English Dub Review: Ahiru no Sora: “Tender”, “Earring”, “Fight For Rock For Life”, “Stop & Go”

Overview:

A guilt-ridden Momoharu will stop at nothing for Mr. Satsuki to be the team’s advisor once again, which could lead to a light at the end of the tunnel for him and his teammates. Then, when Madoka loses an important keepsake, she recollects who gave it to her and it’s significance. Later, Nao, Sora and the rest of the team get a glimpse at the challenge that awaits them in the Yokohama Taiei High basketball team. Lastly, as a student from Yokohama struggles to keep up with his team, Kuzuryū High develops their skills and Sora gets help from an old rival. 

Our Take:

One of the most beautiful things about “Tender” is how one is able to gauge just how much the team has grown over the past month. Momoharu putting his pride aside, owning up to his mistakes as a team captain and vowing to be better than the street punk he used to be, shows his re-ignited passion for the game and his dedication to those he let down. From Nao relentlessly asking every teacher at the school to become their club’s new advisor to Kaname rebuilding the locker room their team burnt down, this episode is also a great culmination of everyone else’s efforts that makes one want to cheer them on in the stands ever the louder. The VA work is also top notch with Joe Daniels somber and regret bleeding through Momoharu to Cameron Bautsh providing some much needed confidence in him and hilarious over the top yet also some funnily-delivered material as Sora. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the animation quality this time around, as these four episodes continue to have stills in spades. Hopefully, as the big game and end of the season draws near, this won’t be the case. 

“Earring”, on the other hand, focuses on Modoka in the aftermath of her rejection from Momoharu, in the first half. The lost item in question helps not only further Modaka’s character progression but also fleshes out her backstory in a meaningful way. She’s, thankfully, not being reduced to just a romantic love interest for either Sora or maybe even Momoharu and was given an engaging flashback. It helps shine a light on the dynamic with her older sister and is a welcome addition as it allows a more immature and insecure side of her to be shown. Over the course of the initial half of the episode, it’s also appreciated that Madoka goes through an arc that didn’t instigate a contrived relationship but instead leaves room open in the future for more potential romance. Also, while brief, the scene between Nao and Sora, on the train to the much anticipated game, not only showcases just how adorable they truly are but also how she has not been overshadowed by Madoka (despite her prominence in Sora’s personal life).

Even with a skilled, experienced team like Shinmaruko High taking a loss, “Fight For Rock For Life” feels like the calm before the storm, emphasis on the calm. This chapter helps set the stage for Sora’s morale and everyone’s roles in the big game. As per usual, their upcoming match against Yokohama Taiei will be a tough one, but victory doesn’t feel completely out of reach. Because of the camaraderie and experiences (namely the various losses and failings) that the Kuzuryū High team has accumulated, young Sora exudes confidence. It feels well-founded, however, as not only have the trials and tribulations had a lasting impact on the team but also in how one perceives them and their ability to overcome. Yokohama Taiei is incredibly talented and seasoned, but so are the other teams they’ve faced up to this point. Even with Nabe just starting to figure out his role on the team and tensions high between Tobi and Momoharu, there is no overwhelming anxiety in the air like past games. More so just anticipation for what’s to come. That provides a nice change of pace that contrasts what has taken place thus far in the series. The question still remains, though, of whether or not it’ll be enough, the Kuzuryū High team has never been stronger going into a game and that will undoubtedly play a role moving forward. 

“Stop & Go” caps off the series of episodes nicely with some great character progression on both sides of the court. Mineta, of the Yokohama Taiei team, makes his debut as a seemingly incapable player. It’s engaging to have the series focus on more self-conscious players as it helps ground the series even further and show the realistic nature of a team operating as a whole, especially with one as superhumanly talented as Yokohama Taiei. Also learning about how the more advanced players encourage, or don’t in some cases, aids in establishing how they’ve come so far in their basketball career. Gears are shifted towards Kuzuryū High efforts to improve. Tobi, a player that up until now has been viewed as arrogant but also skilled, struggling to change his selfish playing style is humbling and makes him that much more relatable. Along with Sora specializing in a new technique, at least inspired by Tarou, and Nabe learning under his tutelage, it’s awe-inspiring to see the team inch ever closer together as a unified front.