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Oct 24, 2019 10:16 AM
#1

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Nov 2011
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THIS IS AN ANIME ONLY DISCUSSION POST. DO NOT DISCUSS THE MANGA BEYOND THIS EPISODE.
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Oh boy, drama on the tennis court.

That aside, I really hope these guys can keep their spirit up and motivate themselves. Practice is important after all. Got to see more of Touma's lifestyle at home too and well, the drama isn't ending there.

Oct 24, 2019 11:42 AM
#2
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Mar 2014
14
Gosh, I'm loving this shows go-lucky attitude, then out of nowhere, it gets just a hint of a dark moment with intense visuals. This week when I realized what the kettle was used for I got chills.

I'm excited to see what next week has, and who else among our soft tennis club has a dark past-- my guess it's more than the three members we've seen so far. I'm mostly interested in our two protagonists though, obviously, something went down with Toma; and his brother doesn't think it was Toma's fault, but his mom clearly blames him. It's really nice to see the brother be on Toma's side too, and I'm getting hints that it may have been something that leaned toward violence, based on how Toma threw his racket on the ground. It's also interesting that Maki called Ryouma (Toma's brother) and they'd already talked for four minutes before he hands the phone over, and based on the flashback in episode 1, I'm interested to see their connection revealed.

Also every time we see a scene in Maki's apartment I'm scared his dad will show up again, and I wonder how many episodes till it happens again?
Oct 24, 2019 11:52 AM
#3
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Sep 2015
6628
I expect just 2 or 3 members to have family problem, but at this rate it's gonna be all of them. This remind me of one anime in previous season where all members 'just happen' to be gay.
Oct 24, 2019 11:53 AM
#4
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May 2019
199
Okay, so far this really has been the best anime of this season in my opinion. Another great episode that introduces new characters and their backstory. Also, we got the slight suggestion that maybe they're not bad, they're just pairing wrong. That would be much better than just training and becoming good. I want to see more of the female characters as well. As said, I love how the show is in a very happy state and then it suddenly changes to something serious. I'm just thinking 12 episodes won't be enough ;-;
Oct 24, 2019 12:03 PM
#5

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Feb 2011
3695
Todoroki's mom needs to watch out, a new challenger appears !

Oct 24, 2019 12:08 PM
#6

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Aug 2013
5104
I feel bad for the guy that burned by his mother.

I'm guessing all the boys have some sort of family problem.

Oct 24, 2019 12:12 PM
#7
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May 2017
274
That scene with Itsuki's mom was traumatizing. I loved this episode it was very emotional. This anime might be the AOTS of this seasons new anime not counting sequels & such for me. Before watching this anime. I thought it was just going to be another cliche sports shounen. I'm glad to have been wrong.
Oct 24, 2019 12:18 PM
#8
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Apr 2018
486
The approach of this anime is really different, not in a bad way. I'm loving every bit of it!



janiwolf said:
That scene with Itsuki's mom was traumatizing. I loved this episode it was very emotional. This anime might be the AOTS of this seasons new anime not counting sequels & such for me. Before watching this anime. I thought it was just going to be another cliche sports shounen. I'm glad to have been wrong.


Easily AOTS.
Oct 24, 2019 12:19 PM
#9

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Apr 2019
300
This anime is really good so far. Surprised how deep it goes with all of the characters.


Oct 24, 2019 12:29 PM

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Apr 2009
775
Well, this was over-dramatic. They did a pretty good job with Maki in the previous episode, but this felt like something written by


I'm curious to see how the show is going to deal with his rather big cast of characters, especially since Yuta and Otaku girl seem like they are going to stay pretty relevant.

Oct 24, 2019 12:51 PM

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Jul 2017
279
Yikes. That's some backstory! If it was real life you would say how's he still alive or at least not scarred from head to toe!?
Oct 24, 2019 1:17 PM

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Jul 2012
144
Yet another dramatic backstory. I kind of feel like we've had enough of it already, but I guess it's just that type of show.

Exciting, the club will start to change and I assume rapidly at that.
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Oct 24, 2019 1:48 PM
Shalltear

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Apr 2018
34444
Fine episode, they really all have family problems wtf
Toma was a bit annoying this episode imo
Oct 24, 2019 2:13 PM

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Nov 2016
31891
Soft tennis club or support group?

Another really intense episode.

At first I was like: "Whoa Itsuki, chill" The other guy was nasty and all, but hitting him out of the blue wasn't a cool move either.
Yet considering the events in the past, I definitely symphatize with him.

One Piece episode 914 & 915 & 1027 were a mistake and 957 brought the salvation - FMmatron


Oct 24, 2019 2:20 PM
Former AMQ God

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Sep 2014
5548
They just fleshed out a ''side character'' so well in a few minutes.

Itsuki will stand up for his club even if it wasn't the best reaction as he isn't known for ever even thinking about hitting someone but the bully must have said something real bad when they silenced his sentence for him to blow up like that.

He realizes his mistake though by the end and gets over it fairly quickly, his sister berating him a little only to see that he already knows that what he has done was wrong and smiling it off going back to some happy small talk with her brother.

The movement in the matches are consistently great, they make sure to animate the full extension before the ball is hit.
Oct 24, 2019 2:24 PM

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Jul 2017
8313
was not expecting the smack to actually go through lol, I thought it was gonna be one of those cases where he was gonna get stopped at the last second

tbh I feel like Maki and Itsuki's connections with parental abuse is gonna be a roundabout way of strengthing their bonds. Don't know how far the show will get with its characters though, being only 12 eps and all


Jin_uzuki said:
Well, this was over-dramatic. They did a pretty good job with Maki in the previous episode, but this felt like something written by

Nah if they were the one writing it, there'd be an hour-long yelling session filled with random excuses, followed by somebody storming out of the room and everyone looking down all sad
Oct 24, 2019 2:48 PM

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Jan 2015
15107
Man, Itsuki’s flashback was hard to watch. Can’t believe her mother did that, even tho it’s not unusual to hear even worse things done to babies in real life

Another great episode
Oct 24, 2019 3:16 PM

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Mar 2018
109
I was honestly shocked by the blood, I didn't expect it and it changed the tone of the show for me. Same with the kettle incident. I'm falling in love with this.
Oct 24, 2019 3:21 PM

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May 2016
68
Great episode. I'm guessing the new pairs will be the ones shown on the promo pictures released before the anime aired? https://myanimelist.net/anime/37972/Hoshiai_no_Sora/pics
Oct 24, 2019 3:27 PM
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Feb 2019
79
this anime is really going all out, huh? dude's mom pulled a todoroki. excited for the new pairs in the next ep
Oct 24, 2019 3:34 PM

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Sep 2011
2632
I loved the first few moments of the episode, it was really wholesome to see Maki making dinner for Shinjou, Yuuta, and Mitsue. The matches between the pairs were interesting too, though Itsuki was annoying with the way he didn't want to play, just to hit Maki as hard as he could. But I liked how the other one said that Maki wasn't an enemy, but a member of the club. Then there's what his mother did to him, and that was painful to watch to say the least. It doesn't seem like it was consciously done, but it doesn't change the fact that she scarred him for life.

Breaking his racket on the head of that bully was a "bit" much, but I like how the people around him, like his teacher and friends, tried to make him see that what he did was wrong, while supporting him instead of only judging. And I thought Shinjou snapped because they were targeting Maki, but he just got mad because they were awful. lol Maki already found out the problem, and already has a solution. He really is an asset to the team. Oh, and the way Maki said to Shinjou that they are better sticking together was really cool too. Here's hoping the team can get along better now.
Oct 24, 2019 3:36 PM

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Feb 2007
6242
Dear god, the parents in this series. As if the first episode giving us first Toma's mom and then Maki's father completely outclassing her awfulness wasn't enough, now we have Itsuki's mom showing us that you can always find worse...
Oct 24, 2019 3:41 PM

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Apr 2016
767
AOTS right here!

The way the people act feels real, it's fun and dramatic sometimes but not all over the place. Great writing. great voice-acting. I love it.
Oct 24, 2019 3:52 PM
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Mar 2015
13490
People go to jail for that in real life Surprised more was not done about the fight
Oct 24, 2019 3:53 PM
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May 2018
14
This episode was way too good. It is evident that the core of the story is how all the characters use soft tennis as a coping mecanism to escape the problems they have at home. The scene where Maki calls Toma to tell him he can´t let the club disband because they must stick together is a sign of how their relationships will help them overcome their problems.
I don´t think the backstory of Itsuki was overdramatic, it was very well presented and it justifies his sociopathic tendencies without criminalizing him.

landofthekwt said:
People go to jail for that in real life Surprised more was not done about the fight


The school must have knowledge of Itsuki´s problems at home so they must have gone easy on him.
Oct 24, 2019 3:59 PM

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Nov 2016
608
That moment, the music, the sound, Itsuki's expression, everything was perfect.
Oct 24, 2019 4:27 PM

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Oct 2012
1086
I... Have no idea what's going on anymore. This is completely different from anything I could've expected. It's wild, I- I have no idea what's going to happen, it's never obvious. Like, WHAT? When would you expect someone to hit someone with their racket in a sports anime? I mean, USUALLY someone would stop them before right? And the blood, what? WHAT? THE SCENE WHERE THE MOM WAS BOILING WATER??? LIKE WHAT AM I EVEN WATCHING I NEVER EXPECTED THIS.

I want more. I'm confused, but I'm hooked. I don't know if it's too much--? Or realistic? Because everyone is a bit of an asshole? Like, Maki in the previous episode with the whole speech about how bad everyone was, and now Toma too. I mean, they're kids, like 14, and kids are kinda evil and hurt people with words (or rackets) a lot, but... Idk.. I hope it doesn't try to be too edgy or something. But I'm totally in for the ride.
MaahHeimOct 24, 2019 4:32 PM
Oct 24, 2019 5:21 PM

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Jul 2015
1910
So do we just call that "Pulling a Todoroki" now? Anyway, we got 3 families with problems, wonder how many more were gonna get before this is over.
A Wild and Small Otaku has Appeared!
Oct 24, 2019 5:54 PM

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Jan 2011
6537
shit this show ant holding back no surprise Itsuki has ended up how is living with a mother like that despite these kids kinda being asshole i do feel for em.

and didn't feel bad for that kid that got hit had it coming but in the words of Maki use your fist weapons ant cool man.



also super bummed about the stuff regarding the ED i mean i knew the choreography had to be from somewhere it just looked too recognizable but you gotta give credit where it's due is all.
Oct 24, 2019 6:30 PM
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Jul 2018
564074
I'm surprised Itsuki didn't get into more trouble for hitting another kid with his racket. No suspension, no detention, no anything? Even if the teachers knew about his issues, something like smacking another student so hard on the head that the racket breaks and the other student bleeds would warrant something, imo. That's not some minor school hallway squabble.
Oct 24, 2019 6:54 PM
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Sep 2015
17
The two dramatic scenes on the episode are great. I was surprised and uneasy both times. The absence of sound, like the room spinning on the baby scene, the hit and the blood falling, were great moments. Even though violence is not the best way to solve problems, is something that you should expect when bullying someone (mainly when this person has a hard object in hands).

I liked how the characterized Itsuki in this episode, and while recognized his problems and bad actions, they understood him and tried to help him

I'm still impressed that the team expects to become good, even though they never train or try to improve. They just sit down and lazy around. I understand that they have their problemas and don't try because they don't have faith in themselves,but this doesn't justify the fact that some of them are angry at Maki, just because he actually is good on the sport and is trying to improve and learn. Well at least at the end of the episode Maki saw that just offending them is not gonna achieve the goal he wants, so the way is showing them how to improve and that they can be better
jhonathanplrOct 24, 2019 6:57 PM
Oct 24, 2019 7:28 PM

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Nov 2010
1287
Is there any character who has healthy personality in this show? I won't be surprised anymore even if the tennis club captain has an affair with the protagonist's mom in the course of time.

As though the producers presented a lot of abnormal back stories (and character behaviors) behind the main sports route, I'm not sure how they integrate them as a whole. I hope that the back stories are not mere gimmicks.
Oct 24, 2019 7:37 PM

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Oct 2009
698
This anime is different, and that makes it a delight to watch. Everything very nicely proportioned to make it organic, I guess you could say.

That dinner there made me hungry as hell, but it was also a heartwarming scene seeing Maki have guests over so easily, even his mother being great with it. The matches seemed like a fun way of teaching the newbie, only to end up the newbie teaching the others about how bad they really are. And then the blood and the background drama: things kept hidden, locked away, under many layers of everyday life, only coming out late in time, only when coaxed. Nicely set up indeed.
Oct 24, 2019 7:51 PM

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Feb 2018
466
When the pv came first everyone thought that the sound/music effects are weird. 3 episodes in, it is one of the favourite aspects of the show!!
'I have no bonds tying me down. That's why I can see things as they are!!' - Yugami
Oct 24, 2019 8:10 PM

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Dec 2009
1718
Calling it now, based off how dramatic everything has been in this show...I can totally see Maki getting killed near the end of the series. I see the death flags already since he's the one pushing the team forward and going to finally cause them to start winning, but right when they need him the most he's going to most likely get killed by his father since this series has gone full in on the drama until this point. I hope I'm wrong but just my senses as a writer tell me that something like that is being planned.
Oct 24, 2019 8:21 PM

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Oct 2015
6916
Shit, what kind of mother burns their infant with boiling water, fuck that bitch.

Liked how Maki encouraged Toma to not give up on the sport.
How I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb --- Dr Strangelove

Oct 24, 2019 8:24 PM

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Apr 2013
1174
Another fantastic episode. It was intense seeing the backstory, the hit on the head and even Toma getting angry and throwing his racket on the ground. Yet, it was a heartwarming episode and it was nice seeing Itsuki with his sister going home and preparing dinner! The OST and music is definitely a plus and they always use it so well!
Oct 24, 2019 8:29 PM

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Mar 2016
1428
Man, this is building more tension and I like it.
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nope les falle con esa, lo siento pero todos tenemos nuestros límites.
Así de jodido es mi gusto en anime, ¡Y estoy pinche orgulloso de ello!

Oct 24, 2019 8:42 PM

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Jun 2017
2800
There must be something the matter with me. This is not CGDCT and yet it's my favorite show this season so far.

Oct 24, 2019 9:00 PM

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5728
That flashback was pretty dark ngl.

Can't wait to see what they're planning to do to get better
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Oct 24, 2019 9:12 PM

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Dec 2014
7045
Damn, that smack was intense. Just damn, I'm curious what that bully said given how it triggered Itsuki. He definitely shouldn't have hit him with the bat but I do agree with the others that were saying he should've smacked him or headbutted him.

The match presentation and animation is surprisingly good.
Oct 24, 2019 9:44 PM
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Dec 2015
38
probably, all of soft tennis members, had problem with their family.
Oct 24, 2019 9:53 PM
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Sep 2019
11
Again... Seriously?

(It personally pisses me off)
Another ''evil'' character, because the script must create a totally disproportionate conflict to become a mess. Already the third bully character to be inserted (which by the way serves to give stupid insults) that includes a forced and desperate attempt of this anime to generate some intrigue, the director and screenwriter do not know how to balance a drama without having to appeal to all episodes have one.

Best of all is how things have no consequence, Itsuka did not take suspension because the sensei only sees things black and white, regardless of who started this fight and insulted, and it was not a superficial cut, one consequence is what it would be fit for both people, but the script ignores any sense of Japanese school reality to push this team forward.

It was not a bad episode, the challenges part of the team was very well conducted, they opened space to explore Touma, but these final moments were quite disappointing, I worry about the drama of this anime, because many authors exaggerate fiercely to portray one, and still having 12 episodes, I'm afraid it will become a mess.
Oct 24, 2019 11:10 PM
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Mar 2011
104
It's interesting because on reddit someone put forth the theory that the Toma could have come out to his Mom, and she acts that way because of it such as asking if he came home alone. That could be true, but I think it has to do with short temper that he exhibited and kept having to catch himself by saying nice shot and volley to cover up his anger.
My Karma ran over your Dogma
Oct 25, 2019 12:57 AM

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Mar 2019
948
Slice of Life feelings, Sports feelings, Daily Life feelings....

The Drama..... Great Episode.
Nyan-Pasu!... [ Ara Ara ] [ Waifus ]
Oct 25, 2019 1:24 AM

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Mar 2016
1723
The tension before the hot water pouring scene really made me hopeful, for a moment, that nothing might happen. Damn, I am horrified!

I love the way we see the characters' personalities through the tennis matches.

So, judging by Touma's reaction, Maki is just a simple athletic boy, and the team is just pathetic. No wonder he wanted to quit.

Throughout most of the episode, I was worried Maki's dad might appear in the wrong time. Him not appearing is only making it scarier!

The boy that got hit deserved it! Still, I kept remembering what Maki had said last episode about hitting unarmed.

It was admirable to see Maki listening to Toma's advice and also him going to study the girls' team. He has no problem learning from people who know better than him.

I guess the pairs Maki creates are the ones from the ed. That reminds me: this is the third episode, and we still don't have an op.
Oct 25, 2019 1:49 AM

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Dec 2011
1865
This anime is the hidden gem of this season. So many awesome anime this season and this one keep getting better and better,
I can't wait to see how Maki will change this team and damn Maki is a genius.
Oct 25, 2019 1:49 AM
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May 2018
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SRASinister said:
It's interesting because on reddit someone put forth the theory that the Toma could have come out to his Mom, and she acts that way because of it such as asking if he came home alone. That could be true, but I think it has to do with short temper that he exhibited and kept having to catch himself by saying nice shot and volley to cover up his anger.


That would certainly be an interesting development, but I do not think that´s the case since Toma has not shown any sign of romantic interest to any character. And his mom didn´t ask if he "came home alone". She said 『 練習をやめて帰ってきたの? あなた だけ"』 "You left practice and came home? Only you (and nobody else)?". So I pretty much expect for his drama to be about his anger management problems.
Oct 25, 2019 2:24 AM

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3280
Okay, so this is show is definitely going down the theme of "child-parent relationships", particularly harmful ones, so I'm interested to see what exactly it does with this. What conclusion or statement do you think it's going to draw by the end?

One thing I do want to criticise this episode for is the portrayal of Itskui. I feel like what happened this episode falls very much into the whole "childhood trauma turns you into a psycho" trope which, even without the connotations attached to it, is just plain boring and overused.

Looking forward to next week
Oct 25, 2019 2:32 AM

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Oct 2017
2726
Episode 3 in, this anime continues to be phenomenal

This episode alone pretty much highlights all the members' personality and attitude already. Such great characterization and dynamic. Another good thing is the author of this series don't just throw these characters into a certain archetype and stick with it.
Every members have their hidden background and multiple layers of personality.
Each members are like real people.

Also do I need to mention how good the animation is?
Do I need to mention how much I like the overall art-style of this series? (Everyone is sooooo cute and adorable!)

Ok, unless there's some bullshit going on toward the end, Hoshiai no Sora would definitely be my anime of the season, with no competition so far.
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