Ep 35. Drive B

The Prince of Tennis season 1 episode 35, titled "Drive B," is a thrilling continuation of the anime series that focuses on the exploits of middle school tennis prodigy Ryoma Echizen. In this episode, Ryoma is determined to defeat his next opponent, Akazawa Yoshirou, a veteran player with a powerful forehand drive shot.

The episode starts off with a tense confrontation between Ryoma and Akazawa on the tennis court. As the match begins, Ryoma quickly discovers that Akazawa's forehand drive shot is far more powerful than he anticipated, and he struggles to keep up with the older player's aggressive play style.

Despite Akazawa's early lead, Ryoma refuses to give up and decides to use his own signature drive shot, the Drive B, in an attempt to turn the tide of the match. The Drive B is a highly advanced technique that Ryoma created himself, and it involves creating a "corkscrew" spin on the tennis ball to give it incredible speed and power.

As Ryoma begins to successfully use his Drive B to counter Akazawa's forehand drive, the two players engage in an intense back-and-forth battle, with both of them refusing to give an inch. As the match wears on, Ryoma's physical and mental stamina is put to the test, and he must dig deep to find the strength to continue.

Alongside the main action, there are also several subplots that develop over the course of the episode. One of these subplots involves the rivalry between two of Ryoma's teammates, Eiji and Oishi, who both play doubles together. Eiji is frustrated with Oishi's "safe" playing style and wants to shake things up with some aggressive techniques, but Oishi is reluctant to take risks.

Another subplot involves the rivalry between two other players on Ryoma's team, Inui and Kaidoh. Inui, a highly analytical player, develops a new training regimen designed to help Kaidoh improve his speed and agility, but Kaidoh is initially resistant to the idea.

Overall, "Drive B" is a tense, action-packed episode that showcases the intense rivalries and advanced techniques that make The Prince of Tennis such a beloved sports anime. From Ryoma's epic showdown with Akazawa to the various subplots that develop alongside the main action, this episode is a must-watch for fans of the series.