Baby Steps backdrop
Baby Steps poster
Animation
Comedy

The Best Episodes of Baby Steps

Every episode of Baby Steps ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Baby Steps!

The Best Episodes of Baby Steps

Eiichirō Maruo (nicknamed "Ei-chan" for his grades being straight "A") is an honor student, bookworm, and is not interested in anything other than studying. In...
  1. 8.3/10(7 votes)

    #1 - Final Set

    Loading...
    S2:E25

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  2. 8.2/10(5 votes)

    #2 - Recklessness and Surprise

    Loading...
    S2:E24

    The match between Eiichirou and Nabae finally reaches its thrilling climax, and the former risks losing to envision his victory.

    0 Comments
    View all
  3. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #3 - Tennis and Notes

    Loading...
    S1:E1

    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

    0 Comments
    View all
  4. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #4 - Methodical and Unorganized

    Loading...
    S1:E2

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  5. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #5 - The Contest Is a Fight

    Loading...
    S1:E3

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  6. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #6 - Face of Conviction

    Loading...
    S1:E4

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of Baby Steps

    READ
  8. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #7 - A First Match Full of Surprises

    Loading...
    S1:E5

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  9. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #8 - Diamond in the Rough

    Loading...
    S1:E6

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  10. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #9 - Nine-Square and Reality

    Loading...
    S1:E7

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  11. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #10 - One Year and Twenty Notebooks

    Loading...
    S1:E8

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  12. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #11 - Diligence is My Style

    Loading...
    S1:E9

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  13. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #12 - Unease on the Edge

    Loading...
    S1:E10

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  14. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #13 - Risk and Possibility

    Loading...
    S1:E11

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  15. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #14 - Improvement by Memory

    Loading...
    S1:E12

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  16. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #15 - Art and Technique

    Loading...
    S1:E13

    The match between Hiromi and Eiichirō begins. Everytime Eiichirō tries to go on the attack, Hiromi hits a shot Eiichirō can't reach.

    0 Comments
    View all
  17. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #16 - Putting the Pieces Together

    Loading...
    S1:E14

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  18. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #17 - Plan to be Forceful

    Loading...
    S1:E15

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  19. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #18 - Beast and Initiative

    Loading...
    S1:E16

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  20. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #19 - Pro At My Age

    Loading...
    S1:E17

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  21. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #20 - Determination and Presentation

    Loading...
    S1:E18

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  22. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #21 - Resolve and Hell

    Loading...
    S1:E19

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  23. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #22 - Meat Buns and Yakisoba

    Loading...
    S1:E20

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  24. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #23 - Consistency and Change

    Loading...
    S1:E21

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  25. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #24 - Fundamentals are the Weakness

    Loading...
    S1:E22

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  26. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #25 - Reckless 100-Square

    Loading...
    S1:E23

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all

Best Episodes Summary

"Final Set" is the best rated episode of "Baby Steps". It scored 8.3/10 based on 7 votes. Directed by Masahiko Murata and written by Katsuhiko Chiba, it aired on 9/20/2015. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Recklessness and Surprise".