‘Overtake!’ review: “Hop -> Step->” sets up the conclusion

The checkered flags are waving and the penultimate episode of Overtake! has officially dropped! Not only is the whole ensemble back, but the focus of everyone in “Hop-> Step->” is on racing and reaching the podium. It’s a nice return to what the first episode was like in terms of driving the plot; this was a smart choice from the production because it leaves space for the finale to focus on the huge character moments we’re all expecting. 

Beginning with Saeko, who has been an understated support through the series, it’s always nice to see her pop up when you least expect her. Throughout the series, we’ve seen her support both Haruka and Kouya, helped them connect, and even helped Komaki Motors get a sponsor. But, as one of the ensemble characters, she doesn’t get that much screen time. She’s the driving force behind a lot of the character development because of how well she knows Kouya. “Hop-> Step->” ends with Saeko revealing the spread that she managed to grab for Kouya. It might not seem like much, but when you think back to how he told her about wanting to take photos of Haruka on the podium, it makes the phone call that much more special. She went out of her way to secure that feature in the magazine so she could push Haruka, Kouya, and Komaki Motors into the mainstream. She is someone who has been pushing the season forward without a lot of people realizing just how much work she does in the background. Give it up for our girl! 

One of the cuter moments of the episode was when the shop owners from the shopping center showed up at the Komaki garage. They reveal that they’ve been watching Haruka race throughout the season and were confused when he went back to an all-white car. This confusion brought them together, deciding to put their money together in other to sponsor Haruka and Komaki Motors for the upcoming race. It’s a small, but powerful moment that reminds us how many people are supporting Haruka even when they’re not on the screen. I know I’m not the only one who thought the long list of sponsors on the car looked a little silly. The money the shop owners give them is enough for them to replace older parts, get some new tires, and really fine-tune their setup. It’s the personification of “it takes a village” in the best way possible. 

While I admit this is a heartwarming moment in the episode, I couldn’t help but compare Komaki Motors to Belsorriso. The money Komaki Motors received is nothing but a drop in the bucket for a bigger team like Belsorriso. It’s a reminder that they’re a small, ragtag team that has to make do with what they have while competing against teams where that’s not even a thought in their heads. If there’s a season two, I hope that this is explored a bit more in-depth. Money, as we have seen, is a huge factor in formula racing. Imagine just how far Haruka and Komaki Motors could go if they had that money backing them. 

Satsuki and Toshi’s journeys came full circle in “Hop-> Step->” as well. For Satsuki, returning to the track even though he shouldn’t is an obvious red flag that is bound to be caught sooner rather than later. He admits himself, after puking from his lap, that the g-force is too much when he brakes. It’s understandable that he wants to get back in the driver’s seat, but at what cost? If he continues down this path, we can only assume that his career will end earlier than he wants.  But, his preemptive return was exactly what Toshi needed in order to progress. During both “Birds of a Feather” and “Never Say Never,” we saw him struggling with being the number one driver. Toshi was his own worst enemy and allowed his anxiety to take over while he drove. It isn’t until Satsuki comes back and is now driving behind him that he can allow himself to shake those worries. He finally allows himself to be the number one driver, to be the person who leads the pack. It’s an emotional moment for us Toshi fans who have seen him struggling with himself throughout the season. 

Season two hasn’t been announced yet, but I’d love to see how these two develop both as individuals and as teammates. Now that Toshi is over his own ego and anxiety, it would be interesting to see how their relationship matures on a personal and professional level. I’d love to see the two of them become closer friends, but I can also see a stronger rivalry coming out of it similar to Max Verstappen and Daniel Riccardo when the latter was still on Red Bull.

“Hope -> Step->” is a penultimate episode that sets up the season finale perfectly. Most of the Overtake! plot lines from the season began to wrap up nicely with this episode, so I think it’s safe to assume that the rest will be wrapped up next week. I know I’m not the only one prepared to see the last race of the season — and to see Haruka on the podium, where he belongs. Next week’s ending is bound to be a finish worthy of one of the best anime of the year. 

Overtake! is available now on Crunchyroll

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Featured image ©KADOKAWA・TROYCA/Overtake！Production committee