There’s no question that this season is a busy one, but I’m starting to believe it’s a pretty good one too. The problem is that so many of the good series fall on the same days, which has happened more and more in recent years as Friday and Saturday have tended to dominate the schedule. Any day that offers two episodes as good as today’s Megalo Box and Hinamatsuri (which technically aired on Friday, albeit post-midnight Japan time) is already a stellar one, but that’s not even factoring in Major and Boku no Hero Academia waiting in the wings.
The elephant in the room at this point in the development with Major is the matter of Satou Toshiya. We know why Toshiya is coaching Daigo – Goro asked him to, and as a catcher the idea that his best friend’s son wants to be one is a thrilling prospect. What we don’t know is why he isn’t coaching his own son, who’s still playing catch with Sakura but dreaming (as she points out) of pitching to Daigo. Sakura’s story is worth telling in its own right – she wants to play baseball (sixth grade is the last chance to do so against the boys) is clearly good at it, but her parents won’t approve.
For now, Toshiya is concentrating on Daigo, and not taking it easy on his friend’s son. He’s asked the batting center to program the pitching machine to be wild (as little league pitchers so often are), and not pulling any punches with his critiques. But Daigo has a high baseball IQ, if not a strong arm – he learns quickly, with the right teacher (who, sadly, has apparently not often been his father). While the obvious question is why Toshiya isn’t coaching Hikaru, one might also ask why Goro isn’t coaching Daigo (or his sister, for that matter). Is it really that important to string out your career by playing in Taiwan?
Daigo does come right out and ask Toshiya what the deal is, but he gets a fairly stock adult answer – Toshiya and his wife divorced, and Hikaru lives with his mother. But as it turns out, Hikaru hadn’t even known Satou was in Japan, much less Mifune – and while he’s a boy with a good poker face, it’s clear he’s pretty hurt when he finds out by walking in on Toshiya and Daigo at the batting center. Daigo, to his credit, offers to step aside and let father and son be training partners – but Daigo hasn’t seen enough yet to know that it isn’t that simple.
The fire has clearly been lit under Daigo either way, and he’s back to giving a damn about baseball again – to the point of being psyched to find out he was starting, even if it was in right field. But his newfound rapprochement with is about to face its sternest test with the news that Hikaru is moving away, to Gunma. To rub salt in the wound he’s done it without a word of goodbye (which, it should be pointed out, it what Goro did when he left Mifune in the 6th grade). Daigo, like Toshiya, was inspired by finding a pitcher whose pitches he wanted to catch. Will that love for baseball survive knowing he’s not going to get the chance?
Jindujun93
May 12, 2018 at 6:31 amI admit, I teared up a little when I saw that flashback to Goro’s and Toshi’s youth from S1 of the original series, brought back quite a few memories. At the very least, it surprised me that Hikaru was moving away so early – I figured this would happen sooner or later somehow, but probably after this season to mirror the original series. (Not to mention that the OP shows Hikaru in the Dolphin’s uniform, so I figured he’d play beyond that one game in the beginning.)
So far, I’m really enjoying myself with Major though, to the point that it’s one of my three favorites in this current season. Just feels nice to have it in my weekly schedule.
Guardian Enzo
May 12, 2018 at 6:34 amJust feels nice to have it in my weekly schedule.
Couldn’t have said it any better myself.
leongsh
May 12, 2018 at 4:59 pmThis anime adaptation is playing dirty in giving us the nostalgia and pulling our heart strings. The flashback and insturmental Kokoro e went for the jugular. It’s also the part added on as there is no such flashback in the manga. The anime has the advantage here.
Guardian Enzo
May 12, 2018 at 5:22 pmAnd that advantage is named Watanabe.
Rio
May 13, 2018 at 8:19 amI’ve commented on some of your reviews before but very few in between. And this is very a good episode so 🙂
I just want to mention that I’m very glad they animated the flashback in the riverbank with Goro and Toshi. I was waiting for that in the World Series OVA but they completely skipped it, making anime watchers wonder how Toshi even joined Majors. When he explained how he got offers from both Titans and Hornets but ultimately chose Hornets because he and Goro had never been a champion as a battery on the same team, really drives it home for me. When I watched Major as a child, I thought it was obvious they’ll be teammates through and through being on different position. S2 even gave me hope but alas Goro can’t stay put. In the original conversation though, it was Goro who was somehow annoyed that Toshi joined the Hornets because they could’ve had a good fight, until Toshi explained his reasons.
And then the divorce thing. Toshi is my favorite from the OG Major so knowing he was divorced really made me sad considering his family matters before.
Also, I’m loving the addition of the scenes. For one, Goro didn’t have this much cameos, lol. He was the mysterious super father, probably a move by sensei to make 2nd more appealing to new readers and not be overwhelmed by recurring ones. Now the anime makes one want to watch the originals too for newcomers. Then the “goodbye” scene which was executed perfectly despite being completely absent by the manga. My heart was aching for Hikaru there, trying to stop himself from crying/feeling bad and trying to stay strong to make memories at least.
I already read the raw manga so I’m really looking forward each week what else they can add to make it fresh in my mind. I’m also wondering how many episodes is planned for this season. 26 was doable even if they didn’t add anything but now they’re really taking their time so hopefully at least more than 26 eps.
Guardian Enzo
May 13, 2018 at 2:39 pmGoro was all about “I want to be rivals” while Daigo is all about “I want to be teammates”. Interesting contrast.
elianthos80
May 13, 2018 at 11:15 amI knew what was going to happen but still… NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DON’T GOOOOOOOO D,:
* tears * That’s all. I can’t. Bwaah.
P.S. /EDIT: the flashback aw. Cuties :,) * sobs *
Chidori chan
May 13, 2018 at 4:23 pmWhat surprised me most about this chapter is that Satou Toshiya is divorced, who would want to leave him? He is a love (I was sad)
I think that in these few chapters the friendship between Hikaru and Daigo became strong, I hope that soon they will meet again …
Guardian Enzo
May 13, 2018 at 7:23 pmHow familiar are you with the original Major? There’s quite a bit of backstory around that subject. Including Toshiya’s own troubled family history.