A world weary salary man and a gyaru beer salesgirl make a connection at the ball park.
What They Say:
To escape his tiring job, weary Murata finds escape at a nearby baseball stadium. While the games are thrilling, it’s Ruriko, the gyaru as cold as the beer she serves but secretly a sweetheart, who keeps him coming back. As her first regular, Murata discovers the warmth behind her frosty demeanor, and their hilarious, heartwarming encounters light up the ballpark and maybe even their hearts.
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
Murata has only been in the workforce for a couple of years, but he has already been worn down by the daily grind, miserable at the thought that this is what the rest of his life is looking to be. His only solace is taking in Motorsuns baseball games, which help him escape reality for a little while in a relaxing environment. While he is as avid a follower as those in the cheering section, he just likes to sit by himself in one of the quieter sections of the stadium and take in the mood.
Enter Ruriko: the gyaru beer seller. Ruriko is a new employee at the stadium, and Murata is her first customer. Immediately upon selling him a beer, she begins to playfully tease him, first by jokingly trying to sell him on a beer she’s poured poorly and then sitting with him for a while to take a break and “make his heart race.” By the time she leaves to continue her rounds, he has bought a second beer, and before long, he’s become her first regular. Murata, for his part, sees right through her flirtatious mannerisms but cannot bring himself to call her out on them. Besides, he enjoys her attentions enough that he’s happy enough to go along with her, and a playful relationship is born.
Based on a long-running manga, Catch Me at the Ballpark is a tried and true slice-of-life romcom (emphasis on the com), meaning that it is more about the little moments in life and does not necessarily have an overarching storyline. The build to the relationship between Ruriko and Murata is a lot of fun so far, keeping up with the general trend of the genre I affectionately refer to as “gyaru+huge dork.” Ruriko is outgoing, a trifle overbearing, and in general, a lot of fun. Murata, for his part, is immediately captivated by her charms but also pretty understanding of what it is that she’s trying to do to him (charm him to buy more beer since she works on commission), which makes it all the more amusing when it works.
But even within this first episode, we get some interesting character-building stuff with Ruriko that shows she does not exactly fit in the mold of the gyaru stereotype (a trend we’re seeing more and more in manga/anime). For example, she spends the entire opening segment of the series outrageously flirting and teasing Murata, but the moment she walks away, she gets completely flustered, admitting to herself just what that interaction has taken out of her, as she is generally uncomfortable around guys. She has a similar reaction later when she confirms him to be her first regular customer. It’s a cute admission, and it will be interesting to see how that plays into their relationship as things go forward. Additionally, when she stops working to help the little girl who had become lost despite the fact that it means lost commission, it helps show her more caring side. Overall, the introduction of both her and Murata could not have been handled better, and I am looking forward to seeing their antics as the season progresses.
In Summary:
The opening episode of Catch Me at the Ballpark was a lot of fun. Murata and Ruriko immediately have a good, playful chemistry that’s a joy to watch. It does not seem to be a series that will blow your socks off, nor is it trying to be. Rather, it is a fun romp that is good chicken soup for the soul, and it had me smiling for the entire 24-minute runtime. Sometimes that is all we really need. Recommended.
Grade: B
Streamed by: Crunchyroll
