While I have my main preferences with the types of shows I like to watch, one little genre that doesn’t get much in the way of mainstream attention is one of my guilty pleasures. That being the delinquent genre. Sometimes it’s hit or miss but when it hits, it hits pretty well. Besides, who doesn’t like seeing a bunch of dudes just beat the crap out of other dudes? This is where WIND BREAKER comes in. After being disappointed in God of High School, I was saved by Tokyo Revengers. With Tokyo Revengers in a holding pattern, I needed another show of this type to scratch that itch.
Does it?
Let’s go…
First Episode Synopsis
No matter where Sakura went, he was belittled for the way he looked. He has one dark gray eye and one amber eye… Plus, his hair is half-black / half-white. None of it is dyed nor does he wear contacts. That’s just the way he looks. However, any who make fun of him soon learn their lesson as he’s really strong and a good fighter.
Sakura moves to a town where he looks to attend Furin High School. He heard that the delinquents at Furin are the lowest of the low so he wants to use his strength to rise to the top and take over the gang. He claims that he doesn’t need anyone; however, there’s a human side to him that he just can’t let go of… the willingness to help people.
When a small café worker named Tachibana gets cornered by delinquents, Sakura jumps in and saves her. She thanks him and treats him to some omurice. Despite the kind gestures, Sakura’s trust issues kick in and he gets quite defensive. When he leaves, those delinquents from before are back with friends. Sakura shows off how much of a badass he is by practically soloing the gang all by himself until Tachibana gets taken hostage. He gets his ankle sliced by a knife trying to protect her; however, four members of Furin show up and even up the odds.
Afterward, we learn that Furin USED to be known as the weakest two years ago. Today, the town adores them as they have become known as Bofuri… the town’s protectors… and this is the story of Sakura who becomes the town’s greatest hero.
Worth Watching?
YES – The first episode was fantastic. Sakura has a troubled past; however, we only know bits of it and not the full story. Leaving it open for future exploration is a smart move. The first episode also does a great job of building the world of Furin… the town, the school, the gang, and their purpose. Everything is there to get you started and invested in the story.
In addition, when it came time for action, the animation kicked things up a notch and we were treated to some amazing choreography. Sakura vs the gang was really well done as everything looked fluid and showed off that he is quite the intelligent fighter. He doesn’t just rush in there without a plan. He mentioned that he could read everyone’s moves like a book so that right there tells you he has exceptional fighting instincts.
The only thing I didn’t like about the show was Sakura’s male tsundere moments. I understand adding some lightheartedness to the show but, to me, it just didn’t work here. You have a troubled teen boy with a lot of pent-up rage against a world that mocked him…. Having him act like a goof at times rather than serious kind of killed the mood of his character and the story. That’s just my opinion, though… but it is the only flaw that I found.
Otherwise, this show looks to scratch that itch and I’m already wanting to see more… despite Japan not thinking about what WIND BREAKER means here in the West…
