REVIEW: ‘Wind Breaker’ Episode 7 — “Fight To Win”

Wind Breaker Episode 7 delivers powerful blows and revelations as we dive headfirst into the fight between Sakura (Yuma Uchida and Togame (Yūichirō Umehara). Easily the most anticipated standoff, Wind Breaker Episode 7 grapples with the unexpected mid-fight reveal as we learn that there’s more to Togame than meets the eye. So much so that it completely undoes what we’ve learned of him so far, his real self seemingly hidden behind his glasses. “Fight To Win” has some explosively riveting action sequences, but it anchors itself in the emotional fallout of Togame’s backstory.

That said, it is, without question, the action that fully shines. We’ve seen what the series can do in the previous fights. Each laces themselves with a singularity that makes each combatant stand out as they try and take down their opponent. From Suo’s (Nobunaga Shimazaki) more classical moves to Sugishita’s Koki Uchiyama) brawler energy and hunched shoulders, each member displays a distinctive quality. Regardless, ever since the kinetic whirlwind of Episode 1, we’ve been waiting for Sakura to receive his moment to shine, and he does so with gusto in Wind Breaker Episode 7.

And it’s not just the viewer who fully engages in his fight. The Shishitoren members are just as excited, cheering before the battle with far more enthusiasm. Tojame is reportedly a fighter in a league of his own. And while Sakura is undoubtedly strong, there’s fear he’ll be overpowered. The fight smartly hones in on that fear as we watch Sakura become increasingly bruised and bloodied. The start of the battle is less of an exchange of attacks and more of Sakura constantly deflecting. He has to pivot and parry, roll, and dodge as Tojame throws everything he has at the other student.

In this fight, two critical aspects of what makes the series stand out get the focus. The first, obviously, is the action itself. There’s a balletic movement to the combat as the two deal with each other’s ferocity. They aren’t delicate fighters; each hit and kick is meant to reverberate with the impact left. This is done beautifully as we feel the way Sakura’s back ricochets off the floor, or his face is brutally slammed down. The generous blood spill captures the intensity of the fight as we wonder if this is the first fight Fuurin will lose.

The other aspect is how much character we get through these fights. Until now, this has been best seen through Suo’s approach to fighting. However, it’s Sakura this week, and it all comes through in a split moment. One of the most charming aspects of Sakura is his feral, house-cat energy that permeates his interactions. From her reluctance to meet new people to his reactions to kindness and warmth, he’s a colorful character who stands out against other protagonists of his type. But his absolute snarl and furrowed brow right before launching himself at Togame makes him truly stick out. The moment is brief but speaks to what makes this character so engaging.

Of course, his initial beatdown ensures that, once he’s risen against the odds, his throttling of Togame is all the sweeter. But it also brings forth the pivotal moment of the episode. Togame learns of his members having chased and beat up the Fuurin middle schooler. He didn’t know that it was Shishitoren who’d instigated it and, in a quiet rage, momentarily leaves the fight to punish those members before stripping them of their jackets. Sakura called Shishitoren a league of bullies, and Togame wanted to know why.

It’s a drastic shift from the character we thought we knew, but then it begs the question of what lines he’s okay with pushing. He doesn’t deal with mindless bullies, but he also goes along with Choji’s (Kikunosuke Toya) need to punish any member he deems weaker. We learn that, once upon a time, Togame idolized Choji. The latter is likened to the sun, someone who fights to become free. Togame never thought to contest Choji’s claim to the top spot but, over the years, comes to regret that decision.

Because he sees how bored Choji gets and how his animosity towards feeling caged brims over into violence towards his members. Togame stomachs it in the hope that, in due time, his version of Choji will return. It’s a powerful sequence that illuminates the duo and their friendship. It’s a necessary story element that expands upon the world as we realize that Togame might not be as ruthless as we’ve been led to believe.

The fight is still ongoing by the end of “Fight to Win.” Wind Breaker Episode 7 is a visually brutal installment as we watch Sakura face up against a challenger out of his depths. But it finds its potency in the dynamics between characters. To be more than the sum of its parts, the series needs to ensure it expands between simple battle stories, and so far, it’s doing this beautifully.

Wind Breaker Episode 7 is out now on Crunchyroll.