That wait is long but it pays a lot if it comes out. Ginga e Kickoff, with repeated praises on how good this show is and people should just stop watching anime and just watch this is simply an understatement of just how really good this show is. Okay, I am such a fanboi for this show. Why wouldn’t I be? It a sports series that isn’t your typical sports series. It much more better than, Koroko and his balls. But the double feature episode by the good folks at Oyatsu is simply one of the best we have so far.

Shou and His Father

Such a cute stud. Ehem. 17 tackles about Shou’s determination. The flashback seem to purpose on having Erika realize that lack of confidence is not a problem she only has. But Shou did have his moment of finding his life. If you were a kid and worried on finding yourself, then you must be a bright one. Kids at this age are  more into exploring and learning what’s around them than finding a belonging in this world. The moral of the flashback is nothing out of your standard shounen troupe. But the presentation is what breaks it apart from the norm. Shou didn’t have the skills or the resources to learn Football. His father isn’t the athletic type either. But Shou accepted the trait his father had, and that’s to be determined to do your best in any way possible. Aside from the ball, I would think Shou’s personality at present is his way of remembering his father for dying in the “Anime diseases” that leaves a lot of children with either single parent or orphans. Making their lives miserable for our amusement. Shou is starting to have the same reasoning as Switch does in SKET dan. But Switch is a totally different ball game. But they do have that common thread.

Team Foundations

The other episode is the application of all the self-realization that predators have. Hanashima played the game well and most of it was not of his doing. The kids did most of the work that makes the winning the best feeling. To put it, what he only did was change the play of the game to suit the situation. He only changed the formation but with his guidance throughout and the series the kids did most of the explaining. In the end, the team beat them with entirely their skills and Shou’s play sense. The kids might had not notice, even Shou, but all of their scores are mainly due to Shou’s good decisions in the field.

To conclude, the next episode will be interesting. I doubt it will resolve in that episode, but I think the team play will be tested here. Can the predators play over one genius striker? Is it Aomine all over again?

Episode Rating(s): 5/5

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