[Review/Discussion Post] Yowakutemo Katemasu Ep 11 (final)
Last time Aoshi-sensei... to be honest, I'm NOT motivated to watch this last episode XD I'm afraid we're going to lose Aoshi-sensei and if it's me, I could continue watching him every week forever and ever lol...
It's almost over. Last time, Jotoku had its match against Doutou High School. They lost. It was very depressing and I felt so sorry for the whole team and Aoshi-sensei was crying and my heart was breaking and yeah... so what's going to await us with this last episode? How will this dorama end? No matter how, I hope in a good way... (argh do they have to show Aoshi-sensei's crying again in the beginning of this episode? I start crying again like this T_T)
At the beginning of the episode we make a time jump to autumn. Summer has passed, so has the high school baseball tournament. Nevertheless, Aoshi-sensei seems totally gloomy (don't tell me, you're still depressed because of the lost match, Aoshi? *hugs*) In the “Southern Wind” Kaede states that time passes in the blink of an eye if you fully devote yourself to things but also if you're slacking off. Argh, is this a hint that Aoshi-sensei didn't take baseball any serious after their loss? Don't disappoint me, Aoshi!
It seems like he gets the hint as well and asking Kaede for what she means, she spills out the beans. What about getting new members for the team? The school year will end in spring, what will happen to the baseball club when the third years leave? (They will have not enough members to play a match again.) But Aoshi-sensei gets a point. There aren't many students who change clubs in the middle of the school year. But Kaede-san got three new members, she declares. Members for what? As part-time workers in her shop. Aoshi-sensei asks her surprised why she even needs part-time workers and Kaede-san tells him that like this she wouldn't be able to continue to go to practice. Aoshi-sensei is stunned when he finds out that Kaede will continue training Takemiya High School's baseball team as their special coach.
At school, Masumoto-sensei seems willing to bring new members to the team and lets curious first graders swing the bats but soon they find out that this is not really meant from them. Aoshi-sensei complains. It's impossible to bring them to do it with that little motivation. Aoshi-sensei is surprised about Masumoto-sensei's sudden motivation. Well, since he will go back to be the coach next year, he wants to do things seriously! (At least one of them seems motivated >.<)
Our third graders in the meantime are busy with studying for their university entrance exams. Akaiwa complains that he wants to play baseball (Okadome too I guess if you look at him XD) but Ebato reminds him that their priority is now to get into Toudai. Akaiwa thinks about Aoshi-sensei and feels sorry for him that he won't be able to have a match. Yuzuko mentions that highschool baseball will not be over for Aoshi-sensei until he won against Doutou High School. Akaiwa calls this the “trauma-theory” but yeah, why doesn't he want to stay then? Is he running away?
At Doutou High School we finally meet that person again, a lot of people seemed to have been waiting for (me not that much I have to admit but well, for Aoshi-sensei's sake of course, yes! XD) - Yachida Kentaro has returned from the USA. Okaeri!
In the meantime, Takemiya's coach (I again forgot his name, sorry for that) and Akaiwa's dad talk to Aoshi-sensei. It seems they heard about his retirement from being a teacher and a coach as well. Akaiwa's dad seems to be motivated suddenly - to join Takemiya's management. Huh? He tells Takemiya's coach that they have to get in the prefectural tournament Best Eight so that their club will not get abolished. The coach gets blamed that the team didn't even win their first match and then he attacks Aoshi-sensei since that was “his fault”. He denies and Kaede blames him that he acts like an outsider, shame on you, coach Aoshi! Akaiwa's dad asks him if he's just poking and leaving like that. Poking? Yes, he had started to make things between him and his son interesting since Akaiwa had finally started to talk (well, fight) with his father since he joined the baseball team! Kaede says that it would be great if they could get enough players for a last match for Aoshi-sensei's retirement but well, Aoshi-sensei says that it's enough that they consider it. Ah, not so shy, Aoshi-sensei!
In the backyard, Aoshi-sensei is throwing some balls, hitting the yellow goal and being pretty satisfied with that. Yeah, you improved a lot if you ask me! (Argh!!! Why so cute, Aoshi-sensei! XD ♥ He's still stealing my heart!)
Suddenly, Tone shows up. Aoshi-sensei talks to her about the last article about Jotoku and even if she herself calls it somehow unfinished, he liked it because it was full of hope. She points out, that those were his own words and that he was the one who talked about hope in the first place. Everything he said was full of hope. Even if Jotoku had experienced more set-backs in the end what was left was the feeling of fighting spirit to try again and again. That's the feeling Aoshi-sensei had conveied. Tone wants to fight as well. The topic switches to the fashion magazine she has to switch to (or did she already?). She tells Aoshi-sensei that she wants to try getting as most stories that she't interested in as possible.
Aoshi-sensei calls it a high risk, referring to baseball but she asks him if the advice “swing with all your might” that he gave his students was only limited to them. Of course, not! But he tells that if you become an adult, it takes more courage to act like that. Continuing to talk in baseball slang, Aoshi-sensei tries to cheer her up (so cute!).
Again, we meet Aoshi-sensei at Doutou High School, talking with their coach and praising his team's form as perfect for the autumn tournament. The coach takes this as critizism for their state in the summer tournament which was not what Aoshi meant. He just says that he wanted Doutou to go to Koshien. Looking back doesn't help, the coach say and of course he's right. Aoshi-sensei thinks that it will be fine for Senbatsu (National High School Baseball Invitational Tournamet) and wishes the coach good luck.
Then, when Aoshi-sensei seems ready to leave, Yashida shows up again, facing him. It seems they didn't meat yet since Yashida's return and the special coach picks up the topic of Aoshi-sensei's planned leave from Jotoku. The topic switches to Yashida quickly, who seems to become a professional coach but Yashida doesn't want to change topics, talking about Aoshi-sensei.
Aoshi-sensei seems not really willing to talk about himself but takes on and tells Yachida that it's just like he has suggested. After all, just as expected, this seems not to be the place he should be. He looks so sad while saying this... (and I sense the trauma.) Yachida asks him if he's accepting this that easily (uh do I sense a challenge?) but Aoshi doesn't continue talking about this.
Yachida seems to look sad as well. We then can see him watching the recorded match from Jotoku and Doutou High from the last episode with a concentrated look...
Back at school, the students compare their Entry exam results. Looks great for Akaiwa - as expected he got all As (best grade)- but Yuzuko seems a bit troubled. She got a C in Science 2, Ebato got a D in Science 3. For Shirao, Toudai seems to become hard as well but he got good results for Waseda and Keio university. Then things come to Okadome who seems really troubled. Oh noes... his results look bad... Ds and an E... poor guy >.< (like this he will surely become seperated from his beloved Ebato, nooooe~ *sorry*)
He screams in frustration and runs out of the room, (his beloved) Ebato standing up and calling after him...
In the “Southern Wind”s backyard, Akaiwa tries to cheer up Yuzuko who's a bit down because she didn't get all As. She accuses Akaiwa to be happy about her not being that good and says that he must be bored about her but he denies. Akaiwa then tells her that he can't concentrate if she continues babbling and Yuzuko gets angry, she's talking about serious things here after all! Akaiwa just continues throwing the balls but he doesn't hit the goal.
When Yuzuko wants to leave, he tells her to stay, he would be finished soon. Yuzuko doesn't get it and walks away but Akaiwa still is all serious, throwing a last ball and when he finally hits the goal - he blurts out, that he likes Yuzuko!
What? Uhm... Akaiwa tries to take back what he said and throws a “Yosh!” after his confession but oh come on Akaiwa, you can't take back something like that, you coward XD *pokes Akaiwa* When Yuzuko doesn't get what he's talking about, he finally is brave enough to repeat his words (that's how this is supposed to work, go for it, Akaiwa! >.<)
And then we finally get Yuzuko's answer... of course, she likes him too (not that this would have been a secret but yeeei~ how cute!!!).
Back at school, Aoshi-sensei talks with the headmaster. Soon there will be the high school baseball off-season (since it's becoming cold I guess). Aoshi-sensei states that it wouldn't make any difference for them since they didn't have any further game. The headmaster states, that among all students he ever taught, Aoshi was the one who loved studying baseball the most (uh how happy Aoshi looks about that comment!). He says something of usually not putting a left-handed catcher so was it just for Aoshi-sensei's sake? (Uhm I remember that Leana once pointed out that it wouldn't make much difference if the catcher is left- or right-handed, right? So I wonder why they thought to pick up that topic again...).
Aoshi-sensei seems frustrated because he couldn't live up to his former coach's expectations but the headmaster tells him, that not everything was about winning if it came to baseball. The headmaster states that Aoshi back then was good at reading the other players, he just was lacking the techniques of being a good player. It seems like Aoshi since then was more the strategic one and with that and seeing him giving his best, the headmaster was always satisfied with his performance. And even now, he's satisfied. Aoshi-sensei clearly did his best for the team's sake! (Argh it's so damned cute to see him happy about all those praises! xD)
At the “Southern Wind”, the baseball team meets to celebrate! (Btw we finally see all the students in their casual wear we got only a glimpse now and then for yet but this time we get to see all of them, somehow I really like that ^^). Masumoto-sensei begins with a cheering for Kamezawa, who managed to pass the high school certificate examination! YES! Gratulations, Kamezawa!!! There you go to university!
But it's still until March when the results of the university entrance acceptances will be announced! So don't blurt all the lucky wishes yet! Akaiwa's dad cheers for the students as well! More than that, it's New Year's to celebrate so have fun all of you! =D
Okadome wants to take his leave to go home studying and the students cheer for each other. Tone is there as well btw, dressed up a bit unusual which she blames onto her new magazine “Osha-lady's”. Yuzuko calls the magazine uncool... well... it wasn't Tone's first choice either, right?
When Akaiwa wants to stop Yuzuko from talking (and he like so often calls her “Yuzu...Tarumi” which is already a running gag among the others). Shirao tells him to drop this already, since everybody knows that he and Yuzuko are together now! Akaiwa's dad is surprised, since Akaiwa didn't tell him a single word (“Of course not, he's my dad!” XD).
Aoshi and Kaede talk about how fast time passes (there you tell some true things...) and that things went by even faster since Aoshi appeared again (fun things go by quickly, right?). Kaede still can't believe that she herself now is able to participate in baseball as a special coach which is really great. She thanks Aoshi but he just returns the thanking. It was her after all who asked her to become Jotoku's coach and she even gave him a glove! He's really grateful for that!
When the clock arrives midnight and the new year finally starts, everybody cheers and when Aoshi-sensei looks out of the window, it's snowing...
Time goes by and the university results are finally out! Akaiwa has passed for Toudai's Science 3, Yuzuko for Science 1, Ebato also for Science 3! Aoshi-sensei is proud of his students and congratulates them! Shirao announces that he will go to Waseda, that's great as well and Yuzuko cheers for him to become a regular at Waseda (she's referring to the baseball team). So one of them is missing now...
...Okadome chimes into the classroom, loud as always but what will his result be? He tells that he will do his best this year as well (which means that he didn't get accepted into university yet and will try to pass the entrance exams again next time).
Give your best, Okadome!
Frustrated and yelling, Okadome runs home (or wherever he runs to) while Shikata, Kashiyama and Ushimaru witness his anger outburst.
Kamzawa got his acceptance notice as well! He'll be able to go to Toudai! YES!!! Congratulations, Kamezawa!!!
And then it's time for the graduation ceremony... oh no, please no, I'm not ready for this yet ;____;.... At least we can see Kamezawa dropping by, wearing his old uniform. Hearing the school's song, I start crying. Uh T_T It's not even MY graduation ceremony... I didn't even cry at my own graduation ceremony but now... I'm getting too emotional about this, I guess but I'm glad that I'm not the only one! Aoshi-sensei as well as Ebato seem close to tears, Okadome is already crying (I love him for his emotional outbursts XD) and headmaster looks gloomy... yeah, this isn't really such a happy day, right?
Then, Aoshi-sensei and his students gather in the baseball club's room for a last speech of their coach. He congratulates the third graders to gratuation and then announces again his leave from Jotoku from today (ARGH NO! DON'T DO THIS TO ME, AOSHI!!! >.<). He looks back to a lot of things. This will be the last time, all of them gather together in this club room. It's sad (and again he's close to tears *hugs*) but they can be proud that they properly faced baseball together.
In his last speech, Aoshi-sensei points out some last good things about his players.
That Iseda protected Mitsuyasu back then when things with his brother came out. It's great to be able to protect friendship. It's cool!
Or that Mitsuyasu chose baseball, like his brother, everybody respected this determination. Nevertheless, even more important that the determination to baseball, is the fun! (And now everybody is crying, including me T_T)
Also Shikata gets to hear his good points. He stuck to baseball and exposed himself and with that, he surprised Aoshi in a good way.
Ushimaru is the one who's able to be kind to anybody and he's taking care of all of them. That everybody gathered and circled around him after playing made Aoshi think about the line-up for batting more as a circle than a line, without low or high ranking. It was Ushimaru, who taught Aoshi the feeling of being able to be kind (now we know why he got so soft towards the end despite being so hard and strict in the beginning XD lol).
Kashiyama is next. Aoshi remembers that he once called baseball a waste. Whether they did it or not, it didn't make difference. Since Kashiyama is someone who hates wasting time and uses time efficiently, Aoshi asks him, if what they did was a waste or not. Of course, it wasn't, Kashiyama answers. Facing that it might be possible to waste time with baseball had turned this into something that wasn't a waste any longer. Yes, time manager Kashiyama was clearly successful with that!
Oh and there even is Kamezawa who slipped into the club room! Of course, somehow he's still a member of the team after all, right? Aoshi remembers that the first time he head to say farewell to Kamezawa had been hard. He remembers that his seat was treaten like a “retired number” from baseball. It was thanks to Kamezawa, that this baseball club has changed and it was fun!
Okadome - crying like a baby already - is next. “I'm invinsible!” Aoshi screams, imitating Okadome and asks him, who he were telling this all the time, causing the others to laugh. Wasn't it himself he told this to, Aoshi asks and yes, that's it. Those were the words that Okadome yelled out to face the baseball club as his new challenge after switching from his old team. He has faced the future with that properly, not sticking in the past. (We also get a shoot of Ebato here, as a reference on the past those two had with the bullying incident and such). That's what made Okadome become strong.
Next is Ebato (who receives a clap on his back by Okadome to cheer him up when he stands up ♥). Aoshi-sensei thanks him for being the captain of this team. Worrying about a lot of things was what made him suitable for this position. In this position he was able to face and see everyone and to protect them. Aoshi-sensei was wondering if the worries that Ebato saw were what the others saw as chances. Thanks to him, everybody was able to search for these chance.
Shirao is the one who brought Jotoku that far with his skills. Even when Aoshi-sensei was looking down, Shirao was there as the hope for the team and the hope for Aoshi-sensei and for this purpose, Shirao was working the hardest. Aoshi-sensei knows that he must have felt lonely and that it must have been hard but Shirao was always facing the situation with a smile and fighting spirit.
Akaiwa is next and Aoshi-sensei faces him with his past worries about being smart and rich and wanting to run away, which was what Akaiwa actually did. But nevertheless, Akaiwa was able to come back. He once said, that he wasn't good at baseball but that baseball was his strong point. Aoshi-sensei clearly remembers that. This is what applies for the whole team - liking baseball that much even if they aren't that good at it, makes it their strong point.
And last but not least of course there is Yuzuko. Aoshi-sensei tells her, that she has changed in a good way. Her habit of having big dreams makes her feeling shocked once she faces reality but that's OK. Being this way makes it possible to grow and that was what Yuzuko shared with the rest of the baseball club.
In the end, Aoshi-sensei thanks Yuzuko for inviting him into the baseball club. It's thanks to her that he's able to be right here right now.
Then he declares his love for baseball in front of everyone, surprised about his own honesty. Now he's able to leave his regrets in the past and for that he thanks everyone and tells them that he loves all of them (;________; UH! AOSHI-SENSEI!!! ♥ ♥ ♥ I LOVE YOU TOO! *gets kicked*)
After that, we find the team outside dressed in their baseball uniforms. Tone is there as well, asking what's going on when Ebato explains that this would be their last practice. What? Now? Masumoto-sensei wonders. And aren't there missing some people?
Well, finally, Aoshi-sensei shows up, dressed in his (still so incredible cute) baseball uniform as well, wondering what's happening. Then, Kaede-san who's there as well (alongside with Akaiwa's dad as well) declares that there will be a retirement game for Aoshi and the third graders!
Aoshi wonders against whom they should play but aren't there enough people to play? So all of them should join the fun and play a game!
Oh and look who's showing up as well! It's Doutou High School's coach! It seems like Kaede has invited him as well but it also seemed to have been a trick. The two coaches start to quarrel and Kamezawa points out how fired up they are while Ushimaru points out that they are still only 17 people - makes it one person short. Will there be someone else joining? Aoshi-sensei seems sure about that and look who's going to get invited!
It's our lovely headmaster! =D
The whole team begs him to join the game and who can say “No” to this awesome team anyways?
Back on the field, the teams line up! No it's Aoshi-sensei, Shirao, Okadome, Yuzuko, Ushimaru, Ebato, Iseda, Masumoto-sensei and headmaster against Doutou's demon coach, Akaiwa, Kashiyama, Kamezawa, Shikata, Mitsuyasu, Tone, Akaiwa's dad and Kaede. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!
Doutou's coach wonders how his team is supposed to win if all of them are Aoshi-sensei's followers. Well, won't Aoshi make all of them become his allies? Ah, it's lovely to see how those two still like to tease each other! (I'll miss that!) But Aoshi-sensei thinks that all of them will fight with what they have gut, no matter who the opponent was!
Aoshi-sensei acts as his team's pitcher and starts the game and Kashiyama is fired up cheering for his team, yelling at them that they should show how earnestly they trained in summer! All of them give their best for a last time at it seems to be a lot of fun! Akaiwa and Yuzuko facing each other, Akaiwa scolding his dad when he can't catch an easy ball and while they quarrel, Yuzuko finishes her round and scored for her team! XD I love this funny crowd so much, oh my God! There's also a serious talk between Mitsuyasu and Doutou's coach when Mitsuyasu asks him how his brother is doing. The coach tells him, that Yoshinaga was boasting about his brother to the rest of the club, calling him his smart younger brother. (SO CUTE!)
In the meantime, Masumoto-sensei declares that even if he will not be able to pick up Aoshi-sensei's way of working, he will pick up his spirit to devote it to the future of the club. When he hits a ball and almost forgets to run, Aoshi-sensei scolds him (welcome back, Ao-oni! lol) and Ushimaru in the meantime offers his assistance to his secret crush Tone and asks her for a date causing her to totally space out until she gets pulled back by Doutou's coach and throws the ball at him and Akaiwa's dad tells his son that she throws faster than he does!!! XDDD
Seriously, this match is so much fun! We can see all the typical characteristics of the characters, I love it so much! The quarreling Akaiwas, Masumoto-sensei with his cheering for the team (and everyone naturally reacting at this like it's disturbing lol) and of course Kamezawa with his awesome attitude! Oh how we missed this!
Then Aoshi-sensei and Kaede-san face each other and she challenges him! If she hits the ball, he has to stay at Jotoku as the baseball team's coach! Aaaah, that would be just too awesome, Kaede-san! Do your best, I'm totally rooting for you! (Sorry, Aoshi! XD) Unfortunately, she doesn't seem to hit...
Facing each other are also Akaiwa and Shirao who will play in different baseball teams at university! With that, they will become true rivals!
And then we have Doutou's demon coach against Ao-oni äh Aoshi-sensei! See the air burn! Lol
Aoshi-sensei hits the coach even if it seems to have been an accident and when the coach starts running after Aoshi-sensei, the others try to protect him! XD
It's Aoshi-sensei's time to bat (OMG can I finally say again how DAMNED cute he looks in that uniform?! ♥) and he hits!
When the fun match is over, Aoshi-sensei is left on the field, looking at it when we get another surprise guest - Yachida! For a last time he asks Aoshi if he's really ready to leave and Aoshi of course agrees... somehow... (Oh Aoshi, you're SO not ready >.< Just admit it already!)
Yachida tells him that he saw the recording of the match between Doutou High School and Jotoku from the summer tournament and even if Aoshi-sensei doesn't want to hear his impressions, he tells him about the team hitting without seeing the ball, being clumsy but at least Aoshi-sensei had conveyed the will to win to his team! That was different from the Jotoku that he knew!
Then, Yachida throws the bag he was holding on towards Aoshi-sensei on the ground. What's that? When Aoshi-sensei bends down and opens it, he finds a catcher's uniform in the bag and Yachida tells him to put it on so that he can quit a game after firmly catching an out.
So this is Yachida's last challenge to Aoshi-sensei! Yachida throws - and Aoshi doesn't catch the first ball... ending up in getting advices by Yachida. But also the second ball gets missed, as well as the third.
Kaede-san is watching the scene and remembers Aoshi's miserable match from years ago. The situation was the same, Yachida and Aoshi facing each other while Aoshi wasn't able to catch. But then...
...he manages to catch the next ball and he's also able to catch the other balls! He managed to catch three outs with this, finally. Yachida calls it still a long way to go and leaves the scene. Totally stressed out but happy, Aoshi-sensei drops onto the floor while Kaede smiling calls him cool secretly.
We jump to Tokyo University, the research ares. Just as planned, Aoshi has taken over the new research labor but after talking to his partner about some advices, he suddenly seems to be in a hurry! Where's he going, his research partner asks?
It's the 97th Edition of the National High School Baseball Kanagawa tournament where we suddenly chime in and former team members Kamezawa, Ebato, Okadome, Shirao, Akaiwa and Yuzuko as well as Tone have come to watch a game, saying that “they” must win at least one match! They are here to cheer for their juniors from Jotoku, who else!
We can also see Aoshi-sensei, throwing his usual advices to a team and oh what a mean trick that is! They make us believe that he's still coaching Jotoku with the cuts of the scene but no, it's not Jotoku, it's a team of elementary school kids, the so-called “Blacks”! OH MY GOSH!!! How awesome is THAT?!!?
And with that, it's finally time for us to say good bye to Aoshi-sensei! It was such a nice and fun watch, thank you very much!
OH MY GOSH, it's over! Feelings overload, really... >.< I have to say, I'm satisfied with the ending of Yowakutemo Katemasu! I didn't expect that though to be honest because especially after the last episode I was really feeling down... and I'm still not completely convinced, that Aoshi-sensei is a better researcher than teacher but yeah... at least he sticks to his hobby and is happy, right? That's all we can wish for! I'm really really happy to see him as a coach (for elementary school kids OMG so cute! ♥) even, if I'm still sad that he didn't stick with Jotoku! He was so perfect and I think he might be a little bit more challenged with High School baseball (not wanting to talk bad about Elementary School baseball, sorry XD) but yeah. I'm satisfied! XD
Also the last episode was really really fun, wasn't it? OK it was also really sad, I cried so much at Aoshi-sensei's last speech... it was so touching that he told all of his club members their strong points, not especially about their playing but more than that about their characters! I really really loved that and I don't know what more I can say about this! Just all those feelings, I felt with them so much! T____T
There was FIIIIINALLY an improvement with our love-square - ok, let's break it down to a couple finally! I didn't dare hoping that Akaiwa and Yuzuko would really end up together and if, I was hoping for a “showdown” between Akaiwa and Shirao but somehow we just got a pretty usual confession but yeah, it was cute and wuhuu~ let's cheer for them! Haha XD
Aoshi-sensei's hesitation which he never voiced but clearly was present the whole time within the last episodes was almost annoying to the point that I wanted to grab his shoulders, shake him as much as I can and to yell at him that he should finally confess his love to baseball and - damn it! - and to stay at school as teacher and coach! Why trying to cling onto something you THINK you like (research) if you already have the true thing right in front of you?! Sometimes people are SO blind, aren't they? >.< Uh! In the end he FINALLY admits his love to baseball and I think, with that, his character development is complete.
Yachida seemed to not want Aoshi-sensei to leave the field. I think that he had recognized Aoshi-sensei's success from the past matches, even if he didn't win against Doutou High School with his team, he has shown how far he had brought Jotoku's team - which no-one would have held for possible! It's great that he faces him a last time at the end of the series. I have to say I never was (and never will be) that fond of Yachida's character but I really admire that he got to accept Aoshi-sensei in the end. Thank you very much, Yachida! You're one of those who made Aoshi become what he is, I really respect this.
The last baseball match was so much fun, I love it! All the typical characteristics that we get to see once more, it's just awesome! I think, the different characters and this subtle humor which is conveyed at that match is it what made me enjoy this dorama!
I have to admit, this dorama is definitely not the best dorama Nino has acted in and it's definitely not the best dorama of this season either (at least in my personal opinion) because there was a lot this dorama was lacking. I don't want to spoil the fun now or anything and please don't get me wrong, I love this dorama and I enjoyed it a lot but it can't keep up with the high standard of other doramas Nino had acted in. The dorama definitely has its charm, I like the characters, even if I think that some of them, including Aoshi (but Nino made the best out of this character I think!) are a little bit flat so to say. The characters are really likable and funny all in their own ways and it's a dorama that makes you want to give your best so it's awesome just as it is. I also don't want to list the things that I didn't enjoy now, since I think if I had fun watching this dorama - and I definitely had fun! - that's all that matters for now. ^^
To point out a strong point of the dorama - definitely the cast! The actors were really great, each and every one of them portrayed their characters in a really good way and showed us as much of them as possible! As always, I was really fond of Nino's acting of course! But I also enjoyed all the other actors! I really hope to see some of them again in the future! ^^
It was really fun to enjoy this dorama together will all of you, thank you so much for coming along with the reviews, chiming in the discussions and bearing with my flailing about Aoshi-sensei (♥), my not really existing knowledge of basebass and my steady Okabato-shipping XD (sorry, I just couldn't ignore that haha ♥). It was really interesting to talk to you and it was making the watching of this dorama even more fun! =D I want to invite all of you for a last time to join flailing and talking about this episode as well as the whole dorama. Even if you want to discuss good as well as bad points, please don't be shy! I'll be happy to talk to you about this dorama a last time! ^^/
Again, thanks for accompanying me through this season with the two Arashi-featured doramas we got! Reviewing both series that detailed was surely a challenge for myself (but I just couldn't stop myself XD Sorry for having to deal with such long reads and a mass of screencaps and all my stupid comments!). It was really time-consuming (4+ hours for one review xD) but it was so much fun and I love to devote myself to doramas that much so thanks for joining me enjoying the doramas. It was great that I wasn't alone haha =D
I'm not sure yet which project(s?) I will pick up next season (discussion and/or subbing something), it depends on a lot of stuff but I definitely want to pick up another project no matter what it will be and of course I hope that I will be able to meet some of you there again! ^_^/
Up next will be my typical “dorama overview in retrospect” post since the Spring season is now finished, as well as a list about the upcoming doramas for the next season (I just don't know when I'll have time to finish those posts but look forward to them! ^^). Of course, I'll also make an announcement in case a new project is decided. Until then, I hope you're all doing fine, that you enjoyed this dorama-season and that you are already looking forward to the next season as well! =D
Happy dorama watching! ^^
Sky
PS: Click onto the images to get full size screencaps. Information about subs etc. for this dorama can be found in the masterpost. Thank you SO MUCH again to bunnyandclover for providing the subs for this dorama! ♥
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It's almost over. Last time, Jotoku had its match against Doutou High School. They lost. It was very depressing and I felt so sorry for the whole team and Aoshi-sensei was crying and my heart was breaking and yeah... so what's going to await us with this last episode? How will this dorama end? No matter how, I hope in a good way... (argh do they have to show Aoshi-sensei's crying again in the beginning of this episode? I start crying again like this T_T)
At the beginning of the episode we make a time jump to autumn. Summer has passed, so has the high school baseball tournament. Nevertheless, Aoshi-sensei seems totally gloomy (don't tell me, you're still depressed because of the lost match, Aoshi? *hugs*) In the “Southern Wind” Kaede states that time passes in the blink of an eye if you fully devote yourself to things but also if you're slacking off. Argh, is this a hint that Aoshi-sensei didn't take baseball any serious after their loss? Don't disappoint me, Aoshi!
It seems like he gets the hint as well and asking Kaede for what she means, she spills out the beans. What about getting new members for the team? The school year will end in spring, what will happen to the baseball club when the third years leave? (They will have not enough members to play a match again.) But Aoshi-sensei gets a point. There aren't many students who change clubs in the middle of the school year. But Kaede-san got three new members, she declares. Members for what? As part-time workers in her shop. Aoshi-sensei asks her surprised why she even needs part-time workers and Kaede-san tells him that like this she wouldn't be able to continue to go to practice. Aoshi-sensei is stunned when he finds out that Kaede will continue training Takemiya High School's baseball team as their special coach.
At school, Masumoto-sensei seems willing to bring new members to the team and lets curious first graders swing the bats but soon they find out that this is not really meant from them. Aoshi-sensei complains. It's impossible to bring them to do it with that little motivation. Aoshi-sensei is surprised about Masumoto-sensei's sudden motivation. Well, since he will go back to be the coach next year, he wants to do things seriously! (At least one of them seems motivated >.<)
Our third graders in the meantime are busy with studying for their university entrance exams. Akaiwa complains that he wants to play baseball (Okadome too I guess if you look at him XD) but Ebato reminds him that their priority is now to get into Toudai. Akaiwa thinks about Aoshi-sensei and feels sorry for him that he won't be able to have a match. Yuzuko mentions that highschool baseball will not be over for Aoshi-sensei until he won against Doutou High School. Akaiwa calls this the “trauma-theory” but yeah, why doesn't he want to stay then? Is he running away?
At Doutou High School we finally meet that person again, a lot of people seemed to have been waiting for (me not that much I have to admit but well, for Aoshi-sensei's sake of course, yes! XD) - Yachida Kentaro has returned from the USA. Okaeri!
In the meantime, Takemiya's coach (I again forgot his name, sorry for that) and Akaiwa's dad talk to Aoshi-sensei. It seems they heard about his retirement from being a teacher and a coach as well. Akaiwa's dad seems to be motivated suddenly - to join Takemiya's management. Huh? He tells Takemiya's coach that they have to get in the prefectural tournament Best Eight so that their club will not get abolished. The coach gets blamed that the team didn't even win their first match and then he attacks Aoshi-sensei since that was “his fault”. He denies and Kaede blames him that he acts like an outsider, shame on you, coach Aoshi! Akaiwa's dad asks him if he's just poking and leaving like that. Poking? Yes, he had started to make things between him and his son interesting since Akaiwa had finally started to talk (well, fight) with his father since he joined the baseball team! Kaede says that it would be great if they could get enough players for a last match for Aoshi-sensei's retirement but well, Aoshi-sensei says that it's enough that they consider it. Ah, not so shy, Aoshi-sensei!
In the backyard, Aoshi-sensei is throwing some balls, hitting the yellow goal and being pretty satisfied with that. Yeah, you improved a lot if you ask me! (Argh!!! Why so cute, Aoshi-sensei! XD ♥ He's still stealing my heart!)
Suddenly, Tone shows up. Aoshi-sensei talks to her about the last article about Jotoku and even if she herself calls it somehow unfinished, he liked it because it was full of hope. She points out, that those were his own words and that he was the one who talked about hope in the first place. Everything he said was full of hope. Even if Jotoku had experienced more set-backs in the end what was left was the feeling of fighting spirit to try again and again. That's the feeling Aoshi-sensei had conveied. Tone wants to fight as well. The topic switches to the fashion magazine she has to switch to (or did she already?). She tells Aoshi-sensei that she wants to try getting as most stories that she't interested in as possible.
Aoshi-sensei calls it a high risk, referring to baseball but she asks him if the advice “swing with all your might” that he gave his students was only limited to them. Of course, not! But he tells that if you become an adult, it takes more courage to act like that. Continuing to talk in baseball slang, Aoshi-sensei tries to cheer her up (so cute!).
Again, we meet Aoshi-sensei at Doutou High School, talking with their coach and praising his team's form as perfect for the autumn tournament. The coach takes this as critizism for their state in the summer tournament which was not what Aoshi meant. He just says that he wanted Doutou to go to Koshien. Looking back doesn't help, the coach say and of course he's right. Aoshi-sensei thinks that it will be fine for Senbatsu (National High School Baseball Invitational Tournamet) and wishes the coach good luck.
Then, when Aoshi-sensei seems ready to leave, Yashida shows up again, facing him. It seems they didn't meat yet since Yashida's return and the special coach picks up the topic of Aoshi-sensei's planned leave from Jotoku. The topic switches to Yashida quickly, who seems to become a professional coach but Yashida doesn't want to change topics, talking about Aoshi-sensei.
Aoshi-sensei seems not really willing to talk about himself but takes on and tells Yachida that it's just like he has suggested. After all, just as expected, this seems not to be the place he should be. He looks so sad while saying this... (and I sense the trauma.) Yachida asks him if he's accepting this that easily (uh do I sense a challenge?) but Aoshi doesn't continue talking about this.
Yachida seems to look sad as well. We then can see him watching the recorded match from Jotoku and Doutou High from the last episode with a concentrated look...
Back at school, the students compare their Entry exam results. Looks great for Akaiwa - as expected he got all As (best grade)- but Yuzuko seems a bit troubled. She got a C in Science 2, Ebato got a D in Science 3. For Shirao, Toudai seems to become hard as well but he got good results for Waseda and Keio university. Then things come to Okadome who seems really troubled. Oh noes... his results look bad... Ds and an E... poor guy >.< (like this he will surely become seperated from his beloved Ebato, nooooe~ *sorry*)
He screams in frustration and runs out of the room, (his beloved) Ebato standing up and calling after him...
In the “Southern Wind”s backyard, Akaiwa tries to cheer up Yuzuko who's a bit down because she didn't get all As. She accuses Akaiwa to be happy about her not being that good and says that he must be bored about her but he denies. Akaiwa then tells her that he can't concentrate if she continues babbling and Yuzuko gets angry, she's talking about serious things here after all! Akaiwa just continues throwing the balls but he doesn't hit the goal.
When Yuzuko wants to leave, he tells her to stay, he would be finished soon. Yuzuko doesn't get it and walks away but Akaiwa still is all serious, throwing a last ball and when he finally hits the goal - he blurts out, that he likes Yuzuko!
What? Uhm... Akaiwa tries to take back what he said and throws a “Yosh!” after his confession but oh come on Akaiwa, you can't take back something like that, you coward XD *pokes Akaiwa* When Yuzuko doesn't get what he's talking about, he finally is brave enough to repeat his words (that's how this is supposed to work, go for it, Akaiwa! >.<)
And then we finally get Yuzuko's answer... of course, she likes him too (not that this would have been a secret but yeeei~ how cute!!!).
Back at school, Aoshi-sensei talks with the headmaster. Soon there will be the high school baseball off-season (since it's becoming cold I guess). Aoshi-sensei states that it wouldn't make any difference for them since they didn't have any further game. The headmaster states, that among all students he ever taught, Aoshi was the one who loved studying baseball the most (uh how happy Aoshi looks about that comment!). He says something of usually not putting a left-handed catcher so was it just for Aoshi-sensei's sake? (Uhm I remember that Leana once pointed out that it wouldn't make much difference if the catcher is left- or right-handed, right? So I wonder why they thought to pick up that topic again...).
Aoshi-sensei seems frustrated because he couldn't live up to his former coach's expectations but the headmaster tells him, that not everything was about winning if it came to baseball. The headmaster states that Aoshi back then was good at reading the other players, he just was lacking the techniques of being a good player. It seems like Aoshi since then was more the strategic one and with that and seeing him giving his best, the headmaster was always satisfied with his performance. And even now, he's satisfied. Aoshi-sensei clearly did his best for the team's sake! (Argh it's so damned cute to see him happy about all those praises! xD)
At the “Southern Wind”, the baseball team meets to celebrate! (Btw we finally see all the students in their casual wear we got only a glimpse now and then for yet but this time we get to see all of them, somehow I really like that ^^). Masumoto-sensei begins with a cheering for Kamezawa, who managed to pass the high school certificate examination! YES! Gratulations, Kamezawa!!! There you go to university!
But it's still until March when the results of the university entrance acceptances will be announced! So don't blurt all the lucky wishes yet! Akaiwa's dad cheers for the students as well! More than that, it's New Year's to celebrate so have fun all of you! =D
Okadome wants to take his leave to go home studying and the students cheer for each other. Tone is there as well btw, dressed up a bit unusual which she blames onto her new magazine “Osha-lady's”. Yuzuko calls the magazine uncool... well... it wasn't Tone's first choice either, right?
When Akaiwa wants to stop Yuzuko from talking (and he like so often calls her “Yuzu...Tarumi” which is already a running gag among the others). Shirao tells him to drop this already, since everybody knows that he and Yuzuko are together now! Akaiwa's dad is surprised, since Akaiwa didn't tell him a single word (“Of course not, he's my dad!” XD).
Aoshi and Kaede talk about how fast time passes (there you tell some true things...) and that things went by even faster since Aoshi appeared again (fun things go by quickly, right?). Kaede still can't believe that she herself now is able to participate in baseball as a special coach which is really great. She thanks Aoshi but he just returns the thanking. It was her after all who asked her to become Jotoku's coach and she even gave him a glove! He's really grateful for that!
When the clock arrives midnight and the new year finally starts, everybody cheers and when Aoshi-sensei looks out of the window, it's snowing...
Time goes by and the university results are finally out! Akaiwa has passed for Toudai's Science 3, Yuzuko for Science 1, Ebato also for Science 3! Aoshi-sensei is proud of his students and congratulates them! Shirao announces that he will go to Waseda, that's great as well and Yuzuko cheers for him to become a regular at Waseda (she's referring to the baseball team). So one of them is missing now...
...Okadome chimes into the classroom, loud as always but what will his result be? He tells that he will do his best this year as well (which means that he didn't get accepted into university yet and will try to pass the entrance exams again next time).
Give your best, Okadome!
Frustrated and yelling, Okadome runs home (or wherever he runs to) while Shikata, Kashiyama and Ushimaru witness his anger outburst.
Kamzawa got his acceptance notice as well! He'll be able to go to Toudai! YES!!! Congratulations, Kamezawa!!!
And then it's time for the graduation ceremony... oh no, please no, I'm not ready for this yet ;____;.... At least we can see Kamezawa dropping by, wearing his old uniform. Hearing the school's song, I start crying. Uh T_T It's not even MY graduation ceremony... I didn't even cry at my own graduation ceremony but now... I'm getting too emotional about this, I guess but I'm glad that I'm not the only one! Aoshi-sensei as well as Ebato seem close to tears, Okadome is already crying (I love him for his emotional outbursts XD) and headmaster looks gloomy... yeah, this isn't really such a happy day, right?
Then, Aoshi-sensei and his students gather in the baseball club's room for a last speech of their coach. He congratulates the third graders to gratuation and then announces again his leave from Jotoku from today (ARGH NO! DON'T DO THIS TO ME, AOSHI!!! >.<). He looks back to a lot of things. This will be the last time, all of them gather together in this club room. It's sad (and again he's close to tears *hugs*) but they can be proud that they properly faced baseball together.
In his last speech, Aoshi-sensei points out some last good things about his players.
That Iseda protected Mitsuyasu back then when things with his brother came out. It's great to be able to protect friendship. It's cool!
Or that Mitsuyasu chose baseball, like his brother, everybody respected this determination. Nevertheless, even more important that the determination to baseball, is the fun! (And now everybody is crying, including me T_T)
Also Shikata gets to hear his good points. He stuck to baseball and exposed himself and with that, he surprised Aoshi in a good way.
Ushimaru is the one who's able to be kind to anybody and he's taking care of all of them. That everybody gathered and circled around him after playing made Aoshi think about the line-up for batting more as a circle than a line, without low or high ranking. It was Ushimaru, who taught Aoshi the feeling of being able to be kind (now we know why he got so soft towards the end despite being so hard and strict in the beginning XD lol).
Kashiyama is next. Aoshi remembers that he once called baseball a waste. Whether they did it or not, it didn't make difference. Since Kashiyama is someone who hates wasting time and uses time efficiently, Aoshi asks him, if what they did was a waste or not. Of course, it wasn't, Kashiyama answers. Facing that it might be possible to waste time with baseball had turned this into something that wasn't a waste any longer. Yes, time manager Kashiyama was clearly successful with that!
Oh and there even is Kamezawa who slipped into the club room! Of course, somehow he's still a member of the team after all, right? Aoshi remembers that the first time he head to say farewell to Kamezawa had been hard. He remembers that his seat was treaten like a “retired number” from baseball. It was thanks to Kamezawa, that this baseball club has changed and it was fun!
Okadome - crying like a baby already - is next. “I'm invinsible!” Aoshi screams, imitating Okadome and asks him, who he were telling this all the time, causing the others to laugh. Wasn't it himself he told this to, Aoshi asks and yes, that's it. Those were the words that Okadome yelled out to face the baseball club as his new challenge after switching from his old team. He has faced the future with that properly, not sticking in the past. (We also get a shoot of Ebato here, as a reference on the past those two had with the bullying incident and such). That's what made Okadome become strong.
Next is Ebato (who receives a clap on his back by Okadome to cheer him up when he stands up ♥). Aoshi-sensei thanks him for being the captain of this team. Worrying about a lot of things was what made him suitable for this position. In this position he was able to face and see everyone and to protect them. Aoshi-sensei was wondering if the worries that Ebato saw were what the others saw as chances. Thanks to him, everybody was able to search for these chance.
Shirao is the one who brought Jotoku that far with his skills. Even when Aoshi-sensei was looking down, Shirao was there as the hope for the team and the hope for Aoshi-sensei and for this purpose, Shirao was working the hardest. Aoshi-sensei knows that he must have felt lonely and that it must have been hard but Shirao was always facing the situation with a smile and fighting spirit.
Akaiwa is next and Aoshi-sensei faces him with his past worries about being smart and rich and wanting to run away, which was what Akaiwa actually did. But nevertheless, Akaiwa was able to come back. He once said, that he wasn't good at baseball but that baseball was his strong point. Aoshi-sensei clearly remembers that. This is what applies for the whole team - liking baseball that much even if they aren't that good at it, makes it their strong point.
And last but not least of course there is Yuzuko. Aoshi-sensei tells her, that she has changed in a good way. Her habit of having big dreams makes her feeling shocked once she faces reality but that's OK. Being this way makes it possible to grow and that was what Yuzuko shared with the rest of the baseball club.
In the end, Aoshi-sensei thanks Yuzuko for inviting him into the baseball club. It's thanks to her that he's able to be right here right now.
Then he declares his love for baseball in front of everyone, surprised about his own honesty. Now he's able to leave his regrets in the past and for that he thanks everyone and tells them that he loves all of them (;________; UH! AOSHI-SENSEI!!! ♥ ♥ ♥ I LOVE YOU TOO! *gets kicked*)
After that, we find the team outside dressed in their baseball uniforms. Tone is there as well, asking what's going on when Ebato explains that this would be their last practice. What? Now? Masumoto-sensei wonders. And aren't there missing some people?
Well, finally, Aoshi-sensei shows up, dressed in his (still so incredible cute) baseball uniform as well, wondering what's happening. Then, Kaede-san who's there as well (alongside with Akaiwa's dad as well) declares that there will be a retirement game for Aoshi and the third graders!
Aoshi wonders against whom they should play but aren't there enough people to play? So all of them should join the fun and play a game!
Oh and look who's showing up as well! It's Doutou High School's coach! It seems like Kaede has invited him as well but it also seemed to have been a trick. The two coaches start to quarrel and Kamezawa points out how fired up they are while Ushimaru points out that they are still only 17 people - makes it one person short. Will there be someone else joining? Aoshi-sensei seems sure about that and look who's going to get invited!
It's our lovely headmaster! =D
The whole team begs him to join the game and who can say “No” to this awesome team anyways?
Back on the field, the teams line up! No it's Aoshi-sensei, Shirao, Okadome, Yuzuko, Ushimaru, Ebato, Iseda, Masumoto-sensei and headmaster against Doutou's demon coach, Akaiwa, Kashiyama, Kamezawa, Shikata, Mitsuyasu, Tone, Akaiwa's dad and Kaede. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!
Doutou's coach wonders how his team is supposed to win if all of them are Aoshi-sensei's followers. Well, won't Aoshi make all of them become his allies? Ah, it's lovely to see how those two still like to tease each other! (I'll miss that!) But Aoshi-sensei thinks that all of them will fight with what they have gut, no matter who the opponent was!
Aoshi-sensei acts as his team's pitcher and starts the game and Kashiyama is fired up cheering for his team, yelling at them that they should show how earnestly they trained in summer! All of them give their best for a last time at it seems to be a lot of fun! Akaiwa and Yuzuko facing each other, Akaiwa scolding his dad when he can't catch an easy ball and while they quarrel, Yuzuko finishes her round and scored for her team! XD I love this funny crowd so much, oh my God! There's also a serious talk between Mitsuyasu and Doutou's coach when Mitsuyasu asks him how his brother is doing. The coach tells him, that Yoshinaga was boasting about his brother to the rest of the club, calling him his smart younger brother. (SO CUTE!)
In the meantime, Masumoto-sensei declares that even if he will not be able to pick up Aoshi-sensei's way of working, he will pick up his spirit to devote it to the future of the club. When he hits a ball and almost forgets to run, Aoshi-sensei scolds him (welcome back, Ao-oni! lol) and Ushimaru in the meantime offers his assistance to his secret crush Tone and asks her for a date causing her to totally space out until she gets pulled back by Doutou's coach and throws the ball at him and Akaiwa's dad tells his son that she throws faster than he does!!! XDDD
Seriously, this match is so much fun! We can see all the typical characteristics of the characters, I love it so much! The quarreling Akaiwas, Masumoto-sensei with his cheering for the team (and everyone naturally reacting at this like it's disturbing lol) and of course Kamezawa with his awesome attitude! Oh how we missed this!
Then Aoshi-sensei and Kaede-san face each other and she challenges him! If she hits the ball, he has to stay at Jotoku as the baseball team's coach! Aaaah, that would be just too awesome, Kaede-san! Do your best, I'm totally rooting for you! (Sorry, Aoshi! XD) Unfortunately, she doesn't seem to hit...
Facing each other are also Akaiwa and Shirao who will play in different baseball teams at university! With that, they will become true rivals!
And then we have Doutou's demon coach against Ao-oni äh Aoshi-sensei! See the air burn! Lol
Aoshi-sensei hits the coach even if it seems to have been an accident and when the coach starts running after Aoshi-sensei, the others try to protect him! XD
It's Aoshi-sensei's time to bat (OMG can I finally say again how DAMNED cute he looks in that uniform?! ♥) and he hits!
When the fun match is over, Aoshi-sensei is left on the field, looking at it when we get another surprise guest - Yachida! For a last time he asks Aoshi if he's really ready to leave and Aoshi of course agrees... somehow... (Oh Aoshi, you're SO not ready >.< Just admit it already!)
Yachida tells him that he saw the recording of the match between Doutou High School and Jotoku from the summer tournament and even if Aoshi-sensei doesn't want to hear his impressions, he tells him about the team hitting without seeing the ball, being clumsy but at least Aoshi-sensei had conveyed the will to win to his team! That was different from the Jotoku that he knew!
Then, Yachida throws the bag he was holding on towards Aoshi-sensei on the ground. What's that? When Aoshi-sensei bends down and opens it, he finds a catcher's uniform in the bag and Yachida tells him to put it on so that he can quit a game after firmly catching an out.
So this is Yachida's last challenge to Aoshi-sensei! Yachida throws - and Aoshi doesn't catch the first ball... ending up in getting advices by Yachida. But also the second ball gets missed, as well as the third.
Kaede-san is watching the scene and remembers Aoshi's miserable match from years ago. The situation was the same, Yachida and Aoshi facing each other while Aoshi wasn't able to catch. But then...
...he manages to catch the next ball and he's also able to catch the other balls! He managed to catch three outs with this, finally. Yachida calls it still a long way to go and leaves the scene. Totally stressed out but happy, Aoshi-sensei drops onto the floor while Kaede smiling calls him cool secretly.
We jump to Tokyo University, the research ares. Just as planned, Aoshi has taken over the new research labor but after talking to his partner about some advices, he suddenly seems to be in a hurry! Where's he going, his research partner asks?
It's the 97th Edition of the National High School Baseball Kanagawa tournament where we suddenly chime in and former team members Kamezawa, Ebato, Okadome, Shirao, Akaiwa and Yuzuko as well as Tone have come to watch a game, saying that “they” must win at least one match! They are here to cheer for their juniors from Jotoku, who else!
We can also see Aoshi-sensei, throwing his usual advices to a team and oh what a mean trick that is! They make us believe that he's still coaching Jotoku with the cuts of the scene but no, it's not Jotoku, it's a team of elementary school kids, the so-called “Blacks”! OH MY GOSH!!! How awesome is THAT?!!?
And with that, it's finally time for us to say good bye to Aoshi-sensei! It was such a nice and fun watch, thank you very much!
OH MY GOSH, it's over! Feelings overload, really... >.< I have to say, I'm satisfied with the ending of Yowakutemo Katemasu! I didn't expect that though to be honest because especially after the last episode I was really feeling down... and I'm still not completely convinced, that Aoshi-sensei is a better researcher than teacher but yeah... at least he sticks to his hobby and is happy, right? That's all we can wish for! I'm really really happy to see him as a coach (for elementary school kids OMG so cute! ♥) even, if I'm still sad that he didn't stick with Jotoku! He was so perfect and I think he might be a little bit more challenged with High School baseball (not wanting to talk bad about Elementary School baseball, sorry XD) but yeah. I'm satisfied! XD
Also the last episode was really really fun, wasn't it? OK it was also really sad, I cried so much at Aoshi-sensei's last speech... it was so touching that he told all of his club members their strong points, not especially about their playing but more than that about their characters! I really really loved that and I don't know what more I can say about this! Just all those feelings, I felt with them so much! T____T
There was FIIIIINALLY an improvement with our love-square - ok, let's break it down to a couple finally! I didn't dare hoping that Akaiwa and Yuzuko would really end up together and if, I was hoping for a “showdown” between Akaiwa and Shirao but somehow we just got a pretty usual confession but yeah, it was cute and wuhuu~ let's cheer for them! Haha XD
Aoshi-sensei's hesitation which he never voiced but clearly was present the whole time within the last episodes was almost annoying to the point that I wanted to grab his shoulders, shake him as much as I can and to yell at him that he should finally confess his love to baseball and - damn it! - and to stay at school as teacher and coach! Why trying to cling onto something you THINK you like (research) if you already have the true thing right in front of you?! Sometimes people are SO blind, aren't they? >.< Uh! In the end he FINALLY admits his love to baseball and I think, with that, his character development is complete.
Yachida seemed to not want Aoshi-sensei to leave the field. I think that he had recognized Aoshi-sensei's success from the past matches, even if he didn't win against Doutou High School with his team, he has shown how far he had brought Jotoku's team - which no-one would have held for possible! It's great that he faces him a last time at the end of the series. I have to say I never was (and never will be) that fond of Yachida's character but I really admire that he got to accept Aoshi-sensei in the end. Thank you very much, Yachida! You're one of those who made Aoshi become what he is, I really respect this.
The last baseball match was so much fun, I love it! All the typical characteristics that we get to see once more, it's just awesome! I think, the different characters and this subtle humor which is conveyed at that match is it what made me enjoy this dorama!
I have to admit, this dorama is definitely not the best dorama Nino has acted in and it's definitely not the best dorama of this season either (at least in my personal opinion) because there was a lot this dorama was lacking. I don't want to spoil the fun now or anything and please don't get me wrong, I love this dorama and I enjoyed it a lot but it can't keep up with the high standard of other doramas Nino had acted in. The dorama definitely has its charm, I like the characters, even if I think that some of them, including Aoshi (but Nino made the best out of this character I think!) are a little bit flat so to say. The characters are really likable and funny all in their own ways and it's a dorama that makes you want to give your best so it's awesome just as it is. I also don't want to list the things that I didn't enjoy now, since I think if I had fun watching this dorama - and I definitely had fun! - that's all that matters for now. ^^
To point out a strong point of the dorama - definitely the cast! The actors were really great, each and every one of them portrayed their characters in a really good way and showed us as much of them as possible! As always, I was really fond of Nino's acting of course! But I also enjoyed all the other actors! I really hope to see some of them again in the future! ^^
It was really fun to enjoy this dorama together will all of you, thank you so much for coming along with the reviews, chiming in the discussions and bearing with my flailing about Aoshi-sensei (♥), my not really existing knowledge of basebass and my steady Okabato-shipping XD (sorry, I just couldn't ignore that haha ♥). It was really interesting to talk to you and it was making the watching of this dorama even more fun! =D I want to invite all of you for a last time to join flailing and talking about this episode as well as the whole dorama. Even if you want to discuss good as well as bad points, please don't be shy! I'll be happy to talk to you about this dorama a last time! ^^/
Again, thanks for accompanying me through this season with the two Arashi-featured doramas we got! Reviewing both series that detailed was surely a challenge for myself (but I just couldn't stop myself XD Sorry for having to deal with such long reads and a mass of screencaps and all my stupid comments!). It was really time-consuming (4+ hours for one review xD) but it was so much fun and I love to devote myself to doramas that much so thanks for joining me enjoying the doramas. It was great that I wasn't alone haha =D
I'm not sure yet which project(s?) I will pick up next season (discussion and/or subbing something), it depends on a lot of stuff but I definitely want to pick up another project no matter what it will be and of course I hope that I will be able to meet some of you there again! ^_^/
Up next will be my typical “dorama overview in retrospect” post since the Spring season is now finished, as well as a list about the upcoming doramas for the next season (I just don't know when I'll have time to finish those posts but look forward to them! ^^). Of course, I'll also make an announcement in case a new project is decided. Until then, I hope you're all doing fine, that you enjoyed this dorama-season and that you are already looking forward to the next season as well! =D
Happy dorama watching! ^^
Sky
PS: Click onto the images to get full size screencaps. Information about subs etc. for this dorama can be found in the masterpost. Thank you SO MUCH again to bunnyandclover for providing the subs for this dorama! ♥
PPS: Discussion post are open for public. Nevertheless of course I appreciate if you join the community and you will have to do so if you want to access past and future subs because they are member-locked. Please make sure to follow the instructions on how to join or I will have to reject your membership request! (Go here! ^^)
♥