Fly: A Queer Haikyuu Podcast
We look at Haikyuu through an intersectional, queer lens.
Fly: A Queer Haikyuu Podcast
S2E22: The Former Coward's Fight
Anniversary Episode Listener Response Form - Fill out this form and we'll read your answers on our anniversary episode!
"I'll forgive you."
This week, rainbow and em cover season 2, episode 22 "The Former Cowards Fight" and discuss the pinch server's ability to change the momentum of a game, Yamaguchi's growth, and YamaHina friendship.
No Spoiler Zone this week!
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Decolonize Palestine
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Save the Children - Congo
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Thanks for listening!!
Audio Credit: Positive Day by FSM Team
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rainbow
00:00
Hi everyone, rainbow here with a little post-recording message. As we've mentioned, our one-year anniversary is coming up and we want to celebrate with you, our lovely listeners. We've made a Google Form, which is linked in the show notes and on our socials, where you can tell us things like why you love Haikyuu and who your favorite characters are. The form is anonymous, so it won't collect any user data, but you're welcome to leave a name. If you'd like a shout out, we plan to read your answers on our anniversary episode, which comes out February 3rd. Now the form will only be open for the next five days, as of today, monday January 20th, so if you want to participate, make sure you fill the form out by Friday, january 25th 2025. All right, that's all I have. Thank you so much and now on to the episode. Hello everyone, and welcome to Fly A Queer Haikyuu podcast. I'm Rainbow, they she
em
00:58
and I'm Em, and today we are talking about season two, episode 22,. The former cowards fight, or the fight of the previously spineless. It's so clunky. There's something so mean about spineless. It's like the fight of that giant pussy. Yeah, seriously.
rainbow
01:19
Yeah, but before we get into that, we have a few things we want to touch on first. First and foremost, today is January 21st, which is Inauguration Day in the United States, and if I don't sound excited about that, well, we all know why.
em
01:34
What's that sound? Oh, it's the death rattle of democracy.
rainbow
01:38
Yeah, fascism is rising even further and we just wanted to remind everyone, because today is going to be a heavy day for a lot of us Kiki agrees Just as a reminder to everyone out there take care of yourselves, take care of each other. We are in for a long four years and it's going to be hard, but you know what. We are strong and when we are in moments where we don't feel strong, we have other people who can be strong for us. So find your community and just revel in that. And, as a reminder, we do have a resource doc and it's still linked on our socials and in our show notes and, again, we have support lines in there. So if you're feeling really bad today or in the next few days and you just need to call and talk to somebody, please take a look at those support lines and, as a reminder, those lines do not call the police. So if you're feeling really, really bad and you're worried about that, don't worry.
em
02:32
This year is going to be very interesting. You guys know I'm an astrology girly, and everything about this year, astrologically, is screaming change. I think it's going to be kind of like another 2020. Hopefully, nothing as horrible as COVID, but I don't know. I think it's going to be kind of like another 2020. Hopefully, nothing as horrible as COVID, but I don't know. I would say, strap the fuck in, get excited for positive change, because you know, it's always darkest before the dawn, and I think one of the unfortunate kind of positive consequences, though, is, with a presidency like Trump, you know, with the amount of dark light rises to meet it, and I do believe that, even though it is a Star Wars reference I just made. So I think you know a lot of good is going to come up to fight this. So, everyone, just stay strong, reach out to your loved ones.
rainbow
03:16
you know you're not alone, and yeah, okay, and on a lighter note, I have been reading a very interesting book. It's called Queerbaiting and Fandom Teasing Fans with Homoeroticism and it's very interesting and it's a collection of essays and thought pieces and I wanted to pull a quote from one of the essays, called Queerbaiting, queer Readings and Heteronormative Viewing Practices, by Monique Franklin, and I just thought it was it feels really right. This is a podcast that a lot of people who are into shipping and fan fiction and fan art, and so I really liked this quote about just about the the effect of queer reading on the viewers and on, you know, queer culture. So if you'll indulge me for a moment, I'm going to read from this, and this is it's part of a much longer paragraph where it's talking about audience interpretations, particularly queer audience interpretations.
04:15
Emphasizing these audience interpretations as valid, equal to the official story, can dilute the power of being invalidated by such authoritative figures, ie producers. Queer readings are not patronizing if they are held to the same standard as normative readings. Now, this may not be able to resolve the issue completely, as producers may still be reluctant to put their seal of approval by confirming and may continue to use the same tactics to make money off queer interest. But legitimizing queer readings can severely mitigate the harm that this manipulation has been presented as doing, rather than presenting queer audiences as victims who are subject to the whims of producers with no recourse to respond to what media has done. Validating queer readings engages with their agency and the ways they can and do respond to what media has provided, and that's very academic, which you know. This book can be academic, but I just like what it's saying there about.
05:05
I think there is an argument of like. I think there are some people who say, well, if you're writing fan fiction, you're creating fan art and you're like doing these queer readings and they're not giving us like canon queer characters, then you're part of the problem which I disagree with and I think this essay disagrees with as well, where you know my big thing, because I've come in contact with people who they're, who I'll be like, oh man, that's so gay. And they're just like well, why do you have to make everything gay? And it's like, first of all, almost nothing is made gay. So me making something gay, I I view it as an act of resistance, I view it as an act of, you know, creating representation where there is none. Why do you?
em
05:36
have to make everything. Gay has got to be the most gaslighting event that people go through on online spaces because, exactly, first of all, everything's fucking straight.
rainbow
05:47
Yeah, it's barely anything is gay, and when we do get gay stuff, it is usually not as funded, and it is not. It doesn't receive as much marketing. you know, I read white and royal blue is a great example of that, where great book, great queer representation amazon should have given it much more money. It clearly didn't give it as much money as they would have given a book that was about a straight couple, and so what I'm just saying here is if you ever get the argument that you shouldn't make things, you shouldn't gayify things or you shouldn't ship queer couples if it's not queer in the canon, you know those people are wrong and you are doing what you feel is what you need to do to get the representation you need.
06:24
We always say in the fandom community sometimes you have to make your own food and gay people we still have to make our own food, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that. So I just wanted to shout out that book, shout out that part. There's a lot of amazing things. I could have quoted a million things from that book. Definitely go check it out. Queerbaiting in Fandom edited edited by Joseph Brennan.
em
06:41
Nice. Thank you for the Reading. Rainbow Corner, you're very welcome. All right, I don't have anything for housekeeping, do you? No, I'm just. I'm happy to be back in the studio. I was gone last week and Rainbow recorded with our friend Connor, which you will get, that in between seasons. That'll be our little season break episode and I'm really excited to edit something that I am not in but I missed. I missed being here.
rainbow
07:06
I missed you so much.
em
07:07
It was rough. I immediately I caught the flu on the flight over because I was one of two people masking and there were so many children on that flight doing that open-mouthed cough, you know the one. And yeah, like two days in I went down and like most of my plans had to get canceled and all I did was lay there with my sister's apartment and wish I was home and I babies.
rainbow
07:31
I was in stasis waiting for him to come home. It was just me and the cat. I didn't know what to do with myself. You know, I just went to work and I came home and I played with the cat and I said I don't know, I don't know what. What's happening? There's no in here to help guide my light, but no, now she's back.
em
07:47
And it really is one of those things like listen, guys, we are. Before we met each other, we were, we are independent, fully realized people. But it's just one of those things where it's like I prefer life to be with you. So when we have to be apart, because you know plane tickets are expensive and we don't have the time off to go do things together or whatever, it's just lame, I just dislike it. But it's good to be back. And we are talking about quite the serve. Can you serve for me, yamaguchi? No, serve the ball. You guys remember that meme where they would serve anyway. So was that a really smooth introduction to this episode?
rainbow
08:24
I think it was great, and you know what. It's time for the recap. Three, two, one. It's a Yamaguchi episode. Everyone Spineless, no more. Tadashi shows everyone what he's made of with a series of jump float serves that have Seijo on their toes. But even with Yamaguchi's amazing performance, Aba Josai continues to prove themselves as one of the most adaptable teams in the prefecture. Both kurosano and seijo get ready for the third and final set of the semifinals. Who will be the victor?
em
08:51
only time will tell oh, this episode is one of those that gets me real hype.
rainbow
08:57
Yes, I'm sorry, I I said that line, who will be the victor? And I just thought of Arcane. Oh, yeah, yeah, who will be the one who becomes a weird space god. Anyway, getting into the episode, we start with a flashback, as Haikyuu's want to do, and we flashback to Yamaguchi going to the bathroom. Quote unquote.
em
09:23
And we get the shit versus poop. Fight between Kagehina in a little bit more detail, which I enjoy.
rainbow
09:29
Well, yeah, I mean, they just can't not give us a good Kagehina fight right at the beginning.
em
09:33
And I think that's where in the dub Hinata goes. Say poopy he does. And it's really funny Yamaguchi was actually going to apologize to Coach Ukai for running away and he asks for one more chance.
rainbow
09:48
Yamaguchi is ready to show everyone what he's made of. We saw it at the end of the last episode, where Ukai was like I see you over there, tadashi, and he is just burning up. He's ready to go out there and do his jump float serves.
em
10:01
And it's a critical time. You know, last episode Mad Dog was wiping the floor with us. Seijo is ahead by five. Towards the end of the second set.
rainbow
10:09
Yes, and we see Mad Dog going for a serve and I love. Right before he serves, he's got his little tongue out.
em
10:15
They're always so hungry for it and also he has them all you know. Move back, since one of the things about Mad Dog is we can count on him not trying to do any sneaky dinks or anything. He's always going to hit it as hard as he can. So at least they know they can kind of position themselves in one way.
rainbow
10:30
Yeah, and even though Mad Dog is an eager little puppy right now, his serve is not enough to take Tanaka out, and I love the little like Tanaka Mad Dog moment.
em
10:41
Yes, we do get that. It's like probably the third one now. So Tanaka bumps it successfully. Kagehina is able to get that quick in, and now it's Hinata's time to serve. But what's this? He's being swapped out for Yamaguchi.
rainbow
10:53
Who everyone seems to remember. We have those three girls who love Seijo and who remember him from the first Seijo match. We have the other guys in the stands who remember him flubbing it in the Wakatani.
em
11:06
Yeah, they're like oh look, it's the scaredy cat one. It's like oh man, you gotta re-up your reputation here, yamaguchi.
rainbow
11:13
And then we have what, in the sub, is one of my all-time favorite moments, but that the dub doesn't handle as well.
em
11:21
Yeah, Hinata tells Yamaguchi to get 10 points and Yamaguchi points out well, that would end the game.
rainbow
11:26
Yes, and in the sub, Hinata says I'll forgive you, and it's yeah. So it's such a good character moment for Hinata because you know he wants to be on the court the longest, he wants to play the game and if you know, if Yamaguchi gets 10 points and wins the game for them, Hinata doesn't get to play anymore, which usually Hinata would be like no, I want to be the star, I want to be the one who wins the game. And so for him to tell Yamaguchi like no, it's okay, even if you were to win this game for us, like I would forgive you for that, it's so sweet and it's like such a cute, like Yamaguchi Hinata friendship moment. I think that's like you know. Obviously, yamaguchi and his jump float serves are the real star of this episode, but I would say the deuteragonist is the Hina to Yamaguchi friendship.
em
12:08
Yeah, we do get to see that kind of beginning and I do like how all the team members rally behind him. We have them doing that goofy little cheer, I think to kind of distract him and stuff.
rainbow
12:18
They're such a caring and supportive team. There's like no reminders of how he fucked up the last time. It's just full belief in their little Tadashi.
em
12:26
Yamaguchi thinks back to Shimada and his conversation after Yamaguchi kind of runs away and he reminds him that he has eight seconds, because when he last did it, as soon as the whistle blew, he kind of jumped and just went for it. But he's kind of reminding him, like you have the time, take, like, take your moment, do what you need to do, jumped and just went for it, but he's kind of reminding him, like, you have the time, take, like, take your moment, do what you need to do. and so then we're back to present day and he fucking, he does the jump serve and he nails it.
rainbow
12:56
He fucking walks in for that jump serve. I love it.
em
12:59
He's so intense and it really like this is kind of the perfect jump float serve, because the whole point of it is like you jump to give yourself the momentum and so the way the ball moves is it doesn't have a spin to it, which makes its movement so unpredictable. So even Seijo's libero calls it as an out and it just touches the line and gets through. And even Oikawa says this is why I hate jump float serves. And this is like what I think is the bread and butter of Haikyuu. You take someone who is very relatable, like Yamaguchi, and you give him this absolute, like triumph moment and I feel like this is where I'm like okay, I get it with sports. This is where I'm like, okay, I understand wanting to practice and practice and practice so you can have that moment Like these are my favorite moments of Haikyuu is when someone's hard work pays off.
rainbow
13:48
Well, yes, and I think this moment is great and actually, now that I'm thinking about it, kind of reminds me of a moment we'll see in season three. But with the way Yamaguchi is like, he is screaming, he is cheering, everyone else is cheering. I love everyone's reaction.
em
14:02
Noya and Hinata having to be held back by Suga and Inoshita, so they don't run onto the court and tackle him.
rainbow
14:09
I love that so much. They're so cute. Another reason why Noya is one of the greatest senpai because he's just as excited for Yamaguchi as Hinata is. I love Shimada's blank expression. Yeah, we go to the stands and like Psycheko, Yachi and Takanoe are, like, so excited and cheery and Shimada, like you just know, behind those glasses he's holding back tears.
em
14:30
Yes, and my favorite is the Seijo girls get so wrapped up in the excitement that they cheer for him and they're like, we're cheering for Seijo. And then they just like sit themselves down.
rainbow
14:39
It's like, yeah, karasuno's a team you want to root for absolutely, it's the reason they're the main team of the show, yeah, and I love. And then, like, the guys in the back are like why is everyone so excited? It was just one spike and it's like you don't know. Okay, you don't understand.
em
14:53
That point was a heavyweight point.
rainbow
14:55
Yes, absolutely yeah, a very heavyweight point. And then there's Ts, a dick. He's like why are you all so surprised? And up Tanaka is about to like, beat him up. And then he's like yamaguchi has spent the last five months practicing his serve like of course it was a good serve and I love when Tanaka then like is like punching him in the tummy.
em
15:17
Like you little, you little secret softy bastard.
rainbow
15:20
Yes, and yamaguchi like it's all, like wobbly smile, like tears in his eyes.
em
15:26
He's like oh, Tsukki So then on the sidelines we have a Noshida assuring Suga, who's kind of like saying to himself, like all right, let's get another one, and he's like he'll be fine. You always feel worse after you run away, and Yamaguchi knows that. So at this point you know Yamaguchi's run away. He knows it's not worth it, he's not going to do it again, he's going to keep giving it his all and if he flubs it, he flubs it, but it's not going to be because he ran away.
rainbow
15:50
And then we have a moment which I think you and I had opposite reactions to, because it's Ukai talking about how, about serving and volleyball and how it's evolved, and I saw you write in your notes like talking about serving and volleyball, yada, yada. Meanwhile I'm like, oh, this is really interesting. Like he's talking about how, like since volleyball has invent, was invented, like the serve is the thing that's evolved the most, and like I love that every once in a while we get a little comment about the evolution of volleyball and the way it's changed over the years, and like I'm like, oh, that's really cool. And you're like blah, blah, blah.
em
16:21
Okay, well, I didn't mean for it to come off like that. I was just I don't know. I just got tired of writing it out, so I just wrote yada, yada.
rainbow
16:30
No, I love that. That's not a read on you or anything. I think that's funny.
em
16:34
And yeah, the manga really gets into that too of, just like the serve, it's the one thing you kind of do on your own in this sport. That's all about connection and how it is the most evolved play in modern volleyball. There's all these different kinds of serves and stuff. This is the serving episode.
rainbow
16:50
So listen up, divas. We're getting hunty here because we're about to serve slay.
em
16:54
So Yamaguchi serves again and Kiyotani flubs the receive because you know he kind of he sets up to receive it, but again it's hard to tell where that ball is going to go. So he gets it, and so then he gets a second service, ace Yep, and then he goes for his oh. And I just want to say, because the team gives him love again and I just, like you know, we have Kageyama and Tsukishima. It's so funny because they are so similar. Actually, you know, they're the least like reactive in most of the time, Kageyama not as much, but we have. I just love Kageyama's little face here. He's like looking at Yamaguchi, like genuinely like impressed, I think, and almost a little blushy, and it's fun just having Yamaguchi have his moment, and even Kageyama is noticing.
rainbow
17:37
Well, you know, and I think that makes a lot of sense, because Kageyama, as somebody himself who has worked really hard on his serve and really hard at like getting an effective serve, I think he is probably impressed that Yamaguchi has been able to do this, and it's very different from the way that Kageyama serves, and so I think for him it's it's like wow, look at this other tool we have in our arsenal. I'm so glad we have somebody else who can do this, who has a strong serve, but that's different from mine, right? So we can change things up.
em
18:04
yamaguchi goes for his third yes, and maki is able to pick this third one up with an overhand receive yeah, I said hana, maki ain't scared by no jump float, sir.
18:14
Yamaguchi reflects on how quickly you go from becoming the hunter to the hunted and Awazami spikes it in and Yamaguchi is able to receive it with his like chest. He kind of gets it awkwardly with his body and then we have Kageyama picks it up and Suki gets the last. And I love when our boys kind of have to go outside of their usual jobs in a pinch because we get to see Suki get it past the blockers and they get the point that way and he's up against, is it?
rainbow
18:41
three blockers or just two?
em
18:43
I don't remember, but Suki, he knows a thing or two about blocks, so he can get around them.
rainbow
18:49
Yeah, he really kind of does like a turn. It's kind of similar to what Mad Dog did, except instead of turning his whole body. It's kind of similar to what Mad Dog did, except instead of turning his whole body it's just his hand and he gets it like right in next to Oikawa. And I kind of shouted this out as like a TsukiYama versus iwa oi moment, because it's yamaguchi receiving iwa's spike and and iwa glares at him, and then it's Tsukishima getting past Oikawa's block and Oikawa's like glaring at Tsukishima. Yes, it's just such a cute little moment and we have.
em
19:20
So that's three points in a row thanks to Yamaguchi and Suki. When he gets, picks up the ball, he has this little smile to himself and he gives the ball to Yamaguchi and says one more, and I just like we're seeing that support come through from Suki yeah, my note was Tsukishima, you old softy when it comes to his boyfriend, that's when we get the only softness. And now Seijo is forced to take a timeout to try and stop this momentum.
rainbow
19:44
Yes, yeah, and we see a moment of Yamaguchi kind of like rubbing his shoulder where he received the ball and honestly, I'm like I'm not. I'm surprised that Iwa didn't break Yamaguchi's shoulder.
em
19:57
I know Even Iwa is like that number 12 made a really bold receive. I'm not expecting Yamaguchi to pick that up.
rainbow
20:05
And I'm sure there will be a bruise there later, and then they get back into the game. And I love Tadashi's intensity. It's really great and I just feel like he has arrived officially.
em
20:20
Yeah, and but right back from the timeout he gets another one in four in a row and that brings us to a tie and to the commercial break.
rainbow
20:28
Yes, and I just want to comment real quick, we get an Iwa Oe commercial break and I think it might be my favorite one of them, because it's Oikawa's setting to a Iwaizumi and they spike and it's successful and they're both so excited. But it really shows their personalities, because a Iwaizumi is like, yeah, and he's got this intense, ferocious yell, and Oikawa just looks so smug. He's like, yeah, that's right, that was my scent. He just likes. He's like, yeah, that's right, that was my scent.
em
20:56
So now we have Saeko who is comparing, because that last point was a real net in and she's comparing it to the last one that Yamaguchi got in. But Shimada points out a very important difference where back then Yamaguchi was just focusing on whether or not the ball would even make it through, now this was a purposeful, offensive choice.
rainbow
21:15
So you know, the difference is here is Yamaguchi's practiced and he has more control of the ball yeah, and I think what we we see here is that Yamaguchi is like thinking about, like he's he's trying to get it like just barely over the net, and he kind of like hits the net and so it actually goes.
21:32
It's actually super close to the net and I think the libero tries to go for it and like he doesn't, nobody can receive it, and so it actually goes. It's actually super close to the net and I think the libero tries to go for it and like he doesn't, nobody can receive it, and so it's another point for Karasuno. And then we get Oikawa. Like he's about to try to tear up his team, like oh, don't worry about it guys. And the third years are like, oh, they're playing it cool. They're like no, no, no, don't worry about it of them, and they're clearly like shook by what's happening really, that's what I thought I see, I saw their, I saw self-assured smiles and I I felt like I heard a lot of like I.
em
22:03
I feel like they genuinely are still quite calm in this moment I guess I don't know I was getting like.
rainbow
22:09
They just had like sweat rolling down their faces. Listeners write in what do you think of that moment? It's like right after the commercial break. It's right after yamaguchi is like what fourth jump float serve let us know what you think, because my interpretation was definitely like they were a little bit like well, and the reason I feel like this is because then they do get a point after this.
em
22:29
I said, our seijo seniors are not panicking. They pick up the next one and return it, but asahi is able to, I think, get a block out or whatever that point thing is that he does and they're at match point. So even though they are, they are cornered. But I feel like our seijo seniors are keeping their cools yeah, I guess.
rainbow
22:48
I just felt I, I don't know I gotta watch it again.
22:52
We'll watch that bit again yeah, I just feel like I got like a hint of desperation there. and we also get. We get a Tsukishima one touch, because I think it's the libero who receives the ball. and then Tsukishima gets a one touch. And then I like this moment because Tanaka is about to go for it. You see his arm reaching out and then at the last minute, he pulls back when he realizes that the ball is about to go out. oh, that's not from the one touch, that's from the Asahi block out that you were talking about. But anyway, both of those, I like the one touch. And then I like Tanaka, like at the last minute, pulling his arm back in, like, nope, it's gonna go out. And then we have we have the guys in the stands who can't believe it. They're like shocked that Karasuno is so close to taking this game in straight sets.
em
23:35
Yeah, no, I mean listen, we're gonna be playing to the bitter end here.
rainbow
23:41
Yes, and we get a little peek at the bench and we see Takeda with a really fierce look in his eyes. I think Ukai looks like he's about to shit his pants and even Kiyoko looks really tense. I like that you can see. It's very subtle on her face, but you can tell that her like jaw is clenched and she is like scared for what's about to happen. They're so close but they know, especially with a team like Seijo, that it could turn in an instant.
em
24:04
Yeah, and at one point I forget where it is, but Takeda says Yamaguchi is the hero of this match.
rainbow
24:11
I think it's in that moment when, when we see them on the bench, but we also get to see Seiko. we get to see Seiko and Yachi up in the stands, like they're like praying for them to get this last point yeah, suga and Noshida are covering their ears while Noe and Hinata are cheering.
24:27
I'm sure it's loud in that little box yes, and then I have I can't remember the exact order of events here, but we have, like, I think, the, I think we get another Yamaguchi serve and then this time the libero gets it and we have Noya being like really impressed by that. He's like man, that guy's good, which I love, that, that which you know he's good, if Noya is saying it's true. And then I think this is when we get. Yeah, this is when we get Iwa spikes again, but this time Yamaguchi is not able to receive it.
em
24:59
Okay yeah, so Seijo finally takes it back after Yamaguchi. What was that?
25:02
like four points in a row, or something yeah and I also love in the in the sub when Yamaguchi is pulled back off and he goes to the bench and Takeda is like that was amazing and Ukai goes good job in English. I fucking love it, um. And as he goes and we, I think we see a new fighting spirit in yamaguchi, because as he goes back to the box he says to Hinata next time I'll get 10. And you can see he really means it and then he loves it too because he's like I'm not gonna lose he's so cute.
rainbow
25:32
I love his little smile on his face and he's like yeah, we're gonna win. Yes, but yeah, then we get.
em
25:39
We get to another deuce between Seijo and Karasuno yeah, no, I mean, they are gonna fight tooth and nail for it. they're stuck in a deuce.
rainbow
25:50
But then it becomes time for Oikawa to serve yes, and right before that I wanted to touch on just a moment, Kindaichi. There's a little moment with him where he's clearly like stressing out and we see him thinking like he doesn't want this to be the last game for his senpai, he doesn't want it to be the third year's last game. And IIwaizumi, who is an amazing senpai, notices this and like says to him like hey, Kindaichi, like get out of your head. It's gonna like you know, like you know, just focus on the game. Yeah, and it's just really amazing, I love it.
em
26:23
And then it's Oikawa's turn to serve again, because this episode is all about serving. Yeah, they did kind of like they did make it all about serving and all of that really led up to now. Here's an experience serve.
rainbow
26:30
Yeah, we have the Seijo coach saying that serving is the ultimate attack.
26:35
To serve slay and I love the visual of this because he's saying that while we're getting a look at Oikawa, who has been called the most aggressive offensive player in Miyagi, and I just really love that moment. I think that's a great shot, yeah. And then we have a shot of Oikawa's eyes and I said he kind of looks like a Ghibli character here. Oh yeah, it looks like one of those. Yeah, like I feel like in ghibli movies there's a lot of like the wind blowing back into people's faces and like a close-up on their face and like that's what Oikawa was giving in this moment.
27:06
Yeah, so we have Oikawa doing a really intense serve, which Daichi says that was basically a spike, and he gets them to set point with that and Noya is really frustrated for not being able to receive that. But Daichi and Noya decide that Asahi needs to help them on the next receive and we see Takeda kind of saying something to Ukai about it and I think it's interesting how you guys like oh well, if Daichi and Noya think that's the best idea, then it is like I love the trust yeah, I think, in order to be a good coach is you gotta know when to step back and let your team also make decisions the game ends with a pretty long volley, I would say, with them kind of going back and forth a couple times, but then it finally ends with a back row attack from a wise me and Abujose takes the second set yeah, and I love the uncle's, tananoya, telling yamaguchi to hold on to the good feeling, because of course, all of our boys they're like here's what I could have done better.
em
28:05
and yamaguchi kind of says something about how like half of his serves weren't that great and Tanaka's like well, focus on the serves that were good and hold on to that feeling, because it really is a balance of like you can't forget your mistakes. You got to apply that to the future, but you also it's so important to hold on to that feeling of exhilaration when you did succeed, because that's going to help push you forward, to keep going again and again to try and get that feeling.
rainbow
28:28
Well, that's such a Tanaka thing to do. He's being such a hype man here, and I like this moment too. We get and I like this moment too.
28:34
we get another yamaguchi and Hinata moment because, again, that is the, the subplot of this episode, is the yamaguchi Hinata friendship, because yamaguchi, who apparently is an expert on serving now deserves like he's talking to Hinata about how much experience Oikawa has with his jump serve, and it's not just about him being older, being a third year, it's about him practicing over and over again to get that power and control, as per usual when we are between sets. But it's the end of a game. We have Daichi and Oikawa both kind of thinking about everything that's led up to this third and final set. This is going to be the last set that Seijo and Karasuno will ever play together in an official match at least these teams.
em
29:14
And Daichi is kind of like of course we're going to third sets, like we're fated to give our all in every game.
rainbow
29:22
Yeah, and we're kind of looking at like the whole like because really I feel like we've been in a seijo arc ever since in season one, what was it like? Episode like five or six when they play that practice match with them. Like five, six and seven.
em
29:34
They really are like our, our big team to beat right now.
rainbow
29:37
Yeah, absolutely. And so we're kind of coming to the conclusion of this arc and I can't remember who says this. I think it's Oikawa. At least in the dub there's a line about they were supposed to be nothing to us, yes, which I really love that, and now it's like they are the now Karasuno is the team that has given Seijo the biggest run for their money. Yep, and both of the captains are thinking about the final battle, this third set, and honey. That's the end of the episode.
em
30:02
Yeah, the rest of the season is going to be this set pretty much, and what happens after? So I love this episode so much. I love this Yamaguchi episode. It is so, yeah, like I said earlier, like just seeing someone's hard work pay off and mean something is a good feeling. So now on to manga versus anime. This covers chapters 136 to 139, and again the actual content is very similar. But I just noted a couple of the illustrations afterwards are cute. But the main one I saved was Bokuto and Akashi. And Bokuto goes. My serve is the greatest, Akaashi goes if it's in Constantly humbling. They are really fire and earth energy.
rainbow
30:44
I love how Furudate just can't help but add a little Boko Aka.
em
30:48
Yeah, yeah, he's one of their fave ships.
rainbow
30:51
Yeah, I think there's a little bit of Furudate being like damn, I kind of wish this whole series was about Bo-Katan.
em
30:56
He's like damn, I made too many good characters and you know what. We're not mad about it. Who are we talking about? For the character spotlight.
rainbow
31:04
You know I was having trouble finding somebody, but thanks to Noya I decided on Watari Shinji, and if you're thinking who the hell is that, I'll tell you he's the libero for Seijo.
em
31:15
There are like some real Seijo fans out there that are like I know who that is.
rainbow
31:19
And you know what they have every right to. Honestly, I hate when I don't know every single player's name. It's like clear, I haven't read enough fics that are just about Seijo. We're such fake fans, gosh, honestly. But no, I have, as always, a little quote from the wiki about his personality.
31:38
It says he appears to enjoy being challenged, smiling when Nishinoya repeats the libero set that he had used during their previous match. He's shown to be gentle and supportive of his teammates, trying to cheer up Kyotani after the latter misses a point, regardless of Kyotani's lack of proximity with the rest of their teammates. Like Kindaichi, Watari is shown to be overwhelmed and inspired by a Iwaizumi when he does or says something cool, which I mean honestly. Who isn't impressed? We have his name meaning and I thought his family name was interesting because it's Watari, which means to pass, which makes sense because he's a libero, and then his first name is shinji, which means closeness or govern, which I don't think that has a lot to do with his position, but I love that his, his family name is so closely related.
em
32:19
Yeah he governs the pass Absolutely.
rainbow
32:24
All right. Moving on to his character sheet, he is, of course, at Abajosai High School. He is a second year in class six. His position is libero. His height is 171.2 centimeters. Is libero? His height is 171.2 centimeters, which is about 5'7. His birthday is april 3rd, so he is a aries. An aries and his favorite food is hard boiled eggs simple, I like it. Yeah, I wonder if he puts any salt on there. I know, right. And then his current concern is he'd like to build up more muscle. A very athlete concern.
32:56
Well, and I wonder if he's just like damn.
em
32:57
I want to build up more muscle so I can be like a Wisemey Fucking probably yeah, everyone has a poster of a Wisemey in their room that's on that team.
rainbow
33:06
Yeah, everybody. Yeah, there is there for the rest of Seijo's existence as a school. In the gym there is a poster of a Wisemey in the weight room to remind people what they're building towards.
em
33:17
Oh my god.
rainbow
33:19
All right, and then we have his five point ability parameters. His power is only a two, which makes sense for a libero. His speed and his technique are threes, as well as his stamina, and his strategy and his jumping are fours. Oh, he's a jumpy boy. Well, I think we've talked about this before. I think sometimes the, the liberos, do tend to have jumping ability, which I feel like I don't think about a lot because you know, I think of the liberos do tend to have jumping ability, which I feel like I don't think about a lot because you know, I think of the jumping as more of like the Spikers, because they're jumping up, but the liberos have to be jumping, like, to the side, all the time to save. So it makes sense, and is he?
em
33:49
the one where Noya got that move from. Okay, so that makes sense. The jumping libero.
33:54
Okay cool, All right. Well, now it's time for the world's favorite game. It's who in Haikyuu? This week's scenario is brought to us by Sasha and it is what is the root of the Haikyuu character's gayness Inspired by that scene in? But I'm a Cheerleader where they have to explain the root of their gayness. I love that. So like, for example, like one says she went to an all-girls school, that's, that's why she's gay. In other ones, she was born in France. Okay, I love this. Well, what is the root of Hinata's gay? I think I, for me, I would say Hinata and Kageyama. They're like really get really fixated on certain volleyball players and it's kind of a slow realization like, oh, it's not just about how good they are, it's about how good their legs look in the uniforms.
rainbow
34:32
I think that's a big part of it. I almost, I almost feel like the root of Hinata's gayness is that match against Kageyama in middle school.
em
34:40
Oh yeah yeah. The fucking look when he first passes him by and everything whites out like it's a fucking shoujo manga.
rainbow
34:47
Yeah, like, that is like and it's just like, and all of a sudden, Hinata is bisexual.
em
34:54
I mean, they are in those years where you're starting to figure things out, so just, saying I, I think Kageyama is.
rainbow
35:01
It is it. Can I? Can I make a joke about how much he's always loved balls? I wish he would with Kageyama. I mean, listen, I don't think this is quite the spoiler zone, but you know he's always loved balls volleyballs, but yeah, no, I feel like Kageyama feels like the kind who just like, literally like, died in the wool, like he came out of the womb gay. So I don't know really what the root is for him. Maybe it runs in his family. What was Yamaguchi's root? Was it when Tsukishima saved him from the bullies?
em
35:31
Yeah, for sure. I mean, it's definitely all revolves around Tsukishima.
rainbow
35:43
Like that is his first gay crush.
em
35:44
That is his, that's his realization. I think, yeah, absolutely. And then Tsukishima to me is also giving, like Kageyama he's always been gay.
rainbow
35:47
Well, Tsukishima is also a Libra, so I'm a fucking Libra.
em
35:48
So enough said about that. That's the root. For me, libra's a very gay sign. No, yeah, no, his fucking root is seeing his older brother be a cuck in high school.
rainbow
36:00
Yeah, that's what turned him gay.
em
36:02
They're turning all the volleyball players gay.
rainbow
36:04
No or like. Maybe he likes. Did he like see like a really beefy dinosaur? Stop yeah was he attracted to the T-Rex in Jurassic Park? Was he like, damn, that's hot.
em
36:23
Actually that doesn't even work because all of the dinosaurs in the original jurassic park were female, so it's not even gay. Yeah, that's it that t-rex is a woman. That's the logic.
rainbow
36:30
Oikawa definitely like had a crush on a actor or something Oikawa had a crush on a volleyball player, and we know who it is. Oh yeah, that's true. We just can't talk about it outside of the spoiler zone. And then, for a wise of me, it's Oikawa. Oikawa is his root, yeah Kyotani.
em
36:44
His realization is still yet to come. We haven't gotten that moment oh my gosh, that's right.
rainbow
36:49
I was gonna say it's a wise of me, but I don't think so. I think that's like. That's more of like. I respect you, alpha wolf in a not gay way. Yeah, no, you're right, we are still waiting for his route to come. Listen, if you know, you know and we'll point it out when we get there.
em
37:04
Yeah, he has a moment with a volleyball player. That I think could be a good route.
rainbow
37:08
I think Takeda read, like accidentally stumbled along across like a gay love story and like some piece of literature, and it made him feel things.
em
37:16
Takeda's definitely giving like. Oh you know, bl actually does have some good story plots. [Yeah, he's Miyano] Ukai. Would be like when he wrestled a boy, he felt something.
rainbow
37:30
Yeah, something like that I was thinking like the first time. Takeda smiled at him.
em
37:35
Yeah, that's cute. And then Yachi is maybe Kiyoko.
rainbow
37:39
Yeah, joining the volleyball team as the manager because of Kiyoko made her realize she's like oh, maybe I don't just admire pretty girls.
em
37:48
Okay, well, I really like this one. So thank you, Sasha. And you know, for those of you at home, think about what was your gay root. For me, it was realizing maybe being so obsessed with queer media meant something. Yeah, what was?
rainbow
38:02
my route. Honestly, it's kind of related to volleyball. I remember like looking at a girl when she was like doing such stretching or something. I just remember like looking at, like looking at her stretch and looking at like her legs and her butt and everything, and just having feelings and then being like I got to stuff that real deep down, just having feelings and then being like I got to stuff that real deep down.
em
38:22
Volleyball is a gay sport. It is a gateway to the LGBT mafia.
rainbow
38:24
Yeah, what's that mean? They're all gay because of that game volleyball Instead of that anime Naruto.
em
38:30
Oh, my god. All right folks. Well, before we leave you catch us on Twitter, instagram, tumblr and Blue Sky at flyhqpod. That's F-L-Y-H-Q-P-O-D. You can also email us at flyhqpod at gmail dot com F-L-Y-H-Q-P-O-D at gmail dot com. There are no spoilers this time around. We are just waiting with bated breath to see how this third set goes, and until next time, fly high.