I do agree Toshi not being mentioned is quite interesting. I wonder if he helped Honda get over his father's death in anyway during the time skip. Either way it seems to me that he was always studying so it's not inconceivable he went to a different school that's harder to get into. If that's the case maybe Toshi will join another team and he will be a friendly rival to Honda. Maybe later in life they can meet up and join together again and they will be a similar relationship to Shigeno and Honda! I'm excited to see if anything like that occurs.
As for this episode I enjoyed it a lot. I think the fact that the pacing got way slower during this arc made everything feel less melodramatic. For the most part everything is childishly and endearingly genuine in my opinion. There is no mega tragedy and hardship being shoved into our face to find a solution moments later over and over. And it was a nice way to have the chemistry grow between the arrogant Honda and the dutiful & selfless Shimizu and a good way to meet the other friends. Shimizu is a warrior for the weak and Honda is all about being a strong individual, he didn't want to help Komori until it was either helping him or leaving behind Shimizu! But notably once he did become friends with him and saw Komori show courage and stand up for him, Honda went out there on his own will to stand up for Komori. It's also quite charming that both Shimizu and Honda were right, Komori needs friends to have the courage to fight back but he must also fight back himself and not let other people look out for him all the time.
I like the complexity here. Honda is almost too selfish at times, if I recall I think Shimizu said it well, it's as if Honda only cares about him playing. He's not looking at this as a team sport, rather he needs a team so HE can play. But he still has good values put into him from his father, like how he should stand up for his friends and presumably his line about making them pay for putting their hands on a girl. There was also the moment where Sawamura almost got rid of his fathers mitt and my heart stopped. He was rightfully mad because Sawamura couldn't understand the importance of it, but I felt he channeled that anger into standing up for Komori. It was a punch of anger and loyalty. At first I quested if it was necessary but I think the point was that it actually put things into perspective for Sawamura.
Sawamura who was quite the spineless and vindictive bully, obviously learned from his dad. He already feared someone standing up for themselves against him and he picked on someone who nearly couldn't do that. So to actually be hit for his actions and be preached in the way he did got through to him. His friends were probably scared of being Honda's enemy and Sawamura really thought about how he hurt Komori. To make it up to them he wants to join the team. It was a fast development but I think it was as cheesily delightful as anything else in Major.
Komori is voiced by the VA of Haruka in Sarazanmai, an anime airing this season. I knew I recognized that voice! Komori is a cute and likable character. He's compassionate but anxious and not quick to act, yet if he feels he ought to for his friends he will. And most of all we saw he is forgiving, for him 2 years of bullying were nothing to hold a grudge over. Plus he's going to symbolically take his dad's place, catching pitches from Honda's son. Heck yeah. |