So, are you guys ready? After cries for more of the free-bros, our pleas were answered. What are some of the changes we can expect this time around? Less drama, more SOL? Wanna know what I have to say to that?
Please – keep it the way it was. I don’t understand how people could be against the drama because as far as I’m concerned, without the drama Free isn’t Free – it’s every other SOL out there. In any event, on to the episode.
Without a giant chip on his shoulder, Rin formally retires as the source of constant drama in the Free-iverse. The captains step down and they have a friendly swimming competition with Iwatobi which results in Haru and Rin setting both personal bests and a pool record. When you think about it, Rin has beaten Haru more than Haru has beaten Rin. With this (counting a draw as a victory for both), this makes it Rin – 3 Haru – 2. Who’s counting though, what is this a fucking shonen.
While I’m certain it’s no surprise, I love how Free interjects small bits of swimming trivia; for example, in freestyle you can actually do any stroke you want – the forward crawl is used most frequently as it is the fastest. It is not extremely uncommon to see the occasional butterflier in freestyle though – Throughout my decade long career in swimming, I had seen more than a handful.
Because I was a swimmer for such a long period of my life, it has had a profound impact on who I am as a person and how I would view a show like this. When you think about it, swimming has gotten a lot of notoriety lately – from Michael Phelps in 2008 and 2012, to even weeaboo shit like Free. Swimming was the only sport I was ever good at and ever enjoyed – I occasionally jump in a pool and swim a few laps for old times sake, too. I hung up my swimsuit for good in 2009 but that doesn’t mean I don’t have extremely frequent dreams about it – and do I ever.
BACK TO ANIME. Sosuke is the new badass drama faggot in this season and if his name is any indication, he will probably have a lot in common with Aizen. Thankfully, his name is NO indication at all so that previous statement is very false. Seriously, you judge a person on their name? How’d that work out for you? Goddamn, you’re such a Thomas sometimes.
