This show made me want to play some golf. Something that other golf shows like Birdie Wing failed to do. And I think it mainly has to do with the fact that Tonbo's a show that's highly grounded in reality, focusing on character development while also not forgetting to apply actual concepts in golf to the show. Tonbo! is more of a slice of life and coming of age show than a show about competitive golf when it comes to the first season. While golf is always on the horizon, a common theme in the show, and is what brings people together, you can tell thatthe show is trying to weave a picture of an adolescent girl who uses only a three-iron club to commemorate her parents. Throughout the show, her connections to golf and people increase, which is evident in the increasing number of golf clubs that she uses. She refuses to leave her shell that she calls her island because she is scared by the outside world. Yet gradually, through her experiences of taking baby steps forward, being supported by everyone around her, and through her passion for golf, she can attempt to enter the world of competitive golf.

Of course, the other characters aren't bad too. There isn't too much of a focus on them other than Igaiga of course, who is another great father figure towards Tonbo. Igaiga's sense of responsibility in Tonbo is ingrained in him due to his passion for golf which makes him want to see the height to which Tonbo can reach in the world of golf. The genuine character interaction between Tonbo and Igaiga is charming, as you see father and childlike behaviors that suit them both. It's fun to see them bond and progress as people.

Finally, the focus on golf is like I said, always on the horizon. I enjoy how each episode talks a little bit about how the mechanics of golf work. The visuals and explanations are simple and straightforward, but they show the viewer how golf is played and what strategies people use to tackle different holes. The mindset, the type of iron, the wind, the grass, the way you stand, the way you swing, and so much more are talked about in this show, so when Tonbo does out-of-the-box strategies, it's that much more interesting to watch how unorthodox methods achieve the same goals as orthodox ones. To me, the discussion and commentary of golf in Igaiga's monologues is one of the main reasons why the golf play-by-play is interesting. Again, going back to Birdie Wing, the show doesn't focus on even the type of hole or how it should be played, nevermind going into detail on how the player should stand or put their club face, so it's nice to see this show attempt to tackle golf on a play by play level, and this depth is exactly what the show needed to stay interesting.

The show does fall off near the end of the season. There becomes the focus on practically irrelevant romance on side characters with not much personality, and it does just seem kind of shoehorned in rather than progressing the plot. Tonbo and golf are no longer the focus, and instead, romance is? The art and animation are also a bit offputting at times, blending in CGI models and 2D animation at times. The golf course CGI is fine because it provides a good visual for the show while also being presentable, but yeah it's fine for the most part. The facial expressions and lip sync are also basic and could be improved upon, but overall I am excited for season 2 and thus put it at a 7.