The season premiere, Rhythm, showed us that Haikyuu still has something novel to say. Haikyuu grafts in the tertiary characters, the spectators, into focus.
Tsumu and Samo are more than entertaining, more than captivating, but in a way that only Haikyuu can... you find yourself rooting for the opponent as much as you do for Karasuno.
I understand that Hinata is the protagonist. But what really differentiates Part 1 and Part 2 is how much of the show he monopolizes. Similar to his play style, the show is at its best when he is out of the spotlight and lost in the crowd.
But there was just so much good narrative this season. Nishinoya struggling for the first time in his life. Tsuki talking trash. Inarizaki's captain. But it was Tanaka's honest, internal monologue about recognizing his limits, accepting/ not accepting his genius, confronting failure, and going through the grind that has me tearing up just typing this.
Last, Haikyuu is big on setters. The analogy is apt for one thing they do better than everyone else, the set up for the next act. Just like Ushiwaka loomed eerily and heavily in S2, S4 Part 2 (and probably land vs air as well)... HAS ME HYPED FOR S5!!
