When watching any media piece it’s easy for a viewer to judge a show by its past and form expectations on what they want to watch. This often leads to the feeling of being disappointed when something doesn’t meet those expectations. However, this isn’t the case with Cross Game, a shounen which shows that a stunning story can be found even in a simple story of romance and baseball.

The main characters of the show are all memorable from the four street sisters to Ko’s best pal Daiki. The small cast is what makes the whole show so special capable of bringing a sense of personality and ambiance to every scene they appear in. Their characterisation also enables them to tackle the themes of death and love with ease and give them a more profound feel than what you would expect from a simple shonen.

What makes Cross Game really stand out is the fact that it understands where to put its click for more focus. While the characters are well developed, there is not much drama or twists throughout each episode. This gives the viewers the opportunity to enjoy the relationship development without being distracted by the need to create emotional tension or a plot which constantly tries to surprise the reader with new twists and the possibility of cliffhangers. The fact that it avoids these issues is the reason why Cross Game so wonderful, and something that the genre could use more of.