REVIEW: ‘Wind Breaker’ Episode 6 — “Vow To Follow”

It’s impressive how much the latest series from CloverWorks has accomplished in such a short period. In Wind Breaker Episode 6, the series lobs another major fight sequence our way and works due to how established these characters are.

The leading Bofurin group, first years Sakura (Yuma Uchida), Suo (Nobunaga Shimazaki), Nirei (Shōya Chiba), and Sugishita (Koki Uchiyama), along with third years Umemiya (Yuichi Nakamura) and Hiragi (Ryōta Suzuki) are already so well defined. We understand their motives and attitudes, even if the series continues to piece together their backstories. That, along with the duo of Choji (Kikunosuke Toya) and Jo Togame (Yūichirō Umehara) of Shishitoren’s crew, makes for a well-rounded group of opposing dynamics.

This is important because otherwise, thrusting us straight into the action would defuse the tension. We need to understand their personalities before we are in battle mode. Because ultimately, who cares if someone gets the sh*t kicked out of them if we don’t know why we should care about them in the first place?

While Boforin is currently on a significant winning streak with Sugishita, Suo, and Hiragi winning their one-on-ones, even their triumph is impacted because we know their basic decency. Their kindness prevails due to their camaraderie. While their group is growing closer, as noted by Umemiya and Suo, Shishitoren’s tethers.

The primary fight in Wind Breaker Episode 6 occurs between Hiragi and his former underclassman, Sako (Chiaki Kobayashi). Through a flashback — the first for the series — we learn that after Hiragi stood up for him, Sako asked him to train him how to fight. Sako’s plan was to follow Hiragi to Fuurin High School and help get him to the top. However, those plans are derailed when Hiragi tells Sako that he plans to follow a different leader and that it would help Sako if she were to pursue his independent goals.

The flashback itself is well-done, anchoring the moment in critical emotion due to the score by Ryo Takahashi. While it doesn’t wholly reveal why Hiragi chose to follow Umemiya, we still understand the devastation Sako feels at losing someone he idolized. Or, instead, the loss of who he believes his idol should be. It makes sense then that he would end up with Shishitoren, a group that prioritizes the idea of strength more than anything else.

The fight itself is once again superb. Each of the three significant fights has demonstrated a keen eye for the specificity and details of their fighters. From Suo’s playfulness and dexterity to Sugishita’s brawling, no-nonsense nature, the animation has a detailed edge that keeps each player distinguishable. The same is true for Hiragi, who, after playing it safe, ups the ante and unleashes his full power. The direction is kinetic and stable as it weaves with the punches and roundhouse kicks as Hiragi demonstrates why he’s so high in command at Bofurin.

But what stands him apart is his compassion. While Togame wants his fallen member to be dragged off the stage again unceremoniously, Hiragi chooses gentleness. It’s something Togame calls out. But it’s what makes the most significant difference between Bofurin and Shishitoren. The latter chooses strength on its most basic level. Anyone not standing at the end of the fight isn’t worth it. Bofurin, however, understands the strength that goes into every part of a battle, including having to extend a hand to those who threw the first punch.

The details in Wind Breaker Episode 6 move beyond the balletic grace of the combat between Hiragi and Sako. We see it in their pair’s bruised and bloodied knuckles and Choji’s continued inability to stay still. We see it in how Sakura leaves his heart open, unbeknownst to him, as he tries to inspire Hiragi through insults. The show is endlessly engaging because these visual and character details enrich the story, immersing viewers into the world. We can’t stop and find faulty logic in such an exaggerated series if we’re too busy engaged in the said world — we accept it and carry on.

There are only two holdups. The first will potentially rectify itself, but there has to be at least a single loss for the Bofurin team. Considering how they’ve been building it up, there’s a chance it’s Sakura himself, considering Togame’s cruelty and ranking. While it’s fun getting to watch our heroes so readily win each battle they confront themselves with, it does lessen the tension. Not everything needs to be an underdog story, but for the sake of storytelling, there at least needs to be stakes, and one of them losing would accomplish as much.

The second is the needle drop in the final, rousing moments of Sako and Hiragi’s showdown. It’s too much. Too emotional and oppressive to the point where it yanks us entirely out of the moment. This seems to be an ongoing trend between this and Episode 5. Still, hopefully, the subsequent usage of a big musical moment is less glaring because it’s self-serious enough to the point of cringe-inducing.

Wind Breaker Episode 6 is another strong installment in the series. Bolstered by the strong cast that ground the sillier aspects of the series and energized by engaging action sequences, the series is an absolute blast. We care about these characters, making their standoffs all the more exciting.

Wind Breaker Episode 6 is out now on Crunchyroll.