Alright, this is more a plot heavy post and not so much of a shipping post but i wanted to talk about it.
A criticism I’ve seen a lot is that “this is just recycling s1.” This isn’t season 1; even though the setup resembles season 1. You can see even in the flashbacks between haru and ikuya in episode 2 that he and ikuya do not have the same relationship dynamic as rin and haru do.
Haru’s reactions are totally different, and honestly he was not as invested in ikuya as a rival in middle school (which by the way is in line with what happened in starting days). He and ikuya barely knew each-other and they didn’t have this magic swimming bonding experience, but haru still feels guilty for leaving as abruptly as he did. Not because he lost something irreplaceable to him, but because he abandoned his friend when he knew how much ikuya looked up to and needed him.
Ikuya was in a dark place before the events of starting days, and became very invested in haru. The fact that we don’t know much at all about how ikuya processed haru leaving, other teammates leaving/quitting leaves even more possibilities. We really have no idea who ikuya is as an adult, we don’t know much about him anymore because honestly we haven’t been given any information.
He clearly still cares; he has flashbacks that are honestly pretty emotional, but we don’t really know how HE feels about those memories. He tells haru it’s no big deal but is it? is he hiding anything? This is what we will be unpacking in season 3.
This is so important because so much of the season 1 plot revolves around rin and haru and their dynamic. That is not what we are being given here. As ikuya is given more character development AS AN ADULT we’ll be able to see where this story can go, because even as a younger person he is clearly not the same as rin.
There is also the fact that haru is not the same haru as season 1. He is much more outgoing and comfortable in social situations as well as being less prone to isolating himself when he’s upset. He runs when he sees a glimpse of ikuya and continues to chase him the whole day until they meet by chance. Even then he doesn’t run away; he almost immediately starts apologizing after saying hello; even though this is the first time they’ve talked in years. Haru of season 1? it took him the entire season to have the talk he needed to have with rin… THE ENTIRE SEASON; and not without help.
I don’t think it’s right to brush this season off as a bad copy of season 1, because fundamentally it can’t be a carbon copy. The parallels between haru’s conflict and resolution with rin and ikuya separately will highlight haru’s growth and the uniqueness of his relationships with these characters.
tldr; give s3 a chance to prove itself, because it is unlike anything the series has tried to do before (and honestly it’s the second episode who knows what’s going to happen).
Alright an amendment! I’m not sure how to reply to other people’s replies on posts but thank you @aella-a for bringing this up.
Regarding my comment about haru and ikuya not knowing each other very well: I personally felt that they didn’t know each other well compared to how well the rest of haru’s friends know him. I should have phrased it differently. I have to admit, I don’t remember starting days very well, but I did leave with an impression their group was more cobbled together than made strong by close friendship, but all of my interpretation is clouded by my own bias.
It also had to do with how the movie was paced, it made me feel a little like their friendship arc was rushed, considering previously others had been done over a full season of an anime. In the context of starting days in a vacuum, yes they did care about each-other but how well did they really know each-other? Yes they checked all the boxes but considering how quickly haru left the club, even in the circumstances that he left, I can’t help but think at least that haru didn’t care about ikuya as much as ikuya cared about him at the time (even unintentionally).
Which tbh (and this is off topic) I think lends more to a new and interesting story, because it just further emphasizes how much ikuya is not Rin to haru.
Thank you for your reply (even though mine is very late)!
would anyone be interested in a post just focusing on why haru’s development is not being sacrificed this season?
uhh i have two super long posts being written in drafts rn bc uh wow ppl r so angry? about this season right now and I don’t get it?
Yes, thank you. Dissing Haru for the sake Ikuya’s storyline is a bad move. Dismissing Haru’s character progression for the sake of Ikuya’s storyline is also a bad move. We’ve known Haru for 2 seasons, 4 movies (ok 2,5), novels, CD dramas, etc. We know how great he is, we have receipts and with what they’re doing they’re making it hard for me to like “new” characters, so don’t push it.
I wouldn’t mind Ikuya’s storyline if it was good, but I’ve watched three episodes of Haru running around school perimeter (I mean THREE!!!) and Ikuya swimming in his angst and lying in bed not wanting to do anything about his problems while I could’ve watched Haru going for his dream and doing STUFF.
I’m annoyed for so many reasons:
1. Haru was really lost in season 2 when he couldn’t find what he want to do with his life and Rin worked so hard to help him find his dream and put a smile on his face, and we were finally there, like I was so freaking happy when Haru at the beginning of the first episode was smiling and talking to new people and deciding to swim different styles and go for his future.. I MEAN LOOK AT THIS PRECIOUS CINNAMON ROLL:
(YEAH WE CAN FORGET THIS SIGHT FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON)
and now we’re back to the fucking beginning, I swear when Rin comes back he’s gonna fucking flip, like “I left you for two fucking months, you can’t even say ‘shut up bitch’ to some random guy who shits on Haru, disgrace.”
So basically while everybody is stepping up, Haru takes a major step back for now, which pisses me off to no end. Where is my bae’s good storyline?
2. Ikuya… I mean they want to go with this team swimming again, I guess, BUT his problem is not with Haru or the team leaving, he had panic attacks already in SD, when his brother “abandoned” him; he has codependency issues even with people who he hadn’t known for long like the team. In real life only like 1 out of 50 so-called friends stays with you for life (if you’re lucky), if you’re having panic attacks and depression bc your friends from middle school had other goals in life it’s not normal. No team swimming can help, he needs professional help. He needs to learn independence, instead of listen to a fucking creepy nanny his brother chose for him. He literally glued himself to him and doesn’t even care what’s going on in the outside world.
3. IF they choose Rin season 1 path with Ikuya its gonna be so fucking stupid. I hate everytime somebody compares these two because Rin has fucking goals in life, he enjoys swimming, he’s an independent person who now has a formed dream, who always knew that part of what he wants is swimming with Haru, that has never changed since the day he saw him. He was mostly angry at himself in season 1, and more importantly he has never blamed Haru for any of his life decisions. Season 1 was a legit fanfiction misunderstandings au. SO STOP FUCKING COMPARING.
4. I’m really feeling so sorry for Haru I mean, I don’t know if they’ll play out this situation in the next episode or if it’s the end of this scene. I think this is it tbh and yeah the fact that Makoto hasn’t reacted is just deeply disappointing, but on the other hand, I always kinda thought of him as good for long talks and hugs person if you feel bad, not protecting you from bad people badmouthing you I guess. I can’t imagine him saying “shut up” but he could’ve said “you know nothing about Haru” or at least something. But yeah sure, lets see Haru breaking, then talk to him when it won’t help already bc you didn’t deny Hiyori’s words earlier.
We never really thought about it because there wasn’t ever even remotely bad guys on Free!, but assholes won’t turn into plushies if you’re smiling to them, and trying to be friends with them while they’re crushing your best friend. So welcome to the real world, I guess.
But anyways I don’t even think he can help, it’s Rinharu’s problem which aparently wasn’t solved in season 1, and I kinda agree with that, because Haru needs to hear it from Rin not from Rei.
5. Good thing about all this is that I actually love where they’re going with Rinharu, they’re cleaning all the past mess so the road to their dream will be crystal clear, no guilt, no nothing, Rin will pick up his dolphin no problem, Haru is a strong man he’s gonna make it. I can wait, I have ships when nothing’s happening for… forever. Is it gonna be episode 12? OK JUST MAKE IT GOOD.
P.S. I won’t believe Hiyori’s sob story (whatever it is) after what he did so screw that storyline, too.
soumako central 