What are the best episodes of Baby Steps?

The best rated episodes of Baby Steps are: Visualize the Pressure - S2E18 rated 8.4, The Speed of Evolution - S2E8 rated 8.0, Data for the Future - S2E3 rated 8.0, Fundamentals are the Weakness - S1E22 rated 8.0, Gathering of Rivals - S2E13 rated 7.9, Takuma's Decision - S2E5 rated 7.9, Final Set - S2E25 rated 7.9, Moonlight and the Sound of Waves - S2E14 rated 7.9, A First Match Full of Surprises - S1E5 rated 7.8, Full Force Toward Adversity - S2E12 rated 7.8

What are the worst episodes of Baby Steps?

The lowest rated episodes of Baby Steps are: Art and Technique - S1E13 rated 7.0, Recklessness and Surprise - S2E24 rated 7.1, Choices and Explosive Power - S2E11 rated 7.1, Diligence is My Style - S1E9 rated 7.1, Aggressive is Ideal - S2E23 rated 7.1, Eiichiro and Natsu - S1E25 rated 7.2, Face of Conviction - S1E4 rated 7.3, Good, Evil, and Rules - S2E21 rated 7.3, Revenge at the Critical Moment - S2E7 rated 7.3, A Rude First Meeting - S2E19 rated 7.3

Baby Steps Episode Rating Graph

Apr 2014 - Sep 2015

7.6

Baby Steps Episode Rating Chart

Terrible

	E1	E2	E3	E4	E5	E6	E7	E8	E9	E10	E11	E12	E13	E14	E15	E16	E17	E18	E19	E20	E21	E22	E23	E24	E25
S1
S2

Browse episode ratings trends for Baby Steps. Simply click on the interactive rating graph to explore the best and worst of Baby Steps's 50 episodes.

Best Episodes of Baby Steps

Visualize the Pressure
S2 Ep18
8.4
2nd Aug 2015
Eiichiro thought he was successfully ignoring the crowd's roaring cheers for Ide, but his body was reacting to it more than he realized. The pressure of playing in front of a dramatic, Ide-centric crowd is troubling Eiichiro.
The Speed of Evolution
S2 Ep8
8.0
24th May 2015
Eiichirō and Miyagawa face off in the second round of the tournament for their second match. If Eiichirō loses he knows he'll lose all chance of going pro. If Miyagawa loses he knows his path to become a pro will take longer and might force him to go to college first.
Data for the Future
S2 Ep3
8.0
19th Apr 2015
After winning his first match in America, Eiichirō finally gets to play Ike in a one set match. Ike gets it approved at the New Years party where many of Eiichirō's new friends first learn of Natsu.
Fundamentals are the Weakness
S1 Ep22
8.0
31st Aug 2014
Yu Nabae matches up with Eiichirō and realizes they really are two players that are virtually the same. He realizes that what Eiichirō lacks is experience with the fundamentals, as he has never played anyone like himself, and after losing the first set Nabae begins to pull away and goes up 5-2.
Gathering of Rivals
S2 Ep13
7.9
28th Jun 2015
The gang begins their third and final year of high school in different classes. Eiichirō and Natsu both realize their classes seem to be moving on without them as they are getting ready for cram schools and entrance tests.
Takuma's Decision
S2 Ep5
7.9
3rd May 2015
Eiichirō returns from Florida and is given a day off to adjust his body to the time difference. After the day off Eiichirō begins a new strict training regime to help him get ready for the Kanagawa Prefectural.
Final Set
S2 Ep25
7.9
20th Sep 2015
The game finally reaches its final stage. Eiichiro who desperately envisions a vision to win Nambae and is ready for a new strategy with the intention of losing.
Moonlight and the Sound of Waves
S2 Ep14
7.9
5th Jul 2015
The final door on the way to the All-Japan Junior, the Kanto Junior Tournament, is just around the corner. Eiichiro psyches himself up as he confirms his promise to his parents that he'll give up if he doesn't win the All-Japan Junior, and then he sets off with the other STC members for Chiba, where the Kanto Junior will be held.
A First Match Full of Surprises
S1 Ep5
7.8
4th May 2014
Eiichirō is about to play his first match. He receives advice from the other STC members, but it only makes him more nervous. He doesn't get a chance to calm himself down as he's soon called to the tennis court.
Full Force Toward Adversity
S2 Ep12
7.8
21st Jun 2015
Araya and Eiichirō prove to be even and are both unable to break each others serve. Making things worse is there will be no tiebreaker., Instead an individual must win by 2 games.
Awakening to Simplicity
S2 Ep4
7.8
26th Apr 2015
In his final day in Florida Alex agrees to play a best-of-3 match with Eiichirō. Alex realizes that Eiichirō's notes contain all of his weaknesses and that he will have to adjust his play style to win the match.
Pro At My Age
S1 Ep17
7.7
27th Jul 2014
Araya and Eiichirō end up at deuce after neither player can gain an advantage. An ace end up being huge for Araya give him the match point advantage, and despite his best efforts a lucky bounce proves to be the end for Eiichirō as he loses 6-1, 6-4. The finals are held between Araya and Takuma.
Existence is the Driving Force
S2 Ep22
7.7
30th Aug 2015
After beating Takagi, Eiichiro moves onto the semi-finals as does Natsu in the women's division. Eiichiro becomes aware of new feelings towards Natsu while watching her match.
Psychological Warfare and Self-Control
S2 Ep20
7.7
16th Aug 2015
The match against Takagi begins. Just as Yukichi warned, Takagi's style is unique.
Dramatic by Nature
S2 Ep17
7.7
26th Jul 2015
Ide's remarkable ability to adapt instantly to everything has Eiichiro struggling, and reads his notes again to regain his focus. This improves his movements and leads to more impressive rallies, making the match even more exciting. Neither is willing to yield as the match comes down to which player can manage to hold serve...

Worst Episodes of Baby Steps

Art and Technique
S1 Ep13
7.0
29th Jun 2014
The match between Hiromi and Eiichirō begins. Everytime Eiichirō tries to go on the attack, Hiromi hits a shot Eiichirō can't reach.
Recklessness and Surprise
S2 Ep24
7.1
13th Sep 2015
The match between Eiichirou and Nabae finally reaches its thrilling climax, and the former risks losing to envision his victory.
Choices and Explosive Power
S2 Ep11
7.1
14th Jun 2015
Eiichirō throws out a couple of unexpected dropshots in set 2 and begins to alter the speed of his game. After trailing 30-love to begin match 2 of set 2 Eiichirō is able to rally with this new strategy and pull off a break.
Diligence is My Style
S1 Ep9
7.1
1st Jun 2014
Eiichirō returns to the Kanagawa Junior Circuit. His first match is up against fellow high school student Koshimizu Nariyuki, a man whom is always trying to compete with Eiichirō for the top scores.
Aggressive is Ideal
S2 Ep23
7.1
6th Sep 2015
The match has just begun and Eiichiro is already close to being in the zone. His excellent condition is reminiscent of his match against Ide; Eiichiro doesn't give Nabae a chance to fight back and soon takes the lead.
Eiichiro and Natsu
S1 Ep25
7.2
21st Sep 2014
Eiichirō and Natsu go out on their first date. When Eiichirō asks Natsu what she thinks about him, she tells him he is cheating. Afterwards Eiichirō is allowed to resume practice.
Face of Conviction
S1 Ep4
7.3
27th Apr 2014
Eiichiro finds himself in a contest with Takuma. Eiichiro has fifty tries to return Takuma's serve. One successful return and Eiichiro wins. However, despite Eiichiro's best attempts to follow his notes and stick to the basics, he can do nothing against one of the strongest serves in the country.
Good, Evil, and Rules
S2 Ep21
7.3
23rd Aug 2015
Even if it seems to lack etiquette, Takagi's play style continues to work in his favor by disupting his opponent's pace. Eiichiro struggles to deal with Takagi's tactics.
Revenge at the Critical Moment
S2 Ep7
7.3
17th May 2015
The Kanagawa Prefectural begins as Eiichirō faces off against Araya's new underclassman Nishimura. Araya has told Nishimura all of Eiichirō's weaknesses from the year before, making Nishimura very confident in his chances of winning.
A Rude First Meeting
S2 Ep19
7.3
9th Aug 2015
Eitaro, upon winning spectacularly in his fight against Ide, decides to go to the National Junior's. Coach Aoi explains that towards the end of the match, Eitaro was completely in the zone.
Methodical and Unorganized
S1 Ep2
7.3
13th Apr 2014
Eiichiro is unable to answer Natsu when she asks him what he enjoys doing most. He becomes interested in tennis and returns to STC for another free trial.
Duty and Desire
S1 Ep24
7.3
14th Sep 2014
Eiichirō runs to watch Natsu's match when he learns she is in danger of losing. Afterwards they return to STC where he Ryuhei Aoi, a man who will become his new coach.
First Encounter by Scouting
S2 Ep6
7.4
10th May 2015
Coach Aoi explains to Eiichirō that he stopped the match against Takuma because his body wasn't developed to serve like Takuma yet. If he had continued to serve that way, he would have injured himself and forced himself to give up his tennis career.
Start With a Roar
S2 Ep10
7.4
7th Jun 2015
Araya and Eiichirō begin their match in the Kanagawa Prefectural Final. At first both are holding serve and the score is at 3-3. However Coach Aoi realizes Eiichirō doesn't have the knowledge on how to deal with left handers since he's only played Araya once.
Beast and Initiative
S1 Ep16
7.4
20th Jul 2014
After going up Love-15, Araya uses a number of service aces to go up 3-1 in set 2. Eiichirō holds serve, and as he gains a 30-40 advantage in Game 6 of Set 2, Araya punches himself in his face to eliminate his emotions from the game.

Baby Steps Episode Guide

Tennis and Notes
S1 Ep1
7.5
6th Apr 2014
Maruo Eiichiro is an honor student in his first year of high school. He's a very methodical person who keeps two sets of notes for class and focuses entirely on his studies. One day, Eiichiro decides to participate in a free trial at South Tennis Club (STC) because he needs some exercise. There, he meets school idol and sweetheart Takasaki Natsu. Eiichiro has taken his first step into the world of tennis
Methodical and Unorganized
S1 Ep2
7.3
13th Apr 2014
Eiichiro is unable to answer Natsu when she asks him what he enjoys doing most. He becomes interested in tennis and returns to STC for another free trial.
The Contest Is a Fight
S1 Ep3
7.5
20th Apr 2014
Eiichiro is unable to forget how good it felt when he successfully returned Takuma's serve, and he spends all of his time practicing against the wall. After seeing Eiichiro practice against the wall non-stop for six hours on a Sunday, Natsu predicts that he will quickly improve.
Face of Conviction
S1 Ep4
7.3
27th Apr 2014
Eiichiro finds himself in a contest with Takuma. Eiichiro has fifty tries to return Takuma's serve. One successful return and Eiichiro wins. However, despite Eiichiro's best attempts to follow his notes and stick to the basics, he can do nothing against one of the strongest serves in the country.
A First Match Full of Surprises
S1 Ep5
7.8
4th May 2014
Eiichirō is about to play his first match. He receives advice from the other STC members, but it only makes him more nervous. He doesn't get a chance to calm himself down as he's soon called to the tennis court.
Diamond in the Rough
S1 Ep6
7.4
11th May 2014
It is down to the final match of the set. Eiichirō trails 5 games to 1, but with a determination to stay on the court as long as possible Eiichirō begins to push Oobayashi.
Nine-Square and Reality
S1 Ep7
7.5
18th May 2014
In order to improve Eiichirō's playing, Coach Miura has him learn control on a 9-square court. After getting the basics done, Eiichirō is forced into a match against Takuma.
One Year and Twenty Notebooks
S1 Ep8
7.5
25th May 2014
Maruo Eiichirō continues his training at STC as he tries to master every shot. At smaller tournaments he begins advancing to the third round but is unable to go further. His mother worries that Eiichirō is spending too much time on tennis when he drops out of cram school to practice more.
Diligence is My Style
S1 Ep9
7.1
1st Jun 2014
Eiichirō returns to the Kanagawa Junior Circuit. His first match is up against fellow high school student Koshimizu Nariyuki, a man whom is always trying to compete with Eiichirō for the top scores.
Unease on the Edge
S1 Ep10
7.7
8th Jun 2014
The match between Eiichirō and Miyagawa begins with each holding serve. However Eiichirō feels that something is off. After studying his notes, Eiichirō realizes that Miyagawa has been studying his shots, and with a 4-3 lead he plans on making his move in the eighth game.
Risk and Possibility
S1 Ep11
7.4
15th Jun 2014
After managing to hold serve Eiichirō starts looking for an opportunity to break Miyagawa. Both hold serve and force a tiebreaker. With the score 6-5 Maruo in the tiebreaker Eiichirō decides to try and gamble to use his full stroke and steal a point.
Improvement by Memory
S1 Ep12
7.5
22nd Jun 2014
After defeating Miyagawa, Eiichirō returns to STC for some training that will make him better in 1 day. Eiichirō is teamed up with a Coach Mike from Florida who specializes in pyschological training.
Art and Technique
S1 Ep13
7.0
29th Jun 2014
The match between Hiromi and Eiichirō begins. Everytime Eiichirō tries to go on the attack, Hiromi hits a shot Eiichirō can't reach.
Putting the Pieces Together
S1 Ep14
7.5
6th Jul 2014
It is match 10 of a 1-set match, and Eiichirō leads 5 games to 4. Eiichirō begins to up his speed against Hiromi, and with it he stays even at 30-30. Just then Hiromi's legs cramp up, allowing Eiichirō to get two easy aces and win the match 6-4.
Plan to be Forceful
S1 Ep15
7.7
13th Jul 2014
Eiichirō overhears Araya telling Takuma that if he loses to him this tournament, he will retire from tennis. His plan is to defeat Takuma and then announce he is going pro. Takuma agrees to tell Eiichirō Araya's weaknesses.
Beast and Initiative
S1 Ep16
7.4
20th Jul 2014
After going up Love-15, Araya uses a number of service aces to go up 3-1 in set 2. Eiichirō holds serve, and as he gains a 30-40 advantage in Game 6 of Set 2, Araya punches himself in his face to eliminate his emotions from the game.
Pro At My Age
S1 Ep17
7.7
27th Jul 2014
Araya and Eiichirō end up at deuce after neither player can gain an advantage. An ace end up being huge for Araya give him the match point advantage, and despite his best efforts a lucky bounce proves to be the end for Eiichirō as he loses 6-1, 6-4. The finals are held between Araya and Takuma.
Determination and Presentation
S1 Ep18
7.6
3rd Aug 2014
Eiichirō investigates going Pro, but his reaction from his parents is less than he expected. Eiichirō joins Natsu at the first round of the All Japan Pro to watch the debut match of Ike Souji.
Resolve and Hell
S1 Ep19
7.6
10th Aug 2014
Eiichirō manages to steal 1-point in the 10-minute match with Ike before his coaches reappear and make him stop playing a match. Afterwards Eiichirō is sent home to rest. The next day Eiichirō begins a brutal practice regimen that will recondition his body into that of a pro's.
Meat Buns and Yakisoba
S1 Ep20
7.6
17th Aug 2014
Eiichirō participates in a tournament after 3 months of hellish training. He learns about active rest while participating in the tournament and makes it to the final. Terashima is his opponent.
Consistency and Change
S1 Ep21
7.5
24th Aug 2014
Eiichirō continues his practice and gets his next tournament schedule. As the last player to qualify he is placed up against the 1-seed, Yu Nabae. Eiichirō begins to look for weaknesses from Yu on tape, but what he finds is a highly adaptive style that could easily beat him if he doesn't come up with a few tricks.
Fundamentals are the Weakness
S1 Ep22
8.0
31st Aug 2014
Yu Nabae matches up with Eiichirō and realizes they really are two players that are virtually the same. He realizes that what Eiichirō lacks is experience with the fundamentals, as he has never played anyone like himself, and after losing the first set Nabae begins to pull away and goes up 5-2.
Reckless 100-Square
S1 Ep23
7.5
7th Sep 2014
In an effort to try and reverse the tide, Eiichirō decides to go back to his idea of having 100-squares to aim for instead of 9.
Duty and Desire
S1 Ep24
7.3
14th Sep 2014
Eiichirō runs to watch Natsu's match when he learns she is in danger of losing. Afterwards they return to STC where he Ryuhei Aoi, a man who will become his new coach.
Eiichiro and Natsu
S1 Ep25
7.2
21st Sep 2014
Eiichirō and Natsu go out on their first date. When Eiichirō asks Natsu what she thinks about him, she tells him he is cheating. Afterwards Eiichirō is allowed to resume practice.