I don't quite get how it is that Tezuka allows Oishi to support him in the manga but not the anime, at least as far as the match with Ryoma is concerned.
In the anime, Tezuka seems so isolated. Like he won't let anyone close to him, even Oishi. I don't know *why* though. He's not exactly super-friendly in the manga, but I don't get the same sense of "I am a rock, I am an island".
I don't recall Oishi ever expressing anything other than outright disapproval of the idea, and the fact that he stays outside Ryuzaki-sensei's office, leaning against the wall, during Tezuka's talk with her instead of going in with him and voicing his support seems to indicate that he disapproved of it to begin with.
My impression was that he just stayed out of the office because this was a convo between Tezuka and Ryuzaki and it wasn't his place to be there for it.
His convo with Tezuka on the train after the match -- and I do realise that I'm working from a translation here, so I can't place too much weight on nuance -- seemed like he wasn't opposed to the match with Ryoma in and of itself, but the fact that Tezuka went all out during it, that he wasn't expecting Tezuka to do that.
The farewells really are very different. Although, I don't remember the sneakiness as Oishi's idea, originally; isn't there a bit in the manga's narration where it's referred to as Tezuka's idea to subtly inspire his players?
I don't remember seeing that, but if you turn it up, let me know. The way that Oishi seemed in charge of the situation and Tezuka's comment about his change in personality made me think it was Oishi's idea.
I admit to really loving the right-handed match between Ryoma and Tezuka in the anime; there was something very entertaining about watching two lefties play each other right-handed. And it also answered the question for me as to why Tezuka didn't switch hands against Atobe
Yes, I loved that too. And it did clear things about about the switching. Which no doubt confused a lot of people, since it was *during* the Atobe match that we learned Tezuka used to play right-handed.
I am confused, though, as to why Ryoma was so shocked by the right-handed zero-shiki; didn't he hit it right-handed against Hiyoshi?
I thought that by that time in the match, he'd switched hands. I don't have time to check right now, though.
The whole thing about being afraid of the memory of pain really hit me as something very true-sounding in a sometimes-ridiculous plot.
Yes, yes, and yes. It was so good to actually see Tezuka struggling with this. It humanized him a great deal.
Does the manga ever show his reaction to the Rikkai win? I seem to recall one of the players taunting him with the fact that his team won without him; I don't quite see why this is an insult, really. I mean, I get that it's "they don't need you to win", but isn't that a compliment?
I don't recall if it's shown; I'm not as familiar with the manga as with the anime. I suppose whether it's an insult or a compliment depends on your focus. But Tezuka is so dedicated to his team that it really does seem like a compliment, that they won't fall apart without him.
And that's where their win over Rikkai is even more significant. They are both without their captains, but Seigaku is the one that that grows stronger in that situation. (Though, frankly, I don't think Sanada would have lost if Yukimura hadn't actually been in surgery during the match. That was just too distracting for him.)
That's all the time I have for now. More replies later in the day! Thanks so much for your discussion. It's really interesting.
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In the anime, Tezuka seems so isolated. Like he won't let anyone close to him, even Oishi. I don't know *why* though. He's not exactly super-friendly in the manga, but I don't get the same sense of "I am a rock, I am an island".
I don't recall Oishi ever expressing anything other than outright disapproval of the idea, and the fact that he stays outside Ryuzaki-sensei's office, leaning against the wall, during Tezuka's talk with her instead of going in with him and voicing his support seems to indicate that he disapproved of it to begin with.
My impression was that he just stayed out of the office because this was a convo between Tezuka and Ryuzaki and it wasn't his place to be there for it.
His convo with Tezuka on the train after the match -- and I do realise that I'm working from a translation here, so I can't place too much weight on nuance -- seemed like he wasn't opposed to the match with Ryoma in and of itself, but the fact that Tezuka went all out during it, that he wasn't expecting Tezuka to do that.
The farewells really are very different. Although, I don't remember the sneakiness as Oishi's idea, originally; isn't there a bit in the manga's narration where it's referred to as Tezuka's idea to subtly inspire his players?
I don't remember seeing that, but if you turn it up, let me know. The way that Oishi seemed in charge of the situation and Tezuka's comment about his change in personality made me think it was Oishi's idea.
I admit to really loving the right-handed match between Ryoma and Tezuka in the anime; there was something very entertaining about watching two lefties play each other right-handed. And it also answered the question for me as to why Tezuka didn't switch hands against Atobe
Yes, I loved that too. And it did clear things about about the switching. Which no doubt confused a lot of people, since it was *during* the Atobe match that we learned Tezuka used to play right-handed.
I am confused, though, as to why Ryoma was so shocked by the right-handed zero-shiki; didn't he hit it right-handed against Hiyoshi?
I thought that by that time in the match, he'd switched hands. I don't have time to check right now, though.
The whole thing about being afraid of the memory of pain really hit me as something very true-sounding in a sometimes-ridiculous plot.
Yes, yes, and yes. It was so good to actually see Tezuka struggling with this. It humanized him a great deal.
Does the manga ever show his reaction to the Rikkai win? I seem to recall one of the players taunting him with the fact that his team won without him; I don't quite see why this is an insult, really. I mean, I get that it's "they don't need you to win", but isn't that a compliment?
I don't recall if it's shown; I'm not as familiar with the manga as with the anime. I suppose whether it's an insult or a compliment depends on your focus. But Tezuka is so dedicated to his team that it really does seem like a compliment, that they won't fall apart without him.
And that's where their win over Rikkai is even more significant. They are both without their captains, but Seigaku is the one that that grows stronger in that situation. (Though, frankly, I don't think Sanada would have lost if Yukimura hadn't actually been in surgery during the match. That was just too distracting for him.)
That's all the time I have for now. More replies later in the day! Thanks so much for your discussion. It's really interesting.