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thoughts on free! s3? what do you think went wrong/right/what you wish it would’ve went etc

I could quite literally go on FOREVER about season 3 and y’know what you asked for it so I’m just gonna ramble until I feel good about it lmao.

Now first I have to say that I wholeheartedly love season 3 with the deepest passion in my bones. I genuinely didn’t think that we were ever going to GET a season 3 in the first place, so the fact that it exists is just... so meaningful to me as someone whose favorite franchise is Free! and someone whose life was saved by these dumbass swimmers. 

I will say that season 3 isn’t what I wanted from it. I wanted it to be centered on Nagisa, Rei, Gou, Sousuke, Ai, and Momo. I love Haru with my entire being but I really really REALLY wanted to see a series centered on the Iwatobi trio. They’re so underrated and I felt like they were lowkey sidelined in Eternal Summer so I wanted to see them shine and grow together in their third year. But of course Kyoani has just been setting them aside more and more as time has gone on so I feel like that was nothing but a hopeless dream lmao. I have a lot of headcanons and AUs about what went on with everyone who was still in Iwatobi while the rest of the gang was in Tokyo. The little bits that Kyoani gave us of them were beautiful, I will admit. Episode 11 is my FAVORITE episode of season 3. The fact that Rei WON A NATIONAL RACE??? Like, come on. I wish we could’ve seen the work that he put in to even be able to do that in the first place. That moment where he ponders what he’ll be doing after high school really gets to me too because I would love to know what the fuck he and the others are gonna do. I wish we could’ve seen the moments in their third year that led to whatever decisions they will make. I wanted to see the Iwatobi trio go through the absolute wringer together lmao. I wanted angst I wanted to see their journey that led them to where they are now. I wanted to see more of them growing with the new trio too. I wanted to learn more about Gou and Sousuke’s past through their interactions in her third year. If the season was longer I feel like they could’ve had it be half the Iwatobi arc and half the Tokyo arc, y’know what I mean?

Nonetheless, I love season 3 for what it was. I’m so beyond happy that they brought in Asahi, Ikuya, Natsuya, and Nao, you have no idea. The High Speed! characters hold such a special place in my heart. I wish Asahi would’ve had more of an arc/character development though, and I wish Nao was more included. I think Natsuya’s character arc was my favorite of the whole season. Seeing the trash traveling man that he had become and his interactions with Rin and Sousuke really stuck with me for some reason. And that line that he had when he was talking to Ikuya and fucking crying like, “a dream to fight for my strength and pride, plain and simple.” That shit fucked me up bro. We all meme about Natsuya a lot but I feel like there’s a lot of deeper shit there that’s yet to be explored. When we met Ryuuji I was genuinely convinced that he was Ikuya and Natsuya’s father because it would explain a lot about Natsuya’s behavior. A trash dad who wasn’t really there for his family and just kinda fucked off to travel the world training swimmers until he found one that met his expectations? That would’ve added so much to Natsuya and Ikuya’s background stories and their character arcs. Like can you imagine? Natsuya not initially going into professional swimming because the fact that his father LEFT to find a swimmer to train instead of training his own damn son because he didn’t see that potential in him??? Natsuya being inspired by Ikuya to work hard to prove their father wrong??????? Nao punching Ryuuji square in the nose the moment he sees him???????????? A fucking gold mine that Kyoani could’ve dove into, but no he’s related to Shizuru lmao. 

I could go on forever about Natsuya in season 3 cuz I just really, really loved his arc but I’m gonna keep rolling haha. Hiyori was probably the most unexpected thing from season 3 and I just... love him so much. Like his absolute snakey behavior gave me the same chills that that scene of Sousuke pushing Haru against a vending machine in episode 2 of Eternal Summer gave me. I LOVE that shit. The Free! antagonists just keep getting bitchier and bitchier lmao. I also relate to Hiyori on a deeper level. I too have been selfishly protective of my best friends in a way that... really just wasn’t the way to go. Like jeez Hiyori I understand how you feel but maybe let them talk to Ikuya at least once??? Chill with the possessiveness? Idk I know Hiyori is the source of a lot of discourse lol, but that’s just how I feel because of my own similar experiences with myself and others who’ve acted in a similar way. I do wish his beef at the other boys wasn’t solved by just fuckin... swimming with Haru lmfaoooooo. Like I wish they just would’ve added more to his conversation with Ikuya when he asked him to join the relay with him.

I was quite satisfied with Rin’s arc in season 3. It just like, made perfect sense to me I guess lmao. I know he wasn’t there much but I don’t know what else they could or should have done with him, if that makes sense. The fact that his coach is Ai’s uncle is just the best thing ever too lmao.

I was also very happy with Haru’s arc actually!! Seeing how much he has grown makes me feel like a proud mom. Ya boi is tired of the bullshit and the miscommunication haha. Of course I’ll always wish he didn’t go into pro swimming but alas, gotta deal with it I guess. I love his dynamic with Ryuuji and the way that he has dealt with pro swimming though. And his decision to go into the individual medley absolutely made me lose my mind. I didn’t know I needed to see him swim the other strokes until it happened and I just, I loved that so muchhh. 

I alsooooo enjoyed Ikuya’s arc. Seeing someone from your past again like that can 100% have that effect on you. I just kinda wish we understood more about like, why he just randomly faints while swimming sometimes? I feel like they didn’t solidly explain it? Cuz I don’t think it was always from overworking himself. Idk maybe I’m just a dumbass and remembering incorrectly.

Kisumi deserved better. YOU CAN’T TELL ME THIS BOY DOESN’T HAVE UNDERLYING ANGST THAT KYOANI HASN’T DELVED INTO. He gave us that line of “We’ll never make friends like the ones we had back then” and then him worrying about whether or not there was anything he could do to help with the Ikuya situation. This boy feels left out and you can’t tell me otherwise and it is 100% because of the fact that he’s not a swimmer. Someone give this boy a basketball team that he can experience that kind of bond with PLEASE. I AM BEGGING ON MY KNEES!!!

Makoto also deserved better. Like, okay, don’t get me wrong, I absolutely loved his arc with the kids and Nao and all that. I love his new dream. BUT!!! Kyoani has yet to go into depth with his insecurities with Haru. I’m still not over that damn dream he had on that bus. All we got in season 3 was Makoto’s aNGSTY looks when it came to his relationship with Haru lmao. GIVE MAKOTO A BIGGER ROLE AND A BIGGER ARC DAMMIT. He’s one of the most popular characters I’m surprised his angst hasn’t been touched on more. This dumbass just needs to stop holding things in i SWEAR TO GAWD.

I thought the inclusion of Albert was kinda weird, dunno what the point of him is aside from making Haru shake in his bones. Kinjou is definitely interesting. He scares me lmao, but I am here for that. Give us an antagonist who is just absolutely unhinged at this point LMAO. I have some headcanons about him too but I feel like the new movie coming up is going to crush my dreams soooo yeah.

Isuzu is a goddess. I’m so happy she’s finally here and she has a name and a FACE. We learned that the Mikoshiba bros had a sister before we even knew that Momo existed lmao (Sei mentioned her in a drama cd from season 1). I almost thought they were never going to give her to us but she’s here and she’s beautiful and she’s everything that I wanted her to be. I’m so happy she thinks Gou is cute and that GOU LIKES HER and I just ugh yes thank you so much Kyoani I never expected that we’d actually get this but I’m so happy we have it. I hope she goes to Hidaka Uni and gets to race Haru like she wanted haha. And I’m so happy we got to see her swim! Our first in-anime female swimmer with a name. I love her.

Speaking of FEMALE SWIMMERS. Sighhhhhh.... My biggest disappointment. Aki Yazaki. Where is she? We deserve her!! I promise we do!! She was SUCH an important character in the High Speed! novels and kyoani decided that she just doesn’t exist anymore lmao (biggest reason why I’m not the biggest fan of the Starting Days movie). At this point I’ve lost hope that she’ll ever be included in the anime, and it makes me so sad. I love her so much and there’s so much potential for an amazing beautiful story arc with her if she reunited with the boys. I don’t think we’re going to get a season 4, (the new movie is scaring me making me think it’s the end of the series with the way it’s been advertised...) but if we DID get one I imagine it beginning with Haru walking through a snowy day, huddling close to himself to shelter from the cold, when he passes by a tall figure and catches a glimpse of familiar caramel hair with a loose little braid peeking out from behind one ear and a large scarf that has gotten quite messed up over years of wear and tear, a memory clicks in his mind like a light switch and he stops in his tracks to turn around and let a long forgotten name slip from his lips: “Yazaki Aki?” ... cue opening sequence. LIKE WOULDN’T THAT BE SO AMAZING???????? I WOULD FUCKING SHIT MYSELF OKAY YOU DON’T UNDERSTANDDDD. Aki is one of my favorite characters I’m so mad she wasn’t in season 3. I’m also mad that Satomi Nii wasn’t there either like!!! She would make a great trio with Ikuya and Hiyori that’s all I’m sayinggggg. I would probably start crying if either of them showed up at some point like genuinely I would just be a mess sobbing on the floor. ALSO I FEEL LIKE GOU AND ISUZU WOULD ABSOLUTELY LOVE THEM LIKE PLS GIVE ME THE GIRLS THAT WE DESERVE!!!

The art style of season 3 was pretty good. The only thing that bothered me about it was how fucking WIDE the characters’ shoulders were sometimes. Especially with the big bois like Makoto and Sousuke. Like please god no stop that. I’m always gonna miss the art style from season 1 tho, the crazy expressions n shit that were there were just too GOOD lmao. I feel like in season 3 they kind of attempted to bring that back but it just wasn’t executed the same and done to the same extent. R.I.P. the comedy from season 1, it will be forever missed.

I love the opening and ending themes, always. So fucking good. I’m so happy all the characters were included in the end theme animation sequence. I’ll never get over Gou and her BEAUTY.

ANYWAYS. Those are my thoughts in the general sense. Idk if I forgot anything because I have so many thoughts that’re all unorganized haha. If anyone wants me to talk in more detail about anything specific I am soooooo down! Thank you for sending in this ask, talking about this show makes me happy hehe.

A criticism of Free! DTTF

As a preamble, let’s get disclaimers out of the way. I genuinely like Free! a lot. I’m a fan of it. It’s a show that’s very near and dear to me. When it used to be more active, so was my enthusiasm for it; now that it’s come back, so have I. I watched seasons 1 and 2, read the synopsis for the middle school movie, and didn’t watch Timeless Medley. With that background, I’ve kept up with season 3 and watched episode 4 a day after it released.

Having brought this up as context, I want to say this season of Free! has been very disappointing. And if it continues the way it’s going right now, I think it will keep being disappointing.

Of course, this judgement I’ve formed is only one that applies to how it’s done so far. It also mostly concerns the quality of the main arc, i.e. Haru, Asahi, and Makoto trying to reconcile with Ikuya. Maybe come episode 5, everything that’s contributed to my disappointment turns around and the show soars for me once again. I acknowledge all this, and even hope for it. But for now, I feel disappointed enough that I want to express exactly how the show so far has disappointed me.

Three words: juvenile, unoriginal, and scattered.

Let’s start with juvenile.

Typically, the word is supposed to be ‘youthful’, which is supposed to befit sports animes. The underdog high school student from the underdog high school team avenges their retired third years in the local interhigh qualifiers to compete for nationals, powered by training, teamwork, and camaraderie. It’s a tried-and-true story-line that brims with youth, and is supposed to. On top of this, Free! is unique in sports anime as being one that is not really one. The sport itself, swimming, is not so much the focus as the characters are, as their friendships are, which is especially true of season 1. Aiming for prefecturals is the plot vehicle that by and large plays second fiddle to Haru rediscovering his passion for competitive swimming with reviving the Iwatobi Swim Club, and reconciling with Rin who has lost his way. Maybe they should focus more on their schoolwork, or on their training, rather than getting lost in banter, marvelling at constellations, or ruminating about old friends. But that is youthful. That’s the charm of Free!: it focuses on friendships, and fits comfortably with that youthful tone.

There was also a maturation in the through-lines of the main seasons. The first season was simple, youthful, yet powerful. The second one on the other hand was a bit more mature, a bit more relevant. What does it mean to have a dream? What does it mean to pursue it? What does it take, and where does one even begin? This is the main struggle Haru goes through when he is a year before graduating into university, which is a pivotal moment in his life being (and becoming) a young adult. This is a season where you have him lashing out, even arguing with his best friend Makoto of all people, out of the stress his aimlessness gives him. Season 2 is more mature in its themes, but like season 1, it has the main character grow. Over time, he comes out of a shell of apathy and cares about his friends more openly than he used to. As the themes of the main stories become more mature, so do the characters.

But come season 3, that maturity has regressed to not being youthful, but even further into being juvenile.

What is the main story of season 3? What are the themes we can see so far? At the moment, it’s about the fight for friendship once again. Haru, Makoto, and Asahi are butting heads with Hiyori to be able to find closure and reconcile with Ikuya. Over what exactly? A flashback sums up Haru’s motives neatly: a pinky promise he made with Ikuya to race freestyle with him that following summer. A promise broken by circumstance and time. He cites this to Hiyori as the pressing reason to see Ikuya when Asahi’s hackles and Makoto’s diplomacy fails to gain headway.

And I’m like, really?

Here’s the thing; it’s obviously important to Haru, Makoto, and Asahi to see Ikuya again, and it’s clear that Ikuya needs to talk to them to get closure, too. But the nature of youthful sports anime is to make the relatively unimportant very important. In season 1, Nagisa must get Rei from the track team into the swim team, because he has a girly name too. Also his form is beautiful. A whole episode is dedicated to this. It’s establishing a new character in the form of shenanigans, but it’s still shenanigans. It’s childish, but it’s okay that it is. Because it fits the tone of the season, it’s entertaining.

For season 3, not so much.

Like Kisumi said, isn’t it kind of childish for them to bet things on swimming like this? And for the writers to spend three episodes to have this conflict culminate in such a manner? At the characters’ age, with Hidaka U’s priorities to go national, and the whirlwind that is university life in general, there’s a whole array of other things that could be focused on that gives the writers even less reason to have the characters circle back to a single-minded intensity about camaraderie that is, ultimately, immature. In a moment of interaction with the Hidaka U swim team with Haru and Asahi analysing their teammate’s form, potentially focusing on the team dynamic that so far received precious little development, it becomes hijacked by the arc of Saving Ikuya again with another regurgitation of what happened with them in middle school. This plot point consumes them to the point that all other affairs, which could be and really are equally, if not more important, are lost on the wayside, and that is clumsy writing.

What rubs more salt in the wound is that the characters are supposed to be past this. They’re supposed to have grown past resorting to swimming challenges and spending days grouping up and strategising how to meet up with an estranged friend, like having gone through the same beats in high school wasn’t enough. The writers could have, and should have, continued to develop the maturity of the characters as well as the story, and they pointedly miss the mark. And to their credit, they could’ve been much more lazy; they could have had Kisumi tell them Facebook exists. But they were lazy in a different way; they relied on clichés to drive the main plot and conflict forward.

Which leads to my next point: season 3 is unoriginal.

Let’s cover the main conflict of the three seasons. Season 1: Rin swimming hard but aimless and needing saving. Season 2: Haru swimming hard but aimless and needing saving. Season 3: Ikuya swimming hard but aimless and needing saving. Adding insult to the injury, season 3 even takes The-Overprotective-Best-Friend plot device of Sousuke in season 2 and pushes it to the extreme with Hiyori.

Even the execution of this conflict in season 3 is an inelegant mish-mash of the ways seasons 1 and 2 handled theirs, and not even in a creative way. The repetition kills how compelling the narrative is and my ability to look forward to what happens next. Having a working memory of those past seasons, I feel very bored with the direction the new season is going in, and I’m worried that I feel that way. There were already the recap movies of Bonds and Promises; I don’t want brand-new content to be some lazy remix of them with the characters shuffled around, which is how season 3 is shaping up to be.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this is at least similar to how other fans familiar with the franchise would feel, which means the strongest case in which this wouldn’t happen is with new viewers or those who have only heard of Free! in passing. They won’t need to worry about repetition if it’s their first time getting to know the world and its characters. But the chances of this are slim, because season 3 is only intelligible in character motives if the viewer knows what happens in its predecessors. And even if someone decided to watch season 3 first, going back to prior seasons would have this problem of repetition and lack of originality resurface, but just out of the expected sequence.

Lastly, season 3 is very scattered.

So far my beef has been with the content and execution of the main arc of season 3. But I will say the current side arcs are very promising, and, though this is another worry in itself, they’re miles more entertaining than the main one. Rin training in Australia and meeting Natsuya is new and interesting. Sousuke’s shoulder is shaping up and he could rejoin the fray. Rei, Nagisa, and Gou are continuing to do their best with new team members to make sure the Iwatobi Swim Club thrives with Haru and Makoto having gone to university. These side arcs show signs of progress with roots in the previous seasons. This progress is what the main arc lacks, and what make these side stories more promising.

Of course, these side arcs are pretty hit and miss. I don’t know what to think about how the person Mikhail wants to swim with is quite likely the mysterious advisor stuck in Movember who shadows Haru and co., so I elect not to think about it. Not to mention most of the villainous-looking characters being foreshadowed with 50% transparency in the opening haven’t even been introduced yet. But this dovetails with the final, main problem I have with this season.

Far from looking forward to how these side arcs will tie in with the main one, I worry if they even can in the first place.

As I mentioned, the minor arcs, while promising, are hit and miss. And with many old characters returning and new ones coming in, there are also a lot of them. That they, their motives, and side-plots have to be established and rounded off in presumably the standard 12 to 13 episodes, the concern that the writers are biting off more than they chew is a looming and well-placed one. Another impact this has is that the predominant theme of the season is murky, or even non-existent, to accommodate a multitude of different goals and plot-lines. Compared to its predecessors, season 3 is unfocused and lacks direction. This is what I mean by scattered.

So that’s me roasting the season so far on a spit. With a mismatch in tones that has youthful spirit come off as immature, the obvious repetition of previous major themes and story beats in the series, followed by a variety of story arcs and character both current and upcoming that threaten messy storytelling and coherency in theme, Free! Dive to the Future as it stands now is utterly disappointing.

Worst of all, the main story’s not entertaining. It doesn’t grip me like past seasons of Free! did. For this to happen to biggest franchise that Kyoani owns, for them to flop this hard on the first series they’ve done a third season for, it’s a nagging reminder that the series is no longer the labour of love it used to be. In the first season (that to the best of my knowledge was supposed to be standalone, or at least could have been regardless), there was a small cast with a lot of heart, with fleshed out relationships that made the viewer want to keep watching, and want to see how they were resolved at the very end. The second season, while far from perfect, was witnessing that beloved cast of characters undergoing key growth with a some new friends. The current season as it stands now is a faint shadow of what made Free! charming and good to watch, and I only hope that it improves from here on out.