Free! - 6

Continuing on from the previous episode's drama, Makoto launches himself into the sea in order to save a drowning Rei, who happened to be swimming when a storm brewed up. However, Makoto is struck down by a personal trauma, which resurfaces during his rescue attempt, causing him to lose all resolve. Had it not been for Haruka hearing a voice before Makoto set off, both of them most probably would've drowned, meaning I'd have stopped watching 'Free!'. What counts is that they did survive, though we're left on a cliffhanger when a huge wave crashes down on Nagisa and Rei.

Free! - 5

Amid the pressure from the upcoming tournament, the Iwatobi Swim Club decide to take on nature in order to strengthen themselves; they've planned a training camp on a deserted island in the middle of an Ocean. Not bad, certainly not an initiative I'd see anywhere in England (hence our lack of Olympic Swimming Medallists, despite our proud seafaring tradition).

Manliness worthy of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

Free! - 4

This took me a long time to get around to, mainly because it doesn't feel like a whole lot happened this week out of the ordinary, so as a result there's not much to talk about with this episode. As expected, Rei does learn to swim, theres some goofy scenes, some manservice and some homosexual undertones. Really there was only one interesting thing that happened to further the plot.

Free! - 3

Oh boy, I get the feeling I'm going to enjoy the series less and less from this episode on. We finally have the last main character introduction, Rei Ryuugazaki aka tsundere-glasses-smartypants. There's a fair amount to talk about with this episode, and some issues that are popping up that I hoped I wouldn't have to talk about, but it's becoming an increasing problem. So, lets get right to it.

Free! - 2

First of all, I have to apologize about how late this is. A couple real life things came up, and then I got addicted to Dark Souls (currently at 28 hours, SL52 and up against Ornstein and Smough). Anyway, This week's episode of Free!  was not a disappointment, and it gives me high hopes for the series. If they can keep up the pacing then it definitely will be one of the better things this season.

What 'Free!' could've been...

...though this one would've been called 'Paid'

Butthurt KyoAni fans have been taunted by a vision of what the enormously popular first episode of Free! would have been like had Haruka been a girl..

The picture in question, posted by a fan on Twitter, has inspired a wave of dismay across the substantial contingent of unrotten Free! lovers.

There's not enough hent-, erm, I mean anime with girls in competitive swimsuits. I second this notion!!!

Free! - 1

KyoAni's done it again. So, Free! where do I begin? Honestly, it... actually wasn’t that bad? When I saw the trailer for this, I immediately thought “KyoAni have just shot themselves in the head with this one,” but after watching the first episode, it may not turn out that way.