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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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  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 3 - The Contest Is a Fight
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #1 - The Contest Is a Fight

    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.

    Director:Kiyoshi Murayama
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  2. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 4 - Face of Conviction
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #2 - Face of Conviction

    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.

    Director:Yoshihiro Yanagiya
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  3. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 5 - A First Match Full of Surprises
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #3 - A First Match Full of Surprises

    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.

    Director:Koichiro Kuroda
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  4. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 6 - Diamond in the Rough
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #4 - Diamond in the Rough

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Junki Takegami

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  5. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 7 - Nine-Square and Reality
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #5 - Nine-Square and Reality

    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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  6. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 8 - One Year and Twenty Notebooks
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #6 - One Year and Twenty Notebooks

    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:Kumi Ichiguchi
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  7. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 10 - Unease on the Edge
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #7 - Unease on the Edge

    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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  8. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 11 - Risk and Possibility
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #8 - Risk and Possibility

    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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  9. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 12 - Improvement by Memory
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #9 - Improvement by Memory

    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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  10. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 13 - Art and Technique
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #10 - Art and Technique

    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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  11. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 14 - Putting the Pieces Together
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #11 - Putting the Pieces Together

    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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  12. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 15 - Plan to be Forceful
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #12 - Plan to be Forceful

    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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  13. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 17 - Pro At My Age
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #13 - Pro At My Age

    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.

    Director:Kumi Ichiguchi
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  14. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 18 - Determination and Presentation
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #14 - Determination and Presentation

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Junki Takegami

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  15. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 19 - Resolve and Hell
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #15 - Resolve and Hell

    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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  16. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 20 - Meat Buns and Yakisoba
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #16 - Meat Buns and Yakisoba

    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.

    Director:Maki Kodaira
    Writer:Natsuko Takahashi

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  17. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 21 - Consistency and Change
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #17 - Consistency and Change

    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 1 Episode 22 - Fundamentals are the Weakness
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #18 - Fundamentals are the Weakness

    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.

    Director:Yoshihiro Yanagiya
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  19. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 23 - Reckless 100-Square
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #19 - Reckless 100-Square

    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.

    Director:Kiyoshi Murayama
    Writer:Junki Takegami

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  20. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 24 - Duty and Desire
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #20 - Duty and Desire

    S1:E24

    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.

    Director:Yoshinori Odaka
    Writer:Natsuko Takahashi

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  21. Baby Steps Season 1 Episode 25 - Eiichiro and Natsu
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #21 - Eiichiro and Natsu

    S1:E25

    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.

    Director:Masahiko Murata
    Writer:Katsuhiko Chiba

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  22. Baby Steps Season 2 Episode 1 - The World and the Wall
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #22 - The World and the Wall

    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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  23. Baby Steps Season 2 Episode 2 - A Vicious Circle is Lucky
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #23 - A Vicious Circle is Lucky

    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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  24. Baby Steps Season 2 Episode 3 - Data for the Future
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #24 - Data for the Future

    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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  25. Baby Steps Season 2 Episode 4 - Awakening to Simplicity
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #25 - Awakening to Simplicity

    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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Worst Episodes Summary

"The Contest Is a Fight" is the worst rated episode of "Baby Steps". It scored /10 based on 0 votes. Directed by Kiyoshi Murayama and written by Katsuhiko Chiba, it aired on 4/20/2014. This episode scored 0.0 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Face of Conviction".