My impression of the first season of Haikyuu could be described as "positive indifference." I enjoyed it overall, but the pacing was slow, the writing unbelievable (weirdo quick-attack my ass), and although the matches ended up being fun to watch, I couldn't understand why all my friends loved it so much (besides playing volleyball themselves).

Boy was I wrong.

Season one was the set; season two was the kill, ramping it up from 0 to 100 and maintaining that excellence for 25 perfect episodes in a row.

All the characters who were meticulously set up in the first season deliver massive payoffs in the second. This show understands what it is to be a young athlete better than any piece of fiction I've ever seen. Everyone can find someone to root for and identify with here. Whether you're the breakout star freshman year, or the bench warmer, the underperforming senior, the person considering quitting, or even just an adult who's never played before and recently discovered a late-blooming passion, there is someone in this show whose story will resonate with your own. For me, there were at least three. This show feels real in a way very few others have me.

But it also feels utterly fantastical in the most beautiful way possible. In my opinion, one of anime's greatest strengths as a medium is not depicting ordinary life, but rather enhancing it and portraying it under a ray of golden light. Haikyuu is also a perfect example of this. Teenage boys in real life aren't this nice or cute; teammates usually aren't perfect families of support and brotherhood; matches don't go this well or look this cool; and practicing can really fucking suck. But nonetheless, there exists some beauty, some joy, some perfect moment in every pursuit that keeps the athlete, musician, artist, or what have you coming back.

Haikyuu S2 ignores all of reality's ugly flaws and portrays those most glorious highs in a glossy sheen of pure, humanly unattainable perfection. Non-stop. For 25 episodes straight. Even the scenes where characters are suffering feel romanticized and desirable. That tantalizing golden experience is what I think make Haikyuu so universal, inspiring children to chase it and sending those who had in the past into waves of nostalgia. It's addictive. Like cocaine. Except instead of a drug that ruins your body and mind it's... healthy exercise and making friends.

"But wait," you might be protesting, "isn't that so unbelievably pretentious? How can you watch something that sparkly and still take it seriously and suspend your disbelief?" And that's what's so fucking magical about this show: it takes your ass into Perfect Magic Wonderland with its story and grounds you into it with its aforementioned characters. These boys are your boys. Yamaguchi's first service ace? That happiness is your happiness. Kei's wavering resolution and eventual comeback? His determination is your determination. Chikara's rise from bench player to sleeper captain? His pride is your pride. You've been in these players' shoes before. You understand them; you empathize with them; you are them and thus you root for them the same way you'd root for yourself. The hater in your brain might ask, "Erm, where are there parents? How do these kids have this much time and energy? What about college plans?" But you tell it to shut the fuck up. After all, they're going to nationals. And you're gonna watch them. And you don't ever wanna leave.

And just in case you weren't properly sucked in, the matches themselves are just truly a sight to behold. Production is hands-down amazing all around. The camera frantically swoops and cuts, smear-frames convey motion in its rawest form, scuffling and slamming and roaring sound design raises your blood pressure, and the OST: a wall of bass and drums and screeching jazz/power-rock/classical smash-up acts as frenetic backdrop of constant adrenaline. Charming character interactions on court and believable set-plays also lend a sense of authenticity, further immersing you into the action. When the crowd cheers, you cheer. When Aoba Johsai crows "ooooooooOOO LEEEE " as Oikawa winds up his serve, you crow with them. I didn't even know who I was rooting for half the time. And the writing??? Calling these some of the best-directed "fight scenes" in all of anime wouldn't be an understatement. Shit had me jumping.

Haikyuu is inspirational. Haikyuu is nostalgic. Haikyuu is just a really fun watch. But above all, Haikyuu is universal. Perspectives of this show are as diverse as people's own experiences with youth sports or activities in general, but anyone can relate to this show. Anyone can see themselves within any of the characters. Anyone can fall in love with these boys and their sport and their passion for it.

Maybe you'll reminisce about your old middle school soccer days and wish you tried a little bit harder, and wonder where you'd have ended up today. Maybe you'll feel motivated for next year's swim season and promise to give it 110% whereas you previously just scraped by. Maybe you'll feel inspired to try something new, and realize that your success is only measured by how hard you try and how much fun you have. But no matter what, you'll feel something. Some kind of empathy, connection, excitement, maybe even some jealousy. And if you don't? I'm sorry, there's something seriously wrong with you: maybe try getting that checked out.

I'm only on S2 :sobbing: how am I gonna survive the rest of this peak I'm gonna overdose