Major 2nd has a funny way of expositing, at least this season. The first was totally linear, but this one has been all over the map. It started with a timeskip, leaving a lot of stuff unexplained. And since then it’s jumped back and forth a few times, showing us bits and pieces of the roughly two years that passed between the two seasons. In theory it should be frustrating, confusing or both. But somehow, it really works. You put together a picture in your head, and it’s interesting to see how actual events measure up to it. And in general, they’ve done so pretty closely.
This week was all about Mutsuko the pitcher. And how she got that way. The next opponent, Seiwa, in an “extreme small-ball” team (dollars to donuts this new coach is a familiar face – could it possibly by Komori again?). That means it’s not enough for Mutsuko just to worry about getting the hitters out, but given that she’s only been a pitcher for six months the fine art of holding down the running game is foreign to her. Daigo knows every facet of it encyclopedically but he can’t be the one to execute it. That leads to the most intense practice of the series so far.
I like these moments where we see Daigo in serious mode, rare as they’ve been. He’s a teddy bear most of the time but he has claws when he decides to show them, and he’s pretty tough on Mutsuko here. I’m really wavering on whether Fuurin needs an adult coach, because Daigo seems to have both the knowledge and the persona to handle it admirably himself. That doesn’t mean this is easy – three balks on three pickoff attempts proves Sakura-san still has a long way to go. But she’s got a track record of rapid improvement, as we’re about to find out.
The flashback this time is only six months, to when this iteration of the Fuurin team first came together. Daigo had only six players to work with, and the two best ones refused to pitch. Seira obviously has the arm for it, but clearly not the stamina (though I note that Tanba seemed extremely glad to shift to first – his throwing yips were already tormenting him). Mutsuko kind of wins by default – the day may come when Daigo feels ready to take the hill, but this clearly wasn’t it. And Daigo is exactly the coach she needs at this stage – relentlessly encouraging, even when the results didn’t merit it.
The real action begins when Daigo invites Mutsuko over to his house to work on a slider. A pitcher like her – all finesse – absolutely must have breaking pitches, even in middle school. Big sis Izumi is recruited to help, and Mutsuko proves to be a pretty quick study. Izumi is a quick study too – she picks up on the vibe between Mutsoko and Daigo, even though Daigo seems not to have any clue. The breakthrough moment happens when Mutsuko is trying to break up a sibling argument over whether to teach Mutsuko a sinker too (I’m kind of with Daigo on this one – too soon) and she calls him “Daigo” for the first time. It’s a necessity for the sibs to know who she’s talking to – but in Japan’s peculiarly Japanese social setting, it’s a big honking deal.
This is pretty hilarious, really – a full-on charm offensive watching these two together. Daigo, for his part, has been calling her by her first name all along and seems totally unfazed by this change. Which, in fact, he doesn’t even notice until she’s been doing it for weeks and the other girls on the team pick up on the habit. I think we all know where this is going to end up eventually, but that’s probably about 30 manga volumes down the road (assuming Mitsuda-sensei is still cranking them out by then).
For now, though, the focus returns to the present and Seiwa – and it looks like Anita is going to remain behind the plate for that one. Especially given Mutsuko’s extreme comfort level with Daigo as a catcher (not to mention his promise to “catch all her pitches”) this strikes me as an especially risky move. Seiwa is going to prove to be a pretty stiff challenge for this undermanned and inexperienced side, whoever their new coach turns out to be…
leongsh
June 14, 2020 at 12:06 amFirst off, this episode’s contents are mostly anime only. Only the pick-off practice is in the manga. The anime-only content helps to fill in the blanks that the manga did not and just left it as this is where it is now. It also shows that Goro is not fully absent but is there supporting his children’s baseball interest and development although he is mostly away. He had the pool removed and filled in to extend the baseball practice area at home for them.
Next, young teenage anime boys (particularly main characters) are generally dense and oblivious when it comes to girls’ interest in them. Here, it’s like father, like son. There are also some similarities. They are persuasive and resourceful when it comes to baseball. The main difference is that Goro is more an antagonistic persuader while Daigo is a soft touch persuader.
While Daigo is so far doing fine as an interim coach, he is still flying by the seat of his pants, so to speak. He is demonstrating his research into baseball details to play both coach and captain but he is lacking in the experience that helps to develop and guide the team. Furin Middle School will get an adult baseball coach for the team in due course. For now, a lot is resting on Daigo shoulders. I daresay, too much.
Blueblue
June 14, 2020 at 5:48 amI think that I already asked the question but I mean, we agree that they are in 3rd year right? (like “usual” with Major). Because I am still confused and more importantly I am still bothered by how Sakura’s character became and the last sentence by Urabe sums up my problem (yeah I know that he referred to Daigo). I mean, I got that she started baseball only in last year of elementary school, but were they training in that Furin school? I perfectly understand that being a pitcher is new to her but since episode 1 I am bothered by the fact that her whole character looks like a “weak” girl pampered by the smart male and power of love (and no, I am not a “feminism warrior”).
I appreciate the desire to “baby steps” us with this new Major (especially for me who knows about baseball only through anime) but I would have been more comfy if it was a “true freshman” instead of Sakura. Especially if that is for having her transformed into a “doki doki cutie cutie” character. Luckily, her baseball potential is still there.
Guardian Enzo
June 14, 2020 at 9:05 amThey’re second years. And training to be a pitcher is very hard – she’s only been at it for six months, which is why she’s spent no time learning about the “secondary” aspects of pitching – just getting to where she is at the actual pitching part would have been a full-time job,
I don’t see Mutsuko’s portrayal as sexist at all. She’s a baseball newbie – she knew nothing about it until she started at the very end of little league. The other girls who’ve been playing longer are portrayed as just as knowledgeable and skilled as the boys (including Maruyama-san from the first season).
BlueBlue
June 14, 2020 at 6:56 pmJuly…(better say nothing)
OK if they are 2nd years. I am constantly confused as maybe (certainly) I am wrong, but it has never been clearly stated, at least to me. I should check again “captain Daigo” episode but I had the feeling that they were already in 2nd year when their 3rd years shoplifted and so their club were out of competition until now.
Anyway, once again, as I said, I have zero issue with the pitcher stuff as this is something new to her. But my issue remains that her WHOLE personality is a “lack of confidence” and she always has to be “rescued” by Daigo. I mean, in the first season, yeah she was nice, yeah she had that “I will pretend to be bad to not steal historical players place” but she was delivering when she had to. For instance, when that former teammate (sorry I forgot his name) was disappointed that Sakura “took” his spot, she clearly stated that she will score for him (something like that). In that season, I find nothing like that at all so far.
But again, I admit that this is because I am a sucker for brash characters, and even more when they are female. Hence my appreciation for Anita who has her own internal weaknesses (which of course will be exposed later on I imagine) and my prayers for not seeing her too falling for the smart captain…
Proto
June 15, 2020 at 12:37 pmThey have underclassmen (the new players who were summarily beaten at the start of the season) and upperclassmen (Tanba). That leaves second year by process of eliminatiopn :p
Guardian Enzo
June 15, 2020 at 1:04 pmYuppers.
Sooner or later Mitsuda is going to relent and give Daigo a growth spurt. His dad was already a giant when he was 14. Maybe that’s when we see him try pitching.
BlueBlue
June 16, 2020 at 1:36 amWell, actually, there is a subtitle about Tanda in one episode (which I cannot remember) which confused me about him. But anyway, I was watching every episode again and their class was specified in episode 1. So sorry for the stupid disturbance…
leongsh
June 14, 2020 at 1:22 pmhttps://twitter.com/AIR_News01/status/1271814790772428801
No comment about another month’s delay? Or just an acceptance that it’s all about being patient and 1 month is nothing compared to other waits and the quality this show brings?
Guardian Enzo
June 14, 2020 at 1:30 pmYou want a comment? “Fuck!” – there’s a comment. This is the first I’ve heard of it.
leongsh
June 14, 2020 at 2:59 pmHere I thought you were sanguine about this development. “Fuck!” is probably the common reaction. I was like a resigned, “Okayyyyy… Whatever needs to be done to get it safely to completing this 2nd season of Major 2nd.”
Yssa
July 14, 2020 at 12:46 pmCan anybody tell me why Daigo calls Sakura by her last name now? Anyone else notice he changed from first name basis to last name basis?!
Yssa
July 14, 2020 at 1:08 pm** Just rewatched s1 and realised I’ve gotten her first and last name mixed up the other way around. wow, ignore me haha
Guardian Enzo
July 14, 2020 at 1:23 pmHeh, you had me confused there for a minute – that certainly wouldn’t have made sense!