Posted inFirst Impressions Kuroko no Basuke

Kuroko no Basuke 3 – 12

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「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

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44 Comments

      • WarriorsHeart
        March 29, 2015,

        “a good long term plan”

        That’s a key phrase.

      • TresBien!
        March 29, 2015,

        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.

  2. emd23
    March 29, 2015,

    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.

    • Kaye
      March 29, 2015,

      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.

  3. Richie Kim
    March 29, 2015,

    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

    http://images.randomc.net/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke%203%20-%2012%20-%2050.jpg

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

    • Slaine the Best Shooter (Captain of the Kuroko hype train)
      March 29, 2015,

      …. 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.

      • Aschente
        March 29, 2015,

        Same. I didn’t know scenes were omitted. They probably didn’t want to go over 6 episodes for this match.

    • WarriorsHeart
      March 29, 2015,

      This episode was brilliant and coherent considering how much of the original source material was taken out.

    • Aschente
      March 29, 2015,

      2 Akashis? Sounds like he has a split personality. Now I’m even more excited for the flashback arc.

    • Reece
      March 29, 2015,

      Knew Seirin would win, but holy cow was that intense. Longest 4 seconds of my life like seriously.

    • Hitler-kun
      March 29, 2015,

      He put his manhood on the line. Would have been funny as hell if he missed the ball.

      • Richie Kim
        March 30, 2015,

        Maybe it’ll happen in Season 3 NG Shuus.
        Aka-kun fans can expect more of their Emperor’s awkwardness.

    • Kaye
      March 29, 2015,

      Younger Teiko basketball team! They looked so cute as middle schoolers.

    • Cusack
      March 29, 2015,

      After this match I’m inclined to think Kise is indeed the best generation of miracles, aside from Akashi.

    • SexyNoJutsu
      March 29, 2015,

      So much surprises and I did like how they showed a lot of the game planning by Kuroko and Seirin. It felt a bit more strategic than the other games.

  8. Klein
    March 29, 2015,

    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?

    • Richie Kim
      March 29, 2015,

      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.)

      So here’s my prediction on which episode parts of Teiko arc will be covered:
      EP13-EP14: 1st year in Teiko
      [EP13 – Kuroko doesn’t get noticed until Aomine found him, which eventually Akashi discovered Kuroko’s presence though Akashi was the 2nd GoM to notice Kuroko; EP14 – A few months later, Kuroko feels like he’s ready to use Misdirection in a practice match for 1st time, and you know what happens.]

      EP15-16:1st official match for Kuroko (1st year)

      Okay, maybe this is a 7-episode hopefully. Anyway, some discrimination Kuroko gets from his GoM teammates and the coach, who is considered to be the trigger of the GoM’s transformation.

      EP17-18: 2nd year sees Aomine changed behavior that also trigger other GoM members to become heartless; this also indicates Akashi’s changed behavior when he told Haizaki to leave the team;
      Nijimura confessed about changing his position that he eventually became a bench player.

      EP19: After 3rd years’ graduation ceremony, things started to change drastically when Akashi had become who he is today. This also shows Kuroko’s “fault” on making his childhood friend quit basketball.

      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).

      • Klein
        March 29, 2015,

        Well I’m not sure if it’s confirmed, but I saw that announcement posted on the KnB fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/kurokonobasketmanga

        I do hope you’re right. The final match is supposed to be the longest. With 40+ chapters, and assuming, they’d do 4 chapters per episode, that’s at least 10 episodes for the final match.

      • Heike
        March 29, 2015,

        @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.

      • SK
        March 30, 2015,

        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.

    • Reece
      March 29, 2015,

      I hope everything gets adapted this season. I don’t think I could wait for a 4th season before caving in and reading the manga.

    • thomas
      March 29, 2015,

      We’ll probably get a new opening and ending next episode.

    • SexyNoJutsu
      March 29, 2015,

      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.

    • Richie Kim
      March 29, 2015,

      Sorry to say, but Kaijou don’t stand a chance against Rakuzan, especially when Kise injured his foot.
      But Kise said he has no regrets losing again to the one who is the 1st lame guy he ever respected.
      :]

  12. WarriorsHeart
    March 29, 2015,

    Amazing, Kuroko!!! Scoring the first and the final basket of this match.

    • Takaii
      March 29, 2015,

      A healthy diet of Kenpachi Fried Chicken and a ton of sweating does that to you :’)

  16. random viewer
    March 29, 2015,

    http://images.randomc.net/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.
    http://images.randomc.net/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.
    http://images.randomc.net/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke%203%20-%2012%20-%20Large%2034.jpg
    Kise is the definition of sportsmanship here.
    http://images.randomc.net/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke%203%20-%2012%20-%20Large%2006.jpg
    Awesome steals of the game.
    http://images.randomc.net/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke/Kuroko%20no%20Basuke%203%20-%2012%20-%20Large%2015.jpg
    It was really a great game to watch.
    http://images.randomc.net/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.

    • WarriorsHeart
      March 30, 2015,

      How do you post images? :S

      That’s a sweet smiley Kuroko picture at the top. Double thumbs up to Production I.G. to include that in the anime.

  17. random viewer
    March 30, 2015,

    You’re welcome WarriorsHeart! Glad it worked. See you around RC.

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