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All Out!!
Episode 15

by Anne Lauenroth,

How would you rate episode 15 of
All Out!! ?
Community score: 3.9

Last week, someone quit the team because of rugby getting in the way of life. When Jinko almost loses another member, it's once again because life keeps getting in the way. My reaction might be affected by weekly coverage of the show coming to an end today, but I'm almost getting as melancholic as the series itself.

All Out!! always had a sentimental streak with its third-years' "our last summer to accomplish our high school dreams" business. With Ise and Ebumi, the threat of growing up too fast takes on a less romanticized and, consequently, more grim tone, as both of them are very much aware that they won't qualify as college material. Their rugby career and all the precious fun and camaraderie attached to club life has a more immediate expiration date. Both of them already had to grow up earlier than most of their peers. It's surprising how much depth these guys can get in a cast so big, but when Ebumi basically pays for allowing Ise to postpone being forced to grow up for another year, I just want to hug these awesome bros. Staying on the team isn't the same as clinging to their childhood without giving back though, since they will have to carry the torch next spring as the new third-years watching over their troubled kohai. Good job, former brawlers, you've made your senpai proud.

There is a great sincerity in their interactions, and because Ebumi can show he cares without breaking character, he keeps the situation from getting too sappy. He also totally invented the DVD story on the fly, but it was so in character that he started to consider his options for real at the end, which was both heartwarming and hilarious. He's still a ruffian, but the perceptive kind, noticing something off about Ise's behavior before Hachiōji comes to visit. But while he's allowed to scoff at Ise, his teammates aren't – just like Ise can fight with his brother, but others have to show him the respect he deserves. Where many kids his age would feel entitled to do what their peers get to do, Ise feels obligated to be grateful to his brother as the one who put his life on permanent hold to raise him.

From an adult's perspective, it's easy to understand Haruki's frustration and anxiety. Clearly unhappy with his life and work (which probably involves a considerable amount of bottom kissing on a daily basis, making him look much older than 26), he lashes out at the kid brother he chose this life for – who still has the luxury of being carefree. I feel for him, but that still doesn't make it okay to act like a total jerk. In his defense, he doesn't tell Natsuki to quit school and start working, only to look for a part-time job, which I feel was slightly ambiguous in the subtitles. Still, when Ebumi rebukes Ise for defending his brother's behavior beyond reason, he has a point. Haruki's responsibility was honorable, but that doesn't excuse everything he'll ever do or say afterwards.

These individual confrontations were handled sensitively, respecting all the characters involved and acknowledging that human emotions rarely come so neatly labeled. A particularly brutal moment was seeing Haruki turn his phone upside down to avoid looking at the broken screen after his brother's desperate plea, only to deflect the possibility of sincerity with awkward jokes, making him appear both extra mean and helpless at the same time.

There was one instance, however, that saw this sensitivity thrown out the window in favor of a rather awkward exposition blurb. Haruki explaining their family situation to Hachiōji was not just unnecessary, but counterproductive for the emotional impact of the flashback later on. The episode's overall emotional punch isn't lost though, largely because of the music. Yasuharu Takanashi's score has been powerful throughout these 15 episodes, with the piano playing a special role in making important emotional scenes play out so effectively. The melody accompanying Natsuki's plea is the same one that made coach's lecture about Gion's selfishness so painful and honest in episode 7, and it's still pulling on all the heartstrings.

There was very little rugby this week – and All Out!! is taking its time with Jinko's progression from rookies and misfits to competitive team – but even though weekly episode reviews for the series end here, I'm fully committed to following their journey to Hanazono and graduation to the end. These guys are just too easy to root for.

Rating: B+

All Out!! is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.


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