Scorching Ping Pong Girls – Episode 9

Buckle up folks, we’re watching some goddamn Ping Pong Girls. Our last episode of taut table tennis tension managed to stuff two full matches into twenty minutes, as Hokuto’s close defeat at the hands of the sadist Yuragi led into a joyous doubles match featuring the team moms. That match served as a celebration of pretty much everything this show cares about – bombastic, JoJo-esque sports melodrama, genuinely well-constructed tactical action, and a cast who are all head-over-heels in love with each other.

The match’s drama was smartly constructed around Munemune remembering to trust Kiruka’s instincts, though it also demonstrated Ping Pong Girls’ so-graceful-it-seems-effortless approach to tactical drama. The degree to which Kiruka and Munemune compliment and elevate each other was clear not just in their overt expressions of love, but also in the synergy of their play; Kiruka’s consistent, efficient movements control the battlefield, setting Munemune up to rattle their opponents with a devastating power swing. Scorching Ping Pong Girls has always offered a mix of sports action and lovey-dovey slice of life, but last episode was the first time those two instincts merged on the same side of the table, making for an extremely endearing spectacle.

And yet, for all that, it’s only now that we’re getting to the real payoffs of this tournament. With our team against the ropes and fighting a 2-1 score deficit, Agari and Koyori will each have to defeat one of their enemy’s strongest players, as Zakuro and Kururi at last take the field. Let’s see what madness awaits in one more Scorching Ping Pong Girls!

Episode 9

We open with a brief recap setting up our next match, Agari versus Zakuro. I’ll be interested in seeing how this one plays out, and the stakes of its drama. It made sense that the last match would be framed in emotional terms, given it was the reunion of Kiruka and Munemune, and it also makes sense for the next match to focus on Koyori and Kururi’s very different philosophies of table tennis. In contrast, Agari and Zakuro have interacted so briefly that this match could really be about anything

Very convenient storytelling-wise to include an opponent who loves to loudly exposit about everything that’s currently happening

I wonder if we’ll be getting more of Zakuro’s perspective on her relationship with Kururi? They could set up this match to illustrate the tragic imbalance of their relationship, and then use the next match to resolve it

“Stop spacing out, or you’ll miss the most heart-racing moment.” Agari is still a little bashful about flirting

We cut to OP on Koyori thinking about the reason she plays, leading into a shot of Agari’s serve. So perhaps this match resolves Koyori’s insecurity, through her being dazzled by Agari’s play

The title “Never Reach Me” is accompanied by Agari’s hair arrows. A clear language of symbology like this can be pretty useful, as Kunihiku Ikuhara knows well

The match is even at 6-6. Excellent song choice for this tense sequence – the low bass tones and trembling percussion create a sense of nervous energy, and actually sound a lot like table tennis paddles

Zakuro’s play transports Agari to a windy green field. Very excited to see how they fully express whatever her superpowers might be

We flash back to two years ago for Kururi’s backstory. Once again, the show uses near-greyscale to express Kururi’s unhappy life before she met Zakuto, just like in Hokuto’s backstory

Kururi apparently came from a prestigious tennis club, which earns her a lot of angry attention from her new club seniors

Her play scares all the seniors out of the club. Another nice shot using the geometry of the gym to express her isolation, as she stands in a wide empty space with the court lines converging on her feet, and only the shoes of her classmates visible at the very top of the frame

And then her classmates decide her strength can get them to Nationals, and ask her to train them all, with predictable results. “Isn’t this workload a bit much? Look, Zakuro’s dead again”

“All I did was do as they asked.” Kururi clearly has a lot of trouble reading past people’s words to grasp their emotional intent, and this sequence is portraying her perspective very sympathetically. She doesn’t mean to come off as obstinate or unfriendly, she’s just not attuned to social cues

And of course, Zakuro is the only clubmate who doesn’t abandon her. Her entrance brings light and color back to Kururi’s world

It’s a very natural setup for Kururi’s own match conflict. Kururi believes she needs to act in a certain way so as to not lose Zakuro, but the whole reason she fell in love with Zakuro in the first place is that Zakuro actually accepted her for who she really is. “Find people who accept the real you” is woven into most of this show’s conflicts

Charmed to learn Zakuro isn’t even naturally that good, she’s just practiced really hard

“In order to remain Zakuro’s ideal player, I’ll push myself to be the best!” Kururi, if Zakuro has already made all these sacrifices to remain your teammate, you probably shouldn’t worry. Of course, our insecurities never really care about the facts of the situation

So Zakuro’s power is Kururi’s stewardship over her – Kururi has nurtured her from a seed of a good player into an indomitable tree. Agari is metaphorically fighting against Kururi’s love for her friend

And now Agari is feeling exactly what Kururi always feels – the terror of potentially disappointing the girl she cares about. For such a seemingly effortless show, Scorching Ping Pong Girls is incredibly sturdy when it comes to its dramatic fundamentals and character parallels

Agari can’t meet Koyori’s eye between games

“If I lose, Koyori won’t get to play. If I lose, Koyori’s heart won’t race. Besides, I… I want to win, and feel my heart race too!” GO AGARI KILL ‘EM ALL

And so Agari whips out her backhand smash at last, evolving into an even more powerful form

This synth track is almost as adorable as these characters. This show basically has a chiptunes soundtrack

Agari keeps hitting her backhand smash, and Koyori is just fuckin’ losing it over in the stands

“As the captain, I have to win for everyone. Most of all, I have to win for Kururi!” Both of these contenders are so sympathetic and charming. Over-the-top villains are great, but I love these sports shows where basically every person you run into eventually becomes another friend. I think Chihayafuru might be my top pick in that regard – every new episode of Chihayafuru is like a reunion with a dozen old friends

Aw, Kururi actually bought Zakuro her signature ribbon. Though of course, she framed it as a “friendship fee” – the same lack of attunement to social cues that first destroyed her team seems to also make her unable to realize how much Zakuro already cares about her. Well, that, as well as the fact that she’s likely sitting on a horde of self-loathing so massive that it’s made her incapable of believing anyone could unconditionally like her. Hurraaaay for high school

Well jeez Scorching Ping Pong Girls, way to make me feel bad about the heroine winning. Zakuro tried so hard!

And Koyori’s conflict is indeed resolved – Agari’s performance reminds her of her own reason for playing

Koyori has a little puppy-themed wristband, of course

Koyori proudly tells Kururi that she plays in order to make her heart race and have fun with her opponent. Kururi scoffs at this, and vows to NEVER HAVE FUN

Ooh, I love the wild, disorienting fluidity of Kururi’s limbs as she sends her first return

“Your heart-racing ecstasy will never reach me.” I WILL NEVER HAVE FUN

And Done

The excellent matches continue through Agari and Zakuro’s high-stakes battle! This match was less of a highlight in animation terms compared to some of the others (I imagine they’re saving that for next episode’s battle), but was delightful in character terms, and offered a satisfying explanation for the bond between Kururi and Zakuro. It’s clear the two feel that they owe each other a great deal, but aren’t really able to directly communicate their feelings, and so instead express their appreciation as ferocity on the table tennis court. Zakuro was so darn charming that I ended up feeling kinda bad for her loss, but of course, without that loss, we wouldn’t have next episode’s bloodbath to look forward to. I’m very ready for the long-awaited debut of the terrifying Kururi!

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