Drama Digest
Hachigatsu wa Yoru no Batting Center focuses on Natsuha Mai, a 17-year-old high-schooler who works part-time at the batting cage center her uncle owns during her summer vacation. While working there, she runs into Ito Tomohiro, an ex-professional baseball player who lurks around at the center and helps female customers with the various problems in their lives. He implements what he calls the “Baseball Theory” and uses tactics used in baseball as analogies to help deal with their problems. As Mai assists Tomohiro while he provides solutions to the problems of the customers, she discovers ways to deal with all the fears haunting her.
The Feel-Good Part
Spanning only nine episodes with a runtime of 30 minutes, this series poses questions regarding the relationship dynamics present in the workplace and at home and tries to answer them in a condensed manner. Tomohiro detects the problems in the customers’ lives by the way they bat. He applies those powers to create a fantastical baseball stadium where he uses his experience as a baseball player to offer strategies that help tackle the metaphorical curveball. The usage of sporting tactics as life lessons is not new, but the specific implementation of baseball is pretty inventive. The baseball terminology used in this is not too complicated, so the layman viewer will not have too much trouble comprehending what Tomohiro means. The series also features incredible intros and outros that are pretty upbeat and create an enthusiastic atmosphere.
The Disappointing Factor
The story has an upsetting patriarchal, and in a way, downright creepy aspect to it. Tomohiro is a middle-aged man who hangs out at a batting center talking to female customers much younger than him, and also wilfully interjects in their lives. If this were happening in real life, this would have all the elements of a toxic power dynamic. It has all the pre-requisites of a situation where Tomohiro can use his high moral standing to manipulate these girls.
The 30-minute episodic length acts as an impediment, even though it was intentional. Not allowing the questions to assume a didactic avatar reduces the life lessons to a surface level of introspection. If the levels of reflection had been amplified, this would not have been just another drama that attempts to give life lessons.
In-Depth Analysis
This drama combines baseball and life lessons into one unit, and it tries to maintain a wholesome plotline. Tomohiro is a 21st-century suburban baseball player Buddha of sorts, with his uncanny ability to detect predicaments and provide solutions in the form of baseball analogies. If you happen to be a baseball aficionado, you will immensely enjoy this, although it might feel pretty basic to people who are not. The character arcs are well-written, and the development feels pretty organic. The 30-minute episodic length might be a barrier to the occurrence of deeper philosophical discussions, but it is perhaps for the show’s good. It keeps the drama concise and easy on the brain. Overall, this show makes for a wholesome watch.
Star Power
Nakamura Toru delivers a charismatic performance, and he portrays the character of a life guru with extraordinary coolness and is the star attraction of the show.
Overall Opinion
Watch this series if you have limited time and want to relax with a drama that is wholesome and induces some light self-reflection.
