First Impressions / Kuroko no Basuke

「最高の選手です」 (Saikou no Senshu Desu)
“He Is The Best Player”

Even though a friend of mine decided to spoil what the outcome of this game would be, there was never a point where I felt “team a stole the game from team b”.

Everything On The Line

If there’s something that Production I.G. does well, it’s their ability to somehow take something that we mentally know is going to be awesome and then kick it up another notch. While there were a ton of things that were done extremely well like the pacing and the execution of that final shot, the little things like replacing the opening sequence with an epic montage to kick things into gear really managed to get me really amped up.

Getting back to the show itself though, boy was this episode perfect in every sense of the word. With everything building up to this point, we got a nice blend of action on the court and well timed flashbacks to help accentuate everything that was going on — all of which culminated together to create an extremely satisfying ending to what felt like an insanely long game. From Seirin almost conquering Kise’s Perfect Copy to the last second pass to Kuroko to seal the game, I was honestly surprised the show was able to do so much with the last 30 seconds of the game.

That and I don’t know how to describe the feeling of watching Kuroko sink the final basket to win the game. Among all of those mixed up feelings though is definitely a sense of extreme satisfaction. Also, it was nice to see Kaijo’s entire team engaging in such sportsmanlike behavior afterwards. Such good guys even after losing ;_;

Kuroko’s Dark Past?

I don’t even know what I’m supposed to say about Kuroko’s past and how it related to Akashi. As surprising as it was to hear Kuroko’s been playing basketball from a really young age, I was so angry to watch the episode cut to the preview right as Kuroko was about to hit the really interesting part! Whatever happened though, I’m dying to find out what Midorima meant by “two Akashis”.

Looking Ahead

After a lengthy run it seems that we’re finally about to hit the home stretch. With a national title of the line and more questions than answers, it looks like we’re in for a bit of a doozey. So while a lot might be up in the air, I think it’s pretty clear that whatever comes our way should be really fun to watch!

See you guys next week!

 

Preview

44 Comments

  1. https://randomc.net/image/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke%203%20-%2012%20-%20Large%2041.jpg
    Felt really bad for Kise here. ಥ_ಥ
    https://randomc.net/image/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke%203%20-%2012%20-%2043.jpg
    It was hilarious watching Kuroko react like that.
    https://randomc.net/image/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke%203%20-%2012%20-%20Large%2044.jpg
    And watching Hyuga trying to hold his joy back was priceless. Lol

    Nadester
    Reply

      2. It’s a common sports anime quirk to have commentaries and insights exist on an independent time scale. And the flashbacks and timeouts are not part of actual game time.

        TresBien!
        Reply

  2. Both Nijimura and Shige have now been animated. My life is complete.

    Also, this upcoming arc is both very long and very emotional. Prepare yourselves, everybody. Every question you’ve had about the series is about to be answered.

    emd23
    Reply

    1. I’ve always wanted to know how it started and Kuroko should get more character development. I wanna see him become the focus rather than Kagami. Let’s go Generation Of Miracle flashback.

      Kaye
      Reply

  3. Though there are few scenes from the manga for this episode are omitted due to time limit for this arc to finally end, it’s worth the wait to see the last moment of the match that’s better than what I expected from the manga scenes.

    Now, I know Teiko arc is gonna be a very emotional scene to watch, there will be some lighthearted moments you’ll somehow never forget the GoMs, except Kise who joined the next year,and Kuroko being as friends in the beginning of their school days in Teiko. :]

    P.S. Can’t wait to see the Chibi ones next week! XD

    https://randomc.net/image/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke%203%20-%2012%20-%2050.jpg

    https://randomc.net/image/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke%203%20-%2012%20-%20Preview%2003.jpg

    Richie Kim
    Reply

    1. …. few scenes from the manga for this episode are omitted due to time limit for this arc to finally end

      Really? I thought this was a page-by-page adaptation. I guess I’ll read the manga once this ends.

      Slaine the Best Shooter (Captain of the Kuroko hype train)
      Reply

  8. I heard that Teiko Arc will run from 4/4 – 5/23. That’s 8 episodes. If Season 3 has 26 episodes, that means only 6 episodes left for the final match.

    I’m a bit confused why Teiko arc has more episodes. If the Rakuzan match is about 40 chapters. How can they cover that in just 6 episodes?

    Klein
    Reply

    1. I don’t think Teiko arc will be that long since some are used for OVAs (if you can watch them online; if not you’ve to buy the DVDs of it; 1st one involves most of Kise’s POV when he enters the 1st string though there will be a few similar “deja vus” around ep 15, 2nd one involves Aomine’s POV when he “discovered” Kuroko the 1st time.)

      Show Spoiler ▼

      I guess it’s 8 episodes, and due to this new prediction I’ve made, there won’t be Epilogues for ep26 as Rakuzan vs. Seirin arc will be from EP22-26 (FINAL).

      Richie Kim
      Reply

      2. @Klein
        3.5 chapters per episode is just the average. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I seem to recall the Yosen and Touou matches both went at 5 chapters per episode. They’ll probably do that in the final match as well.

        Heike
        Reply

      3. Generally, action-focused chapters like games can be compressed more easily than dialogue/character-development chapters like most of the Teiko arc. Also, the finals match chapters used a lot of cliffhangers and reaction shots, so there’s more leeway in what can be cut.

        SK
        Reply

  9. And Kuroko saves the day again. I like how they integrated the OP and ED in between the scenes.
    https://randomc.net/image/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke%203%20-%2012%20-%20Large%2001.jpg

    I’m glad we will finally get to see Kuroko’s backstory. They’ve told almost everyone’s history so far except Kuroko’s and Akashi’s.
    https://randomc.net/image/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke%203%20-%2012%20-%20Large%20Preview%2001.jpg

    esdesu
    Reply

    2. This episode’s pacing was structured like a season finale and I was surprised when the ED starting playing. It felt just like 10 minutes has passed. Thankfully there was more after that.

      SexyNoJutsu
      Reply

  16. https://randomc.net/image/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke%203%20-%2012%20-%20Large%2031.jpg
    YES this is what victory means…to see Kuroko smile like this. Nothing beats Seirin’s determination.
    https://randomc.net/image/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke%203%20-%2012%20-%20Large%2027.jpg
    My heart stopped for those last few minutes of the game when I saw Kuroko with the ball. It’s only fitting that he wins the game for his team.
    https://randomc.net/image/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke%203%20-%2012%20-%20Large%2034.jpg
    Kise is the definition of sportsmanship here.
    https://randomc.net/image/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke%203%20-%2012%20-%20Large%2006.jpg
    Awesome steals of the game.
    https://randomc.net/image/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke%203%20-%2012%20-%20Large%2015.jpg
    It was really a great game to watch.
    https://randomc.net/image/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke%203%20-%2012%20-%20Large%20Preview%2001.jpg
    I am really, really looking forward to the flashbacks of Kuroko’s past.

    random viewer
    Reply

      1. First, I choose the image I want above, enlarge it by left-clicking, then right-click to go to copy image location, and then posting it in this textbox. It’s that simple.
        [P.S. There was also his baby pictures from the ending scenes…so adorable.]

        random viewer
        Reply

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