S4E4: Taking It Easy

"I am freaking out, but also learning from you too.” 

This week, rainbow and em cover season 4, episode 4 "Taking It Easy" and talk about Hinata's ability to uplift his rivals and Kageyama's ability to inadvertently piss off other players - and the one player who manages to piss him off. 

Episode Discussion Begins at  11:26

Spoiler Zone Begins at 1:09:50

Check out our Who in Haikyuu Listener Response form 

Love sailor moon?? watch the incredible animatic Pretty Please I Dont Wanna Be a Magical Girl

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Chapters

• 0:00 Chit Chat and Housekeeping
• 11:26 Recap and Episode Discussion
• 54:03 Manga vs. Anime and Character Spotlight
• 1:01:21 Who in Haikyuu? and Socials
• 1:09:50 Spoiler Zone

Transcript

rainbow

00:11

hello everyone and welcome to fly a queer Haikyuu podcast.

em

00:14

I'm rainbow, they she and I'm m, and today we are discussing season four, episode four. Taking it easy taking it easy. Taking it easy and we gotta start off by saying happy pride everybody. This episode comes out june 2nd, so we actually timed it pretty okay this time around. Um, all the straights to the back. Gays, front and center, trans, you as well.

rainbow

00:44

Everybody, let's party and also punch a cop I mean no cops at pride, first and foremost. Why do people think cops at pride is a good idea? Pride exists because of police brutality. Um, yeah, yeah. And you know what I think this pride. I am like, I just want to like be a fucking nuisance. You know, like I just want to be out there, I want to be loud, I want to be proud, I want to be political. I want to tell all those motherfuckers out there who think that they can legislate us out of existence. I want to tell them to go fucking stick their heads in the ocean and take a deep breath.

em

01:23

I'm going to spread the gay agenda like never before.

rainbow

01:28

It's just like, yeah, like everybody out there, and like you know, we're gay, we're LGBTQ throughout the year, you know, not just during June, but now it's like you know, this is the month to really remind people that we are queer and we are here and you just have to fucking get used to it oh my god, and this year I don't have to see the ugly pride merch at target, because we don't go to target anymore that's right.

01:53

Well, I mean, are they even going to do it? They've pulled back on dei. They were already pulling their pride stuff to the back of the store, so it wasn't out front. Because you know like, yeah, why try to like fight the fascism? Let's just cave to their demands. They'll try and get us back.

em

02:06

They did it for Black History Month. They put out stuff oh, they act like they're cool, but they're not.

rainbow

02:12

Yeah, they do. It's like all of these corporations out there, all of these, like you know, quote unquote, like leaders who show up for pride marches and all of that nonsense, like they're doing the bare minimum and they're doing what is like the safest option, and like, particularly with the corporations, they're like only thinking about, like okay, how can we profit off of this? Hi, gay, step into a deal today. Yeah, exactly, and being queer is about so much more than that, and so I think that's what it is for this pride. I'm not just being gay, I want what it is for this pride. I'm not just being gay, I want to be queer as fuck. Moving on, uh, speaking of gay, I watched madoka magica recently.

02:56

It's a 12 episode anime. It's a subversion of the magic magical girl genre. Girl the girl. What am I? What's his face from? Despicable me. Um, but yes, I fucking loved it. I thought it was really incredible. I need to watch it again to be sure that this is my opinion, but, like my initial thoughts when I finished, it was this is a feminist masterpiece. Um, I think the analysis you can do with that show is just like. You can go very deep with it. I think it's really interesting. I can't wait to watch it again. Um, I'm gonna make him watch it at some point. Really really good Love it. Cannot recommend it enough. Anybody out there, any listeners if you've watched it. I haven't seen the movies, I've only watched the anime. So far I can't find the movies yet. So if you know where I can find them, let me know. But yeah, please feel free. If you know the show, if you love it, write in. I think there's also lots of fun queer potential in the show as well nice.

em

03:46

Yeah, I've been getting back into Sailor Moon. I loved it in the 90s when I was a small child and we're having fun. I actually ordered the original dub dvds on ebay because that's what I grew up with and so I was really like looking for that nostalgia and it's not anywhere online and I started watching the original subbed, which is the best version, and we got the original dubbed in the DVDs and I forgot a lot because I haven't watched this show since 1998. And the dub, first of all, is so like off base from what the original show is talking about and also everyone either has a British accent or a Long Island accent, and I forgot about that.

rainbow

04:26

It's so funny. It's very 90s anime dub. This is very classic like early dubbing of like we're not trying to make it really fit the original story at all.

04:38

And like I do. You know, I want to continue watching the original or the English dub from the 90s, just for funsies. I have friends who really loved it and so like we want to get watching the original or the the English dub from the 90s, just for funsies. I have friends who really loved it, and so like we want to get together and watch it. But I think for actually watching the show I do prefer the sub, because even just watching sub versus dub like there's just like a lot more substance to it in the sub. It really and I think that is like so typical of like 90s American cartoons, of like this isn't about storytelling, this isn't about like character development, this is about like monster of the week we're having fun here.

em

05:09

Literally in the first episode of the dub they give you like the entire plot, like it's a huge spoiler, like in the sub they just start off with Usagi waking up for school and we go on this journey with her. But the dub is like okay, so here's everything that's happening. There's this mystical girl and all these girls got sent to Earth. It's like whoa, whoa, whoa.

rainbow

05:26

I forgot Spoiler alert. Yeah, was not prepared. And then and I think it's really appropriate that you're talking about Sailor Moon after I talk about Madoka Magica, because you know Sailor Moon, I don't know if it's the first magical girl anime or manga, but it's definitely what popularized it, especially in the west. I think you can look at a lot of like She-Ra, ladybug, even the, the animatic that came out not too long ago. I think it's like please, please, don't make me be a magical girl, something about that, something like that really good animatic.

05:57

I'll try to link to it in the show notes. But like all of that stuff, it's just like it. You can tell it's like pulled straight from Sailor Moon. And I think madoka magica takes even like, because I didn't watch sailor moon a lot growing up, so when I was watching madoka I didn't realize how many connections it has. But even now, just watching the few episodes of sailor moon that I have, I'm like, oh my god, my like. It's just like. My brain is like frying with all of the connections it's making so yeah, just a little, just a little magic girl.

em

06:23

I want to be a magic girl, oh you know what one.

rainbow

06:25

We'll do a who in Haikyuu magical girl and we'll figure out what would be their like power. Whoa, yeah, we'll figure it out. Yay, okay, next, um, yes, I want to shout out one of our listeners, l, who sent us an email and let us know about a podcast called ultra hope girls, which is a gaming podcast, and they started off doing Danganronpa, which I've talked about before. I love it and so far I'm only on their episodes where they're talking about the first game, trigger, happy Havoc and I can't wait till they talk about the second game, but I'm really loving it. So thank you, elle.

06:57

I love listening to FIMS in particular talk about gaming. I find that more enjoyable than hearing men, cis men talk about it. But really fun podcast, really enjoying it. I don't necessarily agree with all their opinions on all the characters, but they're not like annoying about it, so it's like I can still enjoy it. So, yeah, if you like Danganronpa and you would like to listen to a podcast where they talk about it, ultra Hope Girls is the one they talk about, chapter by chapter.

07:27

They also do every other episode. It's like a fun little, almost like a bonus episode where they do lots of fun different things they did, like MBTI types they did. I just listened to one where they talked about what books they think the characters would like, which. Like honestly, it's giving me some who in Haikyuu ideas, so pretty great, um, but yeah, recommend that. Thank you, elle, just really quick. I forgot to mention this last week when I was talking about bat jokes, but I consider Ushi-ten to be very bat jokes. Coded I think Ushi-jima as Batman and Tendo as the Joker. Like, tell me they don't dress up as them for Halloween at least one year.

08:00

There's got to be fan art of that because it does make a lot of sense I haven't found any yet, but if anyone knows of any or knows of an artist with an art style that that would look good in, I'll commission it I don't care.

em

08:11

Yeah, this is a request.

rainbow

08:12

This is absolutely right. Yes, anyway, love that. Okay, moving on. Now on to housekeeping. Yes, a quick reminder about our who in Haikyuu listener response form. That's going to be open for another few weeks. It's linked in the show notes, it'll be linked on our socials. And again, that is for our mid-season break episode. We want to hear your thoughts on various who in Haikyuu scenarios, so please look for that and fill that out to your heart's content. Yeah, and then I also have a quick correction from episode one of season four. We mentioned Sakuza as the top spiker in Miyagi, which is incorrect. Sakuza is the top high school spiker in Japan, japan, japan. He lives in Tokyo, so it wouldn't make sense for him to be the top in Miyagi. But yeah, it's him. It's some guy we haven't met yet is number two. Ushijima is number three, somebody we haven't met yet but'll Meet. Soon is number four, and then Bocato is top five. Nice.

em

09:07

And then last thing for housekeeping is we wanted to highlight a Spotify comment we got from listener Cloud Quartz and just a little side shout out Cloud, you're like our main Spotify commenter, You're a faithful commenter and we see you and we really appreciate it. And this time around, they said that I read something from Furudate about the art for the manga. Haikyuu was part of a fan poll in Weekly Jump and it was ranked as one of the best stories with the worst art. So that's why Furudate changed the art style, Although I like the early style more. And Cloud, I agree with you. Wish I could remember where I read this. And that's really. People don't have taste. Okay, God forbid. We do something fun and quirky and different, because I also liked the early style. I don't mind the new style in the manga, but I do think it's less. There's less personality and like uniqueness to it.

rainbow

10:01

Yeah, and I mean to be fair, I haven't read the manga as religiously as I've watched the show. So like I'm not, you know, like I'm, it's more of the show's anime style, which I do think follows more closely with the manga. And I was seeing like people say like oh, like earlier on there was less like facial expression and like it's better later on, when the art style changed, which, like I know, about that.

em

10:23

I'll say I can't speak to that because I haven't. I've read the manga, but not super closely and I'm not an artist, so stuff like that I might not pick up on, but I just I did like the original style.

rainbow

10:32

I think it's undeservedly hated on yeah, no, I agree, I think there's a lot of panels from the like early manga that are just like beautiful and amazing. And yeah, I, you know everyone's got opinions. It does make me sad when I hear stuff like that, like when, like I don't know. I just feel, like you know, I just don't always think art needs to like like cow to what the audience wants. I think that can sometimes lead to things being bad. Yeah, not that I do. I don't think the manga's art style is bad. When the change happens, I just, you know, I think it does lose some of its uniqueness no, I do wish there was less.

em

11:11

I wish there was no fan influence on stories, honestly, because the people don't know what they're talking about anyway.

rainbow

11:18

That's the end of housekeeping for us yes, it is, and I think it's now on to M's recap. Are you ready for me to count you down? I'm ready.

em

11:26

Three, two one, Hinata, is in his groove as ball boy and actually helps a fellow player take it easy. Meanwhile, at the Tokyo training camp, several of the boys try to pick a fight with Tobio, but only one succeeds at getting under his skin. Find out who in this episode of Haikyuu who, inikyuu, who in haikyuu is making tobyo rethink all his life choices?

rainbow

11:49

we'll find out later, because first we are picking up uh right where we left off with the last episode. Tsukishima is asking Hinata to practice with him, and I do. I just had to have a little comment here that the english va is pretty great. Like Tsukishima sounds so mad that he's asking, he sounds like so reluctant. I think it's it really works.

em

12:12

He's so mad and it juxtaposes really well with how excited Hinata is to have him, because he immediately tells the other Tsuki's joining us.

rainbow

12:20

Yes, yeah, he's so excited and Tsuki like specifically says he wants to like practice blocking Hinata's spikes and it's really cute. And so like Hinata tells the others and like most of them are like excited that Suki's joining, because, I mean, they've noticed he doesn't join in with extra practice very often, but like Goshiki does like a little like you know, like a little like teeth, whatever that sound is Like he doesn't look happy about it and I'm sure it's because like that's the guy who blocked the great Ushiwaka. Oh yeah, definitely yes. So then we quickly go into the opening theme song and when we come back we are at the Tokyo gym, which I took a note of the name. It's the Ai Ajinomoto Training Center.

13:00

Ai Ajinomoto Training Center, Kageyama and one of the Shinzen guys whose name is Chigaya Ikichi I'm just going to call him Shinzen guy but they're eating a really delicious looking dinner and Kageyama has a piece of broccoli in his chopsticks and he's looking at his broccoli and he's looking at the Shinzen guy who has like that same broccoli style hairstyle as the captain from Shinzen, and so he's thinking in his head he's like broccoli number one and broccoli number two. Okay, so they're both from.

em

13:32

Shinzen. Yes Well, I will never. I don't know who this guy is and I'll never figure it out. I don't want to figure it out.

rainbow

13:39

I looked it up. Maybe I'll have to double check. I'm pretty sure he's from Shinzen and that's why he is eating with Kageyama, because they went to that training camp together, sure but he's also just. I am Kageyama, that's broccoli head number two yeah, and like, and it just like it sends me the way that Kageyama is just like broccoli broccoli. It's just like, such a like we've talked about this so much where, like, people look at Kageyama and think like, oh, he's so mysterious, what thoughts could he possibly thinking in his head?

em

14:04

he's literally just comparing the guy next to him to a broccoli there's a seinfeld quote where it's like maybe there's more to newman than we think. No, there's less, yes, uh. And this poor kid is like uh, he's like this.

rainbow

14:19

I can't read Kageyama yeah, he's trying to like make conversation with Kageyama and but Kageyama doesn't have hina to there as a buffer, right, so it is like impossible. We do find out that shinzen lost in their qualifier match so they are not going to nationals. Um, because I still don't think we've like officially. We know that nekama is going. Yeah, did we find out who else is going to nationals?

em

14:42

we know nekama and uh itachi, yama and fukuro donnie are going from tokyo. Okay, that's correct.

rainbow

14:50

Okay. And then a wild sakusa appears. He comes up being a weird creeper, being so intense because he asked Kageyama how shiratoro zawa lost to karasuno and if ushiwaka was off his game. And Kageyama is so cute, he like seriously thinks about it, he like doesn't take it as like an insult or anything. He's like thinking and he's like really thinking back. You know he's replaying the whole game in his head and he says he seemed to play just fine to me. And then Sakaza is so confused and he's like well, did you use any kind of tricks? Did somebody actually stop Ushijima? And Kageyama thinks back to both Tsukishima and Hinata blocking them and and he thinks to himself like, well, if you can call what Hinata did a block, and he's like, yeah, they did. And then Sakaza gets so intense and like this really triggered a lot of like possessive Sakaza headcanons for me, um, and he was like who are they? What's their name? Where did they go to middle school?

15:42

And then Komori comes up to explain that sakaza is a pessimist and he gets freaked out when he thinks he might lose to somebody. But sakaza just says he's being cautious, um, and this prompts Kageyama to ask oh, is that why you haven't been giving a hundred percent at this training camp. Um, because apparently sakaza has just been averaged so far and, like the, after sakaza walks away, the shinsen guy is like he's like oh, I can't believe you would call somebody like that average. Kakime gets very serious and he's like well, I didn't say he's average, I said he's been average so far, which is like a recognition where he like knows he's like well, I know that this is this can't possibly be your regular play style.

16:23

So you know, when he says like oh, you, you've seemed average so far, komori like laughs and I was like oh, yeah, he's like so convinced something's wrong with his shoulder. Um, and we're really getting a lot of like characterization for Sakaza here. It's like he's giving hypochondriac, he like walks away and is like I'm gonna go take a bath before you all get your germs in it. Like we're just getting a lot of like the. He's very neurotic, this character.

em

16:44

Yes.

rainbow

16:45

Oh, and then, like right before that scene ends, the Shenzhen guy is talking about, like, oh, all of these guys are so intense. And he looks over at that white haired guy who we know is Hoshiyumi, but I don't think we've gotten a name for him yet. No, okay, yeah, him and Atsumu, but I'm going to call them by their names because we know who they are. Yeah, so he looks over at Hoshiyumi and says how great he's been, and then wondering who he is Because, again, like, people don't know Hoshiyumi. And so now I think it's time for us to pause.

em

17:13

I, we do have to pause. I do also want to say really quick, before we go to where, I know where we're going. I love that like so far, every Hoshiyumi like shot has been so ominous, like the music is very ominous and he's just the seagull kind of guy I love.

rainbow

17:25

It's really like and I think it's such a good juxtaposition for the way he acts when we actually get to see him interacting with Kageyama, because it is like it's giving this, like he's so serious, he's this bad guy, and then when we meet him later in this episode, it's we'll talk about it.

em

17:39

I love, I do love Hoshiumi, I also said that sakaza is cool and who's in the show more, I'd be really obsessed with him.

rainbow

17:45

Yes, he's my, he's my type of character he really well, yeah, because he's, he's angry and he's dark-haired and he's gay yep, yep those are the three check marks? Yep, that's, that's all you need.

em

17:55

It's why you love sailor mars but no, so neither of us were in the fandom when this was first coming out, so I got to miss the delight of everyone shipping Komori and Sakaza, which very understandable like, especially like watching this interaction, like they're giving Sunshine and Grumpy, and how this guy like knows Sakaza so well and has like the handbook to him. Well, it's because they're cousins.

rainbow

18:22

Yes, and like I was just thinking, as you were saying that, I was like is a spoiler? Should we be talking about this in the spoiler zone? But I don't think so. We like we find it out later in the manga. But like I do want to talk about it now because and I'm not gonna lie when I I think when I watched this, like you know, I was watching it without like any information about what happens later and so I was kind of like oh, is this a what's going on here? And then I very like quickly got through the rest of the story and I was like oh, they're cousins. But I love, because there was like a while where people were like shipping these two so hard and then they found out they were cousins and I just I love it. I think that's funny.

em

18:56

I think that should happen more. I heard that like people were taking down fix and art, Like I just imagine, like people in their metaphorical yaoi bedroom having to rip down posters because they found out they were fucking cousins. Like, oh my god, and that is why well, should I say it now, like that's why Sakuatsu was born is because everyone found out that Komori and Sakusa were cousins.

rainbow

19:20

I think you can say that now. I think you can say that now.

em

19:23

I think that's a big part of it, so, and Sakuatsu is such a popular ship, and I just like to remind y'all that it only exists because you guys scrambled to find something that wasn't cousins.

rainbow

19:36

Yeah, something that wasn't related to.

em

19:37

Sakusa. Oh, so fucking funny to me. And there's right now. There's going to be some updates in August from Furudate about how the boys are doing now and people are. So people are like oh my god, what if, like people have wives but they're like no, what if there are more cousin reveals? And like the people are like, what if Iwo Oyi are cousins? They're reveals. And like the people are like, what if Iwo Oyi are cousins? They're gonna have to take down fics. Let me tell you something I don't give a fuck if Iwo Oyi are revealed to be brothers, you don't take down those fucking fics.

rainbow

20:06

You didn't know at the time like who cares, it is not that serious. Instead of taking down fics, here's what you do. You add the canon divergence tag.

em

20:12

Yeah, you say in this fic they're not cousins yeah, it's just not that serious, guys relax.

rainbow

20:18

I it's like part of me does. I'm like I want to look up some like pre-reveal Sakukamori fics to see, like, what were you cooking with? What was it like? Like what was going on before we knew about the? The familial connection oh man, that's just so funny to me and I I mean to be fair like these two look nothing alike. No, it's like I almost feel like that was retconned.

em

20:43

Yeah, yeah. That's why I'm just like who fucking cares? It's not a big deal, you guys, they're not real.

rainbow

20:47

I like it for the comedy aspect. I think it is funny.

em

20:50

I think it's fucking hilarious that people had to like panic and figure out other things to ship. Yes, anyway, I had to note that because I don't know if we see too much more of these two until later.

rainbow

21:03

Yeah, I think we're done with them for now.

em

21:04

But I do really enjoy their dynamic as cousins.

rainbow

21:07

She even let her last boyfriend down easy. She said let's just be cousins. Yeah, komori's, and to be fair again to the people who shipped them. They are giving sunshine and gloomy. Yeah, komori's, and like again. And to be fair again to the people who shipped them. You know they are giving like sunshine and gloomy yeah, for sure.

21:22

So, moving on from that, we are back in Miyagi and Anabara and one of the Shiratorizawa coaches, whose name is Saito Akira, who I believe this is the one that Anabara went to high school- with yes, their conversation really gives that. Yes, yeah, very much. So they're at an izakaya and they're it's, you know, after the training camp is over.

em

21:43

I think the boys are still doing their individual practice and they're talking about Washijo, and Saito says that the old man is changing and that's why he's having this first year training camp, and he also says that making Anabara the head coach of the training camp is also a sign of change I feel like this conversation really validates everything we were saying, I think, in episode two because I was just editing it, because we're we would talk a lot about how washi joke might be in this similar state that Hinata's in of like leaving his old ways and trying to change, and these two, really well, his coach, his assistant coach, really validates all of that by saying like yeah, this is not how he normally would be, like it's weird, we're even doing this camp, he's trying something different.

rainbow

22:21

And I think they go on to talk about like since the game with karasuno, Washijo's been different yeah, when they specifically Hinata comes up, which I think is natural for him to come up in this conversation and they talk about whether he is specifically the reason for the change and either, even if he's not the reason for the change, he's definitely on Washijo's radar and saito talks specifically about the look on Washijo's face when Hinata got that last point of the shiratorizawa match and we we get a flashback to it and we see saito's reaction. We still don't see Washijo's face, which I love that we never get to see it.

em

22:57

But saito says it's not the mortified expression he expected and then they get cut off because he starts, he's yeah, he's like it wasn't just like shock and disappointment, dot dot dot, and then, like the waiter comes with their food and they're doing that anime thing. We'll come back to that conversation in like the next episode yes, yeah, we'll talk about that later.

rainbow

23:16

And saitoo uh, gets raw oysters. And then Anabaro foreshadows that he's gonna be sick and won't be able to come to practice. Because, yeah, they bring up like, oh, don't you remember when our coach had raw oysters? And then like we had free practice the next day or whatever. Okay. So then we go back to the gym and the boys are practicing and that middle school setter is still there and he sets to Hinata, who manages to get around Suki's block.

23:41

Um, and Kogane is impressed, while Kindaichi and Goshiki look annoyed and or pissed, they're like unhappy about it. And one of the other players I think he's what he's, I think he's another of the first years um, I don't think he's from Shiratorizawa, because Shiratorizawa knows what position Hinata plays. But he says he's like oh, Hinata, I thought you were a libero. And Hinata gets all like kind of like, almost like uwu, about it, where he's like oh, is it because I'm so good at receiving? And the guy's like, oh, no, that's not how I meant it. Hinata's like sad. So then you know they're still doing, uh, you know, blocking, spiking and blocking practice, and Kindaichi and Kogane want to block too, and Hinata, of course, is all excited, but then Goshiki does like a nice little throat clear to remind everyone that it's his turn to spike, because he's a little fucking diva.

em

24:27

He's like ahem, and then they have that thing where the text is in the background to like describe his emotion, which is like I believe it's my turn. Yes, Because everyone wants to beat Hinata. That's what everyone's focused on.

rainbow

24:38

Yes, Everyone is like, oh, it's like. Oh, you thought Hinata's spike was really cool. How about I show you what I'm capable of? Also, it was bringing me back to when we did the Hun Haikyuu drag queen scenario with them and Goshki is like giving such a fucking, like pageant queen energy. In this moment Goshki's turned a spike and Hinata gets in position to like receive or actually to ball boy behind the three blockers. And when Goshiki goes to spike Tsukishima, all the blockers jump up and Tsukishima notices that he's the shortest of the three in reach and Hinata manages to get a hand on Goshiki's ball because it gets past the block and Goshiki's very smug because he got a line shot in yes, everyone was expecting a cross shot, but I just wanted to note the very cunty way that goshki like walks by them after he does that.

em

25:26

There was many a tiktok edit about that specific walk.

25:29

I mean again d capital d I v a honey and I don't know why it makes me laugh so hard. But so they went up thinking it was going to be a cross shot because of the way Goshki approached and Suki kind of like reprimands Kogane for not closing in on the line shot. It was wide open. But then internally he's like I too thought it was going to be a cross shot and I don't know what about. That made me like laugh, I don't know. Sometimes I think the seriousness of this gets to me in a good way. I love it, yes.

rainbow

26:02

And again, because you know, it's his form. His form made them think he was doing a cross shot. And this goes back again, I think, to episode two, when we overhear Washijo talking to Goshiki about his form giving him away. And now he like he heard that and now he's using that as a weapon. Yeah, that, and now he's using that as a weapon. Yeah, um. And then, poor sweet Hinata, he goes up to Tsukishima and he's kind of bashful and he's like, hey, tsukishima, did you ask, uh, me to play with you so that I would get a chance to spike? And he's like not even fully finished speaking and Tsukishima says no absolutely not.

em

26:32

Why you ever think Suki cares about your well-being is beyond me.

rainbow

26:36

I just and poor Hinata, he like walks away, looking just like very sad, Like he was, like he was like this was a moment. I thought this was a moment of friendship. It is not. No, it is not. It's like listen, Hinata, you're not Yamaguchi. He's never going to treat you like Yamaguchi. There's only one Yamaguchi and it's Tadashi. The reason that he asked Hinata to practice with him suki shima did is because he's really good blocking practice. He says that Hinata is one of those spikers that knows how to read a block and he'd be an idiot not to practice with him and of course suki would never admit that out loud.

27:11

no, well, I mean, that would first of all go to Hinata's head in a way that suki shima does not want to deal with, but he's absolutely correct about that.

27:19

And so this episode this is like the most switching back and forth between Kageyama and Hinata, because we're again back in Tokyo, another practice match is underway and the coaches talk about how impressive Kageyama is. Of course, because you know, he's like he's, he's setting, he's doing such a good job, and he, he sets for that Shinzen guy and he asks him, like how the set was, and the shinzen guy kind of gives him he's like, oh, I could maybe use like this instead of this. And Kageyama's like, okay, and we have komori, who's a libro in the background, and he's impressed that Kageyama can so easily translate what the players need to make his sets work for them, and then do it, and then do it yeah, that's exactly it. Like he's able to hear, like, which I think is um, something that Oikawa is pretty good at too nothing less from Oikawa's junior exactly and Kageyama is being so good and I'm so fucking proud of him.

28:10

He's being such a sweet little blueberry, he's like making a point to talk to everyone. He like goes to the libro and is like, hey, you know, keep giving receives, just like that, like that's perfect, and he's just like being so sweet. And the shenzhen guy like notices and he's like you know, he's like he's like wow, you know he's not really good at communicating, but he's making a point to talk to everyone. And then atzimu looks on from the other side of the net with what I call his nice guy smile. It's so scary, it's really creepy. His eyes are like closed. They're like fully, like half moons, and he's smiling and it's just like I feel like his eyes are closed because the smile is not actually reaching his eyes.

em

28:45

Yeah, and so he's smiling at kagam and it's like a little weird it's giving like when southern ladies are like what is it you, sweet sweet bless your heart bless your heart.

rainbow

28:54

Yeah, it's very bless your heart, which I think is very appropriate because of, like, we haven't really gotten into the prefecture. They're from the um good, they're from the region, yeah, um, and there's like a certain like accent, um, from that region and like it's in the way it's translated in the manga is like giving southern, and I will say I understand why they didn't give everyone in irnazaki a southern accent, but how fucking funny would it have been if the dub came out and Atsuma walked in and was like hey, Kageyama, I think you're real.

em

29:26

The fandom swore that it was going to happen too. I'm like no, sorry, your fan and fanfic creations are not going to translate. I wish, but no, no.

rainbow

30:03

I think there's a little bit. We'll get into it. You know, in just just a minute, kind of what Atsumu says to Kageyama, and I kind of see somebody who I don't think is the right choice. Um, anyway, so we're, the game starts up again and it's time for Hoshiumi to spike and his feet go boom and he shoots into the air and Kageyama is. There's a lot of people being impressed by other people in this moment because he's just like whoa um and we will have a lot to talk about in a couple episodes with this moment and what it triggers yeah, because he like watches Hoshiumi do this, and then he walks away and he looks quietly like excited, yes, and Hoshiumi like notices and kind of narrows his eyes.

30:38

he he doesn't seem like he likes that and we actually kind of jump right to that, because now the game is over and they're doing cool down stretches and Hoshiyomi approaches Kageyama to confront him.

em

30:49

And Shinzen. I just want to say Shinzen is like oh my god, another guy is trying to pick a fight with Kageyama, Kageyama is so unflappable and all of these guys are like what's going on?

rainbow

31:03

He's like I don't know the sky. Yeah, they're just like. They're like what's up with you, bro?

31:07

And he's like I don't know the sky, yeah he's just so head empty volleyball, only he like literally can't even tell when people are trying to be antagonistic towards him. Well, most of the time he can't tell. And so Hoshiyomi asks if Kageyama has ever seen him play. And Kageyama is like well, yeah, we, you know, I've seen you play since you got here. And he's like no like before, have you ever seen any of my matches or any of my games? And Kageyama says no, and Hoshiyomi is so pissed. He's like people are usually freaked out by me. He's like you should be freaking out, like people think they underestimate me because I'm short, um, and like. This is why I think it's so funny that we get these like really like ominous, like views of him where he's just like a fucking. He's just a silly little guy. He's very I love his personality, I think he's fun.

em

31:49

He reminds me a lot of Hinata. I feel like Hinata would be like this if he was really good, like he'd get used to these big reactions and then be disappointed if he didn't get one that he was expecting.

rainbow

31:59

Yes, I think the Hoshiyomi Hinata parallels are very strong and we'll talk about it a lot more towards the end of the season.

em

32:06

But yeah, and I'm sure there's.

rainbow

32:07

I'm sure part of Kageyama is like oh, this feels familiar. Yeah, definitely, but yeah and so? And Kageyama in response says he says, well, I am, am freaking out, but also I'm learning from you too oh okay, yeah, in the sub he says you're a great reference.

em

32:23

Yes, yeah, he's, like I'm. I'm storing up so much information to tell my boyfriend when I get home, like honestly, and Hoshiumi does not like that.

rainbow

32:31

he thinks that's annoying. And so, before we move on to the next part, uh-huh, I have to talk you better, I will, I will. It's a podcast, that's what I have. Next part I have to talk you better, I will, I will, it's a podcast.

em

32:41

That's what I have to do, but I have to talk. Let me pause my talking to do some talking.

rainbow

32:45

I have to talk specifically about Hoshiyomi's dub voice because it is wrong. It is all wrong In my opinion. Other people might disagree. I just this is not what I imagined. His voice it just doesn't match to me. I was just like there's no way he sounds like that and like we've talked about, like other dub voices that we don't think necessarily match, and like Kageyama's voice.

33:07

I think it's more for me, it's more the voice acting. That's the issue. I think it's some of the choices that are made. But at least like the, the voice at its base is like kind of deep and growly. But just, this is not the actor for my boy, Hoshiumi. And at the end, when um kagama says, like I'm freaking out, but I'm also learning from you the like ha that he gives so much better in the sub, um, honestly, I love it. I love the way Hoshiumi goes, huh, like I think it's great. I think it's so bad in the dub. I think the voice is just all wrong. I'm not sure exactly. I don't know if it needs to be like at a higher pitch or just more range, maybe I just I like immediately I was like no, absolutely not Incorrect. So I just had to say that. How does it.

33:51

how's the voice in the sub? Sounds right, sounds good.

em

34:01

I really have to like. I try to have really hard to bite my tongue when you complain about the dub, because how you feel about Hoshiumi is how I feel about every single voice in the dub. But I know you like it, so I try not to shit on it but like yeah, no, that's obviously way better in the sub.

rainbow

34:07

Yeah, no, I know, but like it's okay, you're, you're allowed to have your opinion about the dub, as I'm allowed to have mine, um, and I'm allowed to have my opinion about some of the characters being wrong. I'm like here's the thing is I feel like sometimes you act like I think the dub is better.

em

34:20

I know I just I feel your guard go up whenever I criticize the dub, so I try not to.

rainbow

34:27

I know. Well, yeah, because it's just like. I'm not trying to say that the dub is better. I don't think you are. I'm just like the dub has its merits, sure, and I sure, and I know you don't agree with that. I don't want to fight, I know I do, I know you do, um, I'm I do.

34:43

I do get defensive of the dub and I think part of it it's not even just you, but there is like in the anime community there is there are people who like shit on people who watch the dub and like I just think that's unfair. Like I think like people act like just like oh, if you watch the dub, like you're not really watching the show, and it's like I think in some shows like they do. Like I think like people act like just like oh, if you watch the dub, like you're not really watching the show and it's like I think in some shows like they do. Like I think like the Sailor Moon original dub like changes thing to a point where, like it's kind of egregious.

35:04

But I think like the Haikyuu dub is like for the most part, pretty faithful to the story and the important parts, and like I also think there's a little bit like not everyone is able to like watch something and read subtitles and be able to like process that, and so I think like calling people out for like, oh, you like you have to watch the sub or else you're not really watching it. It's like calm down, it's like maybe a little ableist, it's like let people watch whatever version of the show they want to watch and just like leave it at that. So I'm sorry, I take that out on you, I'm projecting onto you.

35:33

I'm not your dad anyway okay, sorry, but sorry, but I do have to say I do think they could have made a better casting decision when it came to Hoshiyumi. That was just like incorrect. Okay, so now, right after that, so Kageyama has like delivered his apparently devastating blow to Hoshiyumi. Yeah, so then we get HAtsumu coming up and he approaches Kageyama to say and this is what he says in the dub, which I like, and it kind of does like the line, in particular the way he said it is kind of giving like does feel like this should be said by somebody with a Southern accent. But he says he thought that he was as prickly as a cactus, right down to your bare feet, but on the court, you're just a goody two shoes. Not the dub getting poetic, I liked it. But yeah, he says you're just a goody two shoes. And Kageyama does not like this.

em

36:24

I think his reaction is so interesting, why, I don't know. It's just like he's been so unflappable this entire time. I just I feel like Atsumu did poke at just the right nerve. I think Kageyama has been struggling to figure out the balance and this is really illustrated actually in the manga really well, because he thinks back to getting rejected in junior high and then he thinks back to Oikawa's advice of giving the ball. That's needed and he's trying to do that. He's trying to be the best setter he can be.

36:54

And now here comes another very good setter implying that like you're just, you're kind of it's kind of reminiscent of what he said to Sakazawa of like you're being average, of like oh, you're not really like doing it right, or like you're being it was a very backhanded compliment Like in the sub.

37:09

I was very interested to see what the direct translation of what he said is. And he basically says that like, despite, like your first impression of being kind of prickly, like you're pretty well behaved on the court, like the word he uses is like obedient and well behaved, which aren't exactly compliments for a setter, and I think it implies that like you're not pushing your spikers to be better, you're just he's. He's almost become, you know, in reaction to trying so hard not to be a dictator on the court, he's become very servile and he's almost gone the opposite way and I think he knows that deep down, but, like Hinata, who's trying to find his spot on the court right now, he's trying to figure that out. And again, Atsumu is almost like a reinforcement of like yeah, no, you're not quite getting it right just yet.

rainbow

37:51

And I think it's very smart that you say like another very good setter, because I think if it was another position that Atsumu played, I don't know if it would carry the same weight and we haven't really gotten a lot of like Kageyama's opinion. But I mean, he's seen Atsumu play for this training camp. I'm sure he's like he respects him as a setter and like respects his play style, and so to have another setter say something like that and to say it in that like he was such a cunt about it that even Kageyama could pick up on it, right, like you just said, like he's being such a bully, yeah, we leave. After that. We have Kageyama, like doing his own, like huh, and he sounds pissed, he sounds angry, yes, and we'll talk about the look he has on his face at the very end of this episode. He's so frustrated, yeah, but anyway. So that's the commercial break and then we're on to the next part.

em

38:39

Yeah. So we come back from the commercial break and we're back at Hinata's training camp and he is being the best ball boy ever TM Waters and towels at the ready when they're asked for. He runs up to the second floor to catch another rogue ball and he's like a little gremlin happy about it, because watching from up here has been my thing lately, you know. It gives him a good angle on the gameplay and he observes that Kunimi is like Ushiwaka in that he doesn't make any unnecessary movements. But as he watches Kunimi fail to follow through on a ball going long, he thinks, oh, maybe he just doesn't like to move much.

39:13

In general, on cue, kogane scolds Kunimi for not going for it and not using this opportunity to its fullest to like. You know, we're getting to play with different players, we should go all out. And then we have Kunimi frowning really hard and we have again the text in the background. Kunimi's second least favorite phrase is let's go all out Again. Kenma, this is Kenma. This is also very reminiscent of kenma and yamamoto's relationship with, like, the whole guts thing. Yeah, which I don't.

rainbow

39:41

We haven't covered that yet. Oh, we haven't gotten there yet, I think I can't remember that's in an ova or if we get that later it's later in the season, I believe it is okay, it's one of those, um, but yeah, we definitely get that and yes, it is definitely giving kenma, and I just like I called it that like Kogane was not gonna get along with kuni, and I just like I called it that like Kogane was not going to get along with Kunimi no, they're too different.

em

40:00

They're very, very different. Kindaichi, as the volleyball boyfriend to Kunimi, apologizes on his behalf, and then we go off to the sidelines after this game. Kogane is like airing out his frustrations to Hinata about Kunimi's lack of enthusiasm, and Hinata recalls how he likes to conserve his energy but and like uses it in the latter half of games when he's needed. But then he says he should go after every ball and Kogane agrees he's taking it way too easy and that wording intrigues.

rainbow

40:32

Hinata.

em

40:32

Kindaichi and Swishy Hair Kid lament on how hard you have to work with two-on-twos. They're doing two-on-two drills and you know there's only two of you on the court so you have to keep moving.

rainbow

40:42

Well, in two-on-twos, which is exactly how Jozenji always practices.

em

40:46

Oh, that's right, I'll have more to say in the spoiler zone as well. And so then we have Kindaichi thinking that the one who has it the hardest is Yakuzawa, who is sitting off our six foot seven sitting off to the side looking defeated. And then we have two other random players commenting how, yeah, he's tall, but his skill is still at a junior high level. People don't really want to do two on twos with him.

rainbow

41:09

And these jerks are talking about him, like right in front of him. He's right there. There's no way he's not overhearing what they're saying and he already looks like I. It makes me so sad to see this big, like giant boy, like all hunched up in the corner looking so, looking so sad, and it's just like he just needs some help.

em

41:25

Don't be a jerk to him yeah well, kids love to do it. They do so. Now we're on to a two-on-two with Kindaichi and Kogane versus Kunimi and Ashira Torizawa Rando. And all I have to say for this first part of the game is like Kunimi is doing really well and he like gets a ball on them and he turns around and sticks his tongue out. It's so cute. He's like he looks like a seal. He is so funny. I would be his friend. Also, him and Kenma are best friends. I'm going to say it every time.

rainbow

41:50

Also, I have something to say. When Anabara is telling them about like, he's like hey, we're gonna do two on twos. Now he like has them all grouped up, um, and he's talking about something and he tells them to think about their next move. He says they won't win if they play without intention, and I thought that was interesting because he's the coach of a team whose only intention when they played was to have fun, and so I think it's very and and we know that in a bar is like the brand new coach to jo Zengi, and so he's breaking his team down to rebuild it from scratch and it feels like he could only get them like so far.

42:22

I think he was very much like focusing on like okay, let's get these boys used to going for the ball at every chance they can. That's why we're doing the two-on-twos. And so again, it's like god, I'd love to see next year. What does Joe Zengi look like after like a full year of Anabara coaching them? Like, seeing how he coaches at this training camp? Like, what is the team going to be like next year?

em

42:41

yeah, I really feel like second year if we had gotten it would be like Karasuno being very strong but having like setbacks of losing the third years and having new kids to train. But I feel like every other team has also sharpened their fangs too yeah, it'd be very interesting to see.

rainbow

42:59

Yeah, and then, yeah, Kunimi's little tongue thing is so cute.

em

43:02

I just love it. Hinata notes that in the two-on-twos, Kunimi's team always does well because he's observant and talented, but that's not all. It feels like his team has more time and this is where we have poor. Kunimi can feel the burning holes of Hinata staring from the sidelines. He's like, wow, he's staring really hard at me and another two on two, Yakuzawa is struggling, feeling left behind. He also has the vine thing with his feet, very reminiscent of Hinata in the early episodes, and he can feel his play getting worse and he thinks I can't wait for this two-on-two to be over.

rainbow

43:40

And he doesn't look like he's having a good time. He looks so stressed. He's constantly going for the ball but like, constantly, just like missing it or hitting it off. And like I do feel bad for him in this and like, and again I think they're on another break and then he's just like in the corner looking sad.

em

43:59

He probably needs his own ball boy arc, like I feel like if Hinata had been left let into the camp, he'd be feeling similar frustrations because, like Yakuza, his skill level is behind but he just has some like natural ability that's getting him there well, yeah, because that's the thing Yakuza didn't play in middle school, similar to Hinata it's just unlike Hinata, he has the strength and the height that they look for in volleyball players and he's able to do.

rainbow

44:19

I think there's like something where, like somebody goes to to spike it. Uh, I think they try to do like a direct and they think like he's not going to be able to get it. But he jumps and he's able to just barely get it. But because he lacks the skill, it doesn't really. He doesn't, he's not able to play it off the way he should be able to right so Hinata and Yakuzawa would make some good friends.

em

44:38

And here they come to interact. Hinata gives him water and Yakuzawa tells him he wishes that Hinata had been invited instead of him, which you can tell that truly came from the heart, in the way that like he seems to regret it as soon as he says it. He's like ah, idiot. Hinata obviously feels that way more than anyone else. But good, beautiful Hinata is not offended and I want to say he grabs his chin and like thinks about what Yakuzawa just said and he looks exactly like Oikawa. Like Oikawa makes a very similar face I can't remember when it happens, but anyway he's Oikawa and he says he gently corrects him and he's like you mean, you wish we both got invited. Right, Hinata is going to be a coach one day. That's all I have to say about this, this whole little scene here.

45:24

He points out that everyone who's invited has something to offer and then begrudgingly admits that without Kageyama he's a little, a little inconvenienced. And Yakuzawa says but I'm just tall. And Hinata flips out. He's like, what do you mean, just? And he like goes on about how cool it is to be two meters tall. How, if he could choose between, like, having a wicked serve and, being two meters tall, he would pick. Being tall. He's like I can work on my serve, but I can't do anything about my height.

45:50

And he does his thing, which is hyping people up without meaning to, because Suki chuckles from the sidelines and is like cheering on a rival. You must be confident and Hinata sees it as he's not cheering him on, he's scolding him, he's giving him a talking to and I think it's Kunimi or someone that's like no, no, I think you're cheering him up, but Hinata is fine with that. Yes and yeah, because I was like why? And he's like because I want to beat you. And we have another like scary, intense Hinata, like horror writer furudate and yandere. Hinata is so realistic, of course, I want you to be the best.

rainbow

46:27

I want to beat you into the ground and that like triggers everyone to be like, oh my god, this fucking kid like they just like know they're just like they're like he that he wants. They know that he has the drive to beat everyone and we see like people he has beaten before who are? Like god, fucking damn it. Like he, he wants to and he fucking will.

em

46:47

I said, everybody nearby is is pissed off.

rainbow

46:50

Parentheses they think Hinata is the coolest yeah, I have a couple things to say about this moment. I fully agree that Hinata is going to be such a good coach someday, and everyone out there listeners who are you know anime only that's not a spoiler. We don't like learn that Hinata becomes a coach, but I think that's a very popular headcanon for a lot of people, and definitely my headcanon that eventually he will become a volleyball coach and I think he'll be very good at it.

47:13

And yeah, Hinata is constantly pumping up his rivals. I also think Hyakuzawa and Hinata is a cute little ship. I've seen them as a rare pair. I think they're adorable and I think, like, even going back to the like you know they are on like such, you know similar levels as far as skill, but they've just got that like height difference thing and and I think, specifically, I could see, like you know, if, if you're shipping them like this is the moment when Hyakuzawa starts to fall in love with Hinata. I just think it's sweet. But I also have I wanted to pull up.

47:44

I don't know if anyone is familiar with Waltrance, who is a creator. They do a lot of TikToks, instagram reels. They talk about Haikyuu a lot. That's what they become popular for. He, I should say I met him at anime con nyc one time. Oh yeah, that's right, you did, um, but I really I like his content. He's not necessarily a shipper. I feel like sometimes he's made some uh boko aka comments. I think he sees it there, but like he really looks at it as like like he played sports in high school and he like really likes the camaraderie and the teamwork and I think what he he's has to say is cool. But he's also like he's like you people have asked before like, oh, how do you feel about the shipping thing, and he's like, if that's how people want to read it, like that's, it's none of my business, it's not which, like everyone should have that opinion.

em

48:27

Like if even if you're not a shipper, let other people be shippers and that's why we do this podcast, and I feel like people who probably think shipping is stupid would look at us and be like, oh so you're gonna make the show about shipping, but it's like no, it's an amazing story and also you can indulge in the shipping and still like respect and enjoy the story for what it is also, I feel like the way that we talk about it.

rainbow

48:47

It's clear we're not making it all about shipping, because we talk so much about all the aspects of the show. We just it's like, literally we're talking about everything everyone else is talking about. We just add an extra gay layer. That, I think, makes it a little bit more fun. Yes, yeah, so I specifically and I'll link to this post, but it's an Instagram reel and it's talking about the like, this scene and like the visuals of it in particular, and this is I'm gonna quote, uh, what Waltran says here. He says Hinata electing to crouch down to literally get on Hyakuzawa's level is such a good visual as one who is usually spoken down to, Hinata realizes the power dynamic and chooses to meet Hyakuzawa at the level he's at. It might not seem like much, but this shot does a lot to characterize Hinata by showing empathy and understanding Hinata's only chance to look down on Hyakuzawa, who was actively bringing himself down, and Hinata chooses to come down and lift his peer up.

em

49:36

Hinata is just really kind. I don't know. There's not like a vindictive bone in his body.

rainbow

49:41

Literally, unless it comes to Kakeyama. And even then I feel like it's not vindictive. It's just like I don't even know what it is.

em

49:47

It's just a rivalry, it's the rivalry.

rainbow

49:49

That's his true rival. Yeah, it's. I think I've said it before. Like everyone wants to be rivals with Hinata, Hinata is rivals with Kakeyama Yep. Like everyone is a rival to Hinata, Hinata is a rival to.

em

50:00

Kageyama Hinata just looks at everyone as like fun, practice and opportunities to get better, instead of like things that are in his way.

rainbow

50:08

Yes, and that theme comes up again later in the season when we get to nationals, and that'll be fun to talk about. So, yeah, I definitely wanted to share that and then. So I think we get back into the two on two match, right.

em

50:26

Well. So Hinata asks yakuzawa to try something in the next game, and so we fast forward to that game. And as yakuzawa is going for the ball, Hinata shouts out let's take it easy. And you can see yakuzawa take a breath and like relax his shoulders and he does a really high pass. And anabara like kind of makes a face, like oh, and he thinks how it's easy to forget a simple truth in a chaotic match.

50:44

But when you take it easy and make time for yourself, it also gives your teammate a chance to take it easy too. And so then we flash right back to five minutes before of Hinata telling Yakuzawa all you have to do is make the first pass as high as possible, like Kunami does. By doing that, the fast and stressful rhythm of the game will get a little easier, because you know he gives a really high pass. So he's giving literally giving him and his teammate like a breath and swishy hair can like get ready for the ball and everything. And we even see a reaction from Washijo, which has not he's never really shown much emotion. And this time he's covering the lower half of his face and I see the intrigue there. I think he's like oh shit.

rainbow

51:22

Well, his like eyes are widened in shock. It's very clear that he was not like. I think when Hinata said that and then when Hyakuzawa did that, I think he just was like, oh my God, like I can't do it because I'm on a podcast and I can't cover my mouth, but like it's just. Like it's just. I like totally understand the reaction. He like was not prepared for that. He's like now the kid is out coaching me.

em

51:43

Yeah, fucking for real, because yeah again, like just more to say that I think Hinata would be an excellent coach. He's so positive and like he just wants to help people.

rainbow

51:52

Yeah and I want to talk real quick about um Hinata's reaction to Hyakuzawa. Doing this like because, like they get the point and it's great and Hinata's so excited and in the dub this is a little bit of a dub slander for me, but he says you're so freaking tall, you beast. And then he says something like that's my main man and I was like please don't Please don't do that I don't know what he said in the cell, but it certainly wasn't that.

em

52:19

All I had noted was that they have a very cute high five after.

rainbow

52:22

They do yeah well, I think he says the like my man thing and then they do their high five and it's just very cute.

em

52:27

And now we have Kogane with Hinata on the sidelines staring at Kunimi, because Hinata really got all of this idea from watching Kunimi and Kogane is so adorable and he's like, oh so I should do what Hinata does and I should watch Kunimi.

rainbow

52:40

And poor Kunimi is just like now.

em

52:42

They're both staring at me and again it's like how he said in, I think, episode two, where it's like you kind of forget that Kunimi and Kindaichi are very good volleyball players and I feel like this episode really highlighted Kunimi's strengths. And like again, like Kenma drink, every time I compare Kunimi to Kenma Drink, every time I compare Kunimi to Kenma, like they may seem like they're lazy or not doing much, but like their brain they're playing chess or they're playing checkers.

rainbow

53:06

Yeah, exactly, except don't drink, because you'll get alcohol poisoning.

em

53:10

There's only like five to seven times. So then we end the episode back at the Tokyo training camp, where Kageyama is just like standing on the court, looking frustrated, frowning very hard for Kageyama is just like standing on the court, looking frustrated, frowning very hard for Kageyama well and like he's got this like angry pinched expression.

rainbow

53:28

It's like to me, like, I think, Kageyama his confusion often shows up as anger.

em

53:35

I think he's both angry and confused there's been fics where it's like Hinata can read the different kinds of frowns of Kageyama and yeah, there are different frowns. Yeah, this is a very confused frown and just like I think, trying to figure out, like, okay, then, what, what, what am I supposed to do? I'm not supposed to be a dictator, but I can't be too nice. Like then what, what? And well, that's a journey that he'll go on throughout the season.

rainbow

53:58

Yes, well, because now that's the end of the episode. We end on Kageyama's angry, pinched face, and that's it.

em

54:03

That's the episode, and so now it's time for manga versus anime. This episode covers chapters 215 to 217, although I will just point out that they do bring in some stuff from the next episode with Kageyama in like 216. So it's a little, but close enough. A little but close enough. So just a few notes. In the manga, broccoli Guy asks Kageyama, while they're having that first dinner and they're looking at Hoshiyumi, he asks Kageyama if he thinks Hoshiyumi is as good as jumping as that middle blocker of yours. That is his Thank you. And Kageyama says no, he's better than Hinata. This is widely misinterpreted, admittedly by, I think, the younger fans. Like I see on TikTok, people make this very angsty. They're like, oh my God, he said he's better than Hinata because he is, and they're missing the point that, like that's exactly why Kageyama is so intrigued, because he's like okay, I can use this guy to figure out how to make Hinata better, it's still all about Hinata.

rainbow

55:03

Well and like, and we all like I, just objectively, Hoshiumi, he, he has better technical skill, he jumps higher, like he was invited to this first year here, he not first year. He was invited to this U19 Tokyo training camp. Hinata was not. Like, I think and here's the thing it's he isn't saying that Hoshiyomi has more potential than Hinata, right, he's saying that like, yeah, objectively, Hoshiumi is better, he can jump higher, and I think what we, what Kageyama, does with that information and how he brings it back to Hinata, is very telling.

em

55:33

I think some of the brutal honesty is hard for like the more sensitive and younger fans to swallow without taking it like negatively, because it's not like a negative thing against Hinata. Also, broccoli compares Hoshiyomi to like a little giant type thing and I know that that chaps people's asses and I get it, but like, listen, Hinata's on his own journey oh, that's so interesting.

rainbow

55:55

I see I didn't really think about that, but it's like. Well, yeah, like, yeah, he is a little giant.

em

56:00

Like he is, he is acting the way that the you know, Hinata's star the little giant, and like, let's talk about that a little bit more in the spoiler zone, because I have a lot of feelings about the little giant thing and Hinata's goal of being like him, right, and then the only other note that I have for manga versus anime is that Kunimi's least, first, least favorite phrase is so pitiful, which I don't really know what the context for that is. I don't know if he's been called pitiful or what.

rainbow

56:25

Yeah, that's interesting. I wish we got a little side story about that.

em

56:29

I know, but that's all I got for Monka versus Anime. I'll bring over to oh, we're talking about Timothee Chalamet for Character Spotlight.

rainbow

56:38

Timothee Chalamet, how did you feel about your performance in Wonka? I'm making chocolate, of course. I'm making chocolate, of course. Oh my god, don't even get me started on that. All right, today we are talking about Sakuza Kiyomi, all righty, so don't worry. Atsumu and Komori and Hoshiyomi will get character spotlights later in the season, but we thought for this episode, it would be great to talk about Sakuza, because we get so much about his personality and a little bit more on his personality from the wiki quote.

57:11

Sakuza appears to be calm and collected, but very competitive and proud at the same time. He doesn't react much, even when he scores the final point for a match, but when he finds a player whom he deems a threat to himself, he focuses intensely on them. Sakusa is described as a very cautious player who will analyze a toss before spiking. A trait manifests, a trait which manifests itself in his daily habits as well. He claims to be a realist, which explains why he asks so many questions so he can assess situations. He's giving classic like he has anxiety, but he's like no, I'm just being a realist, me. I definitely wasn't thinking about you when I said that. Okay. So, moving on to his name, meaning His family name is Sakuza, which can be read as forever, early, interesting, and then his given name is Kiyomi, which means means holy minister, conclave, anyone, royal AU Conclave. Oh, we didn't even talk about Conclave. We did. We'll talk about it next episode. We had a lot to talk about yeah we did All right.

58:09

So, moving on to his character sheet, which I think is the correct one, I was having trouble finding a character sheet for him, but I think this is correct, so think this is correct. So he goes to Itachiyama High School. He's a second year in class three, his position is wingspiker. His height is 189 centimeters which is about 6'2".

em

58:32

His birthday is March 20th. Yes, and I am looking up because, okay, he is a Pisces. Yes, although that is like the last day of Pisces, so he's like on the cusp between Pisces and Aries.

rainbow

58:41

I knew that because a friend, one of my friends growing up, her birthday was March 20th and she was a Pisces, so I actually knew that one, but I wasn't sure, because I know Aries is like right after that right.

58:51

Because then one of my other best friends, who's literally March 25th, is an Aries. So yeah, so he's a Pisces. So he's a Pisces. His favorite food is sweet potato yocon, which I didn't think to look that up. But sweet potatoes are good. And then his current concern is, even though he gets enough sleep, people still ask if he's tired.

em

59:12

Buddy, I think you should go to therapy. I think we got some mental health issues going on.

rainbow

59:16

That's a very common theme in a lot of Sakaza fics.

59:18

I'm sure, which I, yeah, I think makes sense. He's got a lot going on there. Um, and then going on to his five point ability parameters, no wonder he is the top spiker in japan for high schoolers, because his stamina is a three, which I think that's interesting. His stamina is the lowest. His jumping, his power and his speed are all fours, and his technique and strategy are fives. Damn so, like yeah, holy shit. I think as we're getting into the nationals arc and we're seeing more character sheets for people in the nationals, we're gonna see a lot more fives, I think I think we do get more of him and his cousin boyfriend, uh, in their background um about like why he got into volleyball that's not till the time skip.

em

01:00:00

Oh, I'm thinking of the manga then, yeah, we don't get it in the season.

rainbow

01:00:04

Yeah, we get it in in the time skip he's an interesting character.

em

01:00:07

I like him. This whole arc makes me want to like explore sakuatsu and their personality types and how they come together yeah, I think they're very interesting.

rainbow

01:00:17

Um, yeah, I, I like Sakusa too. Um, I do think he's a weird little creep in high school. But you know, slash affectionate, I like him. I don't like his dub voice as much. I did find it. I got used to it a little bit more in this episode. It wasn't quite so jarring. Maybe that'll happen with Hoshiyumi. Maybe by the time we meet him again in nationals I'll be like Maybe his voice is fine, but I doubt it. Yeah, anyway. So I think that's it. Anything else to say about our curly haired Timothy Chalamet lookalike.

em

01:00:45

You're beautiful and I love you With his little moles. I love his moles and I love his hair and I love his face mask and I think he's cool yeah.

rainbow

01:00:53

I will say there's like very early on I think, in like season one or two, when they're talking about like the top spikers in Japan. They like mention Ushiwaka and then we see like the other two top spikers and we see just like their silhouettes and the Sakuzo guy looks nothing like what his original like. The original character design for him is nothing like what we see here. No, you're like I gotta cunt this guy up and baby he does all right. So moving on to the world's favorite game yeah, yeah, uh, who?

em

01:01:21

in haikyuu, this week's scenario is brought to us by you. Which fictional character would they be best friends with? Or what fictional character would they absolutely hate? And we're going to talk about Hinata Kageyama, tsukishima, Atsumu, sakaza, Hoshiumi, goshiki, kendaichi, kogane, Kunimi, washijo and anabara yeah.

rainbow

01:01:40

Yeah, we don't have to do all of them, uh, but I just thought I threw. These are like people that are in this episode yeah yeah, um, and I want to specify, so this scenario is brought by me, rainbow, not a listener named you oh, that's fair.

em

01:01:54

Um Hinata I just thought of this. Um luffy, from one piece they'd get along beautifully. We do find out later on that Hinata is a big One Piece fan. Actually his favorite character is Zoro, which I have a lot to say, but I think in reality him and Luffy would be a little besties.

rainbow

01:02:11

I think so I think most of like the other, like big shonen protagonists like you'd get a lot. He'd be best friends with Yuji, he and Naruto would have fun. Him and uh Deku yes, I can't remember his name. Yeah, I'm trying to think of anybody else. I'm trying to think of, like, even outside of anime, any fictional like he and Steven Universe, I think would be pals.

em

01:02:31

Yeah, that's the thing is like fictional character like oh my god, I am like frozen with choices here yeah, um, is there any fictional character he would absolutely hate?

rainbow

01:02:42

it's hard because he doesn't hate a lot. No, jerks, yeah, he wouldn't like a lot of the jerks uh out there.

em

01:02:51

So he would not like any of the other deuteragonists in the anime, although they would have a rival soulmate bond well, no, that's.

rainbow

01:02:58

The thing is that he would have a little crush on them, like you know, he'd have a little crush on zorgo. You know he would think bakugo is so cool. Yeah, he would, I think, sasuke. How would he feel about sasuke?

em

01:03:11

I think he'd be pretty frustrated by sasuke I think he'd be very frustrated by sasuke.

rainbow

01:03:15

I think he wouldn't like gara at the beginning with the bloodlust. Um, I'm wearing my gara shirt today. Um, yeah, okay, any, yeah, anybody else that he'd absolutely hate. I'm trying to think okay, let's move on. Kageyama, Kageyama's hard. Would he like anybody?

em

01:03:35

he'd like garnet yeah, he would think garnet is cool. I'm sure from steven universe Kageyama is hard because he canonically doesn't care about anything but volleyball. He doesn't play video games and he probably doesn't like take in a lot of media.

rainbow

01:03:47

He would love the whoever, the like he would love. Uh, air bud in the volleyball. In the air bud spikes back movie. Um, he'd love whatever. Whatever volleyball player. Oh my god he plays with. What's that high school movie about the volleyball players? And when the school burns down and all the girls, they used to be rivals and now they have to play together, oh my God, I don't know. Oh, I remember because I played volleyball when this movie came out and I loved it. I don't remember if it was a good movie at all.

em

01:04:15

I think it was giving kind of like bring it on, but volleyball, he liked those girls kind of like bring it on, but volleyball um, he'd like those girls I think he would be annoyed by most like sunshine anime uh, protagonists?

rainbow

01:04:29

yeah, he wouldn't like naruto. I don't think he'd like deku. No, I well, I don't know deku as well, but deku seems like the kind who would like try to be friends with him deku is a big.

em

01:04:40

He's like sailor Moon in that he's a crybaby.

rainbow

01:04:42

Oh okay, yeah, Kageyama wouldn't like that. Um, yeah, Kageyama wouldn't like Usagi either. No, she's not good with personal maintenance. Um, no, she's not. She's a mess, she's really not. Um, yeah, I think he would dislike a lot of characters. I'm trying to think of anything like any. Is there anyone from She-Ra he'd like Like? Would he get along with Catra?

em

01:05:03

I think you'd understand, catra. Yeah, you really would. I don't know, I, but I want to move on to Sekishima. Yes, I think that he would like the main guy from Jurassic Park and I think he wouldn't like a Jeff Goldblum from Jurassic Park.

rainbow

01:05:18

No, he would not, he would hate whatever his name is in that movie.

em

01:05:22

But overall he is rooting for the dinosaurs. Yes, yeah, he loves the T-Rex and the Velociraptors. Otsumu would love Regina George from Mean Girls.

rainbow

01:05:34

Yeah, he would Otsumu. Would love Lawrence from Conclave.

em

01:05:38

Oh my God, I think he would hate any boring characters.

rainbow

01:05:42

Yeah, he would hate. Yeah, how would he feel about Deku?

em

01:05:45

He'd probably think he's boring. Would he call him a scrub?

rainbow

01:05:49

Yeah, yeah, I think he'd call him a scrub. He'd hate Naruto. Well, I think he'd hate like young Naruto, I think like Shippuden, like war arc Naruto. He would think is like awesome yeah yeah, um, I think he would. I honestly I kind of think Atsume would have a similar opinion about Sasuke that I do, which is just like maybe get over yourself a little. Um, it's like we're all traumatized. You're making it everyone else's problem. Yeah, um, sakaza. I don't know if there's any character he would like, maybe Peridot peridot?

em

01:06:23

yeah, I could see him liking peridot. She knows what she's doing. Yeah, monk, doesn't monk have ocd? Oh tony shalhoub as monk yeah I wasn't prepared for you to pull out the month. Fictional characters, a wide range, baby, it really is there's so many of them?

rainbow

01:06:44

um, yeah, and then I think, I think he'd hate most other characters. He would not like naruto. No, um, he'd love itachi.

em

01:06:50

Oh, tell me all oh, remember how I hated itachi oh my gosh, the, the 100, 180 that m has done onachi.

rainbow

01:07:01

We were watching last night and he was there was just like a flashback to him and she was like, oh, he's so beautiful.

em

01:07:05

He is, oh my God, and I knew when I was like going on about how much I hated him, I knew I would change my mind. But I love to be confident in whatever opinion I'm currently having. She loves to be confidently wrong about how she's going to feel later in life. I usually am Okay in life. I usually am um okay, uh Hoshiumi. I feel like he would be really into the battle.

rainbow

01:07:26

Anime main characters. Yeah, I'm trying to think. I also keep thinking about oran high school host club and like who would any of these characters like from oran high school host club? And like, I think Atsumu uh, I don't know if he would like any of them uh, Hoshiumi, I think would love mori senpai, um, because he's big and tall and silent and I think he'd think that was I actually he'd like um, honey senpai, because honey senpai is short and tiny and cute and looks like he couldn't hurt a fly, but is actually an absolute beast.

em

01:07:51

Yeah I don't know, I have no basis for this, but I think goshki likes sailor moon.

rainbow

01:07:55

I think so I could see that well. I think, yeah, I think he. I think he has kind of like a similar temperament to her, you know like he's yeah yes, you know, he's, he's.

01:08:07

He's definitely like crying because he doesn't want to do his homework, he doesn't want to get on that bus, Kindaichi, I don't know. Yeah, we don't really have to do. I just kind of like we have Kindaichi, Kogane, Kunimi, washi, joe and abara, so is there, like there, any character you can think of that? Any of these characters would like Kogane, I think is similar to Hinata.

01:08:24

He's liking all the anime protagonists that's what I was gonna say I think he's, yeah, anyone who is like cool. I think he would just think like all of them are so cool and he would want to be all of their friends. I don't think he hates anybody. Um Washijo would hate all of the shonen protagonists.

em

01:08:38

I know Like what is Washijo watching? Or consuming media-wise the news. He's watching Fox News or no, he's I like. Maybe he watches like, I don't know. I'm sure there are soap dramas in Japan.

rainbow

01:08:51

Yeah, he's watching like the, like, the, whatever, like, whatever shows that were like that he liked when he was young. He's still watching them. Yeah, like that he liked when he was young. He's still watching them. Yeah, to this day he's just watching reruns and then anabara.

01:09:04

I don't know, yeah, I just threw him on here, but I feel like some of these characters I like put them on here and I was like I don't know if we know them well enough to know, but that Kunimi wouldn't like, similar to um Sakusa, like he wouldn't like any of the like loud, boisterous characters that are like who's? Who's most like Kendaiji? That's who he likes.

em

01:09:22

Yeah, that's our who in Haikyuu segment. Thank you, rainbow. Before we get into the spoiler zone, I'm going to hit you with our socials. We are on Twitter, instagram, tumblr and Blue Sky at FlyHaikyuuPod. You can also email us at FlyHaikyuuPod at gmailcom. That's F, f-l-y-h-q-p-o-d at gmailcom. And now we got to go up. We're climbing up to the spoiler zone.

rainbow

01:09:50

I love it. Can you hear me, rainbow? I can hear you from all the way up there. Okay, let's get into it. Honestly, there would be no yelling if we were at the top of a mountain, least not for me. My lungs could not handle that elevation level. Are you kidding?

em

01:10:06

me no, we would die absolutely um, so I said that I bet Hoshiumi reminds Kageyama of Hinata a lot during the brazil time. Like I said earlier, their personalities are so similar their shorties like. I feel like when Kageyama is quietly missing Hinata, he goes and hangs out with Hoshiyomi.

rainbow

01:10:25

Yeah, I bet he like asked to do like extra practice with him just for like old times. I have a fun headcanon. That's like almost a little like canon divergence, because I don't really think they're going out to like clubs and drinking and stuff. Where like they go to like some sort of like club and maybe Kagama's a little tipsy and there's like flashing lights and the lights like flash like orange and he thinks like Hoshimi is like Hinata for a second and like maybe tries to kiss him. Stop. Hoshimi's like what the fuck are you doing? Yeah, Hoshiumi's like I have a boyfriend and he's not my cousin. I just like stopped him from harming himself.

em

01:11:02

That's gonna be interesting when we get to that uh, I forget the story about him and his volleyball boyfriend, so yeah, here.

rainbow

01:11:08

yeah, here it's like a. It's kind of sad. There's like some self-harm there it's, there's a lot going on. I think this episode is so important for what happens at the end of the inarizaki match and really the whole match, um, and I just really love the storytelling here. Like I never really thought about the significance of getting both the goody two-shoes moment and the taking it easy moment in the same episode. These are both such important things for Kagehina and their separate character development and their development as players. Like Atsumu does not realize what he like, the monster he is creating by saying this Like he like and I don't think he's doing it on purpose, I don't think like Atsumu to me is like not selfless in any way, like I think he's like he's an asshole, like that's his character, yeah, and I think he is just being. He's just like being, like he's doing that thing that assholes love to do where they're like I'm just being honest, he's like you know who he would love Fucking from Glee Santana.

em

01:12:07

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah he would love Santana from Glee. They would get along.

rainbow

01:12:08

They would just be walking around reading people for shit and then just being like I'm just being honest, which it's like. Well, you know there's a difference between honesty and being a jerk. If you know there's a difference between honesty and being a jerk, if somebody asks for your opinion, you give your honest opinion. That's fine. But you don't just go up to somebody and say like, hey, I think you're being a goody little two shoes. Yeah, like that's being a jerk. But it is so important for Kageyama to hear that and I think Atsumu just thinks like you know what, maybe this guy isn't really like made for this level of volleyball. I'm going to take him down a few pegs and be like you're being a goody two shoes.

01:12:42

Like you know, whatever? I don't think he thinks that Kageyama is going to take this and like it's going to help him grow, and he also doesn't know about Hinata and their soulmate-ism and that Hinata is going to come in and be like hey, guess what? You can be the king of the court. Perfect, the way you are, babe, yeah, yeah, exactly, um, but yeah, so we get that, and then we also get the taking it easy, easy moment, and that moment in the anime during their game is so fucking good. I'm really excited. I can't wait to get to talk about it. This season is a rich text, just as all the other seasons are all right.

em

01:13:17

Well, should we get back off this mountain? I think so. Let's um, let's belay on down, belay on down, and uh, we'll see you guys next week. Until then, uh, fly high.