Notes
At first glance, the script is standard manga-turned-drama fare with all the appropriate humor and ridiculousness. However, Satomi's narration during the first episodes is really grounding. It's essentially exposition out the wazoo, but it's so heartfelt that you eat it up. Nothing is especially profound about the dialogue overall, but just line to line, it flows well.
The characters spend a lot of time reminiscing about the past, which you think would slow down the pace, but surprisingly, it gives it breadth. The romance doesn't play out like you expect--for starters, the confessions are the very last scene--but somehow you stay with it while it finds itself. I never got bored watching the games, the training, or just the camaraderie. And I don't even like baseball.
As much as I'd like the main characters to be more resolute, they are well developed. The friendship between the trio is tangible, and all the supporting characters are given ample, but not overdone background. Koga is the archetype heroine with her graciousness and unwavering love for the hero. Hikari could be very easy to hate, (supporting female syndrome) but in the end, she means a lot to the story and to the male leads.
Obviously baseball is the main platform and paves the way for all the trimmings of the quintessential "sports story"--teamwork, realizing the dream, hard work, friendship, etc. It's all very effective, but I liked the coming of age element best. All the romantic tension about growing up and relationships evolving is well done.
If you're especially shippy, maybe the kiss between Takayuki and Yui would jump the shark (shocked the hell out of me), but objectively, nothing about the romantic complication is unfounded. I grumblingly admit that, for once, all the indecisiveness is actually well developed.
So as I said, the love confessions are the ending, and they do a beautiful job tapering off the series quietly. As with all high school stories, it can only end with everyone going their separate ways after graduation, fond memories abound. Nothing spectacular, just good old fashioned closure.
Standard. All the "action shots" during the baseball games were the best.
Any OST lucky enough to be graced by K’s voice is a winner with me. He really knows how to give character to a song without overdoing the emotion. "Over..." is a great ending theme, though I wish it had been milked more through the BGM. The southern cowboy inspiration for much of the music was unique. Served the hilarity very well.
Right up until the end, Satomi wasn't quite emoting to the level that Takayuki was. I was ready to write her off as a cute actress who could only deliver hero worship, but then she staked me right through the heart in the last scene. No doubt she was saving that Gaze for the perfect moment. For most of the series, their chemistry was primarily friendly and secondarily romantic, but that's the way it was written, so they delivered it well.
Apple's Tier Ranking: 1st
