Enoshima have a tough match against Yoin. Last episode, it looked like they were fighting for their lives. Nothing changes in this episode for most of it. Only at the end do things look better for Enoshima.
What They Say:
“Tenacity to Win”
The goal that should have happened, didn’t. With the score 3 to 1, it’s time for an old player to make his comeback.
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
After a week’s layoff, we return to the show about young aspiring soccer players putting their all into their inter-varsity tournament. If only the real quality of the show reflected the effort of the imaginary players.
I say that because the show doesn’t rely on anything interesting or challenging to make it difficult for Enoshima. Instead, it relies on allowing plans that are nice on paper, but rather unworkable in reality, to be executed flawlessly. Just like what happens when Kakeru’s shot on Yoin’s goal is perfectly blocked by Yoin’s Asuka, who manages to feed it perfectly to Onimaru for a goal. How boring.
Plot demands that Enoshima win, but will they this game? No, they won’t, but we will see their comeback. It’s slow, well, as slow as the dwindling time on the game clock allows it to be. And of course it involves Kakeru communing with his brother’s spirit and memories. As if we really wanted to see that again. Worse, he has an episode of Suguru-possession. So, that’s how it’s going to happen. Of course, “Suguru” scores a goal in amazing style, and then “Suguru” feeds in am amazing pass to Araki for the third goal for Enoshima, tying the game. On the sidelines, Iwaki says to Nana that he believes that it’s not Suguru out there, but Kakeru finally realizing his inner potential. It’s natural that he would be able to imitate his older brother’s moves and abilities, since Kakeru has been the person who watched Suguru the most when he was alive. At least, this is what Iwaki tells himself. Others take another view on the matter.
So, the game continues to drag on. I understand how this is the run up to the finale, and so it’s natural to devote a great deal of time to this game, but as this is not a final, championship match, it feels a little like overkill to give it so many episodes. But the end is in sight, both for the game, and for this season.
In Summary:
Enoshima is deep in the hole and desperately needs to climb back into contention. Asuka and Yoin are just too powerful for Enoshima as they are now. So, it falls to Suguru, at least the spirit of Suguru within Kakeru, to bring them back into contention, as he scores once and feeds a brilliant pass to Araki for another goal to tie the match. The game continues, with the finale coming up next week.
Grade: C+
Streamed by: Crunchyroll
Review Equipment:
Apple iMac with 4GB RAM, Mac OS 10.6 Snow Leopard
