S3E6: The Chemical Change of Encounters

"If the chance appears, you better grab it!"

This week, rainbow and em cover season 3, episode 6 "The Chemical Change of Encounters" and talk about how the Karasuno third years met, the recipe for success, and the conclusion of the fourth set. 

Spoiler Zone Begins at 01:07:23

Reddit discussion about Indigenous representation in Wicked. 

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Chapters

• 0:00 Chit Chat and Housekeeping
• 8:55 Recap and Episode Discussion
• 52:27 Manga vs. Anime and Character Spotlight
• 58:15 Who in Haikyuu? and Socials
• 1:07:23 Spoiler Zone

Transcript

rainbow

00:09

hello everyone and welcome to fly a queer high q podcast. I'm rainbow.

em

00:14

They, she and I'm m, and today we are talking about season three, episode six the chemical changes of encounters. What a title what?

rainbow

00:24

yeah, it really is, and I think in the dub it's like the chemical changes of encounters. What a title. What? Yeah, it really is, and I think in the dub it's like the chemical changes of meeting, which is just the same thing. Um, who do you, who do you think the the encounters are that that the chemicals change? I don't truly know it's the, it's the third years. It's Asahi, Daichi and Suga, and then meeting in first year oh my god, that's so true it you know.

em

00:46

Every meeting of people causes a different chemical reaction, because we are all chemicals.

rainbow

00:51

I'm not smart enough for this. Well, no, it ties back to what Takeda said way back in season one in um versus the great king, when he's giving that beautiful speech about, like, really about Kagehina coming together, but really about all of Karasuno. And I think that what happens when the first years meet is similar to what happens when this team gets together and like, that's like the first chemical change that like leads to the team being able to, you know, be on this level yeah, because when the first year, when our third years were first years, their team was a real dud.

em

01:21

Well, we'll, we'll get into it.

rainbow

01:23

I know, we're getting ahead of ourselves. We got chit chat to say we got some stuff. Yeah, Last weekend we watched the movie Flow.

em

01:31

It was really good. It was really good. Yeah, it was very impressive. As a lot of you guys probably know, it won the Oscar, which Oscars are kind of meaningless, but these kind of Oscar wins do feel good. Because it was, you know, it was a Latvian creator, very small company. He did it all on like a free software. It's just one of those tales where it's like, oh, anybody could create art, maybe, and no dialogue, but like a beautifully told film.

rainbow

01:59

Yeah, it was. It was a really good story. I think it was very much about community and life and I think there's like a very like extreme, like undercurrent of like climate change and like the fact that like our planet is changing and we're going to have to work together to deal with that. And it was just beautifully animated, really fun. I'm excited to watch it again now that I know what's going to happen, because I did find my first watch through pretty stressful and there's a lot of like underwater scenes and that is always stressful to me. The water is the unknown. Oh my god. Yeah, the metaphors in this movie, yeah. So it was really really good and we highly recommend it. And then I wanted to touch on something else that really you, em, are the person who really had me thinking about this, but I've also been rereading Wicked, the book, and I just read a lot of the Fiyero chapters. Like there's a whole section that's from his perspective and he is heavily indigenous coded in the book and that's like I'm not an indigenous person and I was having such a hard time finding like anything from an indigenous like writer or commentator about this character and I mean I just I wouldn't put it past this book to like be kind of racist about it. But I do think with the musical and with the movie, there was like more so, more so. With the musical, I would say I think there was opportunities to like make this an indigenous role and like change, like, change it, because they changed the story so much from the book to the musical. They changed so many characters. Like Fiyero in the musical is so different from the character in the book. They literally just share the same name. Their personalities aren't the same. But I still feel like there was like an opportunity, um, and it just like kind of what I, what I? I found a reddit discussion on it, um, and I'll link to that into the in the show notes so other people can see it um, and people were making different points. Some people were making the stupid point of like the colorblind point of like well, why does it matter what color the actor is? And it's just like why are we still having these conversations? But, um, they made so many significant changes to his character.

04:02

And I think a big thing is like there just aren't a lot of indigenous people in like Broadway, like in like I think that's a very white space, especially in 2003. And so I just I think it shows like, just like, the reasons why having art so limited to like the kind of people who are telling stories, I think it shows that like it limits art so much. Because if we had indigenous creators in those spaces who were like, who could take that story and tell it in an authentic way, in a respectful way, that would just be so interesting, especially because they're already making so many changes to the character. It's like, okay, so you could like find a way to tell this.

04:34

And then, like I don't think there's a lot of indigenous actors in Broadway, so that was something somebody brought up. Is, like, you know, from the, the producer's standpoint. It's like, well, it's going to be a lot of money to try to find an Indigenous actor, and if we want this show to go on for years and years, I think there's this idea that anyone should be able to play the role of any ethnicity. But it's just like I don't know, I just like I do.

em

04:57

I don't know.

04:58

I think that was the movie's argument, because I found it kind of interesting, because I feel like the movie does such a pretty good job with diversity in general, but there are really a lack of indigenous characters and Fiyero would have been the perfect opportunity. But I remember John Chu saying like I think and I'm not defending, but he was like saying I think they were initially looking for no names, but with it being such a big production, they wanted professionals and it's like OK. But if they never get the opportunity to become professionals to professionals, and it's like okay. But if they never get the opportunity to become professionals, and with Fiyero in particular, for me, without even knowing Fiyero's actual like character from the book, I found it personally a little like boring and disappointing that Fiyero was just hot guy number 70, million, um, and I also think it would have added even more depth to him and Elphaba's relationship if they both were like outsiders in a way. Um, it's something that could they could have connected over like I don't know, I just yeah, I don't know.

rainbow

05:50

I think that fell flat and that was a missed opportunity yeah, I think, and not to say Jonathan Bailey didn't give an amazing performance. I think he he what he did with the role was really interesting and I think he brought a queerness to it that I really appreciated. But he's not the only actor who could have done that and I think for him, like I understand like casting, like just like a, like a pretty boy, like white boy, with like the privilege that he has and him feeling like I don't have to care about any of the like stuff that's going on because like and I can just like dance through life and stuff. But I do think it was a missed opportunity.

06:22

I will say it does feel like Fiyero, especially in the movie, is just kind of like there, like the focus is so much on Glinda and Elphaba. But I just, you know, and I wish I could have found like something from like an indigenous blog or like an indigenous reviewer, like something about the movie or the book, something that like could help give me context for that or the book, something that like could help give me context for that. And I think that just really speaks to like the way, especially in America, that Indigenous people are so silenced and like just not given voices, and I think so. This just like speaks to like a much larger problem, and I've been thinking about it for a while and we talked so much about Wicked and we've touched on like Indigenous issues before, and I just wanted to give voice to that because it's something that we should be having conversations about and rainbow is always kind of thinking about wicked at all times.

07:10

I mean, it's always there. Listen, there's seven trains going in my head. One of them is playing black and black from acdc. The other one is thinking about wicked. That song is always in my head. I don't know, I never listened to it fascinating. I did not know this, oh my god, yeah, it's either that or the theme song from one tree hill.

em

07:26

I don't want to be anything other than well, I think this is a great segue into our next bullet point.

rainbow

07:31

Yeah, now that I've got. Yeah, now I made this like very, like heartfelt, uh serious point, and then I was like and isn't that how we always do it? It really is.

em

07:40

do you want to take this one? Sure? So back to more to more Haikyuu focused things. There is an illustration going around on Twitter I believe it's new of Hinata I don't think it is.

rainbow

07:51

It's not. I don't think. I think it's been around.

em

07:54

Oh, I don't know. I'm not as plugged in as I used to be kids, so I don't know, but it was our first time seeing it and it's Hinata with Kageyama and Hinata dolls, and Hinata is saying that the Kageyama doll is cute.

rainbow

08:06

Yeah, he's saying Kageyama ningyo kawaii na, kawaii, na, kawaii, na. Yeah, I'm sorry, I butchered that terribly. No, that's okay, but it like literally, that's like Kageyama doll, cute. And then na is kind of like a, an emphasis. I think, yeah, an emphasis. I think, yeah, it's an emphasis. It's similar. I think it's similar to nay, because like nay is like, isn't it? So I'm not sure what naw specifically is, but it's definitely like. It's kind of like Datebayo, I know.

em

08:30

And we were talking about it and how canon it is that I think once they become adults and all that like a little bit more of that antagonistic-ness kind of dies down. I think they really have to then grapple with the fact that they are so attracted to each other.

rainbow

08:43

Yeah, so many fics have been written about that. Oh yeah, and I will read every fic.

em

08:49

That is about that. Yeah, I've been getting more fic ideas. Folks, Keep an eye out on my O3. Who knows what could happen?

rainbow

08:55

All right, are we ready for your recap that you just wrote? Shush, I'm ready, all right, and three, two one go.

em

09:04

The wind is officially behind Karasuno's wings as they glide through the fourth set, but this is unknown territory for our boys and the exhaustion is starting to creep in. We get a flashback of our third year as becoming the foundation of what the team is today and learn some important lessons about community and showing up. It's their chance and there's no choice but to grab it.

rainbow

09:23

In this episode of Haikyuu Damn that was good, and I will say I think, something that your notes and your recap have really like brought to the surface for me that I feel ashamed that I wasn't thinking about it enough is that the fourth set really is new territory for them. Like they have they've only ever played three set games and they played like endless practice matches, like they played sets with Nekoma, where they just keep going and going and going. But it's so different when it's this high stakes game and it's like and again, when they played over and over again with Nekoma, they've lost every time with this one. It's like they have to play and win and like that's just so intense and we you're right, we really see that this episode.

em

10:01

I really like this episode. This is some good volleyball in this one, folks. Yes, and so we start with a flashback of our third years uh, back in their first day joining Karasuno and you made a point that this is the first time in a while where we're not just like starting from the game, we're actually going to a flashback yeah, so with um.

rainbow

10:19

Well, it's not even just that. So every episode except for the first one, of course starts with like a cold open. That's basically just like a mini recap of what happened in the last game, like I've gotten to the point where I just skip straight to like after the opening um, but this one you couldn't do that, because we actually get like a real cold open. That's like something new we haven't seen before. And it's our adorable little Daisuke Asa as first years going up and being like I'm Tsukawara Koshi and I'm from this school and I play Sutter and it's so adorable. I love them.

em

10:51

Yeah, they're all bright eyed, bushy tailed and very excited. You can tell that they are. They still think of Karasuno as this powerhouse and they're so excited to join the team. And you can even see on the teammates faces they're a little bit sheepish Like. They're like kids. You're about to be disappointed.

rainbow

11:06

Because I think it's Daichi who says something like I wanted to go to Karasuno because I saw them at nationals and like I want to go again. And I think it's cute when Asahi introduces himself because he is so like anxious and nervous. He says in the dub at least, he messes up and he says I'm a pleasure to meet you four, I'm a pleasure to meet you four, Asahi, or Daichi. Asahi says it, he messes up. He says I'm a pleasure to meet you too.

em

11:27

Yeah, okay, I misheard you. Yes, yes, he just like he like fumbles over his words in the sub. They're all so cute and I will say there is the captain who does match their excited energy.

rainbow

11:42

He seems so happy to have people who give a shit on his team. Well, yeah, and so I have two things. I have a question for you. Did you notice any differences in the sub between their voices? Did it sound like the actors were trying to go?

em

11:51

younger. Did they just sound like their normal selves? Oh no, they were certainly younger sounding.

rainbow

11:54

Okay.

em

11:54

Yeah, their voices are just, you know, they go a little bit higher pitch, I think.

rainbow

11:59

Yeah, I thought it was almost kind of like goofy a little bit in the dub, especially with Daichi's, where I'm like, oh, it sounds like his voice is like almost cracking, which honestly is a little bit impressive because he has kind of a deep voice in the dub, and so for the actor to be able to do that, um, I thought that was pretty cool and I always, I always love when they actually like try, because sometimes in some shows they'll do younger and it's just like, oh, you're not even trying to sound any different, yeah, um, and then then I just think it's really amazing how quickly Karasuno fell after Grandpa Ukai left, because Daichi was like what, in middle school, probably his like second year when he saw them at nationals, and then it's two years later that he's a first year at Karasuno and he and they're just like not the same whatsoever.

em

12:43

I'm almost like you know what, grandpa Ukai. I think you may have failed your team in this way, because it does seem like he was the only one upholding their reputation and their strength, because then we have the teacher supervisor, who is not our precious Takeda, it's some guy who immediately, like, once the boys introduced themselves, he's like all right, I'll be back at the end of practice, and I'm sure he probably could do that, because grandpa Ukai was the one running the show. He had the connections, and then, as soon as he leaves, though, it all falls apart yeah, it's pretty shit.

rainbow

13:13

It's like I think it's I think you make a note of this that this is just like showing how, like when adults fail children, like it does not, like it sets them up for failure. Because yuk did not, and maybe this is part of like just his own hubris and like his own thinking, like I'm strong, like I'm not going to get sick, nothing's going to happen to me, and not thinking to prepare for like the next, for what happens when he's not there. They don't even have a manager. No, no, they don't. And then the club advisor.

13:40

I think it's also kind of on the club advisor for not like at all, like not engaging in any way and being like okay, Ukai, like you have all these connections, like and like, and maybe maybe this guy wasn't even club advisor, like when Ukai was there, maybe it was a different teacher, and when Ukai stopped, the other club advisor stopped and this guy just like, okay, I guess I'll do it, and it's just like I mean, I'll just be there to start practice and then I'll leave and do some work. So it's just like it really is, like it's just a lack of care from the adults and like I think it's this idea that, like it's almost like what Suki used to say with like well, it's just a club, it's not that big of a deal, but meanwhile it means so much to these boys, so much so that when Daichi, Suga and Asahi realize there's no actual coach, they look so disappointed.

em

14:20

Yeah, for real. And they're so confused because they still think of Karasuno as this powerhouse, so you would think they would have everything they need. And it just shows, yes, we need engaged and like adults advocating for kids, because Takeda was the one going out to these schools and bowing and begging for and like none of this would have happened without him. Truly, you know, they're just kids. They can only do so much, so the adults absolutely have failed them. And then we have this teammate. I'm assuming he's the vice. Kurokawa is a dead-faced, 40-year-old-looking teammate that seems to have accepted their reality with a quiet grimness. This man looks like he's seen war and he's got to be 16. I love that.

rainbow

15:05

Like, his role in this episode is to walk by them and make comments that just destroy their hopes and dreams.

em

15:11

I, you know, I this really got me thinking about, like the Karasuno that fell apart, and I think Kurokawa might be very bitter about it and I think has just like accepted it for what it is. Because, like we have, the captain asks him for like advice and he gives like. He gives like really vague, unhelpful, like I just do it, like okay, like he's definitely given up inside. And then, yeah, we have our third year, first years, talking amongst themselves, saying like oh, you know, they were saying that ever since Kochuka has been gone, we've lost connections with the other schools. And that's when Kurokawa he like says it means we're not worth their precious time. I think he's very bitter about what happened.

rainbow

15:45

I think so too, and I can't help but wonder I I would. I do wish I had a clearer understanding of the exact timing of this because, like, do you think that the third years in this flashback, like the the captain and the other third years that are on Karasuno, do you think they were in their first year? Ukai was still the coach yeah, it might have been.

em

16:02

It might have. I feel like it's a year, maybe two.

rainbow

16:05

Yeah, because I'm wondering if Kurokawa like got to Karasuno thinking Ukai would be the coach and then that was the first year Ukai wasn't there. Or maybe Ukai had to drop out, like during Kurokawa's first year, and so he like kind of got to see where they could have gone. And that leads to the bitterness.

em

16:21

Yeah, because, like I mean, you think it'd take a little time at least, because Grandpa Ukai would have had a pretty solid team to leave. And then like, yeah, I don't know.

rainbow

16:30

So yeah, I wonder if Kurokawa like experienced them, like just not getting callbacks from like for practice matches, like maybe his first year or the beginning of his first year. They were doing these practice matches and then he watched as, like everyone just started abandoning them because they didn't have this connection of coach Ukai. I also wonder, going back to like him trying to give advice when that guy, the captain, asks him about receiving, I kind of wondered if it's almost like Kurokawa is just really good at receiving and it's kind of like Noya or Kageyama trying to explain something where he's like I don't know, I just do and I can't explain the philosophy behind you and that's why you need a coach, because a coach has that wisdom and that experience and can say you see, what Kuroko was doing, like this is how you get to that point or this is how you do it in your own way, yeah, and I think Daichi says something really important, which is it's not like there were big troubles or hopeless situations yet there was a fear that we were gradually getting lost.

em

17:23

So it's again. It's like it's not like you know, anything huge happened, but like it's like all their support kind of fell away. And this is where I think there's a theme of like complacency, and this is where we get that great imagery of Daichi and this root taking hold. I think it would have been very easy for our first years to fall in line and not try very hard, but then he breaks away from it and asks to stay longer in practice I love.

rainbow

17:46

I literally just got chills as you were explaining that. I think it's so. I think the visual metaphor here is so beautiful and so good and like. I think it makes a lot of sense and like he's like because he's sweeping up the gym and he's feeling like locked in place but he breaks away and it's so like kagehina coded of him to be like can I stay after? And then. And then Asahi and Suga are like oh, us too. We'll even like tell like the teacher and everything. Like that's so. Like it's like Daichi. How dare you get so annoyed at Kage Hina for wanting to stay late after practice when you did the same shit when you were a first year?

em

18:14

Seriously, and it's just like Haikyuu is so great at these kind of understated lessons because it is so easy to just not do things. It's so easy to fall into, especially if the people around you don't give a shit. It is so easy to just fall into that and it takes real strength to like rise above that and be like well, I'm gonna try on, like you cucks. And it's not just Daichi, Suga and Asahi are also with him, which I think is important.

rainbow

18:42

Yes, and then so we see them so right after they're like we'll stay. So we see them so right after they're like we'll stay. After we see them sitting on the ground like surrounded by volleyballs. They've clearly been practicing. Now they're like just chatting and I think this is really cementing them as like a trio and like a group of friends. And Daichi's like saying, like, like talking about what they need to do, and it's so cute because they're just like oh, you sound so much older, like I think. Uh, like Suga says you sound like a teacher, and then Asi says like, or like a dad, are you even the same age as us?

em

19:06

Yeah, that's a pretty one to one to the sub and yeah, this is cementing them as a trio and cementing Daichi as captain material from the get go.

rainbow

19:13

He's a leader and that's like that's how you look for leaders, as you look for who takes up the leadership position, and then you go, you hone that and you really help them.

em

19:21

Yeah, that's what Karasuno ultimately was lacking was any kind of leadership.

rainbow

19:25

Yes, yeah, that's what we're saying with Ukae, with the club advisor, and like I think the captain that they have right now is like he's I get into a little bit later where I think, like the captains that came before Daichi really do help show him the way, and I think this guy does a good job of like the inspiration.

em

19:42

Yes, yeah, he might not have so much of the skill, but at least he's got some spirit to him, and so we have a montage of them working together on plays, practicing Daichi, reaching out to Kiyoko and setting him up as their manager. Like they, it's. They're taking the initiative that the adults and the third years should be taking.

rainbow

20:00

Yes, and I have a note here. So, while his name is tashiro the the captain, okay, um, and so while he's giving his little speech, we see behind him, like through the window, there are three crows flying in the sky and I just thought this was another great, like visual imagery. Like those three crows represent our three first years, who will go on to be the third years that make it to the regional final and have that chance to go to nationals, the one that they've wanted since their first year yes and so yeah.

em

20:28

So here he's saying that whole thing like let's get to nationals. And he said that when the first years were first introducing themselves and his teammates were kind, that's when they were looking kind of sheepish and didn't say anything. But now, now that we've gone through this montage and the first years are trying harder, I think they've been inspiring the other teammates, because Tashiro again is like let's make it to nationals. And one of the other teammates probably a second year or something was like um, I've been thinking this for a while, but can we just keep our goals more realistic? And says something about like having unrealistic goals can link to failure. And the captain is touched by this because before they just would kind of ignore him, him, but now they're arguing with him. He's like why am I happy about this? Well, because your teammates are like giving a shit again, where they all kind of really just given up and real quick.

rainbow

21:12

Is this where we get Daichi like catching the ball when he's supposed to receive it, or does that happen later?

em

21:17

I think that happens, like in the montage of them, like getting a little bit better. Okay, so now, despite all this, unfortunately, Kuroosano, you know, were they started working together too late in the game and they lose in the second round of the qualifiers. And this is where we have our old man dubbing them the Fallen Crows.

rainbow

21:34

Yeah, so is he the first person who calls them Fallen Crows, do you think?

em

21:38

I wouldn't be surprised, because he seems to be the most loyal fan that they have.

rainbow

21:49

And your most loyal fan that they have and your most loyal fan is gonna be your biggest hater if you disappoint them.

21:51

Yes, absolutely.

21:51

And like I feel like this is so silly, but I've been listening to, uh uh, this podcast called potterless um, where they talk about harry potter fan made content only and they they the host like hates quidditch because he's like a big sports guy and he like hates quidditch.

22:00

He thinks it's a dumb sport but he talks about like he thinks one of the things JK Rowling doesn't understand is that like the effect that sports have on a community and the way people react to winning or losing in a sport. And I think we see that here with this ROG random old guy where like he wants them to win so bad, but when they don't win, he like kind of like he's like he kind of hates them in a way and like he really kind of shows that. And this links back to the very first episode when we see the third years, like when they see him and they're like, oh my god, and they're pretending like they don't know who he is, but then they're like he'll never call us the fallen crows again and like we get this beautiful moment of like you're really proving it to him. Man, this guy you've never interacted with before.

em

22:44

Yeah. So they're, of course, very disappointed and we have the captain talking to them and he says a great Haikyuu lesson quote chance favors the prepared mind. If the chance appears, you better grab it. He says in tears, and I love this quote because you can't just sit around waiting for things to happen. You do have to work towards it.

rainbow

23:05

I think this is a great, like a great moment to talk about success and like how like success is, like there's so many different things that go into it, and I think part of it is like you have to be prepared, you have to train, but I think they're all like he's saying chance, like I think there is like a luck aspect to it, very much so, like I think Bo Burnham has talked about this where he's like you know, he's like he kind of gets annoyed when, like celebrities are out there telling their fans like if you just work hard enough and like you keep trying, like you'll, you'll, your dreams will come true.

23:32

And he's like well, no, like I got really lucky. And like Taylor Swift is so big because she got lucky and she had people who gave her opportunities, and like it's not to say that she doesn't also work hard or doesn't have talent, but like there are so many people out there that have talent and who have good work ethics, but like don't become like super successful or rich and famous the way that other people do and it's because they don't have the same opportunities given to them.

em

23:53

I could write a whole essay about how the millennial generation was like sold this, work hard and you'll get whatever you want dream. And then, like me as an adult, because I've tried to get into the entertainment industry and that was a huge lesson of like, it's not at all about just working hard. That's like 30% of the battle, but it really is just luck. But you have to be ready for that when it, when that comes, when opportunity comes a knock and you better be dressed and showered and ready to go.

rainbow

24:17

Absolutely, I love that, Put that on a t-shirt and then like it's by Toshiro from Karasuno. Um yeah, and so do we have anything else in this flat flashback? No we've.

em

24:29

This goes back into Daichi thinking about how this is the time to grab their chance because they're doing well in the fourth uh set. But I just wanted to say, like the third years really pulled Karasuno from nothing, I think. Do you remember how Takeda got in the fold? Did they like find him? I don't know if we ever get that story, I think. Do you remember how Takeda got in the fold? Did they like find him?

rainbow

24:45

I don't know if we ever get that story. I think the assumption is just that like and I don't really know how it works Like, do the teachers pick at the beginning of every year? Do they get assigned? Like I don't know if Takeda, like maybe the old club advisor that we see in this episode, maybe he like left the school or decided he didn't want to do it anymore left the school or decided he didn't want to do it anymore. So maybe Takata volunteered or maybe he was approached like I'm not really sure how that works.

em

25:07

Yeah, interesting, but yeah. So now we're back in the fourth set and Karasuno is holding their own. They really like they're not letting Shiratoru Zawa get ahead of them in any way. They're neck and neck still. And now we have Hinata. With our last episode he pulled off that run-up block and with his unexpected blocking it's giving them that just half a step ahead. And they're right now they're at 20 and 20.

rainbow

25:26

Yeah, because Kageyama is thinking to himself oh, because they, don't they finally get in the lead, don't they finally like, isn't this where, like we, we go back to Daichi and like they're, they've been neck and neck, but then they finally get like a few, like a couple of points above right, um, maybe I don't have it written out like that, so I'm not sure. Okay, that's okay. So we have Kageyama thinking about how they're taking note of Hinata, just like you said, and they're thinking that, just as Goshiki is going to do a straight um, but Kageyama is able to receive it beautifully, and he puts it up for Noya to do one of his jumping sets. And I literally paused it to like, write my notes and like, like, while Noya was like in the process of jumping and I was like I bet he gives it to Asahi. He's giving, he's setting it for Asahi, obviously, and at first it looks like it could be like somebody else up front, but that's a decoy and it's Asahi. And I'm like who else would it be but his boyfriend? That's who he sets to yes, um, which I love, um.

26:17

And then we see simi coming back in as a pinch server, and maybe it's just my shippy nature but like because he's switching in with Shirabu and it kind of looks like maybe Shirabu and simi like give each other like a look, like there's like an intense eye contact there and it could just be that like maybe Shirabu's like oh, like you're the setter, like you're the reserve setter and you're coming in for me, but I like to think it's sexual tension, um, and then we have something we have. I want to. Can I get a little bit into like volleyball rules for a second? Because Goshiki thinks to himself in the next play that they're doing, um, Kageyama is at the net and the ball is like it's like really high up and it could go over into shiratora's side and give them a chance ball, but Kageyama is jumping and reaching really high for it. And Goshiki thinks to himself that Kageyama is.

27:06

He started in the back row, he had to like run up to the net, um, and so they won't be able to do a dump. And I was like are setters only allowed to do dumps when they're on the front row? And I looked it up and I found this on reddit, but I think it's true, because they were like discussing the rules and it says if the setter is coming from the back row. They cannot attack, slash, dump the ball if any part of the ball is fully above the plane of the net. Given that the setter is standing or took off from the front or from the 10 foot line, this means you cannot connect to the ball above. You cannot contact the ball above the net for a dump, but you can dump if the ball is partially below the net when you contact it.

27:43

This rule applies to all back row players as well. That's why all back row attacks, pipes etc are done with the back row player taking off from behind the 10-foot line. Where you land after the attack does not matter, assuming you don't get into the net or the other side of the court. So yeah, I know, I know.

em

27:59

This is where sports really loses me.

rainbow

28:05

em is like em has like eyes glazed over, eye twitching.

28:07

I have no idea what's happening. So I think what they're saying is, when it comes to volleyball and I think, haiku, like they get pretty nitty-gritty, but I don't even think they go this far into the rules. I think with volleyball and I think this applies to Noya, and why he has to jump when he does his, his set, right is, I think if you're doing an attack, it you have to take off from like either the back or the front, like there's that line and I think that's why the line in the middle is so important there's like only certain attacks you can do if you're starting from behind that line versus starting before that line. So because Kageyama had to come up from the back, he can't do an attack or a dump with the ball that high in the air. I think maybe if the ball was already falling into Shiratora's sawazide, maybe he could do some sort of attack. But he can only do a set because he's coming from the back row and that's why he has to set it up super high.

em

28:54

We need a volleyball correspondent.

rainbow

28:56

Honestly, yeah, I know there's people out there who've played volleyball. Write us in, we'll watch a few videos maybe and really get to know the rules. But so I just thought that was very interesting and I just thought it was like it's kind of a throwaway line from Goshiki and if I wasn't doing this podcast I wouldn't have cared, but I was like you know what I want to know, what this is about, so anyway, but Kageyama does a set and he does that cool one-handed set and like, literally like Goshiki only has time to think, uh, like wait, Hinata's already here and Hinata has already hit the ball. They're so damn fast, they're so damn fast, it's so cool. Um, and then this is what spurns Tendo to say, from the sidelines, this far into the game, and they're still being this precise yep their moves are as sharp as ever.

29:43

And then in the dub at least so he says that and the camera's on him. And then the camera goes back to Kagehina and you hear from the sidelines Tendo saying they're machines. It was just really funny to me. I laughed out loud.

em

29:56

Yeah, they weren't ready for Kagehina's monster qualities. And then we have the Shiratorizawa girls in the audience being relieved when Hinata is moved to the back row, which I love. Yeah, I know he's scary, he's a threat, he is a threat. So I love this part, Yamaguchi. So Suki is going out of the court and Yamaguchi yells after him you know, don't lose to Hinata. And Suki turns back and goes huh In such a way that I felt like I was in trouble and he thinks to himself it's not like we're competing. And I, Tsukki, I agree, I get that. When, like, the teammates are, like, I won't lose to. You know, insert your literal teammate here. We're doing a rivals thing. I get it, but I think we're doing way too much. They're your teammates and I'm glad that Suki says that, although he is still competing with Hinata, no matter what he thinks to himself or says out loud.

rainbow

30:47

Yeah, I think it's. Yeah, I think it's less to me. I think that the huh which he does, he does like a, he does more of like a huh instead of a ha, in which makes sense because of the language, but it was like really giving like ha. I feel like the voice actor was like listen, the delivery in the sub was perfect and I'm gonna do as close to that as I can. I love a good huh. It's. Yeah, it reminds me of uh Shirabu from a few episodes ago, which I think might be my favorite. We should rank them. We should do, we should do a bonus episode where we think we rank our favorite like random, like one line moments like that, um but um but no, I do think, like to me. I think he was pissed that like Yamaguchi was insinuating he would lose to Hinata.

em

31:27

Yeah, no.

rainbow

31:28

He's like, but that's because of who he is as a person he's like. It's not like it's a competition, because, like the idea of losing to Hinata, would you know, have him crying in his room like his brother?

em

31:37

And I just don't think Suki is one to get caught up in that kind of like sportsy stuff as much as the others, or at least not as outwardly, I guess.

rainbow

31:45

Okay, so then we have Yamaguchi coming up to serve some cunt and Hinata that's. I was like I paused actually because you didn't laugh at that the first time. I think I missed it. You did because you were thinking about the order of things and I was like I have to do this again. But I think Hinata is really cute because he's like telling Yamaguchi he's like you got this and like I just think he's such a good little teammate and I love their friendship.

em

32:08

They have a good friendship because they're both the nice ones in their relationships, so no one's antagonizing the other for no reason. Yes, and then we have uh, we we're getting like a snippet of a conversation where Kageyama who, by the way, sweating like a pig says like I can do it, can you? And Suki is like well, I have practiced with the Fukurodani setter. This is what I love about Kageyama's like pureness, because he has no qualms thinking to himself like he practiced with Fukurodani setter. I'm so jealous.

rainbow

32:38

He's so adorable, I think it's so cute. I also I saw a post on I think it was on blue sky the other day and it was showing the difference between like Kageyama with like every other setter, and then Akashi, like it's showing his rivalry, like the way he is with uh Oikawa, the way he is with Kogane, the way he is with um Shirabu, the way he is with another setter we haven't met yet, but then like him with Akashi is just like he has like stars in his eyes, like tell me he doesn't have a little bit of a crush on that man maybe a little bit, and I think it's kind of a great like setup for those two, because I think Akashi is enough of a stranger to Kageyama and like they're on different levels, so he's not so much of a rival.

em

33:13

He really is more of like someone for Kageyama to look up to and because Akashi is not an asshole, there's no like negative interaction there, so it is a very sweet relationship.

rainbow

33:22

I wonder if there's also something with Kageyama where, like um, where I wonder if he recognizes that, like, Hinata and Bokuto are very similar in like personality and potentially in play style. Um, you know, you know, Hinata has learned from Bokuto and I wonder if there's a little bit of like jealousy of Kageyama, like, well, I could have learned from Akashi um, because, like they, I wonder if he sees that pair as similar to him and kage hina. Oh, I'd like to think so. Okay, and so because Yamaguchi, he switched with Hinata and we see Ukai telling Hinata like I think he may even call him shrimp, but he's just like come sit on the bench, like you need to reserve your strength. So it's really again. I think this episode is hammering home, like this is a fourth set and this is unknown territory for them. And so he's like you've been jumping a lot, you've been running around, don't go and stand on the sidelines.

em

34:07

Like, sit here and rest as much as you can yeah, he says, from here on out, this is going to be a battle of stamina.

rainbow

34:13

And then we have um, so Yamaguchi is about to serve and we have saiko noticing that Yamaguchi is farther back than he usually is. And my note here is just the way I don't think I would notice half the shit she does while watching these games from this, Like it's such a convenient, like plot device.

em

34:29

Yeah well, and especially when you think about how fast the game moves in real time. Yeah, there's no way I would be picking up on this stuff.

rainbow

34:35

To be fair, serving is like the slowest part of the game because you have like eight seconds where they're like getting into position. But yeah and so, um, we learn why he's standing where he's standing, um, and it's so that he can get the ball straight to Ushiwaka.

em

34:49

Yep, he's aiming for ushi. It works out, but, uh gosh, he does manage to hit it over. They do one touch it and Tanaka is able to pick it up. And this is where we have this one person delay, where Tsukki spikes it over and fucks with their timing, so he gets it over. Um, and despite and this is where I say despite what he was thinking earlier about how it's not a competition, he's now thinking to himself you weren't the only one practicing new moves at the training camp, Hinata and he looks really cool while he's thinking that.

rainbow

35:17

and also I just love that everyone kind of fangirls over it, like Yamaguchi Hinataai. And then we even see Takeda and Kiyoko are like shook by this. Like Kiyoko has like her, like clipboard over her mouth where she's like oh my god, and Takeda's like what, and it's just so cute and I have the quote here, but I didn't put who said it, so I don't remember.

em

35:34

But someone says that first year is pretty ballsy.

rainbow

35:45

Oh yeah, I'm not sure who that is. I don't remember, maybe rayon or tai chi.

em

35:47

it might have been Tendo, even I could see it being Tendo, but then washi joe, I think, calls a timeout, right, yes, and this is where he's yelling about. You know, keep your elbows up. You have big bodies, so be more, uh, dynamic. Yeah, the other coach has to help him. And I said I do think I would be like this old man coach, just like yelling.

rainbow

36:02

Yeah, oh, that's it. Yeah, who in Haikyuu us Edition? Which coach would you be? Washijo, washijo? I like to think I'd be Takeda.

em

36:11

But I would like to be nice, but as soon as I get frustrated it would all go out the window.

rainbow

36:18

I have that infinite patience thing going on. You sure do, except for some people, you know.

em

36:23

Like love, exactly. And then Washijo thinks to himself Karasuno's defense has or he says it because he's talking to the team Karasuno's defenses have been evolving throughout the match. But and then Ushijima says a defense with no holes doesn't exist.

rainbow

36:38

Foreshadowing, foreshadowing the next moment when he smashes through their block.

em

36:42

That's true, I forgot how quickly that happens. So yeah, he finds that hole and smashes through, but they're hopeful that his stamina will be catching up to him at some point. This is where we start to see Kageyama's exhaustion coming through. His toss does not line up with Suki, but Suki manages to get it over anyway. Like a goddamn champ, he like uses his other arm and just gets it over. And we get to the neighborhood guys in the stands who look very concerned and say that the fourth set on is unfamiliar territory for Karasuno and they're up against the strong team who's done this before?

rainbow

37:16

Yeah, and then we go to Tendo next, who's been an unofficial narrator for this entire season and he analyzes how much effort Kageyama has had to put into this game. I wrote it down, Can I?

em

37:29

share, Please do, Because I you know Kageyama is my fave and this is just like another like what a cool guy moment. So Tendo says he's able to make sense of that number 10's ridiculous attacks and has been doing so from the start like it's easy. Precision may be expected of him, probably more than anyone else. He faces more pressure from the opponent's blockers than anyone else. He touches the ball more than anyone else. Looks like that one might have reached his limit first and we see Kageyama like panting and sweating and looking frustrated.

rainbow

37:56

You mentioned it earlier, but our boy is sweaty and I feel like you can see the tired like around his eyes.

em

38:03

Yeah, and I think I love that Tando makes this point, because I think it can be so easy to take Kageyama for granted, but he is a human being too, and this is going to start to get to him. And then we have one of my favorite Tsukikage moments.

rainbow

38:15

Kageyama apologizes to Tsukishima for his set being off and in the dub, tsukishima that's what you're talking about, right? In the dub, tsukishima says you creep me out when you apologize, I don't accept it. And then Kageyama just like yells at him and he's like that's more like it.

em

38:34

Well, and I, yeah, I love how it goes down, because, yeah, he's like you're apologizing is creepy, so please don't. And Kageyama's like huh. And Suki's like oh see, you're fine. And then Kageyama just kind of looks away and Suki looks at him a little worried. And I just love the implication of like that is their banter, is like poking at each other. And when Kageyama doesn't rise to the bait, that's when Suki knows something is wrong.

rainbow

38:55

I will say I think I have the note later in this episode, but like Tsukikage, shippers are eating this episode. Like this is like it feels like. Is this the Tsukikage episode?

em

39:08

It's a strong one. It's a strong case. You guys have rights. I'll admit it.

rainbow

39:12

Yes, I mean, yeah, listen, you were fangirling just a second over them. I saw it Be quiet. So then we have Shiratorizawa bringing in their own jump float server number seven. Seven, who I looked him up because I didn't know who he was, but he's a second year named uh Yunohama, and I don't think he ever speaks yeah, I think in the stands they point out like well, Shiratorizawa is gonna have a deep team so they can pull all these people out yeah, so this pinch server comes in and um, he does a spike and then um, Karasuno is able to get it back over, but then we have Ushijima.

em

39:46

Who gives us a feint for the first time, using that hole because they backed up to prepare for his powerful spikes. He takes advantage of that.

rainbow

39:55

But Takinoe up in the stands notes that Kageyama should have been able to get that, but it seems like his fatigue is finally getting to him.

em

40:02

Yes, and now we are at a goddamn deuce. And then another great Kageyama moment. Tendo is taunting, Kageyama Is the exhausted setter having to go into the deuce of despair. And Kageyama says the only time I will feel despair is the day I can no longer play volleyball. Cue the devastating headcanons of the day. Kageyama is eventually forced to retire due to his old age.

rainbow

40:24

You know what? He'll have Hinata there and they'll still get to play volleyball in their backyard of their shared home with the net that they built together. It's going to be fine. But I and the face he makes here, it's like we. I feel like we don't get as many like intense predator Kageyama faces, especially to other opponents.

40:42

I feel like most of the time when Kageyama is scary, it's to yeah, we should do a side by side and Tendo, who is the scariest person in the world, says you guys are all monsters and as he says that, it pans over to Hinata's face and I like I almost wonder if, like Kageyama doing that face is because, like, influenced by Hinata, and like it's part of the thing where you spend so much time with somebody that you start to like, like, adopt their mannerisms or like certain things that they say, and I bet that's what's happening here.

em

41:14

I agree, but because they're monsters, it's like they're adopting each other's like freaky looks and then we finally get our commercial break, which is a bit later on in the episode.

rainbow

41:25

Yes, and I love that. So we, you know, we always get like two little commercial break things. And the second one is Ushiwaka by himself and he's serving the ball but it doesn't like quite go the way he wants it to and it bounce off the top of the net but somehow still like knocks the water bottle over and like, in response, Ushiwaka just does like a double blink of surprise.

em

41:45

Yes, he just blinks.

rainbow

41:53

Which I will say I feel like I've read fics before where, like To, of course, you issue 10 fix, where Tendo is, like you know, he's his best friend and he like knows his like facial expressions and he knows like, oh, two planks, that's a that he is surprised, um. And I also just want to say, when we get back into the game after the commercial break, um, we see the Shiratorizawa cheering section and we see the Shiratorizawa banner, which we've probably seen before, but this is my first time that I noted it, and it says be strong.

em

42:15

Interesting. See, I thought it said courageous warriors or something like that, but I might be wrong.

rainbow

42:22

Well, maybe that's just the dub fucking it up, but it was definitely giving me the like it was giving be strong, be strong.

em

42:28

So they go into. I think it might be a timeout or something. But Kageyama is on the bench and Ukai's like are you still good to go? And he's like, yeah, and we have Suga jumping in the foreground. Like whenever you need me, I'm ready to go in. He's like if you're tired, you know I can go in. And he's like I'm not tired. So Kageyama still wants to fight.

rainbow

42:44

So then the timeout ends and then so yeah, game and um cross no gets to set point again, which is great. But now it's Ushijima's time to serve some cunt and he looks menacing as fuck and I really love it and I just. My note is like this is so nerve-wracking, like, even though I know everything that's gonna happen, I'm still just like Shiratorizawa gets to set point again on their own, like, oh no, like what, what's gonna happen?

em

43:12

gets to set point again on their own. Like, oh no, like what's gonna happen? Yes, and we have Tendo going, miracle boy Wakatoshi, and they get to. It's one more point and it's all over and we have the ground crumbling behind Daichi.

rainbow

43:23

Is this the first time we've seen this? I think so. I think so too, and I think that's so interesting with his name being so related to like Earth. I love that's so interesting with his name being so related to like Earth. I love that. Like he's the one who kind of gets these like metaphors about being grounded or like the ground crumbling, and I do, I will say I get a little bit unsure of like what exactly is the meaning behind this.

em

43:44

Let me tell you. Well, this is what I think, especially because the beginning of this episode really centered around, you know, Daichi, the first year and for the third years. This is really centered around you know, Daichi, the first year and for the third years, this is really their last chance. If they don't get this, they don't go to nationals and it's over. The first and second years will have next year, but I think, most especially for Daichi and the rest of the third years, but Daichi being the captain and everything like it just, I think, really shows that he there's no choice but to get this or it's over.

rainbow

44:13

And it's so dramatic because Ushiwaka serves and Daichi's like nishiNoya and nishiNoya goes and he gets it and he says to himself that damn demon serve, because he like he gets it. But it sends it flying back over to Shiratorizawa for a chance ball but tsukikage blocks successfully together and they get it back to a deuce.

em

44:32

But of course Tsukikage have to argue. Tsukki is like you're not Hinata, jump up, don't run into me. And Kageyan was like that wouldn't be considered running into you. And I love Tanaka like splits up and is like you guys like really now we're still gonna bicker.

rainbow

44:46

Just kiss. This is where I have my note that the Tski kage shippers are eating this episode. Like I, it's like, no, you're I, it's fair. If you showed somebody just this episode, even with some stuff that happens later on, I think it would be a little bit like. So who do you think this black haired guy should end up with? I think you could like very easily be like well, the Tsukki shima guy. The blonde guy, yeah also. I just have to say if I were playing in game, I would absolutely be wrecked by this much physical activity. Like I would be passed out on the ground legs, completely unusable, hyperventilating. I would be like I'd be like in that Spongebob episode Water.

em

45:23

I think at this point they're definitely going to start to run on adrenaline alone.

rainbow

45:27

Yeah, and so then we have the old man, yes, and he is remembering that game from the flashback and we see him like remembering that and remembering them being fallen crows. And then here in the present day he yells out to Karasuno so loud that even the Shiratorizawa cheering section hears it and they're like who was that?

em

45:46

He like sucks in a breath and is like Karasuno. I'm counting on you.

rainbow

45:50

And then I have a side note here, because I always like I feel like I didn't really get a good idea of where he was oriented in the stands. I just for some reason I pictured him like smack dab in the middle of everything, which doesn't make sense because that's where the cheering sections are. But he's like kind of like tucked away in the corner with those other two guys and it's just like first of all, sir, everything so clearly. Um, that's the magic of anime, baby.

em

46:12

Yeah detailed details.

rainbow

46:13

And then grandpa you guys like that guy still comes to our matches yeah, and we have Daichi, Asahi and Suga like recognizing his voice also, I something I just thought of as we're having this discussion. Do you think that like there was almost like a setup of like expectations and then a subversion, because I feel like so much of this is focused on the third years and I don't know, maybe it's more focused on Daichi than the other two, but I kind of was like almost expecting this to be the episode where they bring Suga in as setter so we could get a Daichi, Suga and Asahi like play, because we're talking about them as first years, and so there's almost like a subversion of expectations here of like we're not bringing Suga in yet because there's just I feel like there's so many like oh, Kageyama's really tired, it's like any minute it feels like Suga could be brought in yeah, that's true.

em

46:55

So coach Ukai says, well, I guess we can't let him down, and he pushes Hinata to run onto the court. Yes, and Kageyama thinks to himself for me, the most troublesome person isn't any kind of opponent blocker, it's him and it's Hinata running onto the court and we both have pretty much the same note which is like wow, Kageyama, that's gay. Yes, well, because he knows like the one person he really doesn't want to lose to is Hinata, and Hinata is not going to like Kageyama, rest or hold back or anything.

rainbow

47:22

And I think what the other player, what the other people have said, what Tendo and Shimada and Takinoe have said, they've really like highlighted the fact that, like one of the reasons Kageyama has to work so hard is because of Hinata, because Hinata is running all over the court and Kageyama has to be quick enough to keep up with him and to get the ball to him. And then we have Hinata. I guess I can't tell if this is him like trying to bully Kageyama or actually trying to like cheer him up, but he says like I'll hit any sucky ass sets you send my way, Kageyama in.

em

47:50

In the sub. He's like hey tired, yamakun, I can hit any toss, no matter how sucky. I honestly think he's trying to be like don't worry, partner, I'm here. But of course I mean he insinuated that Kageyama sucks and he grabs Hinata by the collar and lifts him up and goes. I never suck and what I love is Hinata goes yep and like salutes to him. I love that there is. There is like a kernel of respect that Hinata does have for Kageyama yeah, in the.

rainbow

48:14

In the dub, Kageyama's response is like the only sucky ass thing around here is you, oh jeez, they're always a little bit meaner in the dub to each other

48:21

I and you know, I think that really reflects one thing I think that the Haikyuu dub does good, is like I do think this is how teenagers talk to each other, especially teenage boys. Like I think that makes sense. But I do think that's another instance of like Kageyama is a little bit meaner to Hinata than he is in the sub, which again leads to what you always talk about, which is people think Kageyama is meaner than he is and the dub, I do think, is responsible for that. Yeah, so Suga does come in as pinch server.

48:47

Yes, and I think it's interesting that Suga is brought in as a pinch server so that tells the audience and the people in the stands that they don't intend to swap sweaters and setters in this set, which I think Takinoe says. Yes, like he mentions it wouldn't be good to switch setters right now, which makes sense, like they're, like they're deucing it back and forth with Shiratorizawa. It would be really weird to bring in a different setter. I think that would change the momentum of a game at a time when you don't want the momentum to change, right, yeah, but so NinTendo blocks it and he says Kageyama's beautiful form is falling apart.

em

49:21

Yes, but luckily Suga calls it and the ball is out and Akitaru says it would be okay to rely on the left a little bit. But Grandpa Ukai, who is Kageyama and Hinata's father, actually says it's a silent plea.

rainbow

49:36

He's not going to back down, no matter how tired things get um, and so he wants the middle blocker to keep up his guard too yes, and now it's uh little Tobio's time to serve, and just, I think this is like the most like the epitome of like wow boy, you need to go take a nap, like he looks so tired and sweaty.

em

49:54

Yeah, very sweaty. We have Hinata who zigzags along the court, and again the toss is a bit short, but Hinata manages to get it just with the tip of his fingies and with that they get the fourth set yeah, and it kind of and I love so because Hinata gets it with his is this where he gets it with his left hand? Yes, he's moving right, but his left hand. He has enough control over his body where he was able to make his left hand get it over.

rainbow

50:18

Yeah, when we get the flashback to Grandpa Ukai telling Hinata like the ball has to be an extension of your own body, and I also think it's kind of a little F you to Ushijima that he gets it with his left.

em

50:29

Oh my God that he gets it with his left. Oh my god, I love it. And then we have washi joe's yelling. But the other coach just was looking stunned, which I thought was you know, they're not.

rainbow

50:37

They were not expecting them to put up this much of a fight and I think I was so wrapped up and everything else was going on, I kind of forgot about the score and it took me a minute to realize like, oh shit, they just took the fourth set with that, which is why then we have Kageyama who is walking along and we can only see, we don't even see his eyes.

em

50:53

And then Hinata is literally fluttering around him and then like is like waving his arms in front, just begging, like acknowledge what I just did, please, sir. And Kageyama grabs him by the collar and is like nice cover it is so difficult for Kageyama to both give and receive compliments.

rainbow

51:10

That boy does not understand compliments whatsoever. And it also and you just know he's so begrudging about Hinata. He's like it's like, Kageyama, why are you like we'll talk about it in the spoiler zone? We're gonna talk about it in the spoiler zone because I have things I want to say but I can't say them without spoiling, so let's just move on. Because Hinata is so excited, he's like he. He's like because Kageyama says like nice covering, he says it really mean, and Hinata says like you could at least say it with like a nice face or something. But then he's like but Kageyama, like, aren't you excited? We have another set to play.

em

51:43

And Kageyama is exhausted, but he does agree because they're soulmates.

rainbow

51:47

And I was saying I was like Hinata is so excited to play another set and he wants to share that joy with his boyfriend.

em

51:52

I cry yeah, no, they're just too meant for each other. And I said I always replay this scene at least thrice.

rainbow

51:58

Yes, I've replayed it again a second time, because I it's just like it's so funny the way Hinata is like buzzing around him. He's like hey, hey, hey, I'm right over here. It's like he's being so annoying. He's like it's he is his most gremlin when it comes to Kageyama and then the sub, just the little noises he's like oh, oh, it's such a treat, god, and I always forget that this happens like.

52:20

I always forget about it. And then I'm just like, oh my god, it's so cute and funny and I love them. And that ends our episode.

em

52:27

Yes, great episode. And so now for manga versus anime. Now, I will admit, guys, the flashback stuff, with them being first years, happens a few episodes ago and your girl did not feel like going back and going over it, so let's just, it's fine. But it also covers chapters 172 to 174. And I just have a few notes.

52:47

Oh, I think I mentioned this actually during our recap that they go into a little bit more detail about the delayed oh no, I didn't mention this. They our recap. That they go into a little bit more detail about the delayed oh no, I didn't mention this. They go into more detail about Suki's delayed spike and how it's a move that you can actually only pull off like once or twice, because it's easy enough to read and Suki waited until this long into the game and until when they really needed it to pull it off. And, what's also important and chippy, if Yamaguchi's serve hadn't forced Shiratorizawa into a bad pass, Tsukki wouldn't have been able to do that move.

53:15

We're getting our first look into how they work together as a unit. And then we had an author's note where Furudate said he was going to make Washijo's accent even stronger, but putting the accent into words was complicated, so he decided to make it milder, just a little behind the scenes action. And then I just thought this was a nice little detail. Was that somewhere in the fourth set the Shiratorizawa fans are so confident that they're going to win, that they're planning on how they're going to go to Tokyo to see them at nationals? Cocky, cocky, cocky.

rainbow

53:44

Cocky cocky, we still got another set to go. I mean, speaking of complacency, I think it happens on both ends. I think when you fail and fail and fail, you get complacent. But I think when you win and win and win, you can get a little complacent. And so Shira Torizawa was not prepared for Karasuno.

em

54:00

Point to the fucking Chiefs at the Super Bowl. They were so cocky about how they were going to win for the third time in a row. And guess what the people won?

rainbow

54:10

And let's talk again about discrimination against indigenous people. What's up with that name? Oh well, you know. So I wanted to say, going back to the accent thing, this is just kind of like a writer thing. I've heard like there's writing advice out there and like some people say, like when you're writing an accent, you should really like give people an idea of an accent but don't go too hard into it, because then it makes it like hard to read, which I don't know if anyone out there has read Withering Heights. But there is a character who speaks and like I don't even remember what accent it was, but I was like I literally don't even know what this character is saying.

54:42

I found Withering Heights really hard to read. I didn't like it very much. Maybe I could like reread it and like maybe think of it in like a shippy kind of way and like who can I, you know project onto these characters? But I really didn't like it and I felt bad because I was like this is like the one book, like I think it's Emily Bronte wrote it and it's like the one book she wrote and her sister was like way more prolific. But I was just like maybe this is why this is the only book you wrote because, like, I found it so hard to read and part of it was this character who I literally couldn't even understand. I only read that book because of Twilight. I was excited to read it because of Twilight and you should know by now that if Stephanie Myers thinks it's a great book, maybe it's not, although Romeo and Juliet too, but that's just like a tragedy. That's a tragedy, not a love story, anyway, but I thought it was interesting that Furudate was like man. It's really hard to write this accent.

em

55:29

Well, he said there was like confusion about a word that he had used to try and make the accent in a few chapters earlier. So yeah, I think it can be hard to kind of find that balance.

rainbow

55:40

I think it's enough. I think you just have to establish that a character has an accent and then like, if it's a long enough, like piece of work, like kind of remind people of the accent. But I really don't think like going so hard into it not to bring up fucking Harry Potter again. But I think JK Rowling does that with accents all the time, like Fleur Delacour's accident accent is like stop, we don't, we get it. She's French, we understand. We don't need all the z's because, yeah, z's, you're like. You like let her just like you could write a t and we can know she's not saying it. It's fine anyway, rant over, all right.

56:10

So moving on to our character spotlight um, yeah, so we have um Tashiro, uh Haidame. And if you're wondering who is that um, he is the uh captain for Karasuno when Daichi, Suga and Asahi are first years. Um, and this one, I mean this is a little bit of a reach, I think, for a character spotlight, but this is the first time we meet him and I think he is an important character for Daichi and for, like, his growth and development. And I was like, well, who else am I gonna do number seven from Shiratorizawa? Right, I have a little bit less um about him than I usually do. I have a small note from the wiki um saying, quote he's an optimistic and outgoing person.

56:48

During high school, despite lacking a coach and overall team ability, he was determined to win, confident that eventually Karasuno would become strong again. He encouraged his teammates to play with that mindset and stuck with his goal of winning nationals, no matter how many failures he encountered. And then, with his name breakdown, the ta means rice field and we know this already because ta, the kanji, is also found in Tanaka, and I think Tanaka's name means rice field, middle. So it makes sense. And then, but his name is tashiro, so the shiro means generation or era, which I thought was very interesting. Um, and then we have his given name, which is Hidemi, and the the haidei means superiority or excellence, and the mi the kanji, is actually mizo, which is water, but for some reason it's just me. So that's his name meaning, which I thought that I thought the um superiority and excellence thing is very interesting. Like that's his goal.

57:41

Um, and then we have his character sheet which, like, we really just get uh, his name, his position, his height and then his uh parameters. Um, so he's the former captain of crossnose volleyball club. Um, his height is 175.8 centimeters or about 5'7, and then he's okay, his speed is a two. His jumping, his technique, is also a two. His jumping, his stamina and his power are threes, but his game sense or intelligence is a four I guess that's why he's the caption yes okay and um, that's all I have.

em

58:15

We don't get a current worry or a favorite food yeah, we don't get too much of his personality, but this is not the last time we see him no, we will see him again, and I think I already know who I'll do for the character spotlight for that episode all right.

58:26

So now it's time for the world's favorite game. It's who in haikyuu? And this week's scenario was brought to us by moon. What would their dnd alignment be? And so the alignment we're talking about like lawful good, neutral good, true, neutral, chaotic evil. You guys know the deal. Today we're talking about Hinata Kageyama Daichi Suga Tanaka Noya Asahi Yamaguchi Tsukishima Yachi Ushiwaka Tendo Kuroo Kenma oikawa iwa boguro akashi.

rainbow

58:53

I just want, I, really I. I just thought it would be interesting to see where all of them are.

em

58:57

And it's helpful because we have this chart and it gives us examples, which is nice. So I want to say off the bat I think Hinata is a neutral good, believes in trying to do what's right, but is not bound by laws, social norms or tradition and we even have Spider-Man as an example, who he gets compared to. But I think Hinata definitely portrays like he wants to do what's right for him and he's not bound by like the fact that he's short or like in the this is more of it in season four but he does things a little against the rules and the norms to get where he needs to be.

rainbow

59:26

Right, but he's not quite. I don't think he's quite chaotic. Good, because he's still like there are still certain things that I think he believes you should follow, like he's still so respectful and he's so like you know. I mean the language thing where he's like no, you got to be a good boy yes, for sure he.

em

59:41

He's not super rebellious, only when it comes to getting better at volleyball. He'll do what he needs to do so no, I I totally agree.

rainbow

59:47

I think neutral good makes sense. What about Kageyama?

em

59:50

I was kind of struggling maybe is he like a lawful neutral? Well, yeah, but I think I want to say he's somewhere in the neutral. But I think, like I almost was like, is it like chaotic neutral because believes in their personal freedom and following their own desires and whims? I think he's chaotic neutral more when he's a bit younger and he's like with the whole like doing the spikes fast no matter how like other people can deal with it, kind of thing, and then maybe he becomes more of like a true neutral.

rainbow

01:00:24

Yeah, I agree, and the alignment chart we're using, which I think I pulled from like an official D&D website, but it has like example characters and so and I will say I feel like the, the true neutrals, like I don't really like the only character I recognize and like really know about is Dr Manhattan. So but then, like, where you have chaotic neutral, you have like Jack Sparrow and Deadpool and Rick Sanchez, which, like I don't know if I would, I would really put Kageyama in the same category, but I do see him like. I could see him more as like a Batman or a Nick Fury, which is why I was thinking more lawful neutral. But yeah, he's just, he's somewhere neutral. Anyway, d&d people write in, let us know what you think.

em

01:01:02

I think Kageyama is too quick to give in to his emotions to be lawful, I think is my hold up with that.

rainbow

01:01:07

But yeah, I think no, I totally agree with that. I think a true, I think ultimately true, neutral.

em

01:01:13

Daichi, I think might be a lawful good.

rainbow

01:01:16

He absolutely is Superman. Captain America believes in honor, justice and doing the right thing, as expected by society and the law, and we could talk about that in the spoiler zone. Yeah, so I think he's a lawful good.

em

01:01:28

Suga is definitely got to be chaotic. Maybe a chaotic good I think, I think so too.

rainbow

01:01:34

I think he's fully a chaotic good.

em

01:01:39

And again, maybe I'm not completely correct, because it's like he's a good guy but he's also going to like scream and yell from the sidelines if you're fucking up.

rainbow

01:01:43

Well, I think I feel like Suga is like the definition of a chaotic good. I think he should be on the example in the example line. And then we have Tanaka, who I think he should be on the example in the example line, and then we have Tanaka, who I think is I think he's either chaotic good or chaotic neutral.

em

01:01:58

Yeah, I agree. He's certainly not afraid to get into a fight. Yes, but he is a good senpai. I think Noya is a real chaotic, neutral. Yes, believes in their personal freedoms and following their own desires and whims. That's him to a T, yeah yeah, I think I was okay.

01:02:14

So I would say that Tanaka is chaotic good and Noya is chaotic neutral yeah, okay, Asahi, hmm, maybe true, neutral, like believes in doing what seems best at the time and avoids taking sides and moral arguments I, yeah, I think that is Asahi, I think he's a true neutral, for sure.

rainbow

01:02:33

Okay, and then we have Yamaguchi. Yamaguchi, is he a neutral good or is he a lawful good?

em

01:02:47

Maybe like a neutral good, a lawful neutral. You mean no, I mean neutral good, that's not an option.

rainbow

01:02:50

Neutral good is an option. Oh, I'm stupid.

em

01:02:51

You're not stupid, but I'll fight you.

rainbow

01:02:54

No, you're right, yeah, neutral good. Yeah, I think I agree. Believes in trying to do what's right, but it's not bound by the social norms or traditions.

em

01:03:01

Because he'll get mean with his little boyfriend. You know, mm-hmm, speaking of Tsukishima, ooh, okay, hmm, is he a lawful evil? I'm screaming. He is certainly not good. Um, he may be like either chaotic, neutral or maybe lawful evil I think.

rainbow

01:03:23

I think it's one of those two. Yeah, yeah, believes in their personal freedom and following their own desires and whims, or believes in taking what they want within the limits of the law or a personal code?

em

01:03:34

yeah, Yachi is, like I would say, maybe lawful. Good, I think she's pretty. She's a pretty good one. Ushi jima. Ushi jima is a neutral, I think lawful neutral, I think.

rainbow

01:03:46

So yeah, I agree especially with like his adherence to like the, the like I think we're in in context for Ushijima like the law is, like his like idea of like what strength means in volleyball.

em

01:03:58

Yes, and then Tendo is a chaotic evil.

rainbow

01:04:01

Yeah, without without the killing, but he's chaotic evil, yeah because like this is very much like believes in arbitrary violence spurred by hatred, bloodlust or a desire for vengeance. But I mean desire for vengeance, I think makes sense for Tendo. Yeah, I totally see that for him. Yeah, like chaotic evil, but like, and for me, like I don't put a moral judgment on, like the good or the evil or the neutral, um, but I think, like for their and especially, I think, within the context of like the narrative and the role they play, absolutely chaotic evil like he is, just like he is causing chaos and he is evil to karasuno.

01:04:33

Yes, okay, Kuroo I think he's like maybe a chaotic neutral.

em

01:04:38

I 100 agree yeah, uh, Kenma, he's not good he's no, he's not is he?

rainbow

01:04:45

even neutral evil. Is that what you're gonna say? I was gonna say is he a neutral evil? Yeah, ken was giving neutral evil, yeah, and that's uh believes in taking what they want and are untroubled by who they hurt or laws they break.

em

01:04:57

That is Kenma that's also maybe oikawa, who is next on our list I think so too.

rainbow

01:05:02

I would, yeah, I, because I wouldn't give him chaotic evil, no, but I don't think I would take him. I would give him lawful evil either.

01:05:09

No, he's neutral evil yeah, but he's definitely not. He's definitely not good. I think iwa is like a true neutral yeah, I would agree, believes in doing what seems best at the time and avoids taking sides or moral arguments. I think you could maybe see him as a lawful neutral, but I think too, true neutral makes more sense I think he's too excited to beat Oikawa up to be a lawful neutral.

em

01:05:32

I think, you're right, Bokuto. Oh, Bokuto is like um, maybe not chaotic good.

rainbow

01:05:37

I was gonna give chaotic good too, but I think he's just so boisterous I would maybe say a neutral good yeah.

em

01:05:44

And then Akashi. Akashi's a hard one, maybe a lawful evil. I think so, I think so. Yeah, I think he's a lawful evil.

rainbow

01:05:51

I think so, I think so. Yeah, I think he's a lawful evil okay, well, that wraps that up.

em

01:05:56

Thank you again, moon. That was a fun one. I love doing this alignment stuff yeah, and I would.

rainbow

01:06:01

I just want to say moon, um, that was from our um, our bonus episode where we did or not our bonus episode, our anniversary episode, where we did questions from listeners. Moon put that in their Google form. They said like, oh, would you be interested in doing like a D&D one? And they specified class, but like we felt like the alignment was going to be easier, but we do want to do D&D class in a future episode.

em

01:06:26

We just felt like those could be two separate things. So exactly, yeah, but thank you so much, moon. We didn't forget about you. Uh, before we head into the spoiler zone, uh, let me give you our socials. Here's my instagram. Call me sometime. We are on twitter, instagram, tumblr and blue sky at fly high q pod. That's f-l-y-h-q-p-o-d. You can also email us, please do it, I'm lonely. Email us at fly high q pod at gmailcom. That's f-l-y-h-q-p-o-d. At gmailcom. You know what voice I'm doing? It's the listeners like you. I finally figured it out oh, it's the.

rainbow

01:07:02

Does anyone under? Does anyone get that? This is a pbs reference it's time for p-u.

em

01:07:11

It's the spoiler zone.

rainbow

01:07:14

Also, if anyone out there is an artist and wants to make some sort of like Nickelodeon inspired, like spoiler zone graphic for this season, that would be amazing.

em

01:07:23

Yes, yeah. So I think this is all you, so go for it.

rainbow

01:07:27

Yeah. So I wanted to say so. In the flashback we get, we get like a little montage of the third, the first year's training um and we see Daichi. He's like they're in, like um, oh, I think they're like practicing, like spikes and receives, and we see Daichi like paying attention to the spikers form and he catches the ball like he's a ball boy. And somebody even says like hey, you're supposed to receive it, not catch it. And this is exactly like Hinata in the first year's training camp next season. This is something we see Hina to doing, where he's paying attention to the form and he's able to catch the ball. And I just thought that was so cool and it really connects Daichi and Hinata like. This is why, like, Daichi is like the senpai to Hinata, the way Suga is the senpai to Kageyama. And then I just wanted to go back to the.

01:08:11

My most annoying opponent isn't an enemy or a blocker, it's this guy. We get it Kageyama, he's your someone better and you're mad about it, and I think that like goes to. Like, the reason he's so like reluctant to give hina to compliments is he's like no, I know the level you're supposed to be at and you're not there, and so I don't even want to give you your flowers when you deserve them, and it's just like if only his grandpa was there to talk things through with him. I want to fic where Kagama's grandpa lives and he's not as angry. And what would that be like?

01:08:44

Oh well, we wouldn't get the story we get. No, we wouldn't. We would get a different story which would be just as interesting and maybe a little bit more adorable and gayer. Anyway, I would write that one day. If I, if I had the, if I had all the time in the world, I'd never write all the effects I want to write, but god damn it, I'd love to see that. Maybe that's already out there. If you know about it, send it to us. We want to see it.

em

01:09:04

I'm done all right, guys. Um until next time. We'll see you on the court, and you better fly high 

rainbow

Moo.