Ep 11. Passing Crown

After the previous episode's major developments, the latest episode of Yowamushi Pedal season 3, titled "Passing Crown," takes a slightly slower yet pivotal turn. It starts with the victory of the Sohoku High School's first-year climber, Kuroda, at the second checkpoint, winning the team valuable points. Meanwhile, the ace of the team, Onoda, is still missing from the race due to the flat tire he suffered from earlier.

As Sohoku continues to make steady progress, the audience is treated to a glimpse into the dynamics of the cycling clubs at the participants' universities. The fourth checkpoint proves to be a pivotal point in the episode, which ups the emotional ante as well. It is a surprisingly tense affair for a checkpoint, with several teams very close together as they try to grab the lead.

An emotional exchange between a seasoned cyclist, who completed his journey as a cyclist, and a budding cyclist from a rival team is particularly poignant. This highlights the deep passion and grit that cycling, and sports, in general, evoke in individuals with a shared love of the same activity. Both are obsessed with cycling to the point where they craft their routes to ensure minimal air resistance while still enabling maximum speed.

This section is the show's best so far, allowing its supporting characters the chance to shine in a way they, regrettably, seldom do. This is where the episode truly shines, connecting with viewers as they learn more about these characters and become more invested in their stories. It also helps to break up some of the more routine races with more personal stories, creating a more rounded experience.

Once the fourth checkpoint is done, the race moves on to what may be one of the show's most beautiful sequences yet. Several outstretched arms are seen reaching toward the finish line. As night falls, and the lights flicker on, the cheering crowd comes to life in a crescendo of sound.

As the finish line approaches, the episode becomes understandably more tense. Viewers must cheer on Sohoku's members, who are making every effort to secure the race's top position. For most of the final stretch, it is unclear which team will win, adding to the suspense as the already excited audience becomes more fervent in its support. The episode concludes with the victory of one of the teams, bringing to a close one of the series' best episodes yet.

Overall, Yowamushi Pedal season 3 episode 11 ("Passing Crown") is a different kind of episode, with a far more emotional tone than previously seen. It successfully uses the race as a platform to showcase the dynamic relationships between its characters, which is hoped the following episodes will continue to accentuate.