No, this is not a review about a stopping point I usually do my Progress Reviews. I usually stop when there is development at some point but this is not it. This is about so far. The third season would come out next month so...
Is it bad that while I do consider this a good show, it's not a great one or doesn't allow much development?
I don't hate the show. I certainly enjoyed it but there are things that could have been told and shown better.
Let's start with the good stuff first.
The ladies are well-rounded and did not suffer from lack of development. They can be just as skilled and wonderfully depicted.
In fact, the cast is likable. While some of them can be seemed to be an almost carbon copy of their Avatar counterpart, they have their own mind and sensibilities.
The plot can be straightforward with running subplots. The humor is the best part of the show, to be honest. The delivery and the timing is just great.
Now into the disappointing section.
Lance and Hunk suffered from a lack of development. While they made it up with their comedy and the show did establish character flaw and characterization, there wasn't much focus on them beyond one scene where Lance saying to a one-time character and promptly forgotten. Why not talk to Pidge or Coran? That would allow much more character development for a lot of characters.
Speaking of group development, they can and do feel like a family at times. Sometimes, there weren't enough interactions between individuals to actually know what goes through their mind. They could show Pidge and Keith interacting or some people at least? It was shown that Coran's favorite was Lance yet there could be development right there. It was staring at them in the face.
I feel something is there but not fully grasped. Not just on a character development level, there is also a story development. One issue is that the pilots didn't seem to know their Lions quite well...mechanically. The more new powers as the plot demanded was starting to make these Paladins look a bit stupid for not at least exploring their mecha.
When the story gets going on something like Keith's story arc, then it's great. When a story neglected to show something like why the hell Shiro chose Keith to be the next Black Paladin when we haven't even shown Keith's character development in the first goddamn season, then it's suffering. That plot point felt more like Shiro is playing favorites instead of proper development. I mean there could be developed there but it's so rushed and didn't feel genuine. There were scenes there were missing like Keith's
While the cast can show emotions like Lance's genuine homesickness, sometimes not enough time was dealt with the issue or the aftermath. Or even just tiny small interaction could do, background or foreground. Just something at least. There is something there but not taken to its potential.
Sometimes there is an ambiguity whether or not Allura suffered from racism due to the fact Galra did kill her people. It's vague and I didn't feel there is enough.
The show can feel rushed at times. The show has the average seasonal time span as most anime lasting their first cour or season. Sunrise did well with Tiger and Bunny's first cour. Yet I never quite got the feeling they spaced it out well. The climactic battle with Zarkon felt less like he was a Disc One Final Boss when the show had built him up as the Big Bad. There could be hinting there was a far worse villain waiting in the shadows and far more ruthless than Zarkon, who had good intentions at least.
The villains feel mediocre. They could expand the world of the Galra more than just the rebels and do things for evil's sake. There weren't even many hints that Zarkon has good intentions which then warped; just evil for evil's sake. There could be something there when Zarkon was a former Black Paladin but there is nothing.
About six seasons for this particular seasons and only three more to go, considering we're getting S3 soon.
I want them to fix the problems and want it to do well. I'm irked by most storytelling issues on the show and I hope they do well fixing it.
Edit: I saw S3 and thank you, staff of VLD. You actually listened to criticism and made the best season thus far. Yes, S3 is the best season so far of the VLD six-season affair. The fact that there are people who actually listened to criticism makes me weep with joy. Unlike guys like Steven Moffat and Seth MacFarlane, you guys listened and make do with it! You made one of the best seasons of VLD so far and good on you!
Also, there would be more Persona coming soon with a P3 Rhythm game! I am excited to play them all and besides, I think P6 is going to get kickstarted soon. I wouldn't be announced anytime soon but the fact that I know that the current showrunner of Persona, Katsura, truly enjoyed his work and after did say he wanted to make a P3 Rhythm game. Hey, people who say that Atlus is just milking the franchise, please understand that Katsura is having fun and wanted to have these games in his repertoire. Please, P4DAN is one of the best Rhythm games and really just play that game.
Anyone who is currently reading the manga right now would know that Karasuno is in the Nationals. Right now, the arc is called the Tokyo Nationals arc. Succinct but make sense.
There will be predictable results; the build-up will be satisfying though. Karasuno will fight tooth and nail to have their battle against Nekoma and Furokodani in an official match. Not only it will the "Battle of the Garbage Dump" but also how Karasuno managed so far.
One of the best things that so many people will come to understand about Karasuno is that Hinata is an unpredictable little monster. He is certainly giving a shock in the current match right now and I am gleeful. Even Hoshiumi is shocked (mainly due to the fact that he can see the entire court) but he has yet to truly see Hinata. Hinata may have speed, size, and jumping power but he does not back down from challenges. He is aiming to become a pro volleyball player to reach the apex of all athletes, the Olympics. Seriously, watch out. Oikawa and Ushiwaka verbally acknowledged his skill, even unrefined because he is a thorn in their side, acting incredibly against their attacks and skills. Watching previous videos or understanding other players will do nothing when Karasuno can pull risky moves out of the blue that defied logic. Look at Tsukishima's broad attack. I know you guys are just seeing him right now but you gotta admit that Hinata is a beast unto itself that Shiratorizawa, who had been defeated in the past by small aces, admitted that he was an entirely different animal.
You would get the surprise of your life, Hoshiumi, Sakusa, Miya, Kiryu, and so much more. I will happily cheer on Karasuno's side while you get the shock that Ushiwaka and Oikawa got repeatedly. There is a reason why most of the players in Miyagi Intensive First-Year Training Camp is cautious about him, including his own teammates. You will grow more cautious of him once you play against him. Even when you overpower him, Hinata will fight back. He might be showing his usual stuff right now from his quicks, speed, stamina, agility, ability to see the court but he has yet to show something you never have seen before. Some of you might saw videos of Karasuno vs Shiratorizawa but you really failed to take in the real reason why Shiratorizawa lost. The persistence of these 'demons' or 'monsters'. If even Tsukishima is unveiling the monstrosity, best be cautious. If even Coach Washijou acknowledged Hinata in a roundabout way, he seemed to place Hinata higher than those he saw at Nationals.
I always love it when Hinata shows unpredictability. The people's jaws dropping at the sight of Hinata stopping a national-level ace's spike point-blank, including his fellow teammates. Ukai loving his protege's continuous improvements beyond expectations. His incredible reaction time when it comes to anything in volleyball, be it blocking, receiving, tossing and attacking. I really cannot wait for the moment when Hinata silenced the crowd at Nationals. Do something that nobody of sane mind would do, even in a team of insane players, you or your opponent.
Hinata, you caught the attention of a well-known coach, who is now in charge of the Youth Japan of the under-19 team. Slowly but surely you would get the scouting you need in order to get to the pros. Honestly, becoming a pro would make sense of your story. Unlike Eiichirou or Rin who either have the decision made from the start or started from their growing love of the sport, you have lofty ambitions you intend to carry out to your fullest potential. Unlike Sawamura Eijun who was viciously thrashed despite his wonderful efforts to become the best athlete he can, Hinata was supported by his team.
Sakusa, prepare to meet the two people who utterly slowed down your fellow ace, Hinata Shouyou, and Tsukishima Kei. They will happily show you why they stopped Ushiwaka to the point that he admitted their strength.
Hoshiumi, prepare to have your title as the current "Little Giant" be usurped in the near future. You would need all the warning you can get in the preparation of facing the guy who loves doing the impossible. The impossible where your fellow undersized ace, Hinata, thrived in and will show you why Ushiwaka is simultaneously fascinated and dislike. You will get the surprise of your lifetime and I will gladly eat it up with chicken and beer. It might be possible that you defeated Ushiwaka in the past but when Shiratorizawa coaches said that this guy is an entirely different animal, you really must be wary. You didn't see him where he is the most unpredictable. You might see him in the Miyagi qualifier match but seeing it and actually faced with it is different. Despite Oikawa and Ushiwaka's best efforts, facing his unpredictability is dangerous. When you jumped higher than Hinata, then expect Hinata to surpass your expectations than just jumping higher and seeing the court in mid-air battles.
That's a bit ranty there but the point still stands.
Karasuno will defeat Inarizaki (the Miya twins), Kamomedai (Hoshiumi), Nekoma, Fukorodani and probably Kiryu's team. People who underestimated them will get beat. It is very likely they will place very high in Nationals, enough for other teams in Japan to sharpen their teeth in preparation for the next battle at Nationals, enough for media and people who watched high school sport to anticipate their hold on the crown or their snatching of the crown underneath the champ's hold.
I don't know about Sakusa though. It is possible that Karasuno might lose against him and his team. He is a second-year whereas his fellow aces are third-years. Hinata, Kageyama, and Karasuno will likely defeat him next year. I can see the long stressful battle because Karasuno can literally go onto the 30 point mark.
There is also the possibility that Itachiyama might lose against Karasuno. However, we don't know these guys' backstories just yet. We will learn, of course, coupled with Haikyuu's portrayal of teenage boys being silly. Does that team need to be taught a lesson like Shiratorizawa or even Karasuno in the first official match against Aoba Jousai? Will Karasuno need a lesson instead?
At this point, it's a little vague about whether Karasuno or Itachiyama would win. While Kageyama was the only one who interacted with Sakusa on some level, Sakusa has yet to react to any of the other Karasuno players. Even the Miya brothers are strongly reacting towards Hinata. Kindachi and Kumini reacted against Hinata, even being friends with him in the one-week course. Even those not participating in the Nationals like Nohebi, specifically the Captain Suguru, are reacting strongly. Kageyama's coach from the All-Japan Intensive Camp took an interest in Hinata.
Whatever direction must be the most character development. Whoever wins/loses would gain the most character; whoever gets the most of their loss/win must get some sort of character development. Some realism can play a part (force will win the day for example) but it has to make for character development. That is the fun of tournament arcs. My Hero Academia used the Sports Festival as a great way of character development. While Ochako might have lost, she took the full glory including pro-heroes nominating her. While Izuku lost his match against Todoroki, he actually won. Todoroki also won in a sense that he did not think of his father or his circumstances cloud him but he lost in actuality in comparison to Izuku. There is a reason why the Bakugou vs Todoroki battle is anticlimactic.
There is a reason why Asahi dealt the final blow against Dateko in the Interhigh. No reality cannot deal with that petty pride because the point is to win, not fill in what was wounded. Karasuno losing to Aoba Jousai in the Interhigh would pave way for character development. While Oikawa went on to lose to Ushiwaka reinforcing his dislike and his desire to win against Shiratorizawa, the then-current Karasuno would not last long against Shiratorizawa no matter how much tenacity they put in. The Karasuno participating in the Spring Tournament was a whole new flock whose tenacity can literally break even the coach's mindset. Hell, Shiratoizawa losing has been foreshadowed for a long time from Hinata's declaration, the concrete metaphor, the very fact that Kageyama vowed to surpass Oikawa (foreshadowing the loss of Aoba Jousai), and that's the top of my head. Ushiwaka and especially Coach Washijou needed a lesson to be taught, even if accidental; they needed character development just by judging by their behavior. Hell, later on, we learned that Shiratorizawa lost against undersized aces before but none like Hinata. Ushiwaka outright stated he cannot see the intelligent talented people who are shorter than him such as Hoshiumi for example. However, Hinata Shouyou is not like them at all, preferring to use the element of surprise and even his teammates called his movements 'godlike' or 'as if possessed by a god'. Shiratorizawa knew this and they don't like him for that; Satori Tendou even believed that Hinata was part of the Miyagi First-Year Intensive Camp. Other team coaches are beginning to see him as an incredible player in his own right despite unpolished. Teams from other prefectures have absolutely no clue why high school volleyballers are careful of him.
Exposing Hinata, even unrefined as he is still now, to the Japanese high school volleyball circuit, would mean uni scouts and professional coaches would take notice of him. Not just the teams at Nationals (those who have seen Karasuno evolve) but see the teams who have no clue they are going head-to-head with insanely determined monsters who can literally crack them. I cannot wait to see for the moment for Hinata to receive the scouts he deserved for all his hard work.
Hell, Daiya no Ace makes sense by making Seidou lose to Inashiro in similar reasons with Aoba Jousai but with a Shiratorizawa-level school. Free! had Haru win the 100m free in S2 to emphasize both his talent as a swimmer and his possible future he could take like a pro swimmer as well as the additional pressure. The very fact that Haru and Rin are the fastest swimmers in that particular race was to emphasize that. Hell, the very fact that Yuuri was set to win the Grand Prix was a narrative point since the fucking beginning.
Think about what it means for the love of Pete. Yes, do you understand now, people? Think carefully of tournament arc's decisions to make someone lose or win. Did the aftermath show, while predictable results, the character development they needed. Did they win/lose metaphorically? Physically? What is the best course they could take for character development? Are there any extenuating circumstances that led to that win/loss?
While schools do have their mascots, real life does not really make a great metaphor. Rosemead High has Panthers, El Monte High has lions, and Arroyo High has Knights. While speeches spun metaphors around these mascots, they make little sense.
...unless you are talking about narratives. Animal motifs are a huge emphasis in Haikyuu while Daiya no Ace has no such metaphor.
Think of the freaking narrative, people. There is a difference between narrative and reality. You can add realism but not to the point of the uncanny valley; you can explore themes of real-life and the applications thereof. You just have to think of the narrative first and foremost where it had to make sense of what the story is telling us. I went with the flow with KnB's superhuman powers because what is the point when the story is good. Do not think of realism of sports of whether one should lose when the point is the actual story. You can stress the ridiculous talents when you can discuss the story structure where it is the most important. It's not particularly damaging towards the sport because the sport can do well without it. Basketball is doing well without Kuroko no Basuke in the mess. Hell, even when interest in volleyball and go shot up because of Haikyuu and Hikaru no Go respectively, the Sports itself was not damaged. Come on, we have the fucking Olympics and various other international sports tournaments as well as domestic and national. Do you really think those tournaments will somehow lose the interest of the rest of the world? They are called pros for a goddamn reason and seriously, Lebron James' doing well without KnB.
If Karasuno wins Nationals and reaches the first place, that story will be a surprising turn. It now meant that Karasuno will have to live up to that great place in Nationals, pressure from all over the place. Schools wanted to take them down, newer club members will face pressure from ex-members, the cast has to maintain their status and the media will paint them as a dark horse that took the crown from Itachiyama. Seriously, the Nationals arc is painting them as a dark horse and it's the second day.
There will likely be scouts coming all over for notable members should they wish to proceed to go to uni volleyball or
"Flightless crows" transformed into the crows they were meant to be, surpassing the Little Giant of the past and present generations.
Hmm, I can see Karasuno placing very high in Nationals, beating out so many high-level teams. The series did seem to hint at some extent.
...if there is any doubt that Karasuno will be defeated by Inarizaki, please consider the context. There had been the buildup to the Battle of the Garbage Dump for a while including Hinata and Kenma's exchange and the recent chapter that had the Ukai's discussing it. There is just too much build-up.
Seriously, if Furudate-sensei didn't show the Battle of the Garbage Dump for the next match when there is too much build-up to it, then I will seethe. It would be Terajima withdrawing that battle with Inashiro with the Misawa battery instead, putting them against Yakushi instead. Not only it was bad because it had been building up to the former match for a long time, even with the stupidity going around, but it will also be disingenuous for the character development.
Honestly, what's surprising to me was a notable love interest for Tanaka. It's a subplot and Kanoka from Niiyama was not defined entirely by her crush on Tanaka. She's cute and has a genuine interest in volleyball to the point she is very good. We didn't see her in action yet but it's pretty clear that she's a great player to be a regular on the Miyagi's 'Queens'. Honestly, this is very cute where both sides have no clue about their romance. It's awkward but sweet. Considering that Niiyama is still there and considered queens, Kanoka has great skill in volleyball. Volleyball interest that was gained by Tanaka. It's really cute to see flashbacks on the pair's relationship. It's nice to see that girl has a love for volleyball that did not hurt her crush on a guy and visa versa. She's a good girl and will do well. I can see it.
Haikyuu has no known love interest for any of the main characters. It is shounen but even series like One Piece and My Hero Academia, previous crushes seemed to fade in the background or when ladies put aside their interest in the men for the sake of pursuing their goals. The girls are not defined by the crush on admittedly great guys. Yachi Hitoka could be considered a love interest for Hinata Shouyou if it wasn't for the fact that she nor Hinata ever show interest in each other in that way. While Hinata clearly helped her, Yachi didn't seem to show that she liked him romantically unlike how Honoka showed Tanaka interest. I got more of the feeling that KageHinaYachi will be a great trio of friends.
Y'know, I was surprised that Haikyuu didn't have a dub. Free! got a dub after some time but not Haikyuu and Daiya no Ace, the former of which immensely popular in Japan and the west. Oofuri got a dub too. It might not be a good dub but it's a dub all the same.
Edit: ...I cannot believe that now Haikyuu got a dub. Out of popularity. I mean I expected it at some point, considering the popularity of Free! and YOI. While Free! dub was awful and hilarious to listen to, YOI's dub got slowly better.
My opinion on the dub: Solid, very solid. Hinata sounds mature but I doubt anyone could capture Murase's voice-acting. I mean the stage version of North Italy sounds exactly like Daisuke-san. I'm not even joking, literally mean it. After coming out of rewatching the Hikago dub where certain voice-acting sounds stiff, I am just glad to see emoting at all. Now with a dub, I can rewatch Haikyuu! I mean I am still reading the manga and I still love with all my heart. I actually consider it one of the better dub jobs in sports anime and I would list it above the known English dubs I would give it.
