Review of Baki: The Great Raitai Tournament Saga

I really liked the Death Row Convicts arc, after coming off of that high I said to myself I would give this season a 10/10 if it could somehow top that. And the tournament arc itself was really impressive. However there are two big problems that hold it back for me. First we have the obvious one, which is the anti-climatic end to the final fight between Kaku and Yujoro. The second and also the much more disappointing to me was the handling of Kaiou Retsu and his character. At the start of the arc he gives baki tough love and helps him in his ownway, even going to the extent of saving his life from the fatal poison. But then, out of nowhere, he does the Sasuke Uchiha special, a complete 180 in personality where he turns around and starts being racist towards Baki and the other non-chinese. I know 'it's just to be expected' in this kind of thing that writers/artists will push political views and paint people in certain lights etc, I heard that all before - firstly, that isn't okay or how things should be. Secondly, it definitely isn't enough reason to completely ruin a character.

BUT, even so, the tournament itself was extrememly enjoyable and if we were rating just that it would be an 8 or a 9.

The real problem, is the arc that followed. The infamous Mohammad SIMP Alai NTR Junior arc. Widely seen as the worst arc in the series and I finally know why. If I was going to rate this arc on it's own it would be between a 0 and a 2. It was the most dumb out of nowhere arc that was extremely anti-climatic and it felt like I was watching an anime adaptation of some dodgy NTR Manhwa you see advertised for on facebook or some piracy site. Mohammad himself is a massive simp and for no reason whatsoever, and his feelings in general are either extremely poorly handled/written or he's intentionally written to be completely insufferable. Whatever the case, I think this arc can be 100% skipped and it's unfortunate the tournament arc had to be followed by this.

I usually only write anime reviews when it's something that really blowed my mind or I think needs more love, in this case, it blew my mind that such an enjoyable and consistent show could have a random half season arc that is extremely out of place and just straight up weird.