GO episode 8 and 36 parallels: the evolution of Takuten friendship.
I've always felt that my favorite Inazuma episodes are the downtimes between matches. Some qualify them as fillers, but it's truly when we see the characters grow, have doubts, that will eventually get resolved on the field.
I just finished my rewatch of GO episode 36 and I realized how much it mirrors episode 8. It shows how the two characters have evolved from one-sided hate to reciprocal care, how they have learnt to trust each other, how they have grown as teammates and friends.
Reminder: episode 8 is Shindou-centered. It's the episode where he's about to quit the club and Tenma manages to stop him. Episode 36 is Tenma-centered, he has doubts about the consequences of his revolution, there's also an Ishido Shuuji sub-plot I won't talk about. It's Shindou who manages to convince Tenma to push forward.
So, what about the parallels?
Taking responsabilities for everybody
In episode 8, Shindou deals with heavy self-guilt after the consequences of his actions during the Eito match: Coach Kudou's dismissal. As a captain, he shoulders the entirety of the responsability of the Team, even if as Kurama points out, it's Tenma who prompted him to make the shot.
In episode 36, the Team learns that rebelling schools have been shut down by 5th Sector. While the rest of the team uses that as fuel for their determination, Tenma is more sceptical, empathizing with those who lost their school, realizing those were the unexpected consequences of his actions. He shoulders the entirety of the responsability of the Team, even though the other players decided for themselves to rebel. Even if Tenma was the spark - and one could argue Endou was too - they still decided themselves.
This parallel is interestingly pointed at by Shindou himself during the episode.
In episode 8, Shindou flees from the club room after giving his resign letter to Endou. Tenma follows him home and goes directly into his room to persuade him. Shindou is unsure why he let him enter. At first he's not even listening to him, just playing his piano, and Tenma has to wait he's finished. Tenma feels uninvited to help Shindou.
In episode 36, Tenma flees from the clubroom. Shindou goes to his house to find him, he's not there, but arrives while Shindou is still waiting for him. He invites him to his room, share some food, and have a conversation as friends. Shindou is invited to help Tenma.
Once in each other's bedroom, they have a conversation, where their conflicting points of view clash.
In episode 8, Tenma's main feeling is determination and excitment, while Shindou's is anger. They disagree and the tone rises pretty quickly. In the end, the conversation gets resolved by blackmailing: Tenma will stop to annoy Shindou if he agrees to go to the riverfield with him.
In episode 36, Shindou's main feeling is optimism and hope, while Tenma's is sadness. Tenma exposes everything he's been through as somebody would to a friend or a confident. They do not have the same views in the situation but never does the tone rise. Shindou's tries to comfort Tenma by offering his own optimistic point of view, and reminding him of how much he did for him, how in the opposite situation (episode 8 parallel!) that's Tenma that cheered him up, in the classic "what would you say to a friend" style. The conversation ends with a proposition: go play to the riverfield together. Shindou does not force Tenma, he leaves without having his answer, and when Aki asks if it would be okay, Shindou says so because he knows Tenma, he trusts him.
In episode 8, Tenma blackmails Shindou to showcase his Fortissimo hissatsu. This places them in a hierarchical structure, as Tenma is the begger and Shindou the chooser. Shindou wears his captain band during this scene, emphasizing the hierarchy between the two. The presence of Shinsuke also highlights the age difference (which in Japan, is a big deal). When Shindou snaps later and they play a bit, they play against each other. One has the ball and the other tries to steal it. It's still confrontational.
In episode 36, Shindou invites Tenma to come to play without any considerations for the revolution, just for fun. He does not wear his captain band - iirc it's actually the only time in the season he does not. He voluntarily abolishes all kind of hierarchy between the two. He patiently waits for him to arrive, and when Tenma does, they play together. They exchange passes. As friends.
You might say that I overanalyze, but I found all this parallels extremely beautiful, and to me, it makes episode 36 the pivotal moment you see these two as genuine friends and not just teammates. They trusted each other as teammates at the end of episode 8; now, at the end of episode 36, they are complete friends.
Why is this soccer's kid show resonating so much with me emotionally.
