DO NOT discuss the source material beyond this episode. If you want to discuss future events or theories, please use separate threads.
DO NOT ask where to watch/download this episode or give links to copyrighted, non-fair use material.
DO NOT troll/bait/harass/abuse other users for liking or disliking the series/characters.
DO read the Anime Discussion Rules and Site & Forum Guidelines.
DO NOT ask where to watch/download this episode or give links to copyrighted, non-fair use material.
DO NOT troll/bait/harass/abuse other users for liking or disliking the series/characters.
DO read the Anime Discussion Rules and Site & Forum Guidelines.
| I don't think anyone can ever be mad at Kouya. The goofy just takes chances to get to know and make friends with others, in this case with episode 9. Haruka needed to open himself more as he's always had a serious mentality since the beginning. |
 |
| Haruka found Kouya right at the location of the business card, but the latter feels uneasy if the former just dashes off on his own, and therefore, follows him on his entourage to God knows where around Iwate Prefecture. The bond between Haruka and Kouya is quite the impact when he first photographed his candid photos earlier and destresses him while they're at it. The real reason why Kouya could not take photos of people, it was not because of criticism, and Haruka is tired of being kept in the dark. 12 years ago, when both Kouya and Saeko were attached, the inspired referenced Tohoku Earthquake got Kouya all bad when he captured the last moments of the girl last photographed with Shouzou unconsciously, and it was a disaster that even through the camera lens, the nightmare lingers that he can't capture single-person shots, which that shot went straight to the media which created the controversy. It's the same for the famous Eddie Adams documenting photos of the Vietnam War. https://www.businessinsider.com/eddie-adams-vietnam-war-photos-2016-7 Realizing that Shouzou has little time left, Kouya wants to redeem himself the same way that Eddie Adams did, which shaped part and parcel of the life captured of people regardless of their moments in life. To this day, people still thinking that Kouya is at fault, but Shouzou still keeping the photo that he took with him and Momo, that was the swan song to get him back on the racetrack. You're redeemed, Kouya Madoka, for the better. Impressive episode. |
 |
| Thank you. For another beautiful episode, handling its every detail with impeccable grace. |
| This was a beautiful episode that handled a difficult topic with such respect and care, Kouya really didn't do anything wrong and deserves to be able to live a life where he is not vilified |
| wow this ep actually really good, they really got in depth with the story behind it all |
| this was such a beautiful episode. haruka and kouya spending time together in the beginning, kouya telling haruka about what really happened during the earthquake, and kouya getting a little bit of closure about everything. i went into this show expecting a silly little racing anime, but ive been just blown away by how beautiful and heart wrenching and warm this show is. definitely an underrated gem that deserves way more attention. i can't wait for the rest |
My 2023 candies:      |
| I have never experienced an earthquake, but I found the flashback very disturbing. |
| Fuck, this one ripped out my heart and elevated this show in my esteem. Great drama, beautiful unveiling of trauma. Fabulous balance in the episodic development of the story. Back to the thrills and chills of racing for the final arc, I'd guess. Slice of Life, baby. Gotta love a beautiful take on reality, it can't be escapist fantasy all of the time. |
| With this episode all the questions I had are answered. Did not expect him to have known the girl a bit from before. They nicely explained why he could not take any pictures anymore. (Seemed like a kind of a PTSD.) The real life referene was interesting. Did knot know about that pic and that photographer. (From 1968 or so. I immediately had to google it - since they used real life names like Niki Lauda and Hunt it was obvious that this would refer to some real events as well.) Now let's see how they are going to end this - probably with a win for Haru and the other guy returning to racing again - after his stay in the hospital. |
| this ep was... disturbing, huh? but also emotional as much. one of the best so far. |
| To err is human. To purr is feline (c) |
| Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful conclusion to Kouya’s depression arc. Best episode so far. Definitely teared up there at the end. He’s been carrying all that pain and guilt with him for 12 long years. I’m so glad he’s finally free. He and Haruka had some amazing bromance moments in this episode. The perfect visitor at the perfect time for him. Seeing the flashback to the Tohoku earthquake was brutal. Much of the area was already underdeveloped because of historical discrimination of the region, you had young people leaving droves for Tokyo, Sendai and Osaka, and then you get this massive earthquake that destroys much of the existing area. Not to mention the tsunami. The moment Kouya captured in that photo is a very difficult and tragic moment, but it’s powerful and needs to be seen by people around the world. He absolutely did the right thing so people who are not Japanese or not from Tōhoku could see the devastation brought by that event. How in the blink of an eye, so many lives were forever changed. It’s rare that you can capture such a turning point in a photo like that and he did it. Like he mentioned the Saigon execution photo from the 60s which was particularly relevant for me since my dad fought in Vietnam, but people see one moment immortalised in a photo and form perceptions. They don’t think about what preceded or followed that moment. Kouya and the little girl appeared to be quite close and if there was ANY way he could’ve saved her he would’ve. The family just took their hurt out on him which was wrong In the end, the granddad telling him to continue taking photos and complimenting him was exactly what he needed to move forward. It was a little bit of a plot contrivance that all of a sudden after 12 years when Haruka is there with him now the grandad tells him it’s ok and to move on, but I’ll allow it lol. He died right after that meeting :/ as if he was hanging on for one last meeting with Kouya.. people get upset with the lack of racing scenes in this show; but I’m starting to think of the “overtake” in the name not being a literal racing reference, but also overtaking grief and moving past it. Awesome ep |
Marinate1016Nov 26, 2023 1:09 PM
 |
| let's be honest, the episode was good, it will be a lie if i say no. racing and photo should have been 2 manga, both together is not that great... the animation ,ost, seiyuu, everything was great but in reality , this is too much for the story... of course it is easy on my couch but ,at the end, we don't have enough racing story and the photograph story, the people yelling at him as if it was his daughter... at the end of day, sometimes it's better to focus on one story than have 2 different story... |
| if you hated this episode/chapter, just watch/read something else... 100k on IG (https://www.instagram.com/otakuweek?igsh=em5kY3Q4NTVtNXlh) Discord (https://discord.gg/vbZrk64uH7) for anime links / news / recom etc |
Reply to IAmVento
I spent most of this episode with a puzzled look on my face trying to figure out if this show is boys love or not
| @IAmVento lol, i was not ready for that... obvisouly not, maybe between a big bro and his little brother... |
| if you hated this episode/chapter, just watch/read something else... 100k on IG (https://www.instagram.com/otakuweek?igsh=em5kY3Q4NTVtNXlh) Discord (https://discord.gg/vbZrk64uH7) for anime links / news / recom etc |
| What's that Madoka? didn't you ask to heat the onigiris? 🍙 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ |
 |
| Best anime episode of 2023 by far. |
Reply to IAmVento
otakuweek said:
@IAmVento lol, i was not ready for that...
obvisouly not, maybe between a big bro and his little brother...
@IAmVento lol, i was not ready for that...
obvisouly not, maybe between a big bro and his little brother...
I wouldn’t say obviously not 😂 I’d say 20% chance of full yaoi ending
| @IAmVento if they do that i will change my note to 4 (lol) |
| if you hated this episode/chapter, just watch/read something else... 100k on IG (https://www.instagram.com/otakuweek?igsh=em5kY3Q4NTVtNXlh) Discord (https://discord.gg/vbZrk64uH7) for anime links / news / recom etc |
| Holy crap, that was...hard. They certainly didn't pull any punches with this episode. |
 |
| okay yeah yeah trauma, we geddit. just get to the good part already. |
 |
| At this point, it is not really about the racing at all. It's a pure drama anime concentrated on the two main characters, with racing at the sideline. Anyway, I hope Kouya will moves forward at this point and continue to support Haruka. We're still waiting on that podium finish and a sweet photo. |
 |
| OMG that was intense. Episode got me to tear up 2x. |
| Possibly the most emotional episode yet. The backstory of Kouya and Little Momo got me 😭 The stare into the camera seconds before she passed... I hope Kouya was able to overcome his ptsd after that final scene with her grandfather & seeing the photo of all three of them together smiling. 5/5 for this ep |
Respectfully ofc |
Hey this episode actually had racing! (lol) This said the set-up with the dual protagonist makes it at least different from the 1m of copy pasted sport anime, even if it ends up in the awkward zone where the photo drama ended up being better written and portrayed than the actual racing. Too bad many people aren't watching it, it reminds be a bit of Run with the Wind in term of "grounded" execution and general feeling. I guess not enough cute girls and underage slave love interest for the the average anime watcher nowadays. |
 |
| Wow I didn't expect to see that from a racing anime. |
Reply to Hedless_Bill
If anyone is still towing the misguided "Kouya is a sociopath," line after this, they're just being willfully dense. Absolutely wild seeing people trying to see the worst in these characters.
And yes, it's a character drama set in a racing backdrop. If you need so badly for it to be a straight racing anime, you have other options. Enjoy.
And yes, it's a character drama set in a racing backdrop. If you need so badly for it to be a straight racing anime, you have other options. Enjoy.
| @Hedless_Bill Character dramas also need to know how to introduce content that shift the characters into the direction the writer wants them to. This episode it's pretty much unnecesary padding and beating on a dead horse. _____________________________________________________________________ I agree with @helldraco We have been bombarded with Madoka's trauma since day one and it feels quite unnecesary to give a whole episode to just add up more unwanted context on how it happened, not to mention such a weak tear jerker. Good to see in the preview that we're going back to Harunaga and Tokumaru's issues in the next one. |
Reply to IAmVento
I spent most of this episode with a puzzled look on my face trying to figure out if this show is boys love or not
| @IAmVento Just because people care about each other doesn't mean they are in love. Can we not forget that other forms of relationships exist, not just romance? |
| This is way less about the F4 than I expected |
| We finally had some closure on Kouya's backstory, and I must say, it was executed beautifully. I won't go into a deep dive of what can be learned from this episode—in fact, you can probably find insightful commentary on some streaming sights—but we now have a clearer understanding of Kouya's perspective, with some aid from Haruka. There were also some realistic commentary that I love yet depressingly agree with. Firstly, great emphasis was placed on what photographers face, especially in times of tragedy, and the subsequent trauma that is associated with it. As how it was translated, "[Photographs] only capture that one moment. They don't tell the viewer what happened before or after I pressed the shutter." Secondly, because of this lack of context, people are willing to point fingers around just to be absolved from responsibility; an accurate reflection of the present. In terms of artistic choices, I'm glad the studio didn't add the original OP & ED themes, instead opting for a more mellow approach with traditional scrolling end credits, and the inclusion of a touchy historical reference was greatly welcomed. |
  |
| The "Saigon Execution" was an insta wikipedia read for me. Was not expecting to get cultured in photography this way. It also added depth to Kouya's backstory a lot. |
 |
| I also did not expect this series to go this route as I also thought it would primarily be about racing but regardless I'm glad that Kouya got that large weight off his shoulders and now I'm hoping/expecting to see more racing. What I'm wondering is what team will Haruka be racing for although with Kouya back I think it will be with the original team. |
| Words cannot explain how emotional this episode was to a point where I nearly cried at the end. I liked how this episode was crafted by giving us some feel good funny moments before getting to the depressing stuff. I'm glad Haruka was there to an emotional pillar for Kouya so he can finally move on. |
 |
More topics from this board
Poll: » Overtake! Episode 12 Discussion ( 1 2 )Stark700 - Dec 17, 2023 |
81 |
by LinZexu
»»
Oct 14, 2025 4:21 AM |
|
Poll: » Overtake! Episode 7 Discussion ( 1 2 )Stark700 - Nov 12, 2023 |
56 |
by LinZexu
»»
Aug 4, 2025 8:58 AM |
|
Poll: » Overtake! Episode 3 DiscussionStark700 - Oct 15, 2023 |
46 |
by LinZexu
»»
Jul 25, 2025 3:39 AM |
|
Poll: » Overtake! Episode 1 Discussion ( 1 2 3 )Stark700 - Oct 1, 2023 |
121 |
by LinZexu
»»
Jul 21, 2025 4:21 AM |
|
» The curseSofiaBulga - Jul 10, 2025 |
3 |
by Aminthesaiyan
»»
Jul 11, 2025 1:56 PM |