Synopsis
HAIKYU‼ TO THE TOP Part 2 kicks off after the powerful display of Atsumu Miya's skills and influence over the crowd. Inarizaki's cheering squad seems to interact with the game by messing with the rhythm of the serves, but Saeko comes in for the rescue. The Miya twins pulled off a quick resembling Kageyama's and Hinata's, leaving everyone on Karasuno's side stunned. Major national players like Sakusa, Komori, Hoshiumi, Bokuto, and Akashi played the role of the spectators.
Note: Because of the structure as a sports anime, I will divide the main body into three categories. The first one is the plot which describes the game itself and not the overall events, the second analyzes the characters, and the third refers to the themes. Beware of the spoilers!!!
Plot
The match was spectacular. It utilized rules, tactics, and movements we had never seen before. Inarizaki set the bar high, and the difference is blindly obvious. The players from both sides offered something fresh and kept ambushing each other with their unique skill sets. Daishou and Yamaka made sure to playfully update us with their expert commentary and let us take a break with their flirty exchanges. Saeko, the Neighbor Association, and the coaches also chimed in, raising awareness of the new information. I'll refer to moments that stood out for me:
Atsumu's volleyball and athleticism put many players to shame. For example, he positioned himself under a low ball two times and set it at the perfect angle and speed. Most people were shocked, including his brother. Kenma even stated that he wouldn't be able to do that due to his athletic limitations.
And did I mention the quick? It was supposed to be incomplete, but they caught Karasuno off guard. They didn't sync a couple of times, but when they succeeded, it was flawless. Inarizaki was the most chaotic and offensive team, mirroring Karasuno's style.
On top of that, Atsumu's unpredictability shows even more tasteful strategies like skipping the first pass and setting directly. Also, a refined tactic is luring your opponents to touch the ball while it's on your court.
Another remarkable game that kept this season original is Suna's unique positioning when he spikes. He bends his whole upper body and confuses the blocker.
Kita Shinsuke was one more player who raised the standards by being a solid defense specialist and Inarizaki's trump card. His volleyball IQ was beyond average, and he had a keen eye for reading the court. His personality, philosophy, and leadership took the cake though.
There are several more from both teams that I'll briefly analyze in the Characters and Themes sections because they are correlated with their development and plot progression. My point is that Haikyuu took a step forward in terms of sports representation, elevating the game, tension, and stakes. It certainly felt like nationals.
Characters
Here goes nothing. Do you remember the legendary ball boy arc in the first half of season 4? Do you recall Hinata being a klutz and scoring points bacause of the chemistry with our charismatic setter? Coaches, players, friends, and foes bugged him about his lack of abilities in different positions and justifiably so. He smacked his head, worried about his future, and took immature decisions that affected his team. Fast-forward to the current cour, the court goes wild. Suga cries, Daichi zones out, Nishinoya cheers, Kageyama praises him, and his opponents get inspired. Our crow Shoyo flaps his wings and flies!
What baffles me the most isn't that he finally receives, and superbly I may add. Hinata had been the happy-go-lucky character who was content by spiking and selfishly chasing the ace position. It's safe to assume that he had been fixiated to this mindset a bit too much. Now that he changed gears and adopted a new perspective, he evolved to a well-rounded player and he's happy to contribute with various ways like receiving and supporting. Tsukishima of all people trusted him and let him snatch the glory by funneling Suna's spike to him.
Next on the list is Nishinoya, who struggled with overhand receives and had his teammates serving floaters to practice. I won't lie! He's my favorite, but I didn't expect extra characterization, let alone a flashback and a victorious moment. Nothing could surpass his double receiver in the Shiratorizawa match.
Scared by Atsumu's killer jump floaters and punishing himself by doing push-ups, Nishinoya sat on the bench during a timeout. Out of the blue, he said that his fear felt nostalgic. Of course the coach and his teammates were startled. He continued with the story of his grandfather, breaking the vicious cycle of his countless fears and his lesson that he could depend on others. Soon after, Kinoshita experienced his first official loss as a serve specialist. Nishinoya stepped in, facing his weakness and making a solid overhand receive. He cried out and silently dedicated his win to his teammate.
We cannot talk about epic character moments though, without addressing Tanaka. The baldie and one of the most underappreciated members of Karasuno achieved the impossible, a clean cross-shot and a sharp line shot. Accepting that he was normal and not nearly intelligent was heartbreaking but he clenched his teeth and emerged victorious!
He certainly made his sister happy! Saeko is a character that also provided not just as a family member cheering from the sidelines, but a vital piece to bring the rhythm for Karasuno back on the court too.
The dynamics between Tsukishima and Suna were also interesting, exploring the mechanics of a rivarly between two middle blockers. Suna was on the offensive as a spiker, and Tsukki on the defensive as a blocker. This relationship expanded on the responsibilities of both roles, the different scenarios, and the necessary interference of other members. The humor was brilliant too.
Lastly, another power duo sprouts up unexpectedly, and this time from Nekoma. It's none other than Kenma and Yamamoto, the polar opposites when it comes to their approach on athletics and their personalities.
Kenma was depicted as the sloth and the brain of the team. He rarely goes all out but he hates losing, everything is a game for him with gravity as the final boss (lol). Unfortunately, he lacks stamina and muscle. On the other side of the coin, Yamamoto is the epitome of an athletic person, fit and sporty. Guts are everything to him, which Kenma was inferior. Naturally, they were each other's nemesis as the flashback hinted. There was no middle ground.
After several heated arguments, scolding from teammates, and a bucket of water, they peacefully coexisted. Yamamoto learned to use his wits more, and the latter fought physically more. In the present, they're on a first-name basis and make fun of each other. Who said they couldn't exceed their limits too?
Themes
Oh boy, it was a crazy ride. I'll leave it to Kita's profound speech to avoid paraphrazing.
During the Inarizaki vs Karasuno game, Atsumu and Kageyama displayed high-quality capabilities that every player would envy. Someone could argue that they are the absolute high school setters. We all agree on a surface level. There are natural talents, whether they are early or late bloomers, that we are no match. Is it true? Partly.
Inarizaki's captain went on a rant about people misapprehending the true meaning of genius. Long story short, an observer only sees the byproduct of hard work. Going through all the blood, sweat, and tears will definitely produce results equal to a "genius". Those people love their sport, art, etc to the extent that they dedicate their whole energy to master whatever they can. Hinata and Oikawa are also good references.
Another theme that the author conveys is the chain of inspiration that links everyone through causality. The most direct instance was Hinata spreading positivity to his gloomy team after almost losing. Seeing Shoyo celebrating his minor individual victory lifted their spirits and startled their opponents. He also touched Atsumu with his boundless love about the sport – the paralles between the two setter & middle blocker duos were countless.
Α perfect illustration of this was Tanaka and Kanoka. During their childhood, the girl was insecure about her height, but Tanaka considered it a blessing. He expressed his thoughts, making her love herself, and use it as a strength. Not only did she fall in love with him, but she is a better version of herself too. It was heartwarming how people can make your life beautiful by words and actions with symbolic value . The opposite can occur too, but Haikyuu went for the positive approach when drama is usually the way to go.
Art & Animation
This department had its ups and downs, lots of them. Some objectively horrible frames made me cringe, like the Daichi meme and several disfigured character moments, such as Suga and Nishinoya. This is the reason I deducted the final score by 10.
But, to give the devil his due, the art was pleasant, and there were some note-worthy animation moments. Tsukki blocking, Tanaka spiking, and Hinata receiving are some examples. Also, I feel that the animators love Kageyama, most of his close-ups are gorgeous.
Closing Thoughts
This season was a step up regarding the storytelling, fleshing out, and developing every key character. Inarizaki was a team I came to love, they felt real, and I rooted for them. My enjoyment peaked early in the season, and every moment impacted the climax. I think fans should give more credit and try not to let the animation cloud their judgment storywise.
Thank you for reading!