Joe Yabuki is processing a lot of guilt and grief in this episode after killing an opponent in the boxing ring. Even though much of the episode recapitulates events from the previous series, the writers do a good job relaying this information through a mix of character interactions and solitary moments. Seeing Joe's sullen expression as he walks through the city is enough to communicate the despair he's feeling.
The way Joe decides to return to fighting is handled in a way that surprised me. After defending a former opponent from some street thugs, one of the thugs confessed that he's a huge boxing fan and wants to see Joe in the ring again. It is clear that this is the moment that inspires Joe to return to his trainer's gym, but it is unclear how Joe feels about the act of boxing and the damage he can inflict.
Regardless, this was a solid start that provided valuable context for the series in a way that I often found entertaining.
The way Joe decides to return to fighting is handled in a way that surprised me. After defending a former opponent from some street thugs, one of the thugs confessed that he's a huge boxing fan and wants to see Joe in the ring again. It is clear that this is the moment that inspires Joe to return to his trainer's gym, but it is unclear how Joe feels about the act of boxing and the damage he can inflict.
Regardless, this was a solid start that provided valuable context for the series in a way that I often found entertaining.