When you look at that final spike of Hinata's, it's intentionally made to mirror their first season 1 loss against Seijoh, and the scary part is if Hinata had not hit the block, Oikawa would have got the receive because he read where Shoyou was hitting. I had chills cause this development of Oikawas character and realized just how hard Oikawa practiced and trained
With that final hit you also see how much Kageyama and Hinata improved. You can see the set spinning which is something Kageyama learned to do to help Hinata, then Hinata looking at the ball and where to hit instead of closing his eyes for his quick attack.
My personal head canon (having only watched the anime for the first 4 seasons and not read the manga) is that Hinata saw the opening and was actually aiming for the fingers as well.
I love Oikawa's line: "Talent is something you make bloom. Instinct is something you polish." Oikawa is kinda a foil to the idea of a natural born genius. He's immature and kinda crappy but he has a really compelling storyline. The talk between him and that coach was about challenging your limitations. You're not a genius, but don't just complain about it. Do everything in your power to surpass even your own expectations
@@danielcalma2138 That's good! Dubbing should be more relatable to its native speaker I think. (If you are native English speaker that is.) I like the sub version because I personally find the words bloom and polish more... intentional? Idk they seem more poetic somehow. But it's just a translation as well. I'm sure in Japanese it is more impactful
@@danielcalma2138 the problem Is that Is not what oikawa said. He litterally talks before the point of the possibility of talent to Bloom sometime(even in the thirties). That's because the show goes in the direction that talent can sometimes be hidden and can be found lately in a sport career(late bloomers). So Oikawa Is hoping his talent Will Bloom and at the Same time Is sure that his instinct has been polished. You can understand this concept Better After Kita Speech in season 4. The sentence with "nurture" even if Is not wrong as a concept Is completely wrong from the perspective of what Oikawa was saying. It completely twist his thinking.
@@danielcalma2138 for example in the scene where hyakuzawa slows the game Hinata could have said to him "slow It Down, Hyakuzawa" instead of "take It Easy". The sentence would have been correct from a game point of view. But would have Twisted what the show wants to narrate and how does It want to.
Oikawa’s growth is one of the most well-handled and well-written parts of Haikyuu. Up until Kageyama dumps the ball in episode 24, Oikawa never believes himself to be a genius. He sees people that Kageyama and Ushiwaka, players that are simply beyond human, and it shakes him to the core. In his mind, they are walls he can’t climb over alone, and that realization pushes him to be the best all-around player. He works on his sets, his communication, analytical skills, leadership, all that jazz, because in terms of pure setting skills Kagzy blows him out of the park. And while that realization helped him improve in different aspects, it also held him back, because he hides behind the idea that naturally gifted Kageyama can simply do things he never could. At least, up until Kageyama dumps the ball in his trashy k-pop face; because now Kageyama isn’t catching up anymore. He’s pulled ahead. And if Oikawa wants to fight Kageyama on the same field, he must accept that his firm belief that Kagzy is objectively better is pure BULLSHIT. And immediately after that realization hits, Oikawa does a freak quick set from across the court perfectly into Iwa-chan’s hand, non-directly communicating that it’s HIS turn to surpass Kageyama. And that’s why trashy K-pop is top tier character material.
He is great but I still think Hinata actually has pretty big character development too. He is definitely on par with Oikawa when it comes to being a hard worker.
Victoria - "I want Karasuno to win" Also Victoria - "Imma gonna paint my nails with Aoba Johsai's team color on one hand and Shiratorizawa's team color on the other"
The theme of the last rally is "a team of 6 vs a team of 6". So everyone touched the ball at least once. One of my favorite rallys of the show and I love how this writer wrote in such an epic rally with this poetic theme behind it. Suga (serve), Iwaizumi, Mad dog, Tanaka, Suga, Asahi, Maki, Oikawa (super long set), Iwaizumi, Daichi, Tanaka, Asahi, Watari, Mad Dog, Kindaichi, Kageyama, Suga (headbutt), Kageyama, Hinata, Oikawa.
In between Iwaizumi and Mad Dog is Oikawa with the set, I'm not sure if Kageyama and Kindaichi was close enough to be a joust, and in between Hinata and Oikawa is Kindaichi off the block, but nice job writing it all out!
50:00 Its not just anime. It's a storytelling technique. It's an universal method to increase tension in a certain scene. It happens in movies, in Anime, series... There's a lot of ways where that sort of thing takes place. Sudden backstory is the reason you start cheering for Kyotani. Hell, it's one of the big reasons why Haikyuu is so good in the first place.
That last flashback about oikawa gave so much more insight into oikawa's character. He saw people with more talent than him as an obstacle that he absolutely needs to overcome. While this is good in terms of setting up a goal, it also made Oikawa limit himself as player. He just sees his volleyball as way to prove that he can beat talented player like Kageyama and Ushijima (the super ace from shiratorizawa). The mysterious coach in the flash back is the one who made him realize that he should not base his volleyball simply on that. It is true that there is nothing he can do about the fact that Kageyama is far more talented than him and that Ushijima is a powerful player that he can't beat. But instead of complaining about that tragic fact, Oikawa now realizes that what he needs to do as a player is to continuously polish his skills so that they may bloom on the biggest stages and even beat those geniuses. That's why i find "I know, but i won't lose" line after kageyama's dump so poetic because i always interpret the "I know" part as way Oikawa admitting that Kageyama, thanks to his innate talent, is a better player that him. Despite knowing that, he still declares to himself that he not gonna lose the match to Kageyama. That's when his limit switch is being turn off and he simply just give all he got for the point and let his instictive talent bloom, as seen by his tremendous set from outside the court. It still wasnt enough to beat Kageyama, and Oikawa already knew that this moment would eventually happen (in the first season match he said "you're gonna beat me someday, but not today"), but he sure as hell wont give up.
This is exactly how I interpreted the scene as well, especially the "I know, but I won't lose" part you included. Oikawa knows he's not born with some super agility, or some magical physical capability that will give him a leg up whenever he needs it. But regardless of that fact, he knows in that moment that recognizing that talent shouldn't mean he places a barrier on his own self to keep going no matter what, and that's what undeniably makes him a unique player. His complexity slowly getting peeled apart and made known to the audience throughout the last two seasons is arguably one of the best things that Haikyuu managed to do as a story -- and personally made Oikawa one of my favorite characters. Absolutely no spoilers involved in my spiel here, but I've read the manga as well as seen the anime multiple times, and he really just gets more incredible every time we as spectators get to encounter him. Anyways, super good analysis!
@@pickthestickup I think she was more concerned about the unnamed coach who was talking to Oikawa, because that's another character we've never seen before
The "new player" you spoke about regarding the flashback before the final rally was Oikawa lol. Also, it depends on the show (given that studios and directors differ), but in general anime isn't opposed to having flashbacks in critical moments. Usually they reveal or remind you of a character trait or event that amplifies the current-day scene being built up - it's a way of improving the payoff and reiterating the key themes. Anime typically cares a lot about meaning. I mean even shows that are meant for kids always felt more adult than western equivalents. I suppose in a sport anime it can feel intrusive since the action is intense and quick - you could argue most other genres support that kind of storytelling more naturally.
Actually a lot of shonen type stories play flashbacks during important moments. It’s a sport anime but it’s published on shonen jump and a lot of the stories have the same feel and story beats but I understand but your saying, it’s just that I’ve seen a lot of anime like Haikyuu do this
@@sharnicaxd5321 Yeah, I did say anime in general isn't opposed to having flashbacks in critical moments. Shonen stories do it all the time as you said, but most genres don't have quite as much action, so flashbacks in those might feel less jarring for someone new to anime, like Victoria.
35:45 - fun fact: Yahaba isn’t only a pinch server, he’s also the backup setter! He actually played setter in the very first practice match between Seijoh and Karasuno way back in season one, before Oikawa was introduced. During the convo between Yahaba and Kyoutani (Mad Dog), Yahaba mentions that Mad Dog’s able to become a starting player fairly easily despite not having been on the team for long, which comes in complete contrast to Yahaba who obviously is overshadowed by Oikawa’s advanced setter ability and thus doesn’t have many opportunities to play in official matches. Hence Yahaba tells Kyoutani not to waste his time when on the court. :)
Also, the reason why he talks about the upperclassmen when he's scolding Kyôtani is because it'll be the upperclassmen's last highschool game if they lose. This seijoh team we're seeing won't ever play an official game again.
I don't really remember who said it but I remember someone said in terms of technical ability to set, Yahaba is on par with Oikawa but he lack that leadership and the ability to make everyone around him better, that's what make him overshadowed imo
Because it's related to Oikawa and they don't like him. It is a shame since some of the core themes of the story are expressed through him. Even if someone doesn't like him as a character that shouldn't distract from the message.
@@DarkSorcerer13 If we are talking about hating sarah hates him the most out of any reactors I have seen Like she doesn't even wants to give him a chance Even when he is just spectating and stating the facts
23:43 oikawa setting to mad dog right after he got back in the game is one of these small moments that mean soooo muuuch!! he's basically telling him he still trusts him and believes in him despite what previously happened (mad dog getting angry, uncooperative). no matter how many times i rewatch the show i'm still amazed at how great oikawa is, not only as player, but also as a leader and team captain. god i love him.
Finally, we've arrived. Towards the end of November when Season 4 was wrapping up, I was so hyped that for the first time I searched up reaction videos for Haikyuu. I came across your channel and was just drawn to your pure, honest, energy and insights into the game. It's been tremendously entertaining watching you react, and we're now at my favorite episode in the series. You mentioned that this rematch was the culmination of S2, and I would argue that it is in fact the culmination of everything we've watched to this point. Shoyo and Kageyama pairing up, the crows gathering together at Karasuno, the friendships & rivalries, a heartbreak loss to Aoba Johsai and the growth mindset to come back even stronger. ~50 episodes all leading to this. What a trip.
at 31:28 when shoyo says “as long as i’m here you’re the strongest”... kageyama told him the same thing in episode 10 of season one. they really are each other’s greatest partners
Can we all just take a second to appreciate Yuki Hayashi, the composer of the soundtrack of Haikyuu (and also My Hero Academia)? There are soooo many good themes in Haikyuu but especially the one during the match point against Seijoh is just absolutely amazing. It gives me chills every time I hear it.
the song in the s2 final rally always gives me goosebumps, cause i feel like i'm on the court with them getting hype for this last rally and yuki is the king of build up music.
the thing is: Oikawa actually knew where Shoyo was gonna hit. he only missed the dig because it touched the block. also in this play they focus in Shoyo's eyes because now they're open, different from the last game when he hit into the block with his eyes closed.
One clarification is that the scene that you saw during the intense moment was younger Oikawa. He was most likely getting flashbacks to his coach telling him that while some people may be naturally more gifted than you (in this situation Kageyama), talent is something you make bloom and instincts is something you work hard to hone. He also mentions that it's alright to be frustrated with the game, how you played. how your team played etc. but that is only a luxury afforded to those who worked as hard as they could and put in the effort. I personally don't like his attitude but as a player he has all my respect and then some.
That's actually not his old coach. That's someone else that you find out more about in the manga (and in future seasons of the anime that haven't come out yet! 😉)
@@theclockworkheart well when I say coach I usually mean any sort of mentor who gives information and support to their player. I didn't specifically mean the old coach, sorry if I wasn't clear
@@locomojoboy2 These detailed things makes the show so much more impressive, but some people might not understand it or see the significance of it but they are still able to enjoy the show. It's ok if she doesn't get it.
"Why am I rooting for Mad Dog?" Because this is Haikyuu, and that's the effect it has. I think the first season episode 16 "Winners and Losers" really said it best: "We also played volleyball." Every team, every player, has their own story. There are no villains, just kids who play volleyball, and you just naturally find yourself wanting to root for all of them.
53:03 The translation definitely did Oikawa's best quote dirty (IMO), the quote is supposed to be: "If you don't believe that you have talent, then you probably will never have it"-definitely easier to understand that the mess Vic had to see lol
I don't know what's up with the official Netflix translations always being so vague; I watched Haikyuu when it aired and the subs were mostly fan subs and they conveyed the humor and the wittiness of the dialog sooo much better than the official translations. They make simple phrases way too complicated a lot or oversimplify important phrases and for people with little experience watching subbed shows it can get hard following what's going on!
Hey, after episode 25 you gotta see this OVA (and also the other OVAs that complement the stories, it's like TV Specials) here's the link to the s02 OVA ua-cam.com/video/Lao54_hFaA0/v-deo.html it's only 5 minutes long, you can watch it together with episode 25 (but after it).
Other people could say the other and which OVAs you gotta watch from now on, it's like 1-2 episodes that happen between seasons and expand other teams lore, it's cannon and are kind of a link showing how the teams that you saw in the show get were they are in the season you are watching
Oikawa could have joined Shiratorizawa after his junior year to get an easy path to the national. Instead, he chooses the harder route so that he can push himself to the limit. He played really well in that match, and even after the loss, he did not blame his teammate for not playing on the level that he was. Even give Iwa a pat on the back letting him know that everything is fine. No matter what, if Oikawa is on your team, you will appreciate him as a player and a friend. The drama between him and Kageyama could have been handled better but he was still a kid back then, and probably do not know how to process his feeling. If there were someone to guide him back then, his relationship with Kageyama would probably be way different. This is the reason why we love Oikawa even when he is not on our team.
Something interesting to note is that the last rally is identical to their previous match against seijoh. Kageyama and Hinata had the perfect timing to use their fast attack but was blocked last time. It's the same attack this time, but Hinata has his eyes open now that he's improved (Also Kageyama's floating toss) so he got that wipe
What I love about that Oikawa flashback is that, in my opinion, it's an accurate acknowledgement that talent is real and important , but also out of our control. "People who are naturally better than you have been different since the day you were born. No matter how hard you work, you can't change that." But the real important caveat comes right after, "You can complain after you've done everything you possibly can". Oikawa's coach is basically telling him that he isn't a genius. He's not Kageyama or Ushijima. He isn't born with perfect skills and amazing talent. But when faced with things that are out of our control, there's nothing we can do but give it our all anyways. In other words, only those who have done everything in their power(hard work, training, etc) to reach their highest potential have any right to complain about not being born better. That is what drives Oikawa to being such an acclaimed setter. He can't do the amazing, god-like sets that Kageyama does, but he can work his ass off to make sure that every set he sends is exactly to his hitter's needs. I think it's a perfect combination of like, facing the harsh reality of trying to be the best and still not falling into needless defeatism.
You stated that "Oikawa's coach is basically telling him that he isn't a genius. ... He isn't born with perfect skills and amazing talent.", but that isn't that man's opinion. He was just quoting Oikawa's words right back at him (I guess it's harder to tell in English because the word order is the opposite to Japanese). He's saying that mourning/lamenting in such a way (insert Oikawa quote) can wait till after one has put in every kind of conceivable effort.
@@bdylp1098 Fair point. I would say that it's definitely implied by the narrative that Oikawa's talent is lacking when compared to the even more talented players. That said, he is certainly a deeply talented player in his own right.
Neither Kageyama nor Ushiwaka were born with their skills. And even they hit walls that need a lot of work to overcome. Oikawa needed to realize that talent isn't something you just have or not. And talent isn't enough.
@@Ella8i8 Ushiwaka at least had his being a lefty. (I'm not sure if he's also just naturally stronger.) And as for Kageyama, it's been mentioned so many times already that his insane precision is not ordinary. It's inborn.
Btw, Tsukki is the best at trashtalking blockers, like that's in the whole series, he can find that smallest things and irk the opposing blocker, and he can do friendly fires too.
I love Fukurodani, every last one of them playing along to put Bokuto on a pedestal just so he can play at 100% just makes them super entertaining. And of course Bokuto himself is charismatic as hell, that along with his back and forth with Akaashi just really appeals to me xd
49:43 I think Victoria doesn't realize that it's young Oikawa right there and not just a random new character in the show, this bit is actually important for his character development!!!
fun fact: oikawa says “six who are strong are stronger” and in the last rally, every member of both teams have touched the ball, proving karasuno is just a bit stronger than seijoh :)
53:28 , Victoria says while watching Haikyuu you need watch and think, but this is especially true cos you're watching on Netflix. Netflix subtitles for non-english shows are notoriously bad like they are usually direct, so more awkward translations.
That cross-court set for Oikawa is one of my favorite moments in the entire show. His fall into the table, slipping as he runs back to the court, they really did a great job at showing his desperation and determination in that moment.
There’s a lot of really cool growth shown in the final shot as it parallels the last shot of both of the matches between Karasuno and Aoba Johsai. The last shot we see Hinata get past the triple block that stopped him in their last match against Aoba Johsai, but we also see Oikawa respond to it. In their practice match Oikawa was so taken aback by the freak quick it flew right past him, but now, despite Hinata and Kageyama having an improved version, Oikawa was able to react to it and might have even dug it up if the ball if it hadn’t changed trajectory off the block.
49:46 Victoria: why are we getting a flash back about a player we never met Oikawa: What do you mean? how am I a new player? you knew me since season 1.
The team that I honestly cannot handle it emotionally, mentally or physically if they ever lost, is Fukurodani (Bokuto's Team). They can do no wrong. If I ever have to see Bokuto's owl hair deflate and Akaashi comforting him with smol "hey hey hey"s, I'm gonna lose it.
50:30 this is what happened. Oikawa is someone that's kinda insecure when it comes to really talented players (Kageyama, Ushiwaka). In the flashback he goes to this guy (we don't know him yet but it's probably a mentor of Oikawa) for advice. Oikawa probably said something like: "I feel like I'm working so hard but these born talented players always beat me, is there a point?" and the mistery man says something like: "are you gonna talk like that when you still didn't do everything you could? You're still a teenager, you can still grow, keep trying" And we go to the present with Oikawa asking himself: "maybe your talent will BLOOM he next month, the next year, maybe when you're 30 ... but if you think that it won't, it probably won't" And then you see that perfect set from outside the court. Oikawa is a person that believes that hard work is not pointless at all. "Talent is something you make bloom, instinct is something you polish"
the last rally is insane, idk how many times I've watched it and it still has me in the edge of my seat every single time. besides karasuno, I really like aoba johsai and nekoma and, as much as I want karasuno to win, I wouldn't mind it at all if these teams won over them. actually when I first watched this game I started it rooting for karasuno and ended up getting so sad when seijoh lost (I'm lowkey still a bit salty that Iwa didn't manage to get the point after that crazy long toss lmao)
I feel like Aoba Jhosai is Karasuno's arch-nemesis because of how much they forced them to grow. Yes, we clearly see the rivalry between Kageyama en Oikawa because of the narrative but we cannot forget that even Nishinoya grew after watching Seijo's Libero (after he set from the backline), Hinata felt the need to open his eyes after he got blocked and Suga began to show game sense to match that of the Seijo squad. Our characters grew so much since the end of season one, up until this game. Haikyuu is great at making the characters grow and adapt like the crows they are.
Also this is the only game in the whole anime where I feel bad that Karasuno won. Wished that Oikawa went to the nationals (his dream). He worked so hard and gave it his all and it still wasn’t enough...
I really really love that line from Oikawa that goes "Talent is something you make bloom, instinct is something you polish" incredibly beautiful how despite knowing he's not as talented as Kageyama or Ushijima when it comes to raw talent he still won't give up and work his hardest. Definitely my favourite character of all time.
regarding the convo between the coach and K-Pop (Oikawa), I know you kind of realized by the end of it, but the theme of talent vs work is one that runs throughout the entire show. it's hinted upon a bit in season 1 and 2 through scenes with Oikawa like the one in this episode, but it takes a bigger stage in seasons 3 and 4. Basically the coach was saying that yes, there are going to be people that are seemingly better than you no matter what you do, but you don't get to complain about it until you have become that ABSOLUTE best that you can possibly be. until then, keep moving forward and you never know what barrier you will break through when it comes. A season 4 episode titled (I believe) "Monster Ball" has one of the most important monologues in the entire show about this topic and really shines a light on how it is handled in this show. I think you will really enjoy it when you get there.
This might be history since I'm commenting multiple times in one video but yeah, flashbacks for me are important for a multitude of reasons. It's a breather from the heavy pace and gives you a chance to formulate your own thoughts, it fleshes out otherwise insignificant side characters and then throws you back into the middle of it but now you have a bond with the antagonist or the opposition. It's makes the win or loss that much more impactful. Ps. The amount of quotes by Oikawa this episode is unrivalled. Mans a goat in my books.
One of the reasons I love Haikyuu! is Furudate-sensei's use of interiority (a literary device that gives us a glimpse into the psychological sense of a character). Whenever we get flashbacks, we are receiving a beautiful literary gift that turns a character from strictly a two-dimensional drawing on a page or scene of animation to a multi-dimensional being that transcends the page/frame. As a former volleyball player, I appreciate Haikyuu! as an anime about volleyball; as a literary scholar, I appreciate Furudate-sensei's profound use of literary devices (interiority being one of many). Both aspects are the reason this show is popular. :)
I still like to believe how it played out Oikawa didn't whiff in the end. He read Hinata's attack and was ready for it but missed due to deflection from the block. This episode really sold me on Oikawa's character. Oikawa's character is not meant to be a prodigy or a genius, unlike how Hinata and Kagzy are portrayed. For me he's the most relatable figure on how by not giving up you can still be the best. Oikawa is not a genius and is aware of his shortcomings and still tries to surpass his limits. His immaturity and carefree attitude are to divert his mind from these facts. For me he is the best written character in the series someone people strive to be. Love to see what he becomes capable of towards the end.
Haikyu is a volleyball show, with incredibly intense rallies and jaw-dropping plays. It's a wonderful portrayal of volleyball and sportsmanship, but at the end of the day, as simplistic as it sounds, it is also a show that tells a **story**. The flashbacks and snippets and vignettes are inserted in relevant moments for viewers and readers to learn more about them to flesh out the story and build the world of Haikyu, not necessarily about the volleyball itself. The various characters in Haikyu are so varied and we FEEL that, and this is part of the reason why Haikyu has become so popular - there's so many different types of well-developed characters that we're bound to see ourselves or want to be one of them, to emulate them. And to tie them to the context of volleyball helps inspire viewers to want to try volleyball, which is what the author wanted - to inspire and invigorate a new generation of volleyball players.
I’m so ready to see Victoria react to the next few matches coming up! There’s one big moment I’m really excited to see her reaction to next season. As usual, team Suga-mom!
@@sulimar957 I believe so. Victoria is going to need to buy a Crunchyroll membership for seasons 3 and 4 considering they’re not on Netflix though. At least not in Canada.
The flashing animation around 1:00:50 was to show that even though Hinata was reading the block to find the soft spot, Oikawa was also reading Hinata and knew where Hinata was going to try to hit. If the spike wasn't deflected, Oikawa would have been able to receive the ball and continue the rally
Their arch-nemesis is definitely Nekoma but I feel like the very concept of "arch nemesis" in this case depends on whose perspective at the moment. It's fair for Karasuno to consider Seijo their arch nemesis at the moment in time because they've gatekeeping them from the finals back-to-back. In Seijo's(more specifically Kpop's) perspective, however, they'd probably consider Shiratorizawa their arch nemesis. Just different context and perspective.
Man on rewatches Oikawa’s story just gets better and better. He in a way represents the normal guy and how cruel life can be. He worked his ass off for YEARS just so he and his childhood friend could beat shiratorizawa and go to nationals. And his last year in highschool he loses to the younger protegé and doesnt get to fight shiratorizawa one last time. He most likely will never get to play with his best friend again. But just how much he manages to grow despite all that is amazing. You will probably catch a lot more of the nuance on another watch. ALSO PLEASE WATCH THE BONUS SCENE OF EP 25. It is NOT a part of the episode, you need to search «Haikyuu aoba johsai ending» on youtube and its the first one that comes up. Really short 6min and 100000% worth it.
best haikyuu match, ever. I don't know how are you gonna be able to wait for each episode but hope it doesn't get too hard haha. I seriously recommend that you finish on ep 25 and wait to start a new vid with eps 1 and 2 of the third season, it'd be better that way.
@@erict1628 It’s their opinion lmao, and that’s yours :D •Anyways, i hope we get to see her watch the season 1+2 ovas and the sejoh movie extra clip before season 3
@@agusbelenfarias the nekoma game really is amazing.. probably at my number 2 though. I would argue that every single game that is not adapted yet is a banger tbh
The reason that they constantly introduce new characters is because Haikyu isn't just about volleyball action. It challenges the different concepts and ideologies of people approaching the sport. It visualizes the insights of growth and potential. The new character talking to Oikawa, even without regarding his later role, is there to tell Oikawa, as well as the audience, that just because someone has more talent or were born better for the sport doesn't mean you can fall into a state of defeat. Every character has a relatable message to tell, so make sure you also listen to the talking closely as well. The dialogue is what makes me like Haikyu so much.
For the next episode there is an after credit scene AND a 6 min clip from a recap movie (You dont need to watch the whole movie just the 6 min bonus clip) here is the clip: ua-cam.com/video/Lao54_hFaA0/v-deo.html
The last flashback that you didn't understand was not about a new character but about oikawa himself It helped understand his way of approaching the notion of talent This flashback makes an echo with the sentence he says during the long outside of the court set "Talent is something you make bloom, instinct is something you polish"
7:30 "Tsukki, really? A standing float, right at the libero? In the third set?" So harsh! Haha. I kinda felt like I had to sit up straight myself after that comment.
It has been such a pleasure going on this Haikyuu journey with you! I loved seeing you become more and more engrossed into this volleyball anime (the whole part where you tried to go back to the dubbed version and couldn't cracked me up) and I absolutely love your insights into the sport, your own personal playing experience, and you advocating for mental health (growth mindset!) I know we still have one more episode, but I can't wait for season 3!!!!
To be honest, I really am with Karasuno, but i really wanted Oikawa and Iwa to have their moment of glory against their arch rival, Ushijima. I really wanted Seijo to have that scene where they prove that their infertile soil can give a plentiful harvest. That and I respect the shit out of Oikawa. There are other people, but that's a spoiler so I'll comment it when that happens.
14:00 the reason why Hinata isn't really focused on a lot now is because the anime is actually supposed to be about volleyball in general as a sport and how it can change and affect the lives of people. Hinata was focused on in the beginning because he's supposed to help ease you into the series in order to learn about the teams and characters. But once you know all of them, the focus shifts on everyone and all the characters are written to be likable. And at times, there are many in the community who like the characters from the other teams more than the ones in Karasuno as well.
The interesting thing about Mad Dog is that if he went to Karasuno instead of Seijoh, he likely wouldn't have been able to play volleyball. Remember how Daichi kicked Hinata and Kageyama out until they could work as a team. Daichi likely would have done the same to Mad Dog, and the kid's disrespect for his seniors would have made him not want to come back. Oikawa was able to not only use Mad Dog's talents, but encourage both him and the rest of the team to look past their grievances and play together anyway.
The story lines and plots are totally up to the author. Meaning it will be different with each anime. Having said that, i believe the author wanted to not only show 1 perspective but many kinds so that the viewers can relate any part to them. I think he put more emphasis more on cheracter development rather than the outcome of the story. I mean, every great sports anime usually focuses on these so im not surprised. Like Slam Dunk, Kuroko no Basket, Yowamushi Pedal, Captain Tsubasa
regarding on your question about introducing new characters in these pivotal moments (in 49:45 in the video), at this specific part of oikawa talking to some other coach, i don't think we're supposed to care for WHO that person is, but rather the IDEA that he presents (about oikawa's view on people that have naturally more talent than him), that's why he's always in this shadowy figure instead of given a clear face like mad dog (another completely new character)
To answer your question about flashbacks-- yes flashbacks happen all the time in anime, especially during intense moments to sell the emotional impact of whatever is happening in real time. BUT the flashback at the end of the episode that made you ask us that isn't a brand new character like you were thinking! That flashback was a volleyball coach that Oikawa admired speaking to a younger Oikawa lol! So the point of that flashback wasn't to give backstory on a side character-- it was to complete the picture on Oikawa's character development: he is a character who works super hard to overcome the talent of people naturally more gifted than him. Hope that clears stuff up!
Vic, a couple of things on the last rally. First, Noya was not on the court because Noya usually subs in for Tsukki and Hinata only, but on this rotation, Suga subbed in for Tsukki to serve. Asahi and Daichi are in the back row and Asahi is a pretty good receiver while Daichi is a very good receiver, so there was no point in putting in Noya for either of them. Second, Oikawa didn't shank that dig. He couldn't fully receive it because it went off the block. He was in position to receive a spike, but the deflection made the ball too high.
There’s a 6 minute OVA episode that provides insight to Oikawa’s team that’s on youtube. It’s a nice little bonus scene that can end off the season really well. Here’s the link: ua-cam.com/video/Lao54_hFaA0/v-deo.html
I've always rooted for Aoba Johsai ever since the first practice match with them back in season one. Oikawa very much stood out to me and as the seasons pass my liking for him grew. I just want my boy to be happy sigh
The thing about the upperclassmen is that they have to leave the club as soon as they drop out of this tournament. They are going to graduate and won't be allowed to compete anymore. Only the team that wins this tournament can move on to the national tournament. This was Oikawas final match with Aoba Jousai
The last rally is so powerful. Everyone touches it. The 6 who are strongest together. And just wating the detail. Kpop falling in the background, slipping on the towel. And the comparison from this last rally and the last time they played Aoba Johsai. Chills.
50:00 It's because in the source material (a japanese comic=manga), that little flashback was like 2 pages and doesn't necessarily take away from the tension.
There is an extra scene that is plays near the end of S2 Ep25. And there is an extra scene over that called “Seijoh After-match”, which presents Seijoh’s side of what happened after their loss with Karasuno, this extra scene further fleshes out the relationship between the players in Seijoh and also the relationship between Iwaizumi and Oikawa.
I relate a lot to Oikawa and I love the quote he said during the final rally, "talent is something you make bloom and instinct is something you polish, so I was routing for Seijou a little bit. thank you for the correction
I was literally saying how I wanted to watch one more episode with Victoria’s comments and look at that, I refreshed and it popped up. The haikyuu gods heard me!!
So in an anime show we get to see the character development of the main cast. The opponent are not shown at that time but don’t you think the opponent have worked as hard as the main cast to be at this stage. So this when anime writers have a chance to explore their character, this helps us to develop feelings for the opponent bcoz in sports if the match is intense you feel bad for the losing team but anime goes further to make us feel bad by exploring their characters. Important thing to remember in sports anime is that the opponent are not just obstacle in the way of the main cast they are players who have dedicated same or more amount of their tome to the sports. Oikawaa is my favorite character and that line was really great
Seijoh. Always. I just love Oikawa and his character so much. Iwa is great. I just like the intricacies of their team and want Oikawa to reach the level he wants
"Talent is something you make bloom, instinct is something you polish!" -Oikawa Toru To this day-.... My favorite quote in all of Haikyuu, I have NOTHING, but respect for the hard work and effort Oikawa put in, not just this game, EVERYTHING! Oikawa needs to work twice or three times as hard as someone like Kageyama, and I applaud it! What a character❤️
*Victoria! Season three awaits you with so much excitement and tension!!! I can't wait to see you dig in to it!! Once again, thank you for your reactions!!♡*
having flashbacks in tense scenes is a VERY common thing in more action-y animes; in a lot of shounen animes (animes marketed towards young boys that usually have a lot of fighting or sports) you might have a whole childhood flashback episode in the middle of the biggest climax in the whole series!!! usually it does a lot to add to the emotional aspect of the scenes and turns the tension up to 11 (like it does in haikyuu). for haikyuu specifically, i think the reason there are so many flashbacks in important games just due to the nature of the anime itself and its content! all non-game episodes are usually dedicated solely to karasuno, so there's not really any space for characterization to develop outside of the core team. and then when there are games, in-universe they happen over like an hour, so there's no space for a non-karasuno character to give big speeches more than, like, one person once or twice a set. so if there's gonna be deep characterisation added to a character, it has to be both during a game (as thats the only time non-karasuno characters get screen time) and within a flashback (both because we don't get to see how their path outside of the game led them to where they are, and there's not enough time in-game for them to have any big moments) i completely agree that it can be INCREDIBLY frustrating when you're at set point in the biggest game so far!!! but as annoying as it is in the moment, i don't think haikyuu would be anywhere near as good without it.
at the end of the episode in the oikawa / random wise coach flashback the coach is essentially saying "If you believe that people are just born geniuses and that no matter what you can not get better then them, then you never will." he's essentially telling oikawa that he needs a growth mindset instead of wallowing in the fact that other people are better. he's asking oikawa if he (oikawa) believes that he has reached his full potential, trying to elude to "if you think you've maxed your abilities then you wont be able to grow. however, if you do not believe your abilities are maxed and you continue to see you have room to grow, the who knows, there is a possibly you will be better then the so called "geniuses" since no one knows what your full potential is until you get there."
the reason why this backstory is so important for oikawa's character is because it shows that he is more than just your basic sports antagonist, it peels back the layers of his outward persona, as the facade fades, we see a young man who is not only a brilliant foil to hinata and especially kageyama, but someone who is tortured by the so called "curse of the ordinary". Oikawa is neither a genius nor an extraordinary talent, he feels envious and jealous towards people like kageyama and ushijima who posess that talent, which causes him to develop a kind of an inferiority complex towards them, in this backstory, we can see that he was person worked hard to the point where he woudnt care if he hurt himself, just so he could keep up with these people with talent, the reason oikawa snapped at kageyama was because of the pressure of not being able to beat ushijima and the pressure of a young kageyama who was sure to surpass him creeping up to him, but iwaizumi stops him in time and tells him the exact words he needs to hear, that he's trying too hard to be alone in all of this, this changes things for oikawa, it turns his desperation into maturity and resolution and works hard to become the ideal setter, a dream to play with, but we shoudnt forget that the oikawa who is now in his 3rd year of highschool still has that inferiority complex, he is still trying hard to beat ushijima and and keep kageyama at bay who he knows will surpass him someday. i tried my best to explain hs backstory without spoiling anything, this dynamic of his character is what makes him my fav antagonist of the series, hope this helps!. Most of the credit goes to Aleczandxr on YT, do check him out!
Wow I just finished reading Max's article, and just wow. I finally got that unexpected backstory that I didn't know I needed. I want to say this adds a lot more depth to his character, but the truth is Max is a real person and he's always had this depth because he isn't a 2D character. I've only seen a small bit of Max when he appears in your vlogs every now and then since I'm a new subscriber. But wow, it's just another reminder than everyone is much more than meets the eye.
A couple great things about the Last Rally: Oikawa, in a pinch, sets to his most reliable teammate Iwa, just like how he knew at the Inter-High Kageyama would set to Shoyo in a pinch. Kageyama makes that read and is ready to block. Mad Dog's character progress by making a defensive play off the net, unlike how he normally only played offensively, finally being a team player. Shoyo + Kageyama's growth by being in the SAME situation they lost in against Aoba Johsai, with the 3 man block read on the Minus Tempo Quick, but now they've grown to where Shoyo's eyes are open and processing and adapting, and it pays off. Every Karasuno player touched the ball in that last rally, driving home the "6 together are strong" message, this does not work without all of them.
When you look at that final spike of Hinata's, it's intentionally made to mirror their first season 1 loss against Seijoh, and the scary part is if Hinata had not hit the block, Oikawa would have got the receive because he read where Shoyou was hitting. I had chills cause this development of Oikawas character and realized just how hard Oikawa practiced and trained
With that final hit you also see how much Kageyama and Hinata improved. You can see the set spinning which is something Kageyama learned to do to help Hinata, then Hinata looking at the ball and where to hit instead of closing his eyes for his quick attack.
It’s also meant to mirror a particular spike later in season 4
@@Saku_607 true true but she doesn't know that yet xD
EXACTLY! I fail to understand how most reactors miss that
My personal head canon (having only watched the anime for the first 4 seasons and not read the manga) is that Hinata saw the opening and was actually aiming for the fingers as well.
I love Oikawa's line: "Talent is something you make bloom. Instinct is something you polish." Oikawa is kinda a foil to the idea of a natural born genius. He's immature and kinda crappy but he has a really compelling storyline. The talk between him and that coach was about challenging your limitations. You're not a genius, but don't just complain about it. Do everything in your power to surpass even your own expectations
I personally like the dub translation better: talent is something to nurture, and wisdom is something to hone. Hits harder in my opiniom
@@danielcalma2138 That's good! Dubbing should be more relatable to its native speaker I think. (If you are native English speaker that is.) I like the sub version because I personally find the words bloom and polish more... intentional? Idk they seem more poetic somehow. But it's just a translation as well. I'm sure in Japanese it is more impactful
Yep it's further explained in Rio arc
@@danielcalma2138 the problem Is that Is not what oikawa said. He litterally talks before the point of the possibility of talent to Bloom sometime(even in the thirties). That's because the show goes in the direction that talent can sometimes be hidden and can be found lately in a sport career(late bloomers).
So Oikawa Is hoping his talent Will Bloom and at the Same time Is sure that his instinct has been polished.
You can understand this concept Better After Kita Speech in season 4.
The sentence with "nurture" even if Is not wrong as a concept Is completely wrong from the perspective of what Oikawa was saying. It completely twist his thinking.
@@danielcalma2138 for example in the scene where hyakuzawa slows the game Hinata could have said to him "slow It Down, Hyakuzawa" instead of "take It Easy". The sentence would have been correct from a game point of view. But would have Twisted what the show wants to narrate and how does It want to.
Oikawa’s growth is one of the most well-handled and well-written parts of Haikyuu. Up until Kageyama dumps the ball in episode 24, Oikawa never believes himself to be a genius. He sees people that Kageyama and Ushiwaka, players that are simply beyond human, and it shakes him to the core.
In his mind, they are walls he can’t climb over alone, and that realization pushes him to be the best all-around player. He works on his sets, his communication, analytical skills, leadership, all that jazz, because in terms of pure setting skills Kagzy blows him out of the park.
And while that realization helped him improve in different aspects, it also held him back, because he hides behind the idea that naturally gifted Kageyama can simply do things he never could. At least, up until Kageyama dumps the ball in his trashy k-pop face; because now Kageyama isn’t catching up anymore.
He’s pulled ahead.
And if Oikawa wants to fight Kageyama on the same field, he must accept that his firm belief that Kagzy is objectively better is pure BULLSHIT. And immediately after that realization hits, Oikawa does a freak quick set from across the court perfectly into Iwa-chan’s hand, non-directly communicating that it’s HIS turn to surpass Kageyama.
And that’s why trashy K-pop is top tier character material.
He is great but I still think Hinata actually has pretty big character development too. He is definitely on par with Oikawa when it comes to being a hard worker.
I honestly love how K-pop is his official name now! But yeah. Agree!
@@IMH15 idk if you are a manga reader but what you said is absolutely correct
@@kam5963 I am 😉Got the shusei app and been following from chapter 1 for 8 years chapter by chapter. And the way he ended it was just brilliant.
@@IMH15 what's the shusei app? Looked it up and got no proper results
Victoria - "I want Karasuno to win"
Also Victoria - "Imma gonna paint my nails with Aoba Johsai's team color on one hand and Shiratorizawa's team color on the other"
omg XD
Lmaoooo I didn't even think of that
I thought the same thing, but she doesn't remmember shiratorizawa. She's going to love next season
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂this is so hilarious 🤣🤣😂😂
OMFG 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I was thinking the same thing
The theme of the last rally is "a team of 6 vs a team of 6". So everyone touched the ball at least once. One of my favorite rallys of the show and I love how this writer wrote in such an epic rally with this poetic theme behind it.
Suga (serve), Iwaizumi, Mad dog, Tanaka, Suga, Asahi, Maki, Oikawa (super long set), Iwaizumi, Daichi, Tanaka, Asahi, Watari, Mad Dog, Kindaichi, Kageyama, Suga (headbutt), Kageyama, Hinata, Oikawa.
In between Iwaizumi and Mad Dog is Oikawa with the set, I'm not sure if Kageyama and Kindaichi was close enough to be a joust, and in between Hinata and Oikawa is Kindaichi off the block, but nice job writing it all out!
wow never realized that, thanks! that´s amazing
It wasn't a joust. Kageyama hit it. Kindaichi blocked it. Also in Hinata's spike. Kindaichi touched it. That was the point.
Edit your post, add some respect to Tanaka. He did a crazy save
50:00
Its not just anime. It's a storytelling technique. It's an universal method to increase tension in a certain scene. It happens in movies, in Anime, series... There's a lot of ways where that sort of thing takes place.
Sudden backstory is the reason you start cheering for Kyotani. Hell, it's one of the big reasons why Haikyuu is so good in the first place.
That last flashback about oikawa gave so much more insight into oikawa's character.
He saw people with more talent than him as an obstacle that he absolutely needs to overcome. While this is good in terms of setting up a goal, it also made Oikawa limit himself as player. He just sees his volleyball as way to prove that he can beat talented player like Kageyama and Ushijima (the super ace from shiratorizawa). The mysterious coach in the flash back is the one who made him realize that he should not base his volleyball simply on that. It is true that there is nothing he can do about the fact that Kageyama is far more talented than him and that Ushijima is a powerful player that he can't beat. But instead of complaining about that tragic fact, Oikawa now realizes that what he needs to do as a player is to continuously polish his skills so that they may bloom on the biggest stages and even beat those geniuses.
That's why i find "I know, but i won't lose" line after kageyama's dump so poetic because i always interpret the "I know" part as way Oikawa admitting that Kageyama, thanks to his innate talent, is a better player that him. Despite knowing that, he still declares to himself that he not gonna lose the match to Kageyama. That's when his limit switch is being turn off and he simply just give all he got for the point and let his instictive talent bloom, as seen by his tremendous set from outside the court.
It still wasnt enough to beat Kageyama, and Oikawa already knew that this moment would eventually happen (in the first season match he said "you're gonna beat me someday, but not today"), but he sure as hell wont give up.
This is exactly how I interpreted the scene as well, especially the "I know, but I won't lose" part you included. Oikawa knows he's not born with some super agility, or some magical physical capability that will give him a leg up whenever he needs it. But regardless of that fact, he knows in that moment that recognizing that talent shouldn't mean he places a barrier on his own self to keep going no matter what, and that's what undeniably makes him a unique player. His complexity slowly getting peeled apart and made known to the audience throughout the last two seasons is arguably one of the best things that Haikyuu managed to do as a story -- and personally made Oikawa one of my favorite characters. Absolutely no spoilers involved in my spiel here, but I've read the manga as well as seen the anime multiple times, and he really just gets more incredible every time we as spectators get to encounter him.
Anyways, super good analysis!
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Loved this explaination
I think Vic thought that flashback was another player based on 50:10 lmao
@@pickthestickup I think she was more concerned about the unnamed coach who was talking to Oikawa, because that's another character we've never seen before
The "new player" you spoke about regarding the flashback before the final rally was Oikawa lol. Also, it depends on the show (given that studios and directors differ), but in general anime isn't opposed to having flashbacks in critical moments. Usually they reveal or remind you of a character trait or event that amplifies the current-day scene being built up - it's a way of improving the payoff and reiterating the key themes. Anime typically cares a lot about meaning. I mean even shows that are meant for kids always felt more adult than western equivalents. I suppose in a sport anime it can feel intrusive since the action is intense and quick - you could argue most other genres support that kind of storytelling more naturally.
Actually a lot of shonen type stories play flashbacks during important moments. It’s a sport anime but it’s published on shonen jump and a lot of the stories have the same feel and story beats but I understand but your saying, it’s just that I’ve seen a lot of anime like Haikyuu do this
@@sharnicaxd5321 Yeah, I did say anime in general isn't opposed to having flashbacks in critical moments. Shonen stories do it all the time as you said, but most genres don't have quite as much action, so flashbacks in those might feel less jarring for someone new to anime, like Victoria.
yea lmaoo i was so confused for a sec there,, i was like what new player that's just young oikawa there-
Vic: I’m confused by this interaction.
Tanaka and Mad Dog: Literally giving each other the side eye.
Tsukki: Observes and strategizes.
Tsukki was also purposely serving the libero so Kyôtani would keep getting in system sets, to ultimately shut him off.
@@mansfaye1084 wow I never noticed that, that’s a good analysis
@@mansfaye1084 oh my god. Every time I watch someone reacting to haikyu. I learn something new from the comment section
35:45 - fun fact: Yahaba isn’t only a pinch server, he’s also the backup setter! He actually played setter in the very first practice match between Seijoh and Karasuno way back in season one, before Oikawa was introduced. During the convo between Yahaba and Kyoutani (Mad Dog), Yahaba mentions that Mad Dog’s able to become a starting player fairly easily despite not having been on the team for long, which comes in complete contrast to Yahaba who obviously is overshadowed by Oikawa’s advanced setter ability and thus doesn’t have many opportunities to play in official matches. Hence Yahaba tells Kyoutani not to waste his time when on the court. :)
He's probably the next captain with how they're showing his influence with the second and first years.
Also, the reason why he talks about the upperclassmen when he's scolding Kyôtani is because it'll be the upperclassmen's last highschool game if they lose. This seijoh team we're seeing won't ever play an official game again.
I don't really remember who said it but I remember someone said in terms of technical ability to set, Yahaba is on par with Oikawa but he lack that leadership and the ability to make everyone around him better, that's what make him overshadowed imo
Yes, and also she forgot to react to maddog hit he hits with his left hand not right !!!
@@biyyufaiz in the show was never said something like that.
"Talent is something you make bloom, instinct is something you polish." That is my favorite quote from Haikyuu.
It went right over her and coach donny’s head.
@@locomojoboy2 I know! It's so meaningful yet they didn't even notice it
Because it's related to Oikawa and they don't like him. It is a shame since some of the core themes of the story are expressed through him. Even if someone doesn't like him as a character that shouldn't distract from the message.
@@DarkSorcerer13 If we are talking about hating sarah hates him the most out of any reactors I have seen
Like she doesn't even wants to give him a chance
Even when he is just spectating and stating the facts
23:43 oikawa setting to mad dog right after he got back in the game is one of these small moments that mean soooo muuuch!! he's basically telling him he still trusts him and believes in him despite what previously happened (mad dog getting angry, uncooperative). no matter how many times i rewatch the show i'm still amazed at how great oikawa is, not only as player, but also as a leader and team captain. god i love him.
Victoria: "Sorry we're watching it again!"
HH: We were hoping it would get a replay anyways 😬😂
Honestly...I'm here for it xD
I loved how every member of Karasuno got to touch the ball in that rally too. Poor Suga though, his touch was getting hit in the face.
@@BleydTorvall He also served the ball at least. His serve put Seijo off balance at the very start of the rally.
Yeah if she wasn't going to do it, I was going to do it myself.
Finally, we've arrived.
Towards the end of November when Season 4 was wrapping up, I was so hyped that for the first time I searched up reaction videos for Haikyuu. I came across your channel and was just drawn to your pure, honest, energy and insights into the game.
It's been tremendously entertaining watching you react, and we're now at my favorite episode in the series. You mentioned that this rematch was the culmination of S2, and I would argue that it is in fact the culmination of everything we've watched to this point.
Shoyo and Kageyama pairing up, the crows gathering together at Karasuno, the friendships & rivalries, a heartbreak loss to Aoba Johsai and the growth mindset to come back even stronger. ~50 episodes all leading to this.
What a trip.
i cant wait to see her react to the rallys in season 4.!!
i cant wait for s3
Idc
@@adambaker4380 negativityyyy begone
@@nai978 cringe
at 31:28 when shoyo says “as long as i’m here you’re the strongest”... kageyama told him the same thing in episode 10 of season one. they really are each other’s greatest partners
Oh god didn't realize it, even tho I've watched the entire show 2 times already lmao. Those little details makes Haikyuu something else
Can we all just take a second to appreciate Yuki Hayashi, the composer of the soundtrack of Haikyuu (and also My Hero Academia)? There are soooo many good themes in Haikyuu but especially the one during the match point against Seijoh is just absolutely amazing. It gives me chills every time I hear it.
Atsumu's ost is *chef's kiss*
@@shishiorins omo. yes. atsumu's is so gooooood
the song in the s2 final rally always gives me goosebumps, cause i feel like i'm on the court with them getting hype for this last rally and yuki is the king of build up music.
the thing is: Oikawa actually knew where Shoyo was gonna hit. he only missed the dig because it touched the block. also in this play they focus in Shoyo's eyes because now they're open, different from the last game when he hit into the block with his eyes closed.
One clarification is that the scene that you saw during the intense moment was younger Oikawa. He was most likely getting flashbacks to his coach telling him that while some people may be naturally more gifted than you (in this situation Kageyama), talent is something you make bloom and instincts is something you work hard to hone. He also mentions that it's alright to be frustrated with the game, how you played. how your team played etc. but that is only a luxury afforded to those who worked as hard as they could and put in the effort. I personally don't like his attitude but as a player he has all my respect and then some.
Yeah I have no idea how she didn’t get that.
That's actually not his old coach. That's someone else that you find out more about in the manga (and in future seasons of the anime that haven't come out yet! 😉)
@@theclockworkheart well when I say coach I usually mean any sort of mentor who gives information and support to their player. I didn't specifically mean the old coach, sorry if I wasn't clear
@@SpilledTea754 ah, all good! :)
@@locomojoboy2 These detailed things makes the show so much more impressive, but some people might not understand it or see the significance of it but they are still able to enjoy the show. It's ok if she doesn't get it.
"Why am I rooting for Mad Dog?" Because this is Haikyuu, and that's the effect it has. I think the first season episode 16 "Winners and Losers" really said it best: "We also played volleyball." Every team, every player, has their own story. There are no villains, just kids who play volleyball, and you just naturally find yourself wanting to root for all of them.
and also bc Kyoutani's awesome, as a Kyoutani stan
Victoria: "I would like to see Tsukki do a little bit more"
Tsukki: YEAHHHHHHHH?
YaBoyRoshi has entered the chat
He's gonna😉
That YaBoyRoshi influence coming through YEAH?????????????
@@arvindkashyap8327 😭
Ah, she is getting close. I wanted her to watch season 3 and 4 soo badly.
53:03 The translation definitely did Oikawa's best quote dirty (IMO), the quote is supposed to be: "If you don't believe that you have talent, then you probably will never have it"-definitely easier to understand that the mess Vic had to see lol
I don't know what's up with the official Netflix translations always being so vague; I watched Haikyuu when it aired and the subs were mostly fan subs and they conveyed the humor and the wittiness of the dialog sooo much better than the official translations. They make simple phrases way too complicated a lot or oversimplify important phrases and for people with little experience watching subbed shows it can get hard following what's going on!
Hey, after episode 25 you gotta see this OVA (and also the other OVAs that complement the stories, it's like TV Specials) here's the link to the s02 OVA ua-cam.com/video/Lao54_hFaA0/v-deo.html it's only 5 minutes long, you can watch it together with episode 25 (but after it).
Other people could say the other and which OVAs you gotta watch from now on, it's like 1-2 episodes that happen between seasons and expand other teams lore, it's cannon and are kind of a link showing how the teams that you saw in the show get were they are in the season you are watching
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Oikawa could have joined Shiratorizawa after his junior year to get an easy path to the national. Instead, he chooses the harder route so that he can push himself to the limit.
He played really well in that match, and even after the loss, he did not blame his teammate for not playing on the level that he was. Even give Iwa a pat on the back letting him know that everything is fine. No matter what, if Oikawa is on your team, you will appreciate him as a player and a friend.
The drama between him and Kageyama could have been handled better but he was still a kid back then, and probably do not know how to process his feeling. If there were someone to guide him back then, his relationship with Kageyama would probably be way different.
This is the reason why we love Oikawa even when he is not on our team.
Something interesting to note is that the last rally is identical to their previous match against seijoh. Kageyama and Hinata had the perfect timing to use their fast attack but was blocked last time. It's the same attack this time, but Hinata has his eyes open now that he's improved (Also Kageyama's floating toss) so he got that wipe
What I love about that Oikawa flashback is that, in my opinion, it's an accurate acknowledgement that talent is real and important
, but also out of our control.
"People who are naturally better than you have been different since the day you were born. No matter how hard you work, you can't change that." But the real important caveat comes right after, "You can complain after you've done everything you possibly can".
Oikawa's coach is basically telling him that he isn't a genius. He's not Kageyama or Ushijima. He isn't born with perfect skills and amazing talent. But when faced with things that are out of our control, there's nothing we can do but give it our all anyways. In other words, only those who have done everything in their power(hard work, training, etc) to reach their highest potential have any right to complain about not being born better.
That is what drives Oikawa to being such an acclaimed setter. He can't do the amazing, god-like sets that Kageyama does, but he can work his ass off to make sure that every set he sends is exactly to his hitter's needs. I think it's a perfect combination of like, facing the harsh reality of trying to be the best and still not falling into needless defeatism.
You stated that "Oikawa's coach is basically telling him that he isn't a genius. ... He isn't born with perfect skills and amazing talent.", but that isn't that man's opinion. He was just quoting Oikawa's words right back at him (I guess it's harder to tell in English because the word order is the opposite to Japanese). He's saying that mourning/lamenting in such a way (insert Oikawa quote) can wait till after one has put in every kind of conceivable effort.
@@bdylp1098 Fair point. I would say that it's definitely implied by the narrative that Oikawa's talent is lacking when compared to the even more talented players. That said, he is certainly a deeply talented player in his own right.
Neither Kageyama nor Ushiwaka were born with their skills. And even they hit walls that need a lot of work to overcome. Oikawa needed to realize that talent isn't something you just have or not. And talent isn't enough.
@@Ella8i8 Ushiwaka at least had his being a lefty. (I'm not sure if he's also just naturally stronger.) And as for Kageyama, it's been mentioned so many times already that his insane precision is not ordinary. It's inborn.
That last rally where Oikawa points to Iwaizumi and serves it diving out of bounds is one of the best moments in the show for me.
same!
Btw, Tsukki is the best at trashtalking blockers, like that's in the whole series, he can find that smallest things and irk the opposing blocker, and he can do friendly fires too.
I love Fukurodani, every last one of them playing along to put Bokuto on a pedestal just so he can play at 100% just makes them super entertaining. And of course Bokuto himself is charismatic as hell, that along with his back and forth with Akaashi just really appeals to me xd
Did we just get a visitor from the future or the past?
49:43 I think Victoria doesn't realize that it's young Oikawa right there and not just a random new character in the show, this bit is actually important for his character development!!!
fun fact: oikawa says “six who are strong are stronger” and in the last rally, every member of both teams have touched the ball, proving karasuno is just a bit stronger than seijoh :)
no
@@podcastanimearab wdym no
Wasnt Iwaizumi the one who told that to Oikawaw
Hitting the ball with your forehead doesn’t count
@@locomojoboy2 what do you mean doesn't count ? its a part of your body, it counts
Vic: Okay, Tsukki. Do not serve the Libero.
Tsukki: Don't tell me what to do. *serves towards him anyway*
I just remembered the smug cat meme they made of him for the s4 serve xD
You wanna see Tsukki??
*laughs hysterically in season 3*
season 3 Tsukki is peak hype
hehe
Srsly he was littt
When I read that part I remember just screaming and having to reread it like three times it was too hype
53:28 , Victoria says while watching Haikyuu you need watch and think, but this is especially true cos you're watching on Netflix. Netflix subtitles for non-english shows are notoriously bad like they are usually direct, so more awkward translations.
I love how every time the first episode ends she is disappointed and then almost instantly realizes that she gets to watch the second one XD
That cross-court set for Oikawa is one of my favorite moments in the entire show. His fall into the table, slipping as he runs back to the court, they really did a great job at showing his desperation and determination in that moment.
also I think I read somewhere tht it was his previously injured knee tht he landed on and it makes tht scene so much more impactful to me
There’s a lot of really cool growth shown in the final shot as it parallels the last shot of both of the matches between Karasuno and Aoba Johsai. The last shot we see Hinata get past the triple block that stopped him in their last match against Aoba Johsai, but we also see Oikawa respond to it. In their practice match Oikawa was so taken aback by the freak quick it flew right past him, but now, despite Hinata and Kageyama having an improved version, Oikawa was able to react to it and might have even dug it up if the ball if it hadn’t changed trajectory off the block.
49:46 Victoria: why are we getting a flash back about a player we never met
Oikawa: What do you mean? how am I a new player? you knew me since season 1.
The team that I honestly cannot handle it emotionally, mentally or physically if they ever lost, is Fukurodani (Bokuto's Team). They can do no wrong. If I ever have to see Bokuto's owl hair deflate and Akaashi comforting him with smol "hey hey hey"s, I'm gonna lose it.
If you read the manga, you know what would happen to Fukurodani
@@rexevan6714 ohhh yea I finished the manga, everything’s a whirlwind. I really hope it doesn’t take another couple of years to animate the next arcs
@@rexevan6714 Ah. The number of times I've reread their nationals match hahaha
Sad heys in the chat
This Oikawa flashback actually has a lot of meaning of why he somewhat dislikes Kageyama and Wakatoshi Ushijima
He should really get over it.
50:30 this is what happened. Oikawa is someone that's kinda insecure when it comes to really talented players (Kageyama, Ushiwaka). In the flashback he goes to this guy (we don't know him yet but it's probably a mentor of Oikawa) for advice. Oikawa probably said something like: "I feel like I'm working so hard but these born talented players always beat me, is there a point?" and the mistery man says something like: "are you gonna talk like that when you still didn't do everything you could? You're still a teenager, you can still grow, keep trying"
And we go to the present with Oikawa asking himself: "maybe your talent will BLOOM he next month, the next year, maybe when you're 30 ... but if you think that it won't, it probably won't"
And then you see that perfect set from outside the court. Oikawa is a person that believes that hard work is not pointless at all. "Talent is something you make bloom, instinct is something you polish"
the last rally is insane, idk how many times I've watched it and it still has me in the edge of my seat every single time. besides karasuno, I really like aoba johsai and nekoma and, as much as I want karasuno to win, I wouldn't mind it at all if these teams won over them. actually when I first watched this game I started it rooting for karasuno and ended up getting so sad when seijoh lost (I'm lowkey still a bit salty that Iwa didn't manage to get the point after that crazy long toss lmao)
I feel like Aoba Jhosai is Karasuno's arch-nemesis because of how much they forced them to grow.
Yes, we clearly see the rivalry between Kageyama en Oikawa because of the narrative but we cannot forget that even Nishinoya grew after watching Seijo's Libero (after he set from the backline), Hinata felt the need to open his eyes after he got blocked and Suga began to show game sense to match that of the Seijo squad. Our characters grew so much since the end of season one, up until this game. Haikyuu is great at making the characters grow and adapt like the crows they are.
Also this is the only game in the whole anime where I feel bad that Karasuno won. Wished that Oikawa went to the nationals (his dream). He worked so hard and gave it his all and it still wasn’t enough...
I really really love that line from Oikawa that goes "Talent is something you make bloom, instinct is something you polish" incredibly beautiful how despite knowing he's not as talented as Kageyama or Ushijima when it comes to raw talent he still won't give up and work his hardest. Definitely my favourite character of all time.
"Talent is something you make bloom. Instinct is something you polish." We all get goosebumps when we hear K-pop think this, don't we? :)
regarding the convo between the coach and K-Pop (Oikawa), I know you kind of realized by the end of it, but the theme of talent vs work is one that runs throughout the entire show. it's hinted upon a bit in season 1 and 2 through scenes with Oikawa like the one in this episode, but it takes a bigger stage in seasons 3 and 4. Basically the coach was saying that yes, there are going to be people that are seemingly better than you no matter what you do, but you don't get to complain about it until you have become that ABSOLUTE best that you can possibly be. until then, keep moving forward and you never know what barrier you will break through when it comes.
A season 4 episode titled (I believe) "Monster Ball" has one of the most important monologues in the entire show about this topic and really shines a light on how it is handled in this show. I think you will really enjoy it when you get there.
The amount by which my respect and admiration for Oikawa grew just from one singular inner monologue is unprecedented.
This might be history since I'm commenting multiple times in one video but yeah, flashbacks for me are important for a multitude of reasons. It's a breather from the heavy pace and gives you a chance to formulate your own thoughts, it fleshes out otherwise insignificant side characters and then throws you back into the middle of it but now you have a bond with the antagonist or the opposition. It's makes the win or loss that much more impactful.
Ps. The amount of quotes by Oikawa this episode is unrivalled. Mans a goat in my books.
One of the reasons I love Haikyuu! is Furudate-sensei's use of interiority (a literary device that gives us a glimpse into the psychological sense of a character). Whenever we get flashbacks, we are receiving a beautiful literary gift that turns a character from strictly a two-dimensional drawing on a page or scene of animation to a multi-dimensional being that transcends the page/frame. As a former volleyball player, I appreciate Haikyuu! as an anime about volleyball; as a literary scholar, I appreciate Furudate-sensei's profound use of literary devices (interiority being one of many). Both aspects are the reason this show is popular. :)
Vic: "I'm sorry guys, I have to watch that RALLY again."
Hardcore Haikyuu Homies: *YEAH, WE'RE REALLY HOPING YOU WOULD*
I still like to believe how it played out Oikawa didn't whiff in the end. He read Hinata's attack and was ready for it but missed due to deflection from the block.
This episode really sold me on Oikawa's character. Oikawa's character is not meant to be a prodigy or a genius, unlike how Hinata and Kagzy are portrayed. For me he's the most relatable figure on how by not giving up you can still be the best. Oikawa is not a genius and is aware of his shortcomings and still tries to surpass his limits. His immaturity and carefree attitude are to divert his mind from these facts.
For me he is the best written character in the series someone people strive to be. Love to see what he becomes capable of towards the end.
“Talent is something you make bloom, instinct is something you polish”
Please after you watch episode 25 you need to see the OVA(mini episode) of Aoba Johsai
It always makes me sad :')
@@cvttea same 😢
Up up up ;-)
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Haikyu is a volleyball show, with incredibly intense rallies and jaw-dropping plays. It's a wonderful portrayal of volleyball and sportsmanship, but at the end of the day, as simplistic as it sounds, it is also a show that tells a **story**.
The flashbacks and snippets and vignettes are inserted in relevant moments for viewers and readers to learn more about them to flesh out the story and build the world of Haikyu, not necessarily about the volleyball itself. The various characters in Haikyu are so varied and we FEEL that, and this is part of the reason why Haikyu has become so popular - there's so many different types of well-developed characters that we're bound to see ourselves or want to be one of them, to emulate them.
And to tie them to the context of volleyball helps inspire viewers to want to try volleyball, which is what the author wanted - to inspire and invigorate a new generation of volleyball players.
I’m so ready to see Victoria react to the next few matches coming up! There’s one big moment I’m really excited to see her reaction to next season.
As usual, team Suga-mom!
Third season is only 10 eps right???
@@sulimar957 I believe so. Victoria is going to need to buy a Crunchyroll membership for seasons 3 and 4 considering they’re not on Netflix though. At least not in Canada.
Is it the double ..... wink wink
The flashing animation around 1:00:50 was to show that even though Hinata was reading the block to find the soft spot, Oikawa was also reading Hinata and knew where Hinata was going to try to hit. If the spike wasn't deflected, Oikawa would have been able to receive the ball and continue the rally
Their arch-nemesis is definitely Nekoma but I feel like the very concept of "arch nemesis" in this case depends on whose perspective at the moment. It's fair for Karasuno to consider Seijo their arch nemesis at the moment in time because they've gatekeeping them from the finals back-to-back. In Seijo's(more specifically Kpop's) perspective, however, they'd probably consider Shiratorizawa their arch nemesis. Just different context and perspective.
I think arch rivals would be more accurate for Nekoma
Man on rewatches Oikawa’s story just gets better and better. He in a way represents the normal guy and how cruel life can be. He worked his ass off for YEARS just so he and his childhood friend could beat shiratorizawa and go to nationals. And his last year in highschool he loses to the younger protegé and doesnt get to fight shiratorizawa one last time. He most likely will never get to play with his best friend again. But just how much he manages to grow despite all that is amazing. You will probably catch a lot more of the nuance on another watch.
ALSO PLEASE WATCH THE BONUS SCENE OF EP 25. It is NOT a part of the episode, you need to search «Haikyuu aoba johsai ending» on youtube and its the first one that comes up. Really short 6min and 100000% worth it.
best haikyuu match, ever. I don't know how are you gonna be able to wait for each episode but hope it doesn't get too hard haha.
I seriously recommend that you finish on ep 25 and wait to start a new vid with eps 1 and 2 of the third season, it'd be better that way.
Not even close. There are two matches that are better.
@@erict1628 im talking about season two, my all time fav is karasuno vs nekoma
@@erict1628 It’s their opinion lmao, and that’s yours :D
•Anyways, i hope we get to see her watch the season 1+2 ovas and the sejoh movie extra clip before season 3
@@agusbelenfarias the nekoma game really is amazing.. probably at my number 2 though. I would argue that every single game that is not adapted yet is a banger tbh
@@anua7587 I think mines is inarizaki. Man words can't even describe how good that match is , especially with Hinata's growth
The reason that they constantly introduce new characters is because Haikyu isn't just about volleyball action. It challenges the different concepts and ideologies of people approaching the sport. It visualizes the insights of growth and potential. The new character talking to Oikawa, even without regarding his later role, is there to tell Oikawa, as well as the audience, that just because someone has more talent or were born better for the sport doesn't mean you can fall into a state of defeat. Every character has a relatable message to tell, so make sure you also listen to the talking closely as well. The dialogue is what makes me like Haikyu so much.
For the next episode there is an after credit scene AND a 6 min clip from a recap movie (You dont need to watch the whole movie just the 6 min bonus clip) here is the clip: ua-cam.com/video/Lao54_hFaA0/v-deo.html
yes, i hope she reacts to this too, it's so good 🥺🥺🥺
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The last flashback that you didn't understand was not about a new character but about oikawa himself
It helped understand his way of approaching the notion of talent
This flashback makes an echo with the sentence he says during the long outside of the court set
"Talent is something you make bloom, instinct is something you polish"
7:30 "Tsukki, really? A standing float, right at the libero? In the third set?" So harsh! Haha.
I kinda felt like I had to sit up straight myself after that comment.
It has been such a pleasure going on this Haikyuu journey with you! I loved seeing you become more and more engrossed into this volleyball anime (the whole part where you tried to go back to the dubbed version and couldn't cracked me up) and I absolutely love your insights into the sport, your own personal playing experience, and you advocating for mental health (growth mindset!) I know we still have one more episode, but I can't wait for season 3!!!!
To be honest, I really am with Karasuno, but i really wanted Oikawa and Iwa to have their moment of glory against their arch rival, Ushijima. I really wanted Seijo to have that scene where they prove that their infertile soil can give a plentiful harvest. That and I respect the shit out of Oikawa. There are other people, but that's a spoiler so I'll comment it when that happens.
14:00 the reason why Hinata isn't really focused on a lot now is because the anime is actually supposed to be about volleyball in general as a sport and how it can change and affect the lives of people. Hinata was focused on in the beginning because he's supposed to help ease you into the series in order to learn about the teams and characters. But once you know all of them, the focus shifts on everyone and all the characters are written to be likable. And at times, there are many in the community who like the characters from the other teams more than the ones in Karasuno as well.
The interesting thing about Mad Dog is that if he went to Karasuno instead of Seijoh, he likely wouldn't have been able to play volleyball. Remember how Daichi kicked Hinata and Kageyama out until they could work as a team. Daichi likely would have done the same to Mad Dog, and the kid's disrespect for his seniors would have made him not want to come back.
Oikawa was able to not only use Mad Dog's talents, but encourage both him and the rest of the team to look past their grievances and play together anyway.
The story lines and plots are totally up to the author. Meaning it will be different with each anime. Having said that, i believe the author wanted to not only show 1 perspective but many kinds so that the viewers can relate any part to them. I think he put more emphasis more on cheracter development rather than the outcome of the story. I mean, every great sports anime usually focuses on these so im not surprised. Like Slam Dunk, Kuroko no Basket, Yowamushi Pedal, Captain Tsubasa
Vic: I’m surprised they’d put in a pinch server and let him set
Sugamama: owo
regarding on your question about introducing new characters in these pivotal moments (in 49:45 in the video), at this specific part of oikawa talking to some other coach, i don't think we're supposed to care for WHO that person is, but rather the IDEA that he presents (about oikawa's view on people that have naturally more talent than him), that's why he's always in this shadowy figure instead of given a clear face like mad dog (another completely new character)
To answer your question about flashbacks-- yes flashbacks happen all the time in anime, especially during intense moments to sell the emotional impact of whatever is happening in real time. BUT the flashback at the end of the episode that made you ask us that isn't a brand new character like you were thinking! That flashback was a volleyball coach that Oikawa admired speaking to a younger Oikawa lol! So the point of that flashback wasn't to give backstory on a side character-- it was to complete the picture on Oikawa's character development: he is a character who works super hard to overcome the talent of people naturally more gifted than him. Hope that clears stuff up!
"This dude we never met before" -> Oikawa XD
50:10 That flashback in episode 24 was Oikawa, not some player we've never met before lmao
Vic, a couple of things on the last rally.
First, Noya was not on the court because Noya usually subs in for Tsukki and Hinata only, but on this rotation, Suga subbed in for Tsukki to serve. Asahi and Daichi are in the back row and Asahi is a pretty good receiver while Daichi is a very good receiver, so there was no point in putting in Noya for either of them.
Second, Oikawa didn't shank that dig. He couldn't fully receive it because it went off the block. He was in position to receive a spike, but the deflection made the ball too high.
There’s a 6 minute OVA episode that provides insight to Oikawa’s team that’s on youtube. It’s a nice little bonus scene that can end off the season really well. Here’s the link: ua-cam.com/video/Lao54_hFaA0/v-deo.html
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Haikyuu: *starts a flashback about Oikawa*
Vic: Why does this show think I want to meet a new character at this point in the game?
I died xD
I've always rooted for Aoba Johsai ever since the first practice match with them back in season one. Oikawa very much stood out to me and as the seasons pass my liking for him grew. I just want my boy to be happy sigh
The thing about the upperclassmen is that they have to leave the club as soon as they drop out of this tournament. They are going to graduate and won't be allowed to compete anymore. Only the team that wins this tournament can move on to the national tournament. This was Oikawas final match with Aoba Jousai
12:18 That’s what the earlier scene you were confused at was about. Tsuki noticing that Tanaka was tilting Kyotani.
The last rally is so powerful. Everyone touches it. The 6 who are strongest together. And just wating the detail. Kpop falling in the background, slipping on the towel. And the comparison from this last rally and the last time they played Aoba Johsai. Chills.
50:12 this flashback is for oikawa's perspective so it is giving new depth to a character we are already familiar with
50:00 It's because in the source material (a japanese comic=manga), that little flashback was like 2 pages and doesn't necessarily take away from the tension.
There is an extra scene that is plays near the end of S2 Ep25. And there is an extra scene over that called “Seijoh After-match”, which presents Seijoh’s side of what happened after their loss with Karasuno, this extra scene further fleshes out the relationship between the players in Seijoh and also the relationship between Iwaizumi and Oikawa.
at 51:15 I was screaming "LET HIM FINISH HIS DAMN SENTENCE" at my screen lol
I relate a lot to Oikawa and I love the quote he said during the final rally, "talent is something you make bloom and instinct is something you polish, so I was routing for Seijou a little bit.
thank you for the correction
It's "talent is something you make bloom", not "talent is something you're born with".
@@bdylp1098 oh sorry, thank you
@@aryssah766 No probs! (^_^)
12:20 *He's like, Tsuki is showing joy for the game*
Tsukishima in epi 3x4 : Ah, so you've chosen *joy*
I was literally saying how I wanted to watch one more episode with Victoria’s comments and look at that, I refreshed and it popped up. The haikyuu gods heard me!!
So in an anime show we get to see the character development of the main cast. The opponent are not shown at that time but don’t you think the opponent have worked as hard as the main cast to be at this stage. So this when anime writers have a chance to explore their character, this helps us to develop feelings for the opponent bcoz in sports if the match is intense you feel bad for the losing team but anime goes further to make us feel bad by exploring their characters. Important thing to remember in sports anime is that the opponent are not just obstacle in the way of the main cast they are players who have dedicated same or more amount of their tome to the sports.
Oikawaa is my favorite character and that line was really great
Seijoh. Always. I just love Oikawa and his character so much. Iwa is great. I just like the intricacies of their team and want Oikawa to reach the level he wants
glances/glares are very important in anime, for example, 6:50 foreshadowed that something like 10:41 would happen.
"Talent is something you make bloom, instinct is something you polish!"
-Oikawa Toru
To this day-.... My favorite quote in all of Haikyuu, I have NOTHING, but respect for the hard work and effort Oikawa put in, not just this game, EVERYTHING! Oikawa needs to work twice or three times as hard as someone like Kageyama, and I applaud it! What a character❤️
Victoria:I hate back stories,I want to see the game.
Me:Well you speak more than the back stories during an important play
*Victoria! Season three awaits you with so much excitement and tension!!! I can't wait to see you dig in to it!! Once again, thank you for your reactions!!♡*
"Talent is something you make bloom. Instinct is something you polish!" So good.
having flashbacks in tense scenes is a VERY common thing in more action-y animes; in a lot of shounen animes (animes marketed towards young boys that usually have a lot of fighting or sports) you might have a whole childhood flashback episode in the middle of the biggest climax in the whole series!!! usually it does a lot to add to the emotional aspect of the scenes and turns the tension up to 11 (like it does in haikyuu).
for haikyuu specifically, i think the reason there are so many flashbacks in important games just due to the nature of the anime itself and its content! all non-game episodes are usually dedicated solely to karasuno, so there's not really any space for characterization to develop outside of the core team. and then when there are games, in-universe they happen over like an hour, so there's no space for a non-karasuno character to give big speeches more than, like, one person once or twice a set. so if there's gonna be deep characterisation added to a character, it has to be both during a game (as thats the only time non-karasuno characters get screen time) and within a flashback (both because we don't get to see how their path outside of the game led them to where they are, and there's not enough time in-game for them to have any big moments)
i completely agree that it can be INCREDIBLY frustrating when you're at set point in the biggest game so far!!! but as annoying as it is in the moment, i don't think haikyuu would be anywhere near as good without it.
at the end of the episode in the oikawa / random wise coach flashback the coach is essentially saying "If you believe that people are just born geniuses and that no matter what you can not get better then them, then you never will." he's essentially telling oikawa that he needs a growth mindset instead of wallowing in the fact that other people are better. he's asking oikawa if he (oikawa) believes that he has reached his full potential, trying to elude to "if you think you've maxed your abilities then you wont be able to grow. however, if you do not believe your abilities are maxed and you continue to see you have room to grow, the who knows, there is a possibly you will be better then the so called "geniuses" since no one knows what your full potential is until you get there."
OMG YOU ALMOST FINISH THE SECOND SEASON! I'M SO EXCITED FOR THE THIRD ONE
the reason why this backstory is so important for oikawa's character is because it shows that he is more than just your basic sports antagonist, it peels back the layers of his outward persona, as the facade fades, we see a young man who is not only a brilliant foil to hinata and especially kageyama, but someone who is tortured by the so called "curse of the ordinary". Oikawa is neither a genius nor an extraordinary talent, he feels envious and jealous towards people like kageyama and ushijima who posess that talent, which causes him to develop a kind of an inferiority complex towards them, in this backstory, we can see that he was person worked hard to the point where he woudnt care if he hurt himself, just so he could keep up with these people with talent, the reason oikawa snapped at kageyama was because of the pressure of not being able to beat ushijima and the pressure of a young kageyama who was sure to surpass him creeping up to him, but iwaizumi stops him in time and tells him the exact words he needs to hear, that he's trying too hard to be alone in all of this, this changes things for oikawa, it turns his desperation into maturity and resolution and works hard to become the ideal setter, a dream to play with, but we shoudnt forget that the oikawa who is now in his 3rd year of highschool still has that inferiority complex, he is still trying hard to beat ushijima and and keep kageyama at bay who he knows will surpass him someday. i tried my best to explain hs backstory without spoiling anything, this dynamic of his character is what makes him my fav antagonist of the series, hope this helps!. Most of the credit goes to Aleczandxr on YT, do check him out!
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Wow I just finished reading Max's article, and just wow. I finally got that unexpected backstory that I didn't know I needed. I want to say this adds a lot more depth to his character, but the truth is Max is a real person and he's always had this depth because he isn't a 2D character. I've only seen a small bit of Max when he appears in your vlogs every now and then since I'm a new subscriber. But wow, it's just another reminder than everyone is much more than meets the eye.
A couple great things about the Last Rally:
Oikawa, in a pinch, sets to his most reliable teammate Iwa, just like how he knew at the Inter-High Kageyama would set to Shoyo in a pinch. Kageyama makes that read and is ready to block.
Mad Dog's character progress by making a defensive play off the net, unlike how he normally only played offensively, finally being a team player.
Shoyo + Kageyama's growth by being in the SAME situation they lost in against Aoba Johsai, with the 3 man block read on the Minus Tempo Quick, but now they've grown to where Shoyo's eyes are open and processing and adapting, and it pays off.
Every Karasuno player touched the ball in that last rally, driving home the "6 together are strong" message, this does not work without all of them.