2.43 is a melodrama with volleyball at its core. The characters are experiencing middle school to high school growing pains and all the drama involved with being that age. It's relatable and well written for a slice of life where the characters have depth we have all experienced. Kimichika Haijima is the all star setter and Yuni Kuroba is the up-and-coming ace. Haijima is haunted by his past, but uses volleyball as his distraction and obsession. Yuni is trying to navigate different influences and come to his own conclusions about the world, Haijima, and volleyball. Yuni is easily relatable for anyone who played sports and found the pressure or drive difficult. With Haijima as the bar to set, it's easy to be discouraged by those better than you.
The relatability to the characters is the strong point of 2.43. It's focus is the characters, rather than being a hype sports anime. I think of the show more as a slice of life drama with volleyball, rather than a sports shounen. If that's what you're into, this show is a good one to watch. There is plenty of depth and pain written into the show, and that is what makes it unique. Another sports anime is cool and all, but the writers clearly wanted to try something different -- or at least showcase flawed and relatable characters and their rise through volleyball. There is a stronger focus on the relationships that develop as the season progresses. If you're watching for epic volley ball animation sequences, just wait until episode 4. This anime focuses more on player motivations that go deeper than "winning is everything." There is plenty of drama and character depth to be explored.
If you want it to be Haikyuu, go re-watch Haikyuu. 2.43: Seiin Koukou Danshi Volley-bu isn't a carbon copy with new characters. Solid show. You'll know by the first episode if you're interested in the story or not.
