Why they play the game.
What They Say:
The 11th Game: A Bridge for the Five of Them.
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
While Maho is off trying to process the information she discovered that their team can’t play official games the rest of the team decides to get some practice time in with the school they are visiting’s bench players. After practice Subaru’s first inclination is to go chasing after Maho but Manaka persuades him that letting Saki go would be more effective. As Maho and Saki talk about what drives them with the game Manaka and Subaru also sit and talk about their respective love for the game and how being coaches let them express that when they can’t be on the court. With Manaka’s help they manage to gain a game after coming all that way after persuading the home school’s coach that it won’t negatively affect her team’s chances in the upcoming tournament.
With that hurdle out of the way Subaru will have to put some thought into how they can actually pull an upset and win the game with fewer players and less experience. Game planning isn’t going to be the only type of planning going on as Manaka plots to get Subaru and Aoi closer together. When he plan goes a bit awry it will cause some embarrassment but also a chance for the two to have a conversation that clears the air between them a bit. As time marches on the game gets closer- what is it that Subaru has planned to give his team the edge, and what will his plans mean for Saki and Maho’s roles with the team?
While it would be easy and forgivable for the series to spend its last two episodes just focusing on the upcoming game instead we get an episode that seems to want to make sure that they don’t leave many things unsaid or unaddressed. While being a later edition to the forefront cast Aoi gets sometime alone to talk with Subaru and express her feelings while the girls from the team get to examine why they play. With a relatively large cast it isn’t like everyone gets a lot of screen time to express themselves but they do make the most of the time they get. While the next episode has a real chance of dipping into cliché territory at least this one takes the time to focus on the main reason I watch and makes sure to keep the characters from just sinking into the game aspect.
In Summary:
Ro-Kyu-Bu’s next to last episode of the season brings a wealth of character bits with Saki and Maho talking as well as the interaction between Subaru and Aoi with a sprinkling of Manaka which causes some deeper discussions on their basketball-and other-passions. With the conclusion to the season ticking down like seconds off a game clock feelings are getting expressed and with luck nothing will be left unsaid on the basketball floor after the next episode.
Grade: A-
Simulcast By: The Anime Network
Review Equipment:
Toshiba 15.4” Notebook
