Prince of Stride: Alternative

Episode 12

It's been four months for our athletes (and three months for us viewers), but it's finally time for the season finale, the End of Summer race to show whether our characters were able to perfect their relations—both in Stride and emotionally. The result is an episode that's fairly textbook sports anime finale, and as the characters air their loyalties and determination, you will find that it doesn't matter whether Honan wins or loses. “End of Summer and Beyond” is less about telling the story of the race and more about capturing a mood.

The story is simple—on nearly the eve of the End of Summer final race, Takeru suggests that Riku replace him in the relay's anchor position so he can run against his brother, Tomoe. It's a gamble that affects the entire team's morale and chances, but of course everyone supports it. There's no character conflict to speak of in this episode, merely throwback references to previous now-resolved skirmishes. You can see it in Nana's insistence that she's ready to show her spirit to her Dad. You can see it in Ayumu and Kohinata's easy banter, in Heath and Kyosuke's relaxed conversation, or in Takeru and Riku's expert teamwork montage. You can see how the show has paired the team off into three friendships, with Nana more as an occasional accessory than the glue that holds everyone together. There's hardly any drama in the build-up to the race, because the characters are already happy, having resolved their personal issues. Whether they win or lose, they will still have their friendships. This is almost like an epilogue.

The best part of the episode is its scenery. Prince of Stride: Alternative's bright pop-art style is perfect for capturing summer. Where it paled in the show's winter and spring settings, it's reached perfection here. Since the majority of this episode is a montage, there's not much to do but watch the anime paint an iconic summer day. I love the near-neon blues and greens that permeate every daytime scene, and the pinks and oranges of every sunset. This episode paints a picture of summer in color palette alone, but doesn't stop there. The crescendo of cicadas buzzing is used to expertly raise the tension at the start of the race, and the electronic dance music gives the action an addictive beat.

Mostly though, this is a wrap. In a race where key scenes feel more like a montage than a current struggle, Riku's voice narrates an explanation to his brother that he's here for his friends. It's very nostalgic. Some characters focus on the past and others dream about the future, but not a lot is happening in the here and now, which only serves as a rudimentary stage for those musings. There are a lot of pretty turns of phrase. “It's hard to run while in tears,” Riku thinks, after Takeru uses his last breath to urge his best friend on.

In the end, it didn't matter who won—we only learn the answer in the final 30 seconds of the show! It was more important to show Riku and Tomoe reunited, running against the warm pinks of a blurred Shibuya backdrop. “Our story continues on and on,” says Nana, giving the conclusion a circular finality. There's not much of a story arc in this episode, but it just might make you feel like you're standing in the summer heat, ready to give it your all.

Rating: B

Prince of Stride: Alternative is currently streaming on Funimation.

Lauren writes about anime and journalism at Otaku Journalist.