3-gatsu no Lion Episode 29 Review: Start of the Rainy Season / Hachiya

The start of the rainy season in 3-gatsu no Lion (March Comes in like a Lion) takes the spotlight from Hina and places it on Rei for an episode that brings the series back to its casual shogi roots. And, at last, we get to see Nikaidou again! I so missed that plummy rich guy.

Japanese Title: 梅雨の始まり / 蜂谷

Plot

Chapter 58 – Start of the Rainy Season

For the first time in many episodes, Hina takes a step back to allow for some necessary shogi matches. Her school issued are still there and will be returning soon, but they are not the main theme of the episode. Hina suffers from a mild nosebleed that was the result of the tension and anger that came after her meeting with that despicable teacher who is too afraid to take action against the bullying that happens in front of her eyes. Yet, while the scene with the teacher was important as to why Hina was desperate, the real purpose of the scene was to show how much her relationship with Rei has grown. The way they talk and interact seems more natural, as though they have known each other forever, close friends who respect each other and value their opinion.

Rei is determined to help Hina and the Kawamoto family in every way he can. He wants to be needed and to feel helpful and, in retrospect, part of the family he considers home. Now that he found himself relying on them to stay on top of the deep well of depression, he feels that it’s time that he makes his adopted family rely on him as well. Afraid that emotional support will never be enough, he wants to make more money through shogi and be able to support them in times of financial need. That need to be needed is what drives him forward and gives meaning to his life.

The first step to that goal is the semi-finals of the Newcomer’s Tournament.

Chapter 59 – Hachiya Subaru

The ‘Irritated Prince of the East’ managed to irritate me as well in the few minutes he graced our screens with. Yet, behind all that tongue-clicking and finger-tapping started with Rei’s own footsteps and the natural sounds that replaced the music. The chapter wanted us to focus on these sounds, irritating or not. The sound of the birds and the sound of a bottle and of gulping and of shogi pieces and every other sound that took place in the chapter. Yet, Rei managed to fight through all the distractions (if they can be counted as distractions) to a much-needed win and a scolding from his colleagues about how it was his own fault that they had to endure the ‘Irritated Prince of the East’.

Episode Highlights

Teachers: are not supposed to be like that. They shouldn’t be frightened, cowardice, unable to rise up to the circumstances and support their students. Teachers must be beacons of hope and aspiring role models. Teachers should teach and learn and laugh and cry and play and struggle with their students. Teachers like that are rare and are becoming more rarer in an age where we place no value on their profession.

Monster Parents and Kaiju Grandpa: The series can masterfully depict reality in such surreal scenes that seem natural. Imagination is a powerful tool that gives birth to all those fictional stories we love, but we must always remember that they are fictional. Yet, the associations of those fantasies are very real, as is the laser-eye grandpa and alien-dad. After all, what we create comes from the things we already know.

Friends: This was one of the rare times where Rei was able to comfort his friend. Nikaidou was racing with anxiety as he was preparing for the semi-finals of the Newcomer’s Tournament. Rei, in a state of zen that eluded him during the first two cours, urged him to relax and take care of himself, essentially calming him down.

Comments

3-gatsu no Lion knows when and where to take a break from its emotional torrent and settle down for a more easy-paced episode. This is its greatest strength and it lies in the decision to follow the chapters as the creator intended them to be. Until now, the second season feels like a natural continuation of the first. In fact, I don’t like to divide the series into seasons, and neither does the series itself. This is 3-gatsu no Lion, from start to end.

Ts ts ts ts tap tap tap

I don’t think we are going to see Hachiya anytime soon, and thank the Anime God, because I found his constant tongue-clicking and finger-tapping most irritable. I really can’t imagine going through a shogi game against such a guy. Rei is a hero. I wonder if he will be able to win the Newcomers Tournament.

Did you like Episode 29 of 3-gatsu no Lion? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to check the rest of our weekly anime reviews.