S2E24: The Absolute Limit Switch

"A tiny little idiot who goes farther than he does has appeared."

This week, rainbow and em discuss season 2, episode 24 "The Absolute Limit Switch" and freak out about the conclusion of the Seijoh/Karasuno match. Both teams give it their all, but only one can come out on top! 

Stick around after the discussion for a special anniversary celebration!

1:05:07 Spoiler Zone Begins

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Transcript

rainbow

00:08

hello everyone and welcome to fly a queer Haikyuu podcast.

em

00:11

I'm rainbow they she

em

And I'm em, and today we are talking about season 2, episode 24.

rainbow

00:17

The absolute limit switch or in the dub switch for the utmost limit it's like just just say the same fucking thing.

em

00:26

Why does it have to be different?

rainbow

00:27

I need to know it's, it's like it's, it's not only has to be different, it has to be worse. It has to be worse. Okay, and you know what? Today we are gonna jump right into the episode because at the end, after our episode discussion, we going to go over our listener responses to celebrate our anniversary episode because, guess what, y'all, today, the day you're listening to this, february 3rd. Well, if you're listening to it the day it came out, it is exactly one year since we released episode zero of this podcast.

em

00:57

Did you forget our anniversary? That's so, like you.

rainbow

01:01

How could you possibly forget? We've mentioned it so many times and we put it on social media, but no, we are so excited. And for those of you who have been here with us since day one, thank you Since before day one, since conception. Thank you so much. We really enjoy having you. And for those of you who have joined in the past year, since we started, we are so happy to have you as well. It is so much fun doing this podcast.

em

01:26

More than anything, I'm celebrating the fact that a year ago, we started a project and we've stuck to it every single week since.

rainbow

01:34

Yeah, every single week that we were able to record, we have recorded.

em

01:38

But also, of course, celebrating you guys and the little community that we have created. So we're gonna hang out with y'all after our episode recap. So we're gonna jump right into it then with a little recap from our main ho rainbow. Oh, I liked that. I'll count you down. Here I go Three two, one.

rainbow

01:58

Holy shit y'all. It's the end of the Seijo Karasuno semifinal match and it is so freaking intense. Everyone is locked in and they're all working their asses off to make sure the ball doesn't touch the ground. Both teams come close to snatching victory, but in the end it's Kagehina's freak quick that wins the game for Karasuno. Confetti, you're spoiling it in the recap. Yeah, how dare I spoil something we're about to talk about?

em

02:25

I want to know, is anyone watching along that doesn't know the spoilers of what's coming next? Please write in.

rainbow

02:32

Okay, here's my thought is that if you're listening to this episode and you're watching along with us, I assume that you've watched the episode before you listened to our discussion. That's a good point. I would love if somebody is like and if you're doing this, that's pretty amazing. But like they start, they listen to the chit chat and the housekeeping and the recap and then they pause and then watch the episode and then come back for the discussion.

em

02:56

All right. Well, I sassed you for no reason. So I will admit there were times where I just didn't write things down because I was so into the episode.

rainbow

03:07

So hopefully, hopefully. I filled in those gaps because I definitely like, at some points I was like watching it and I was like, oh fuck, I haven't taken notes. So I paused and scrolled down and I was like, OK, it's fine. Em took a note about this.

em

03:16

Oh, hell yeah OK great. We start off with Kage Hina's badass move where Hinata does the flick of the wrist. Yeah, I remember we had the flick of the wrist right at the end and we're back at that. And I love this moment because Hinata is so happy and excited that they pulled that off. He just walks up to Kageyama and is just literally yelling at like wordless, at him. He's like whaaaaat and Kageyama's like shut up.

rainbow

03:39

Oh, and then Oikawa has like the funniest line where he's like both complimenting and reading Kageyama. I think you wrote it down, yes, so oh, and I also love.

em

03:51

Right before we get into that is where Tanaka is like how did you do that? Or did you know? Like it was going to be close to the net and Kageyama like turns and that like little cool lightning bolt thing happens and he's like, well, it looked like Hinoto was going to be close, so I just put it closer to the net. I'm just glad it worked out and they're like whoa. And then we had that's when we have Oikawa, who says Topio's genius-like qualities don't lie in his technique, but rather how foolish he is. He's decisive in moments where others might hesitate, which can be both good and bad. He loses his surroundings when he's focusing and doesn't always realize when people can't keep up. Ie what happened in middle school. But now an idiot has shown up in front of him, aka Hinata.

rainbow

04:30

Yeah, a tiny little idiot who goes farther than he does has appeared.

em

04:34

I love that so much, and that is something that people comment on. Oikawa comments on. A lot is like now he's met someone who's even crazier than him. He's met his Iwachan. Yeah, you've met your Iwachan.

rainbow

04:45

So yeah, while Oikawa is talking about Hinata, we see Hinata on the other side of the net. He's like saying to somebody off screen I only jumped. When, yeah, he says I only jumped where there weren't any blockers around, and I just I don't know why, but I really love this like view of him. I don't know, there's something about it, that's like I don't know. It just feels like we're so like in the game. It's almost like an Oikawa POV shot. I don't know. I just like I was very excited by it. I was like I fucking love this. I think I'm just hyped for this episode. Yeah, I feel that. And then I think Oikawa in the dub says something like those two morons surprise me each and every time.

em

05:20

Yep, he says something similar in the sub and Iwa kind of looks at him like you better not be getting freaked out. And then we have Oikawa quoting Iwa's words back to him about the stronger six and Iwa's like, as long as you get that, then fine.

rainbow

05:34

And we have to talk about. They have a moment of prolonged eye contact after that.

em

05:38

Prolonged eye contact.

rainbow

05:41

Like I just I hate them. So like what do you mean? What do you mean you're gonna like? There's just like this, like subtle acknowledgement anyway.

em

05:48

So then we have Yahaba getting swapped in as a pinch sever.

rainbow

05:52

Yeah I. My note here is that, like okay, so he's a setter, a pinch server and a pretty boy. Talk about Oikawa’s mini me yeah, honest, truly.

em

06:00

I definitely see that, and what I really love about this moment is we have a great moment with him and Mad Dog. I feel like they have established that they are going to be the Iwachan of the next generation. He serves it, karasuno picks it up and then. So then we have Yahaba setting to Mad Dog and I think it was a little off or something, and Kiyotani, who has great control of his body, just uses his left hand instead, and they have a successful quick together and I love the way Yahaba like how you know how they do they're kind of blushy and and um, they're just like excited yeah bright-eyed and bushy-tailed about it, and so yeah, getting to see them kind of work as a pair already is very exciting yeah, no, I really like that and they like because they kind of like it's a celebration moment between the two of them which you would not have seen previously.

rainbow

06:48

And also the reason Yahaba has to set it is because Oikawa is the one to receive it. But it's clear that Yahaba and Kiyotani don't have a lot of experience working together, like they haven't had a chance to sync up. But again, mad Dog's, just like I'll just hit it with my left.

em

07:10

No big deal, yes, and I think having this confrontation right at the top of their relationship is actually going to do wonders. It's like how you got into a physical altercation with your childhood best friend.

rainbow

07:15

Yeah, exactly, and now we haven't had a fight since and we're the best of friends forever.

em

07:20

Yeah, they're gonna, oh boy, they're gonna be a deadly duo.

rainbow

07:26

Oh, my god, again udate, just just right. Second and third, like I know, I know the whole. We wanted this.

em

07:29

Karasuno is this particular team, but, like, maybe write a manga that's about other teams yeah, if I were to really take a serious fake endeavor, it would be like karasuno year two oh, yeah, yeah, we get to see Hinata with his intense game face on.

rainbow

07:45

I think this is before Kageyama notices and says something about it, but you can like see he's, like, like he's, it's just like. I feel like it's one of those things where you can like fucking see the breath coming out of his nose, like he is just really locked in, really intense and very cool. And then I think this is where we get him doing a spike that almost gets blocked by Yahaba, and then yeah, yeah, okay. So I think what happens is we get another, we get another Yahaba serve, and then it goes over the net and then they're able to spike it and then Yahaba's out of the game and as he's leaving, he turns to Mad Dog and says Kiyotani, it's on you, which was just fucking sending me. I need more fix about these two yeah, I'm sure they're out there, okay.

em

08:24

So what I have is, right before that is that we is. There's a successful dink by Hinata.

rainbow

08:29

Oh, I think that's what it is. Yeah, so he slides after his dink.

em

08:32

Oh, okay, yes, and we have Oikawa again who looks like he wants to eat Hinata for breakfast, like angry and a little turned on, like he's. You know, the way he reacts to Kagehina in general is just like impressed and excited. Like all good rivals. They're like impressed and excited by them, but also they fucking want to beat them and they hate them.

rainbow

08:50

It's like, yeah, it's like he has a frustrated smile on his face and I think he calls him a little brat. He's like you, little brat. Yes, absolutely, oh, yeah, I love it. and then and I love, we get a moment of Daichi rowling the team with just a few words.

em

09:06

They're like I think something happens yes, may I, you may, you may, um? So, and I also wanted to know, because I just want to know, before you get into that, I wanted to know the audience is, is enraptured like we. We do get some purposeful shots of, like the girls and you know, the random audience members who have been giving some context here and there, of just being really into it. seijo reaches 20 points first, and I believe that's where we have Daichi starting to give like just really being good at keeping them calm because, of course, we're at the we're now, we're at like the finish line basically, and every point is so heavy, yes, but he's, he's just, like, you know, get the next one and you kind of see Kochiukai looking at him. Yes, he is a great captain, you're correct.

rainbow

09:49

Well, I just love how, like instantly, he just says a few words and everybody it's like they're looking down, and then they're all like looking up and they're like, okay, let's get back into it, into this. It reminds me and next season.

10:06

That's very exciting. that's like a more like heightened version of this. Yeah, so then, after Daichi rallies the team, we have mad dog serving and Daichi fully receives that shit. He's like um, no, I got this. and mad dog looks a little pissed. And then I love, I know what's about to happen. Not because I've already watched this, I forget everything that is going to happen, but I know exactly what's happening when we see the looks on Seijo's faces before we even pan over to Yamaguchi.

10:32

Yamaguchi is back in a pinch server to be feared at this point now yes, we hear the whistle and Seijo just like looks over and they're all like, oh, this fucking shit again and like this is such a great game for Yamaguchi as the only first year.

em

10:46

Who doesn't really stand out, who isn't a starter? To have Seijos shaking in their boots is no easy feat.

rainbow

10:53

And I just love so. We get like Hina to Yamaguchi friendship. It's even stronger. They do like a really intense fist bump.

em

10:58

Yes, and then I wrote, because then we have Yachi who cheers and I think Yamaguchi kind of looks and blushes at her, and then right after that Tsukishima walks up with the volleyball and is like Yamaguchi one more. And I wrote both his girlfriend and boyfriend are cheering him on.

rainbow

11:13

I know I was like I have like a little headcanon that Tsukishima was like. Now is not the time for you to be flirting with the manager, that lesbian manager.

em

11:21

Side note, I have a lot of headcanons and feelings about that trio in particular Suki, yamaguchi and Yachi, not even in a romantic like platonic or romantic wherever you want to go, but even platonically, like I can just see them being such a good trio. Yeah yeah, that's something, yeah, they all have to bond over, like the idiots of Kagehina for sure yeah, I always like in.

rainbow

11:44

I like because they they have such different approaches to it, like Tsukishima is just over it, yamaguchi is kind of like amused by it and Yachi is just like so concerned for them there's actually another quick tangent.

em

11:56

There's a great fan art out circulating right now of third year Yachi, just like she's got something under her arm passing things out. Kageyama and Yamaguchi are kind of like helping her out and like the head cannons were exploding the way that by the third year, you know, she's running that shit like the fucking navy with her two little assistants. Yes, and like, and especially like I think she really would bring the boys together, like I think someone commented like you know, aside from volleyball, now they all have something in common. And then I was like thinking of the fix of like Yachi going through something hard in like their mid-20s and all the boys reuniting to come together and like help her out. I know I see your face. I'm going to write it one day. I'm going to cry.

rainbow

12:36

I know I'm going to cry just thinking about that. I would. That's, honestly, that's what I want. I want a shoujo manga, a GL that is about Yachi specifically and going all three years into her 20s, like you know, and just yeah, I want that. okay, so back to the episode. Yeah, back to the topic at hand. yeah, so. So Yamaguchi does a serve and Kiyotani tries to get it with an overhand pass, which, like I love him really thinking about it. He's like, oh, it's, I should try it with an overhand. He doesn't quite get it and we're like, oh, surely it's out.

em

13:11

There is such a change in Mad Dog in this episode and it's very subtle in the background because obviously we just spent a lot of time with him, but he is. He's thinking more, he communicating more. I mean, it's kind of beautiful like the way his defenses and spikes have retracted and now it really it helps him. He can think more clearly, I think yeah, he's learned to like pull.

rainbow

13:31

He doesn't have to have his claws out at all time. He now knows he can pull them out when he needs them for the team, but he knows not to use them on the team.

em

13:39

I'm just thinking about Yaba doing the whole like look at me, honey, this isn't you okay, side note, quick side note.

rainbow

13:48

We were watching naruto shippuden last night, oh, and it's um, it's in the like arc where they're like meeting orochimaru at the bridge and naruto has gone like four tails, like his skin has peeled off. He is a fucking monster. And m says if sasuke showed up right now and said look at me, baby, this isn't you, naruto would instantly change back. And she is correct because he's. Yeah, this is all because of Sasuke. The fox came out because Orochimaru tried to say that Sasuke was his and Naruto is like mid-transition, like never say that Sasuke belongs to you in front of me.

em

14:25

It's so fucking gay, Very alpha of him. If just one person starts watching Naruto because of this podcast, we'll have done our jobs. Okay, back to the show. Mad Dog does miss it still because Yamaguchi is not fucking around. But who saves it? Of course, Iwaizumi.

rainbow

14:43

Iwaizumi who, like we're talking about Hinata being locked in Iwaizumi, is locked.

em

14:46

The fuck in Iwaizumi is doing everything right they for sure, karasuno side for sure thought they had it. And then Iwaizumi gets that, and then immediately I mean he's nishiNoya right now, because then he immediately gets, saves another one yeah, and he says, um, I, I really like it.

rainbow

15:02

and we get like a moment of Hinata looking because I think he's on the sid, like it. And we get like a moment of Hinata looking because I think he's on the sideline during this, and we get a moment of him looking like really impressed by Iwaizumi. And I think this is just such a good example of it that an ace is not just the player who spikes the ball hard, but is one who makes sure there are sets to spike by receiving.

em

15:22

Yeah, I feel like the whole ace thing is like the most like a really reliable player on the court.

rainbow

15:31

Yeah, absolutely. And he so he thinks to himself. Awai Zemi thinks to himself. When I first started, volleyball spikes were the only part of the game I liked. And then he says something about like. But then I realized like I love the feeling of an opponent thinking they have a point and taking that away from them.

em

15:42

Oh, okay, yeah, In the sub it's like. You know, spikes were cool to me so it was all I practiced, but now I really appreciate. I know the bliss of receiving an opponent's like perfect set or something like that.

rainbow

15:55

Yeah, that's really amazing, and I just want to take a small moment to talk about my Seijo Hinata idea, because that is a fic I would love to write one day. There's other ones out there, but I have like very specific ideas and I think like it, the idea came to me not even because of Oi Hina, which, like, is a part of it, obviously, but because I think Iwaizumi would be such an amazing senpai for Hinata. I see so many similarities in them and, like this is just another moment of that and just and Iwaizumi is such a good senpai, I could see him really helping Hinata in a lot of ways not to say that Karasuno doesn't have amazing senpai for Hinata and not to say that Karasuno doesn't help Hinata grow. But I just think it's always interesting thinking of players on different teams and how those other teams might interact with them, and I think Awaisumi and Hinata would be like best buds. I think it'd be like very similar to Tanaka and Hinata, but maybe, like Iwaizumi is a little bit more like calm down Hinata.

em

16:45

Will you title it the bliss of receiving? Oh my god, I would title it the bliss I didn't title a chapter the bliss of receiving Yamaguchi, then gets swapped out of the court. You know he's done his duty, but Oikawa thinks to himself either way. That guy is definitely different from the scaredy cat at the inner high yeah, and Ukai really recognizes that yamaguchi is disappointed by his serve.

rainbow

17:07

Because yamaguchi walks off the court and Ukai says, like that was a good serve. Yamaguchi and you know, yamaguchi's kind of hanging his head and he's going to walk away and Ukai's like he like calls to him and like he just tells him he was like that and he just like kind of reminds him like that was a really good serve.

em

17:22

You're not always going to get five points in a row. You know he's doing a good job.

rainbow

17:26

Which I do, like I get where Yamaguchi's coming from, because I bet like part of him was probably like I'm going to go out there and win this game for us, which would have been so insane, like honestly, but narratively that wouldn't make as much sense as what happens.

em

17:46

That would be very like oh, okay, okay, yeah. So that road Oikawa comes through with another cunt sucking serve, otherwise known as a service ace. You know he hits it real hard and then you blink and it's on the other side of the court and the audience is like he would do a serve like that at this point in the game.

rainbow

17:57

Yeah Well, I really love it because, first of all, before that, we just get some like really good volleyball we're just seeing like some really good volleys and then, before Oikawa goes to serve, everyone on the back line, which I think is asahi, Noya and Daichi, all yell, bring it on, like I love. At this point it's not just Noya who's like, yeah, give me that fucking cunt ass serve, it's everyone who wants that cunt sucking serve. We're using that.

em

18:17

From now on, it's no longer a service ace, it's now a cunt sucking so one of the guys in the audience after Oikawa, does this serve is? Is he a monster baby?

rainbow

18:29

he's anime's greatest villain when that happens, another audience member in the dub is like what was that? In? Like the dumbest voice I've ever heard say what you?

em

18:41

oh fuck, what is it? And there's a scene in jaws they're making me think of, where, like, they're explaining the shark thing and the guy goes oh what?

rainbow

18:49

oh, what god jaws is a great movie. And then we also, get a shot of Yachi like up in the stands praying same girl because Oikawa is about to serve again, and we see Daichi locking the fuck in and we also so, as Oikawa serves, we get like a short montage of like it's clearly Daichi thinking about all of the um, all the like, the servers and the spikes. Yes, we have Grandpa Ukai,Asahi, yes, Bokuto. And then the samurai guy from Ubugawa.

em

19:21

Mm-hmm.

rainbow

19:27

It's like Daichi's receiving life is flashing before his eyes in his most critical near-death moment of his volleyball life well, and I really, I like that it starts with grandpa Ukai um, who's just like, who's like angrily, like, clearly like, just throwing the ball at him to receive it, like I love that um, what I want to do to practice with grandpa Ukai oh honey, we know on a hot summer day Practice a lot of stuff, we know.

em

19:50

I wish you guys could have seen the dreamy look Em had on her face as she was thinking about it, especially in that particular because, like when they're practicing, he's got like the thing tied around his head, oh, okay.

rainbow

20:00

He's got his sleeves rolled up. He's showing off those muscles. I get it. Listen. We all know Grandpa Ukai is hot.

em

20:05

The people don't know, though, because people look at me like I'm crazy when I say it.

rainbow

20:09

We had a whole episode about it.

em

20:11

I know, I know we're not getting back into it.

rainbow

20:12

Anyway, I do. I have one more thing to say before we go to the commercial break. Do you have? Anything else before we go to they're like oh, we're losing NishiNoya, but they're swapping in Suga, yes, okay, and then commercial break and we have, so the background music in this time features what to me sound like Gregorian chants, Like it was very much giving Naruto. If you know the music of Naruto, you know they love a fucking weird chant. But it was also giving the ritual scene in the 2001 Scooby-Doo movie.

em

20:43

If you know, you know Well now I have to look up all these sounds and put them in.

rainbow

20:47

Well, you already know the Naruto sounds, but yes, you need to look up the ritual scene. Yeah, you'll find it, it'll be fun. And now and I thought this was kind of an interesting parallel, because now we get Suga coming in as a pinch server and he is Karasuno's reserve setter and Yahaba isasuno's reserve setter and Yahaba is Seijo's reserve setter, so we're getting both of our reserve setters coming out as pinch servers.

em

21:10

We're pulling out all the stops right at the end here, folks.

rainbow

21:14

Yes, and I love Suga gives everyone a little high five when he gets on the court.

em

21:27

It's so cute and it really makes me think of his time skip job. He, he is mr refreshing as miss, as mr Oikawa coined him. Yes, so this is when we haveKageyama steps up to the net and sees Hinata in full concentration mode and I wrote when he catches himself admiring this, he gets angry because he he thinks to himself, like Hinata always gets like this super concentration right at the end of games, but then he's like but that's all he's got. Basically, it's like the concentration is his only like commendable thing. And again we see this. Like Kageyama is so mad about the fact that Hinata is so good and also so bad at the same time and he's making just this like face while Hinata is still fully like locked in at the net staring ahead. And Tanaka notices this all going down and is like why are you picking a fight with Hinata right now?

rainbow

22:07

I do love and I also love it's like such a testament to Hinata being locked in that he doesn't even notice Kageyama looking at him like that, because usually Hinata would notice that and then they would start fighting. But he's just so locked in I love it. He's almost like a zombie. He's like a volleyball zombie. Where he's like volleyball, I like when he gets all scary about it I really, I fucking, I love it, I love it.

em

22:29

So much so. We have mr refreshing. Suga serves and aims for iwa in a way to take out their ace. He has to hit it first, so that hurts them, and so Oikawa gives it to.

rainbow

22:41

Well, it looks like he might be giving it to Kandaichi, but Hinata, who is locked in, sees Mad Dog coming from behind and Kageyama is jumping to block and Hinata joins him and, like, runs into him and they block the ball.

em

22:53

And I love the animation on their faces here. They both just got these like yes, I love it.

rainbow

22:58

And then, like Hinata goes down and everyone's like saying like, oh nice, block bro, blah, blah, blah.

em

23:09

And like Tsukishima is such a bitch, he's like he, like everyone else, is celebrating and off to the side he's like what's the big deal? That's what the middle blocker does. Well, yes, they are all like very celebratory about this because this is kind of one of the first like actual, like Hinata meant to block and successfully blocked it, and they're like, oh my god, and yeah, it is so great that Tsuki is just like, well, that is his job. So he's like I'm out there middle blocking every fucking rotation and no one's cheering for me not that I care not that I care anything, not that I want to be in the sunlight.

rainbow

23:34

I know he's just he's. You know what? He's the moon, so he's always in the sun in a way, except for during the new moon. Um anyway, no, but I and I do think that's an interesting thing to remember is that, like, kineta's position is middle blocker, but it's only because of the quick like, it's not about his blocking ability, it's because they need him to do those center quicks, yeah so now we are in a deuce and, oh, it is a yummy, yummy.

em

23:59

I forget how the setup is. Oh, because, because Suga is on the court. Yes, he garners a lot of attention and they'll say this in just a moment because they always think he's going to be up to something. So what is it?

rainbow

24:14

He's not in the so what happens is Suga has to receive the ball. Yeah, so they can't do their little cross setter thing.

em

24:23

Yes. So people don't expect Kageyama to be a part of the tap, the attack, like he normally would be when Suga is involved. So we have Kageyama going to set to someone and they're like who's it gonna be? Because they all come in to attack and then Kageyama does a setter dump and the way.

rainbow

24:40

Okay, listen, I did my haikyuu homework about an hour after m did her haikyuu homework and and I literally like I was doing my own, like I was doing schoolwork oh yeah, I started school, but I was doing schoolwork and like kind of like glancing up every once in a while and I saw the setter dump happen and I was like, oh my God, that's right. This part is so cool.

em

25:09

And then, when I was doing my my god, that's right, and I think that's such a testament to how he picks the perfect moment to do these. Yahaba says he has a setter's temperament, you know, being able to, at this moment of the game, take a risk like that or do kind of a bold move like that. I think it is Hanamaki who says as expected of Oikawa's junior yeah, I really like.

rainbow

25:28

So I want to focus on Oikawa a little bit, now that we've talked about how amazing Kageyama is because he is, but they're so like Oikawa is going to because he sees that he does a setter dump and he in the dub at least, he has a little like no, no, no, no, no, while he's like diving for the ball and then he's on the ground looking up at Kageyama and we get like flashing through Oikawa's head thoughts of all the times he's felt in fury to Kageyama and ushi jima. And as much as I want Oikawa to capital s suffer because I do, um, but it's it's hard for me to see him on the ground like that. Like I really sympathize with his low self-esteem and his tendency to compare himself to others and like find that he comes up short. There's something kind of heartbreaking to me about Oikawa because he is so talented.

em

26:12

Like so much of the conversation about Oikawa from other teams and other players is how good he is as a setter, but in his own mind he does not compare to Kageyama and Ushijima yeah, there's a whole thing about how, like they have the talent but he has to work really hard, which we've talked about this before but it's like you are talented, but it's like it's just not that like idiot savant level, I guess, of talent that Kageyama and Ushijima have.

rainbow

26:37

Oikawa doesn't think he is a genius and he doesn't compare to other geniuses. He doesn't feel like he has natural born talent the way that he thinks Kageyama does. And first of all, we get Iwaizumi saying that really pisses me off about the setter dump, which I love. I love his reaction, yeah. But then we also see a flash of some random older man we've never met before saying a few things to Oikawa. But the first thing he says that I really liked was you think you know the limitations of your own power, which to me is such a banger line.

27:07

And I think I think I identify with Oikawa so much and I think the reason a lot of people love him is that, like, a lot of us do feel very limited, yeah, and I just think a lot of people identify with that. I know I do where, like, I'm kind of in a position in my life right now where I'm really trying to like acknowledge and step into my own power. I think I've like really like I've made myself very small and I've like been like no, no, I'm just not capable of these things that other people are. And I love what this random person is saying to Oikawa about. If you think that, like you, just have to be born with natural talent in order to succeed. You've already lost.

em

27:42

And also his whole thing is once you've know you're saying all this before you've perfected like your physique and your technique and all this stuff he's like once you have reached the limits of your ability, then you can complain about geniuses. He's facing kind of a hard path of like you have to believe you can do it through like hard work and stuff Like it can be done, but it's just not going to come so easily to you.

rainbow

28:05

As to the geniuses, and I thought this was a really interesting perspective, because haikyuu talks so much about rivals and how playing against other strong teams and players makes you stronger. But I also love this message. This message about kind of the detriments of comparing yourself to others and the way that, like, if you are, it's it's okay to have rivals and have people you want to beat, but as soon as you like, look at somebody and think, oh well, I'm not as good as them and that's why you want to beat them. It's over, okay. Is there anything else you want to say about this moment and this flashback to this guy?

em

28:35

well, I think this is why a lot of people love Oikawa so much is because they can relate to him and empathize with that struggle yeah, absolutely, absolutely, and I think it's.

rainbow

28:44

It's just such a testament to Furudate's writing that you can have this character who's such an absolute bitch and like really obnoxious and annoying in so many different ways.

em

28:53

Sorry, he is, no, I just I feel like I was the more Oikawa hater, but you are the one who so casually will be like and he's a little bitch, but we love him.

rainbow

29:02

That just speaks to my personal relationship with this character.

29:05

But I do think it's amazing that you can have this character, who is so obnoxious in so many ways and there's like blatant, like even his best friend thinks he's obnoxious, and yet you can have this like really powerful moment.

29:16

It really makes me think of a lot of Oran High School Club and how they're able to do that. Yeah, there's just like a cute little moment. moving on from that, there's a really cute little moment where, Shimada and Takinoe are up in the stands and they're cheering and I think maybe one of them is like offbeat, or they both think the other is offbeat and they turn to like yell at each other and it's in sync, it's so funny, yeah, in the sub they like cheer a different thing, and then they're like get in sync oh funny, everyone is so intense before we move on, though, I just wanted to say Oikawa thinks about all of this, and then he starts a soliloquy of his own in front of his teammates, but the only thing I wrote down from it which I really love is if you think it'll never come, it probably never will.

em

30:00

Oh, I really like that, as who had had, I guess I should say has who's someone who started out with quite a lofty dream, like I? Just that's. That lesson speaks a lot, I think it does to a lot of people, but I think now we're kind of on the last volley right, Like this is the end.

30:16

I was having a hard time and I was just like I'm writing it in such bullet points of what like things that happen, where we have Tanaka receiving with his face and we get an encouraging and tearful cheer from NishiNoya who I'm sure is very proud of his best friend, you know receiving in any way he can, and then we have isuka and Kageyama do their switch up center move and then we have probably the maybe the biggest moment for iwa oists and one of the gayest moments that has ever happened and will ever happen, not just in haikyuu but in the world, in the universe.

rainbow

30:47

Like there's just something about this that I think is so like, so soulmate. Behavior where we have the ball is like going like. I think somebody like I don't know if it's a one touch or if it's like a failed receive, but the ball is going like. It is fully outside of the court and Oikawa runs to go for it, points to Iwazemi, like like, turns his body, sets the ball to Iwa like Oikawa bangs into a table like that boy probably broke a rib and Owazami fucking spikes it. And it is so fucking amazing.

em

31:19

I was like, oh my god, oh yeah, everything about that, the way his body slams into the table and the way he points just blatantly. And my favorite thing is Owazami's face. He's like like I can't even describe it, but it. I just love seeing this facet of their friendship, because they are so antagonistic with each other and they are so like beating each other up all the time.

rainbow

31:40

But they have a bond. We're going to talk a lot next episode. We're going to have a lot to say about Iwo Owe in the next episode, but we got to move on because there are just so. I. All I wrote was so many cool saves in all caps, like so many cool saves.

em

31:56

This moment is so big that I thought like I misremembered and thought that this led to like the end of the game, but we have just a little bit more.

rainbow

32:03

Yes, yes, we have. We also have Oikawa having like an evil face. That's downright cartoonish. You know what I'm talking about. Yeah, you probably know exactly what we're talking about. We have Asahi proving why he's the ace of Karasuno.

em

32:18

Such a cool move he like, spikes it from the back of the court.

rainbow

32:22

Well, yeah, because they say it's going to be a chance ball or something Like they say something and they're just like the other team's like, oh, it's going to be this, and Asahi's like not, if I have anything to say about it, he like jumps up and hits it like jumps up and hits it.

em

32:36

It's so fucking cool. Oh, it's great. Yeah, he did like. I guess they call it a direct. You know there's not going to be a setup, I'm just bamming it right back to your side of the court, oh my god, this game is so fucking hype.

rainbow

32:42

I'm like, I am like I have chills just talking about it.

em

32:46

this is where I have it really bully bullet pointed, because, yeah, he spikes kyotani saves it, Kageyama spikes it, kandaichi blocks it, and then it hits Suga in the face and he's like how undignified that's so funny.

rainbow

32:59

Yeah, I think in the dub he's just like ah, I love that he says that, yeah, and then, okay, are we ready to talk about? Are we ready to talk about the moment, yeah, are we ready to talk about the final? Okay so, o final, okay. So Oikawa says come at me, Kageyama topio, come at me with your strongest weapon?

em

33:21

and what is his? What's his strongest weapon? Well, isn't it Hinata? It sure is. They go for the freak quake and of course we have a very dramatic like. We have this pan over Hinata's face and then we have his eyes and he looks at Kageyama's hands because of course now he, his eyes are wide open and as he goes for the spike, he pinpoints where he's going to go. Hit for it and he goes for it. An important note is that Oikawa starts to move to get it, but it's just that much too quick and he gets it over and it bounces off of Oikawa's arm.

rainbow

33:49

And that's the game, and Karasuno wins, and I wrote this note and it made me think of the Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone when they win their first Quidditch match and Lee Jordan says Gryffindor win. I love Hinata's celebration here, like you can tell, like in his mind he has redeemed himself for their last game yes, exactly, he's like.

em

34:12

This is exactly what I why I wanted to do this and it fucking worked.

rainbow

34:17

And, yeah, the slow fist up and then the yo oh my god it's, and everyone is celebrating and I just, oh my god, okay. So like this is like this is like the season two arc of Hinata finally learning how to fight for himself in the air. Because we see him, he has his eyes open and I think it's very important that, like there are, like I think, three blockers in front of him, but we see him notice that there is a spot does that look spotlight thing where Kutani isn't quite as high as the others and like Oikawa is right there, but he just he goes for it and Oikawa just doesn't quite get it and it glances off his arms and actually reminds me of, um, something that happens in the movie. If, if you know, you know, it's just so good. I'm just squeezing my fist over here in excitement, and then how does the episode?

em

35:00

end. Well, it ends with Oikawa and Kageyama standing at the net, staring at each other. A moment for all Oikage shippers.

rainbow

35:07

It's a good. It's like such a good ending. I finished the episode and I yelled to him, who was in the other room. I just want to watch the next one.

em

35:15

I know. So we have one more left to see the fallout of this big win.

rainbow

35:20

Yeah, everybody, we've got one more episode and then season two is done.

em

35:24

I'm so sad. This is such a. I feel like this is the most beloved season and I am sad to see it end.

rainbow

35:32

Yeah, I mean Seijo. I do love Seijo as a team. I love their play style. I love getting to see Seijo and Karasuno play. It is just like such an intense game and I mean, but I'm very excited for the next season.

em

35:44

Of course. I mean every season is amazing, but, like I, just between the summer training camp and everyone does, I feel like Seijo is probably the favorite rival, with Nekoma coming in. Like them and Nekoma might be neck and neck, yeah, but like yeah, I just feel like this is a favorite for a lot of people.

rainbow

35:59

Okay, and I mean, you know, in the next episode we're going to get to see the aftermath. You know Haikyuu loves to have a nice little wrap up episode at the end of the season. But yeah, so that's the end of the episode.

em

36:20

And I think we're ready to move on to a very quick manga versus anime and then we're gonna get into our little listener responses. Yeah, I almost was like should we skip it? But I really do just have one quick thing for manga versus anime and that's at the end of chapter 141. There's a bonus story which is basically all about I guess there were these Oikawa hangers and I would. Maybe we can put a picture of it in the notes or something. It was a real item given as a bonus when fans pre-ordered a Seijo jersey, and you can look I looked it up online and we'll have a picture of it.

36:40

The whole bonus story is just like the boys seeing it and just clowning Oikawa. And he tells them you know, don't be jealous. And he was like wondering what the face would look like if he bent the hanger in half and calls him a hanger head. And so then they all start calling him hanger head and there's like girls in school that are like did you know? Like Oikawa's name is hanger son and stuff like that, they're like, oh, is it? Is it like half foreign? And Oikawa was just like I could pass for half foreign, like all excited about it. And iwachan is like what's really impressive is how you can keep such a positive mindset. Um so, just the cute little, you know, a little bit of a solve for the burn that Seijo has to take with this loss. It's a silly little story at the end.

rainbow

37:18

Oh, yeah, and I'll definitely. I'll post. I don't know if I'll put it in the show notes, but I'll post a picture of the hanger on social media when I do the episode post.

em

37:26

All right. So of course this is again our special anniversary episode. So there will be no who in Haikyuu, no character spotlight. We're going to dive into the listener responses.

rainbow

37:42

Yeah, we sent out a Google form a couple weeks ago and we had 10 people respond. It had just little questions about you know, haikyuu. We wanted to get some listener feedback and thank you so much to everyone who participated. We really loved reading through all of your responses.

em

37:52

You guys wrote such great things and we we're gonna try our best to like go through and summarize as best as we can. We are gonna, with our first question, introduce everyone who participated, and so first question is what are your favorite characters? Slash ships Starting off we?

rainbow

38:09

have our friend Emby, who, if you follow Emby on social media, you know their favorite character is Bokuto and their favorite ship is Boko Aka. It's their all-time favorite ship and they will be getting a tattoo of them at some point. Hinata is second, but who doesn't love him? And then other ships that they love are Kagahina, yukitake and Kuroken.

em

38:30

Solid, a solid roster. All right, who's next? We have Jem. We love you, jem. Fave characters Kenma of course we know Jem, this is just you and me, baby. I was thinking about Kenma and Kageyama headcanons. The other day I got to get on the podcast Twitter and we got to talk Kenma, Kageyama, kuro, Hinata, Suga, nishiNoya fave ships so many, but Kuroken, kagehina, DaiSuga, asaNoya, all the classics, of course, sukiyama, iwaoi, bokuwaka and then some rarer ships that he's a fan of is Kenhina. I also love Kageken, also love Kayama, which is cute and Miyacest.

rainbow

39:07

And Kayama. For anyone who doesn't know, that's Tobio and Tadashi.

em

39:10

Yes, which they have a really cute friendship which I can think about, and if they kiss, who's to say so?

rainbow

39:16

thank you, jem. And next we have Sonia, one of our listeners from Germany, and she said that Kinma is her favorite character. He's so relatable. She understands his social fears and his behavior. She also thinks Kuro and Noya are perfect as a friend or a boyfriend. They're caring and protective and honest, and you know what who doesn't have a crush on them? She also loves Hinata for never giving up and supporting everyone, and Suga for his emotional support, his emotional intelligence and kindness. And Yamaguchi is so cute. And then her favorite ships are Kuroken, kenhina, kagehina, asaNoya, tsukiyama, hinaNoya and Kurosuki. And HinaNoya is not one we talk about a lot but, like I do kind of love them.

em

39:58

I definitely see the vision All right. Next up we have Hudson Fave characters, Noya, in all capital letters, and I mean hell yeah, akashi and Iwazami, I'm a solid trio here. Fave ships Asanoia, sakuatsu, which, which we guys we will hold on for season four. We'll get to that, don't worry um.

rainbow

40:19

Iwaoi and Kagehina again, great list yes, and then we have Sasha, also known as Calamity Vane, and their favorite ship is Boko Aka. And, his favorite character right now is Iwaizumi, which, yeah, never gonna falter for that fave, absolutely all right.

em

40:38

Next up is laura or lozam. I hope I said that right. My favorite characters are, in this order, Hinata shoyo Kageyama, tobio Oikawa turu and sakishima k and Bokuto kutaro. That is pretty similar to what that one like popularity poll from like 2014 was. So what a classy girl. My favorite ship is Kagehina, followed up by Tsukiyama. Again, I love. I feel like Tsukiyama gets forgotten sometimes or like it's so obvious or I'm sure some people would write it off as boring if you're not into like childhood friends or whatever. But Tsukiyama, I have a Tsukkiyama mug. I love it dearly.

rainbow

41:18

Yes, um, yeah, no, we, um, I. I think we have sukiyama a couple times here on this list, which I love to see, including from our next person, moon. Her favorite ships are Suga dai and sukiyama. I also love that you say Suga dai instead of Dai Suga. I love whenever people use like the non Traditional yeah, non-traditional, or like the not as popular pairing names, but yeah, I mean both again, and I think both of those are ships that some people would classify as boring, but I don't think any ship in the show is boring.

em

41:49

No, and that actually leads into Minty. They said picking a favorite character impossible question. Whoever's the focus of the episode I'm watching, which is so, which is pretty real, like I have my favorites, but everyone is so good, they go on to say I find Kishima and Hinata's character arcs to be the most touching, very valid. As a teen I was big into DaiSuga, I think because Suga gave me gender envy. Yeah, I can see that. But recently I've been more into general, non-specific explorations of relationships Dot dot dot and Boca Waka.

rainbow

42:21

Everyone loves Boca Waka. Yes, yeah, and I think we've mentioned Minty before. They're an artist and they've done some really fun Karasuno and Nekoma doodles on Tumblr. Yes, all right. And then we do have one anonymous person and she said she absolutely loves atsumu, akashi and aone some a names which, finally an aone lover.

em

42:44

I love to see aone love.

rainbow

42:46

I see you yes, and their favorite ships are kagehina and tsukiyama as well nice, okay.

em

42:52

Next up is cloud kagehina. Soulmates is real, but I'm also a hina to harem enjoyer because everyone is clearly in love with the sunshine boy, valid rival and friend alike. I will defend suki to the death. I love him so much. Also Suga and everyone. How does anyone pick one favorite character in this fandom? I don't think one can unless they are very hyper focused. Also, all the main ships I don't know how to answer this question. I think the answer is just yes, which I love.

rainbow

43:20

Which and yes, I absolutely agree, the answer is yes, all of them. And then this just in folks as we were recording, we got another.

em

43:29

I was just going to say, did we just get a new one? We got another one, and there's not a lot.

rainbow

43:32

So I'm fully happy to just, on the fly, add it in because it's not a lot.

em

43:36

I mean absolutely. Wow, atlas, you just like live recording, you just?

rainbow

43:41

made it, babe Atlas. They said their favorite characters are Suga, Kinoshita and Akashi which interesting, and we'll talk more about Kinoshita in season four. And then their favorite ships are DaiSuga, oiSuga, love that, boko, aka and Tsukiyama. So much Tsukiyama.

em

43:57

Alice, I want you to tell me more about Kinoshita. I want to know why. Yeah, I think it'll be interesting. Ready to move on? Yeah, let's move on to our next question, A simple why do you like Haikyuu? And everyone unanimously agreed that it's a well-written story.

rainbow

44:13

Yeah, yeah that was something we saw over and over again is it's just so well-written, it's just such a good story and, as two people who started a podcast to talk about it, I think we can agree yeah, yeah, for real.

em

44:23

So Emby loves the way that Haikyuu depicts hard work, dedication and teamwork, the found family of it all, boys being boys, in a healthy dynamic which, yes, absolutely. I think we see a lot of healthy masculinity in Haikyuu, which is always good to see. There are many good quotes from the manga and anime that are great mantras and mindsets to adopt, totally agree, and that's why I like to do my sporadic little like life lessons from Haikyuu, because there are, just like almost every other episode there's like a life changing line of dialogue, I think of Kyoko's. You only need some curiosity to start something new.

rainbow

44:58

There's a lot. Yeah, we'll get into especially Takeda a lot of people find very inspiring. But we'll talk about that in the spoiler zone, because if you didn't think that we have some spoiler zone stuff for these listener responses, you were wrong, all right. Next we have Jim and he said that he loves Haikyuu because the characters have flaws and depth and it's also just beautifully drawn in anime, which, oh my God, is it like? This episode, I think, is such a good example of? Like the amazing animation, like it's just God, they really put their whole pussies into it.

em

45:27

Sonia said, because it's about feelings, relationships, personal development and well-written characters. Yes, I agree, it's a character-driven story, which is what I like about it. I think that's what Rainbow likes about it and it's what I feel can sometimes lack in other sport animes that I've tried, where it's so much about ball is life and a little less about like the like. Yeah, exactly, just the characters and the development and the relationships.

rainbow

45:53

Well, I think what Haikyuu does a really good job of doing is showing the characters being obsessed with the sport rather than the show itself being obsessed with the sport. But I say that, but Haikyuu, it's such like a love letter to volleyball. At the same time, there's just I don't know. I think it's just really well done. I think the whole team you know we give a lot of credit to Fuu Urad Date, but I'm sure, like he has assistants and editors, I think everyone who helped with this manga. I think they just did such a good job. And then the animators, because they've added things like the animation studio. I think just like from top to bottom it's so fucking good.

46:27

Okay, moving on, we have Hudson, and I love this quote. He said the serotonin influx directly to my brain every time I watch an episode is actually insane. Which that's so fucking true.

em

46:39

And like I have this thing where I just don't ever want to do anything that my brain deciphers as work. So when we do like Haikyuu homework, we'll watch the episode and take our notes. I never want to do it because it's a thing I have to do and that's how my ADHD brain works. But then as soon as I get into the episode, I'm like oh, it is so true, you can read, and I think that's what also Haikyuu is such a rewatchable show. You can just like you get sucked into the game every single time.

rainbow

47:03

Yeah, yeah, absolutely OK.

em

47:05

Next person Sasha, who we just had written comfort show. Again, I feel like that relates to the serotonin influx, like when shit is scary, and even now I feel like me. I feel like of course I do this podcast, but in general, like I feel like I'm sinking back deeper into the fandom because, again, like it's, it is a comfort and when, when times are dark, it's such a great thing to go back to and just watch whatever your favorite little arc is or your favorite episode yeah, yeah, all right.

rainbow

47:33

Moving on, we have Laura, who was just praising the story, how it comes first, full circle at the end, and how every arc and every moment is meaningful and well used absolutely and I just want to say like.

em

47:43

I think that's why whenever, like you know, poor JJK and even my hero didn't have maybe the best or well-loved endings, and Haikyuu fandom always comes to be like we got the best fucking ending and well-rounded story ever like like one of, I would say one of the most satisfying endings of anything like I I would put like.

rainbow

48:02

The satisfaction I feel at the end of this is like the same as the satisfaction I feel at the end of like Avatar, the Last Airbender, or um, what's another one? there's not many, there's not a lot. There was something else not steven universe, because they got cut off.

48:18

Oh, no owl house the owl house, the satisfaction which, again, that's another one. You know it got canceled because of being gay, had to be rushed, but still good. Yeah, but still like. It's like the, the, the feeling I get at the end of the owl house is just so. I'm just like, yeah, this, you, you fully wrap this up. It feels so good. Yeah. And Laura said that, like, everything feels inevitable and the lineup of characters is outstanding. She said I know we wish to have more screen time for certain characters but given the large cast, I think Fruitate, cooked, delivered and ate, which, yeah like we talk a lot about.

em

48:50

You know, date tech gets pretty shafted. But no, totally like we already have such a large ensemble and he does so well with it yeah, absolutely.

rainbow

48:59

Um and then um. One more thing they said is I think there's something for everyone, um, and you can learn something even from characters that in other series would be completely ignored. It's perfectly balanced and thoughtfully crafted. She talks about the series conveying its messages with subtlety and without being condescending, which I think is a very important thing and very true.

em

49:19

Yeah, like you know, I can kind of giggle at, like the drama of Haikyuu sometimes, but it is so genuine and it never goes in like a corny or cheesy lane ever.

rainbow

49:30

It never feels like an after school special, it never feels like it's trying to convey a certain message. It's just like it just feels. So much again, I think it's part of the character driven aspect of it where it just feels like all of this is so true and real in a way, and authentic.

em

49:44

Okay, um, next one next one, moon said, got me into volleyball and funny, straight to the point, and absolutely like I was gifted a volleyball at some point in the past couple years because of this show. Yeah, I also think like this is one of those shows and a few different animes have done this to me, but like nothing inspires me to kind of like get a little more athletic in my lifestyle than a show like Haikyuu.

rainbow

50:07

Yeah, absolutely. Next, we have Menti, who said to me Haikyuu is about how transformative an interest can be if you just let yourself love it. These characters' love for volleyball is so infectious because they let that love connect them across teams, generations and eventually even countries. But it also doesn't shy away from the pain and turmoil that I personally think is inevitable when you devote yourself to something. Sometimes it really hurts to care, and Haikyuu says that it's all part of the love and when you face that pain, you'll get through it and find the joy again. It's also really fucking funny. Ah, that was beautiful. That was that's. Yeah, like this. I love all of you. I love and I think that's something else I love about the, about haikyuu and the fandom is that, like, because haikyuu is crafted with so much love, we pour so much of our love into it and I feel like we get love back from it. It's just just like really gorgeous.

em

50:57

It's a real Haikyuu is a real gift economy. Yeah, Okay, next one, Anon. And Anon said because of all the fun and different characters are just really fun to get to know, except, apparently, date tech. I think we I definitely bitch about this a lot on the podcast.

rainbow

51:12

I feel like I bitch about it more than you do. We're both bitching about the fact that we don't get enough of date tech because we love them, all right. And next we have Cloud, and they said the wealth of character, personalities and interactions, the inspiring views of failure and strength and growth, the positive masculinity that's been touched on a couple times, the feeling of community that the show creates. We as readers and viewers are really part of this story and journey. And then, of course, they love how gay it is.

em

51:37

Yes, and thank you, cloud, for being the one to really point that out. Of course, that is a big part of this podcast. Yes, alice said I love the development and how the characters are written along with their own individual storylines, and how they intertwine and how exciting the matches are. Yeah, seriously, I watch these games and I turn into my dad watching Sunday football. It's actually insane.

rainbow

51:57

Yes, all right. So that's it for question two. We just have two more quick things to get through. Well, I say quick. So next we have how has Haikyuu touched your life and what lessons have you learned from it? We're going to start off with Embi, who said the show got them through the COVID lockdown when life was getting really harsh and really tough, and it gave them hope for the future. They learned a lot about hard work, being persistent and even when things are hard, they're not impossible. And I do want to say, for this one especially, I think we got a lot of pretty long answers and we just we don't necessarily have the time or the vocal ability to say everything, but like, we read every single word that you all wrote and we really loved what you all had to say. So we're just kind of summarizing it here, um, but we, we really appreciate it and we and I just want to say thank you for sharing with us.

em

52:41

some, some of you shared your struggles and I'm glad you felt comfortable sharing that with us yeah, really like thank you guys for sharing your stories and yeah, so we we had to summarize for time and I want I really liked this bit that Envy had to say, because I personally and I know a lot of people, came to Haikyuu on the 2020 pandemic boat and I was one of them and it it really was such like a and people really reminisce about like 2020, 2021 Haikyuu fandom and I think it was such a light in the dark for a lot of people yeah, absolutely, and I mean it was so tied up in it like season four was delayed because of it.

rainbow

53:19

there's like things in the manga that that mention COVID like it's, it really feels like it, it was along for the ride yeah, for sure, um, okay.

em

53:29

So next up we have Jem. it's reinforced for him that you can support something you're passionate about without being a professional at it. This is such a great like, such like. Probably one of my favorite lessons from Haikyuu is the way that, like, not everyone is becoming a fucking volleyball star, and that's very okay.

rainbow

53:46

Yeah, well, and I mean, I relate to that a lot with writing, like I used to really want to be like a published author who wrote like I wanted to be a well, I was gonna say JK Rowling, but never mind. you know, I wanted to be a famous best-selling author. you know, who doesn't turn on her fans, um, but, and even I think with this podcast, it's like we don't want to be on a network, we don't want to be like we don't want to be famous, we just want to do this because we love it. And Haikyuu, really, I feel it gives people permission to do that for sure. Okay, and then Sonia pointed out the line um, the ball hasn't touched the ground yet, it's not over yet, um, and how meaningful that is for her. She also said she loves how brave Noya is and how kind the characters are to each other, which I again like.

em

54:29

I think that goes back to that positive masculinity and Noya is a great example of you can be a passionate about something without being a professional at it. Yeah,. So hudson says started watching last semester during a big life transition learn to get up, no matter how many times you're knocked down. Get the fuck up and keep going. Haiku has been a constant reminder that the game's still going until you decide to give up. Yeah, it's like these are like you guys are really hitting like the main themes of this show, I think, and I do really like that idea of like, because I would totally in volleyball and in life, if I see the ball's probably going to go out, I'm slowing down, but no, we're going to crash into the fucking table. That's right.

rainbow

55:10

Oh, it's so good. And then Sasha said that you know, I learned that you have to actually work to reach your goals and I think that's a good reminder.

55:19

You know, I think sometimes we think, like you know, I think me, I'm a dreamer, with a heart of gold, um, but like, I like to think about a lot about like things that I want, um, but it, haikyuu is a good reminder that, like, if I want those things, I have to put in the work for them. They're not gonna, nobody's gonna hand that to me like I.

em

55:37

I have to make that happen there are a couple characters who touch on like the day-to-day routines and building habits and self, self-maintenance, no personal personal maintenance and all the little things you do every day that add up and that's that's something I've really been trying to incorporate, especially with fitness. For me, like I've always been a pretty sedentary person and like I think it's so hard with exercise to like get a start because there's so many different rules that people will throw at you and all these things you can do. But like just building tiny, like just go for a walk and do that and just get used to doing that every single day, Just these little habits for everyday life that overall will make you a better person. Next we have Laura. Both Hinata and Kageyama represent big shifts in her life. Haikyuu gave her the courage to quit her job, focus more on herself and reconnect with all of those dreams and goals she thought were forgotten which is very beautiful.

56:35

Anime is fucking inspiring, okay, well, it's because it's art. Those dreams and goals she thought were forgotten, which is very beautiful. I finally anime. Anime is fucking inspiring okay.

rainbow

56:38

Well, it's because it's art. Art isn't is inspirational and anime is a is a beautiful art form and I'm so glad that we have access to it. Yeah, um, moon said and I think this is so important like moon, this really touched me.

em

56:52

You can do it if you calm down and try again I need to say this in the mirror every single morning for 45 minutes.

rainbow

56:59

That should be your new mantra, because the more you get frustrated with something, the more you're going to fuck up at it. This is going to sound silly, but like Mario Kart is what I think of with that. When I get the most frustrated and I'm yelling and I'm like I am thinking too much about how I can't fuck up, that's when I fuck up. But if I can just like zone it, like zone out, lock in, like just get to my zen place, that's when I am at my best.

em

57:20

Minty first watched Haikyuu as a depressed teen and rewatched it, basically on a whim, last year because they wanted something that would both de de-stress and motivate them as they finished their thesis film. Oh, thesis film, that's interesting, yeah.

rainbow

57:35

Also, if we're able to watch that thesis film on YouTube or anything, let us know, because I'd love to see it. Hell, yeah, all right. And then we had our anonymous listener who said there will always be people with you who want to help you grow stronger and be a better person. Oh I love that a lot, me too.

em

57:50

So much of Haikyuu is about community and the team and how not doing things alone. And then, lastly, cloud says Haikyuu is a huge comfort and inspiration, especially in this last year. For them, it's become their safe space, including the anime, the manga, the fanfic, fan art, video essays and this podcast, which that's very touching to be included in all of that, because I mean, let's just take a moment to applaud for Haikyuu fanfic.

rainbow

58:17

It is so good and fan works in general.

em

58:20

Fan works in general, the fandom is such a like not only do you have this great piece of art on its own, but then, if you think to go check out what people are saying about online, you have this like flourishing fandom that is just waiting to catch you yeah, yeah it's.

rainbow

58:34

I love the Haikyuu fandom, you know. That's what's. Another reason we made this podcast is because we knew there were other people out there like us who were like, let's talk about how gay this fucking show is. Yes, and I and I just knew that we would be doing it in a supportive environment. Yes, last but not least, we asked everyone if they have any fun headcanons they wanted to share.

em

58:55

I mean, the best part of fandom right is sharing. The reason I made a Haikyuu Twitter is because I just kept thinking about headcanons and I was like I have to write this down, yes. So yeah, let's get into it. Emby, their headcanons, BokuAka, first ones to get married by far. I can see that Hinata is trilingual. Yes, Ukai and Takada continue coaching at Karasuno until their grandpa Ukai's age. I could absolutely see that. I think those men both love what they do and would stay until the wheels fell off. And then sometimes various members come back to help run practices and scrimmages. And we have evidence now because of that recent official fan art of second year wherecrow comes and visits.

rainbow

59:37

Remember oh my god, that's right, that's right. Yes, so we, we know that's happening that's canon I love it and I just I did want to say some of these headcanons were more spoiler zone, so we're gonna touch on those in the spoiler zone because I I love a time skip headcanon. And then we have Jim Rold and he said I know that Hina Taharam is very popular Popular Since he's the main character, but sometimes I like to think that, as hot as he is, Kageyama gets plenty of action and dates.

em

01:00:04

I think if you imagine a Kageyama that is interested in dating and having sex, then that boy would have absolutely no problem getting play, absolutely.

rainbow

01:00:16

No, absolutely, yeah, absolutely not. For me, the only thing holding him back from getting that much action and dates is that he, for one, is way too obsessed with volleyball and he's thinking about Hinata too much. But no, I totally agree, I love a slutty Kageyama.

em

01:00:28

Yeah, yeah, that's always fun in fan fiction world. Okay, so Hudson says that Yamaguchi has the absolute worst luck. I thought this was interesting. I love like specific headcanons like this. Yamaguchi has the absolute worst luck. Don't ask me why, I don't know. Vibes, I totally see it. They say I love him so much. Man probably picked up a penny that was tails up when he was like five or something, I don't know. But if he's playing a game that's luck based, it's a rarity, nigh an impossibility for him to win. I can totally see this.

rainbow

01:00:57

Poor Yamaguchi. I totally see that for him as well. Yes, okay. And then Laura said she said my headcanon is that when Hinata and Kageyama go on vacation, they travel together to really cool places, no sightseeing. They just love beautiful places to play volleyball with stunning scenery, and I totally see that when they're planning a trip they're like, okay, does it have places for us to play volleyball? And yes, if it does, they're going. I'm seeing them on a beach, in forest clearings, on a mountaintop.

em

01:01:26

I could see, like maybe the first trip they go on, Hinata tries to be like we should go see things, but then they get lost and it's so pointless that they just very quickly they're like we're just going to play volleyball in cool places.

rainbow

01:01:36

So next we had Moon, who actually gave us a who and Haikyuu scenario that we will use in the future. So, moon, we're not going to mention it now, but you will get a shout out when we decide to use your who and Haikyuu scenario, which we will probably do in season three.

em

01:01:47

So then we have Minty, who says Goshiki is trans femme, because me and my friend both trans recently rewatched Haikyuu and we both forgotten Goshiki existed, valid, but the second, his stupid haircut appeared on screen. We looked at each other and said in unison, egg, and then Oikawa. And we haven't met Goshiki yet. For those of us who are actually like watching along, he's coming in season three, so and you'll know who he is as soon as you see that stupid haircut,. And then they go on to say Oikawa is not a party person, he's too focused on volleyball to get wasted and party, yeah, valid. I think one could think he'd be into that, but I no.

rainbow

01:02:26

I think he's too focused on the sport I think in an au setting where he's not dedicating his mind, body and soul to volleyball, totally see him as a party person. But canon Oikawa and I think that's supported by the canon that he just is not interested in partying. Next we have our anonymous listener who said that Tsukishima and yamaguchi, when they were younger, watched all of the jurassic park movies together. I agree, I think Tsukishima made yamaguchi watch every, every Jurassic Park movie every time they had a sleepover.

em

01:02:55

Where's?

rainbow

01:02:55

the fic. Where's the fic? Listen, we already did our who in Haikyuu Jurassic Park AU scenario.

em

01:03:02

Next we have Cloud. In second year, karasuno gets a bunch of new members signing up for volleyball and Hinata is just as thrilled about being called senpai as Noya and Tanaka were. Oh, a hundred percent. Yeah, Hinata tries to make to take a kohai under his wing, like Suga did for him in those episodes before the 3v3 in season one, and Hinata is constantly coaching Kageyama and how to communicate with the first years and having to mediate. So real, I would love to fucking see in second year Hinata like guiding Kageyama through, not scaring their kohais out all the time.

rainbow

01:03:35

I just, oh my god, I just, I want, I love a second year, I love a second year fic I also.

em

01:03:42

I have a personal headcanon for second year of like with the new members, where one of them is like really into Kageyama and really wants him to set for him, to the point where, like Hinata does kind of get a little annoyed about it I've definitely read some fics to that effect.

rainbow

01:03:58

and then, finally, we have atlas, who said Suga would love horror media. That's right, that's what I'm always saying. and then Daichi plays guitar while Suga plays piano. Tanaka loves listening to american rap and he tries to replicate it, but it's really crap and your app's a fucking luli, correct. Oh my god, I love that. Could you imagine Tanaka trying to rap to like Biggie Tupac? Fuck it Lil Wayne. Who is his favorite rapper? Is it Megan? Is?

em

01:04:26

it, Nicki. I yeah, yeah. Can that be the headcanon?

rainbow

01:04:30

I would love if Tanaka specifically listens to like female rappers yes, women rappers. I'd love that. I think you would Okay.

em

01:04:37

So now, before we go into our spoiler zone yes, which we'll be getting back into the listener responses in the spoiler zone. But before we maybe lose some of you, make sure to hit us up on Twitter, instagram, tumblr and Blue Sky. We do more fun fan interactions and we love I love this like inner circle. I've seen a lot of these names pop up. I've interacted with a lot of these people and the more the merrier. That's Fly High Q Pod F-L-Y-H-Q-P-O-D, and then you can also email us at flyhqpod at gmailcom.

01:05:07

Alrighty, let's dive right back into that pool, but this time it's spoiled.

rainbow

01:05:12

It's the spoiler zone I actually have before little listener responses. I have two quick things, okay. Okay, so one Daichi, he receives Oikawa's serve towards the end of the game and he rolls backwards and it kind of reminds me of Hinata's receive in the Inarizaki match. Oh, yeah, for sure that's what it made me think of. And then also, so the guy in the flashback that Oikawa is talking to is Jose Blanco.

01:05:33

It doesn't say that in the anime, I don't think it says says that in the manga, but it is. He's a player from argentina who Oikawa has looked up to since he was a kid. and I think it's really interesting and I think I like what he has to say about working hard. And it makes me think of Kageyama, who we learn wasn't born a genius. He's just worked really hard throughout his life to be as good of a player as he is, right, anyway. So I just wanted to say that real quick. And then, and these were we're not going to tell you like, we're just going to kind of go through some things that we picked up that people said that were a little bit more spoiler zoney, so we'll just go through kind of person by person, okay.

em

01:06:09

Sonia said I love how little Kuro says something to Kenma's dad, like Kenma will come when he's ready. It means Kuro trusts in Kenma's skills to do anything at his own pace, which is, yes, a very beautiful moment.

rainbow

01:06:21

Yeah. And then both Cloud and Laura mentioned Takeda as a source of lessons and inspiration, like when he says what will you become tomorrow? He who wishes to climb the ladder must begin at the bottom. And then, of course, this too is volleyball. Which listeners? I'm not ready for the fever to be animated. And no, nobody is. And I'm not ready to talk about it on this podcast.

em

01:06:44

Laura also talked about my favorite, chapter 387, a masterclass in writing. She said how the stuff with Kageyama and his grandpa helped her get through a really hard time in her life and encourages people to follow Grandpa Kageyama's advice, which I love this Don't make yourself small just to please others and stick to the things you want and like. After all, no one understands what is and isn't important to you better than you do. And what a fucking affirming statement for an adult to say to a child yes absolutely.

rainbow

01:07:12

And I did want to say to Laura, because she very nicely asked if we could talk about chapter 387 at some point, and I mean we'll definitely talk about that.

em

01:07:21

Don't worry, I'm here, we're going to talk about it.

rainbow

01:07:23

But also in our season break bonus episode. I get into it a little bit in the spoilers and of that. So, laura, make sure to listen to our season break episode and listen all the way through to the spoiler zone, because I go pretty in depth about chapter 387, but again, but also Em, and I will talk about it because everyone needs to hear Em's perspective and her love of it. okay, and then we have Minty, who talks about the very end when everyone is tuning in to watch the Olympics and how they all still love volleyball in their own way. That's is what Minty wants their relationship to art, with art to feel like. They want to let it connect them to people who feel the same way and to not try to define their art by the parameters of quote unquote success. Fuck yeah.

em

01:08:07

Which I love. Nb says head cannon Daichi quits his job as a cop to work as a school security guard. Hell, yeah, yes,. And then thus the DaiSuga fic is born japan, wins gold the olympics. After the manga ends yeah, I like to imagine that japan wins the gold I like to too.

rainbow

01:08:25

There is a part of me that like does kind of want Oikawa to get to beat Ushijima and Kageyama and Hinata.

em

01:08:31

I will say I think narratively that would be more satisfying, I do.

rainbow

01:08:36

But you know, I know, I get it. Listen, I think it's so, so very smart of Furudate to not give us any indication of who won that game.

em

01:08:45

I love.

rainbow

01:08:46

I love that Furudate was like and now it is in your hands, readers. Sasha has a headcanon that Atsuhina date for a week to make Kageyama and Sakusa jealous.

em

01:08:56

I like started the notes of a fic with this exact plot line, so yeah, I co-sign that.

rainbow

01:09:03

I have a lot. I have a lot of Saku Atsu Atsuhina Kageyina thoughts. Maybe one day they'll actually get turned into a fic. We'll see. We'll see what happens after I'm done with school. Maybe one day they'll actually get turned into a fic.

em

01:09:14

We'll see. We'll see what happens after I'm done with school. And then, last but not least, cloud shared a headcanon that the Sweden Adler's bus talk about Hinata the entire ride to their match against the Black Jackals, because half the team are so hyped for this epic rematch and the other half are just dying to know why everyone's so obsessed with Hinata and they will be just as obsessed after the game. Yes, I'm sure that team was like buzzing about this.

rainbow

01:09:34

I mean they just have to know, because it's not just Kageyama, it's also Ushijima and Hishiyomi.

em

01:09:42

Yeah, who really didn't get to finish his face off with Hinata?

rainbow

01:09:48

No, all three of these players have been anticipating this game with Hinata and I just know, oh my god, yeah, if we said it before we said it, I'm gonna say it again. If we don't get the time skip animated, I'm gonna scream, please all right.

em

01:10:06

Well, that takes us to the very end. Again, thank you to our participants. We love each and every one of you and we love everyone who has been listening for the past year. Thank you. Here's to at least another solid year of Haikyuu content. And I also just want to say I don't think we'll ever like officially close this podcast. We were just talking about this, like yesterday, I think. You know, obviously we have a finite amount of content, but, like, we still have things coming up and again, as someone said, you know we're going to keep coming back to it and connecting to it.

rainbow

01:10:39

Yeah. So yeah, the you know there, there might be a time where we do not have weekly episodes coming out. It might be weeks or months between episodes. Don't worry, that won't happen for a long time. But you know, I just we're always going to want to come back to it. Maybe we can do it. Maybe we can even end up doing like a yearly, like a refresher, where we just do like an hour long episode of like hey, we did another rewatch of Haikyuu, or like we did like where we just we just want to keep talking about Haikyuu for the rest of our lives.

em

01:11:02

If Furudate, God willing, were to return in 20 years and say you know what? Here is Haikyuu year two, Coming back with the weekly episodes.

rainbow

01:11:10

Yeah, oh, oh, my gosh, are you kidding me? If we got brand new, we would be. It wouldn't even be a recap of the show, we'd be talking about the manga. Yeah, yeah, so yeah, that's it. Thank you all. Yeah, thank you all, so much for listening. Thank you for listening to this episode.

em

01:11:34

Thank you for listening to, as, however many episodes you've listened to before this one, we love you all and we're just we're so happy to be here and to be doing this podcast. We're going to continue to fly high.