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The Worst Episodes of Baby Steps

Every episode of Baby Steps ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Baby Steps!

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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 order to solve his problem of lacking physical strength, he

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NHK Educational TV
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Seasons2

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Baby Steps Season 2 Episode 23 - Aggressive is Ideal
    7.2/10(5 votes)

    S2:E23

    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.

    Director:Yoshito Hata
    Writer:Junki Takegami

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  2. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 9 - Diligence is My Style
    7.3/10(10 votes)

    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.

    Director:Hiromichi Matano
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  3. Baby Steps Season 2 Episode 1 - The World and the Wall
    7.4/10(5 votes)

    S2:E1

    Eiichirō arrives in Florida, and Coach Mike introduces him to Marcia, an upcoming junior whose older brother just made the Pro's. Marcia and Eiichirō play a match, and Marcia decides Eiichirō must be training for the French Open because of his slow play style.

    Director:Maki Kodaira
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  4. Baby Steps Season 2 Episode 3 - Data for the Future
    7.4/10(5 votes)

    S2:E3

    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.

    Director:Kiyoshi Murayama
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  5. Baby Steps Season 2 Episode 19 - A Rude First Meeting
    7.4/10(5 votes)

    S2:E19

    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.

    Director:Kiyoshi Murayama
    Writer:Natsuko Takahashi

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  6. Baby Steps Season 2 Episode 21 - Good, Evil, and Rules
    7.4/10(5 votes)

    S2:E21

    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.

    Director:Hiroshi Fukutomi
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  7. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 13 - Art and Technique
    7.5/10(7 votes)

    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.

    Director:Noriyuki Nomata
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  8. Baby Steps Season 2 Episode 2 - A Vicious Circle is Lucky
    7.6/10(5 votes)

    S2:E2

    Eiichirō begins closing the gap on the others at the Florida Academy, but during everyone of his matches he has one moment where he presses too hard, costing him a set and eventually costing him the match.

    Director:Kiyoshi Murayama
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  9. Baby Steps Season 2 Episode 20 - Psychological Warfare and Self-Control
    7.6/10(5 votes)

    S2:E20

    The match against Takagi begins. Just as Yukichi warned, Takagi's style is unique.

    Director:Taisuke Mamori
    Writer:Shin Yoshida

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  10. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 1 - Tennis and Notes
    7.7/10(23 votes)

    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

    Director:Masahiko Murata
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  11. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 16 - Beast and Initiative
    7.7/10(7 votes)

    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.

    Director:Hiromichi Matano
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  12. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 8 - One Year and Twenty Notebooks
    7.8/10(10 votes)

    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.

    Director:Kazunori Mizuno
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  13. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 12 - Improvement by Memory
    7.8/10(9 votes)

    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.

    Director:Maki Kodaira
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  14. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 14 - Putting the Pieces Together
    7.8/10(6 votes)

    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.

    Director:Yoshihiro Yanagiya
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  15. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 18 - Determination and Presentation
    7.8/10(6 votes)

    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.

    Director:Heo Pyoung-kang
    Writer:Junki Takegami

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  16. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 19 - Resolve and Hell
    7.8/10(6 votes)

    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.

    Director:Kiyoshi Murayama
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  17. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 21 - Consistency and Change
    7.8/10(6 votes)

    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.

    Director:Sumito Sasaki
    Writer:Junki Takegami

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  18. Baby Steps Season 2 Episode 4 - Awakening to Simplicity
    7.8/10(5 votes)

    S2:E4

    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.

    Director:Tomoyuki Kurokawa
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  19. Baby Steps Season 2 Episode 22 - Existence is the Driving Force
    7.8/10(5 votes)

    S2:E22

    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.

    Director:Masaaki Kumagai
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  20. Baby Steps Season 2 Episode 24 - Recklessness and Surprise
    7.8/10(6 votes)

    S2:E24

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

    Director:Tomoyuki Kurokawa
    Writer:Shin Yoshida

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  21. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 2 - Methodical and Unorganized
    7.9/10(15 votes)

    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.

    Director:Maki Kodaira
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  22. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 7 - Nine-Square and Reality
    7.9/10(10 votes)

    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.

    Director:Shin'ichi Masaki
    Writer:Junki Takegami

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  23. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 10 - Unease on the Edge
    7.9/10(9 votes)

    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.

    Director:Masahiko Murata
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  24. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 11 - Risk and Possibility
    7.9/10(9 votes)

    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.

    Director:Kiyoshi Murayama
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  25. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 15 - Plan to be Forceful
    8.0/10(6 votes)

    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.

    Director:Kiyoshi Murayama
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Aggressive is Ideal" is the worst rated episode of "Baby Steps". It scored 7.2/10 based on 5 votes. Directed by Yoshito Hata and written by Junki Takegami, it aired on 9/6/2015. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Diligence is My Style".