Episode 11 – “No Matter How Tall a Weed Grows, It Will Never Reach the Sun”
Hmm.
School club anime shows have a traditional training camp episode. BIRDIE WING follows that tradition by mashing it together with the “spartan” training program cliché. The one I remember best was in Yowamushi Pedal. The cycling team members needed to ride 1000 kilometers in four days. But the senior riders placed handicaps on the newest members. Here, Demon Coach Kinue put Eve through the wringer. At least Eve and Ichina, her official caddy, enjoyed five-star country club amenities.
BIRDIE WING used another sports anime tradition in comparing geniuses to dedicated workers. Kinue’s story of never becoming an elite athlete is a common one. She may love the sport, have the focus and drive, and even innate talent, but she doesn’t have the physical gifts. Athletic gifts aren’t only strength, accuracy, and a clear connection between mind and body. Gifts could also include sturdy joints, high lung capacity, height, or the ability to recover quickly from intense workouts. Kinue’s elbow tendons are susceptible to repetitive stress injuries. She could become a club pro or a high school coach, but she’ll never be a pro golfer. Her body betrayed those ambitions.
Heh.
Aoi plays a practice round with another high school girl. The Innocent Tyrant demoralized the coach! Aoi loves that long shaft! Amane still won’t let her use it, though. Aoi’s body hasn’t finished growing yet, so Amane doesn’t want her to hurt herself or learn incorrect habits. Ha. The sports theme of BIRDIE WING is that “selfish players are stronger!” Aoi’s mom told her that. Uh oh. Aoi’s grandpa took her away from Eve!
The opening credits have Eve’s Birdie Wing logo on the last golf shot. Then, we’ll see tons of Eve in this episode. Aoi pouts! She’s impatient to reunite with Eve on the golf course. Grandpa knows the solution to pouting. Cake! Do your best, Amane. Grandpa and Amane sit around feeding the audience information. Kinue suffers from “golfer’s elbow.” The golf doubles tournament is brand new. Seira Amawashi created the event as Aoi’s debut in the golf world. She better win! Grandpa heard the name Evangeline F. Kimishima from Amane’s lips. Does it sound familiar to him?
Time for Eve’s demon training! Oh. It’s not from Coach Reiya. Eve needs to get used to Japanese golf course conditions. Gain experience from grinding. Nice golf clubs! Ichina loves those carbon shafts. Ooh. Kinue will be Eve’s demon coach for three days. Aoi missed her again! The BIRDIE WING video game unlocked the Athena Golf Course.
Kinue needs to see Eve’s rainbow bullets. Eve rocks that Raiou golf outfit. Demon training starts now! Kinue throws that ball into the sand! Oops. Kinue caught Eve’s yellow escaping bullet. Back into the sand! Ack. Eve needs to know the feel of the sand and the grass to make her bullets work. Kinue figured out how to motivate Eve. Give her opponents to pierce their hearts. First Aoi, then Mizuho Himekawa from another school. BIRDIE WING sets up the tension for the golf tournament.
Insert song training montage! Kinue’s demon coaching continues with rough play. We needed more time at the hot spring. I hope we visit there again. It was so kind of Japan to rain on Aoi during her three-day training camp. Kinue loves her reputation as a sadist. It’s time for Eve to graduate golf camp by slaying the demon, Kinue. Ichina went through her separate training camp by learning Eve’s golf style to be her caddy. Kinue’s golfer’s elbow won’t let her play anymore, but she can still advance the best player to win. BIRDIE WING flexes its sports anime muscles here. The anime even adds a connection between Reiya and Aoi’s dad Kazuhiko.
Finally! Eve and Aoi reunited, and it feels so good! The epilogue shows the hole ending in a tie, so Eve and Aoi argue over who played it better.
Next time we’ll meet the other players at the doubles golf championship.
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