course, Capman is the snake, the bringer of forbidden knowledge. Like skating, for example, which Snake – who’s of course really Tadashi – taught to Adam when they were kids. Their relationship has clearly gone sour since then, like seemingly everything in Adam’s life, and he sees Snake as more of a dog. But sometimes kicked dogs bite their masters…
As for Reki, he’s still fully in pout mode, which frankly isn’t a good look. But as he vegetates at home he sees a new story about a famous athletic shoe designer, which leads one to the inescapable conclusion that he is indeed going to follow the Sei to Langa’s Reiji route. There’s no shame in that, though I wonder if there isn’t one more moment of glory on the track in store for Reki before he goes full designer. Langa is totally out of it in the meantime, which speaks well of him, frankly. The scene where his mother realizes he’s trying in his roundabout boy way to ask for her help is easily the funniest in the episode.
Joe continues to be the most endearing member of the cast for me, frankly, which makes me rather hope he wins the match against Langa which the narrative pretty much requires him to lose. I like the easy way he slides into the mentor role with Reki and Langa, using the experience of having been a teenaged male to come at them so that he won’t get shut out. Ultimately though it’s Reki’s life and his decision. And Adam as well, when it comes to his sacrificial lamb (just how many animal metaphors can be applied to one guy?) and his life in general.
animealex
February 28, 2021 at 11:17 pmI didn’t need the thought of Adam and Bungee Gum in my head; thank you veeeery much for that. Uuugh! (Picture me as Miya when he realizes how cray-cray Adam really is.)
My comedic highlight was when one of Shadow’s fans called him “Daddy” when he won against “Who-the-hell-is-Harry”. As for predictability, well the fact that Tadashi rebelled against his master was a (welcome) surprise for me. Also that Langa figured out that it’s perhaps not racing that gets his heart go doki-doki and he isn’t an adrenaline junkie.
That dinner conversation between Langa and his mother got a little awkward after the “her?” “huh?” “huh?” exchange. I mean, if it wasn’t just a gag and bait for shippers like me, it would explain the annoyed look on Langa’s face in the beginning of episode six when Reki was checking that girl out. Just saying.
As for the misoginy angle, I let it pass. Adam’s father also wasn’t a very nice person from what we’ve seen and so (aside from Tadashi) Adam’s upbringing happened in a very toxic environment (or how it’s called nowadays). There are no female leads (a female skater would’ve been nice!), but apart from the aunts all females are portrayed quite positive. (Reki’s sisters are all adorable by the way)
elianthos
February 28, 2021 at 11:52 pmDisclosure: all that biblical symbolism being laid thick is much more entertaining that it has right to be. Speculah ahoy. But before that:
– Re Harry: he’s the Cao Bin of this anime. Duh.
– re misoginy: nah. it’s pretty evenly split between good feminine and bad feminine if you really want to see it through that angle. The Aunts are the bad parental/mentor figures, Reki&Langa’s mothers are the good ones. In a wider sense and for the sake of symmetry/parallels in religious symbolism (here I start) we have for instance… the bad Trinity/bad fairy godmothers/the Tea-Sipping Evil Moirai vs the Mamas&Papa adults ( Joe being the skating Papa/Brother).
– it’s all in the OP… as for this week ‘reveal’ down to the capman overlap transition with Tadashi’s
– talking of which. *cracks nuckles* I’m really really rooting for mah boi Tadashi aka (here I come) the friend/first partner/original Eve/aka the Lilith/aka snake symbolism galore to fully own his skating battle alias. Time to overturn the status quo and shatter a few delusions because that’s one poisonous Eden/fake Paradise there. Will it be rescue? will it revenge? (I vote both).
Come as you are, as you were
As a friend, as a friend
As an old enemy
As an old memory…
– lay your symbolism thick: who is the sacrificial lamb, in biblical terms? Your most beloved, the most valuable the more precious to you :p. ‘I’ve loved all my skating partners’. But the first one is the one who(se perceived betrayal with the skating destruction flashback last week where he did not stand by him against Father – more cruel gods – ) hurt the most.
Add to this one healthy love&passion outlet being nipped in the bud the whole abusive love brainwashing education he got to be molded into the family puppet and… you get a really ridiculous, really dangerous, really broken skatesexual Matador (which btw in his literal ‘love killing’ flavour is really fitting with all his situation indeed, beyond the whole flashy ridiculousness of his persona). Who for all his theatrics still kept his own Reki and the gift he gave him (skating) the closest all these years… the one who knows his secrets, the enabler of his own little escape from the family duties clutches…
– tangents and parallel: Adam you silly goose You got a Lilith by your side. The Eve you seek is right there :p. Leave those two boys to their own (comparatively sane ) troubles in Paradise. Also because Langa is more of a (good) Adam himself. Tsk tsk.
– Now re: race. I’d really really love to see Joe racing Adam and winning but… other outcomes are more likely. There are a few possibilities in the overall ‘gotta lose to win because then you realize what/who really matters’ paradise lost scenario where the other characters fit best, alas. Namely both Langa and Adam are set to lose if they win the race as they are now. They gotta lose first to win. Depending on when/how/where Langa (and Reki) get their enlightenment on the road to Damascus they might still win both this race and their life race. For the other troubled Eden duo things need a more… drastic processing I think. Too much baggage.
– Langa’s Mom is so endearing XD. She really tries and means her best :3
Riv
March 1, 2021 at 2:38 amMany elements of the story are definitely predictable, but as you say, the characters are fun and engaging, so I still enjoy it. My favorite part of the episode was Langa’s mother freaking out over how to handle Langa trying to express his problems to her. One thing I like a lot about the show is that it’s not completely focused on Reki and Langa and their adolescent situation. Instead, the adult characters also are major parts of the story. It’s not really the main focus, but that background theme of adults not wanting to give up an activity that they loved growing up is quite compelling. As one of them says–I forget if it was ADAM or JOE–skateboarding at this point in their lives is not an asset to their careers, it’s not making them any money (unlike Miya, who one could see becoming a professional). But they love it and still devote substantial amounts of energy to it. I think many of us in the past college-age crowd have those kinds of “hobbies” that for various reasons, we cannot pursue as a career but that we still try really hard to keep in our lives, even if it can be challenging sometimes to do so.
raikou
March 2, 2021 at 4:57 pmComparing Reki/Langa to Sei/Reiji is pretty spot-on, although in Reki’s case I would like him to develop in skater’s skills, but since this anime is only 1-cour (probably?) it’s going to be Reki going full designer mode I guess.
The structure is quite a straight sport template, but the characters are so fun, and that’s enough.