Sk8 the Infinity, an original anime project from Studio Bones, garnered a significant fanbase during its first season thanks to its charming characters and entertaining twist on the sports genre by turning skateboarding into a flashy, winner-takes-all affair.
With a second season officially on the way and no source material for fans to dig into while they wait for the series to release, there are plenty of questions regarding where they could go from the Season 1 finale.
Reki and Langa's Relationship
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Reki and Langa formed a close bond in the early episodes of SK8 Season 1. Reki was the first friend Langa made upon arriving in Japan, and he taught him how to skateboard. Langa greatly respected Reki, but he was oblivious to Reki's self-doubt and feelings of inferiority when seeing Langa's increased popularity at S. Although the conflict caused a strain on their close relationship, they eventually made amends and continued to grow closer.
Fans wonder if something more will blossom from Reki and Langa's bond. The two have shown many times that they deeply care for one another, from how whenever one was feeling down, the other would be their primary source of support. Langa has also hinted while talking to his mom that he "likes" Reki and was desperate to fix their relationship after failing to keep his promise. With Season 2, there is speculation about whether Reki and Langa's friendship will spark a potential romantic relationship. They grew extremely close at the start of the series, and fans would like to see that bond deepen as Reki and Langa face new rivals.
A New Adam-like Opponent
Episode 12 of the first season ended with a close race between Langa and Adam that ended with the Canadian skater's victory. The Matador of Love became a memorable antagonist due to his eccentric personality and remarkable skating abilities. He was a complex character who garnered sympathy from fans after learning about his internal struggles and complicated background. In the 2022 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, Adam's voice actor, David Wald, won the best English Voice Actor, and the skater earned a nomination for Best Antagonist.
Adam's impact leaves high expectations for Season 2's antagonist. The villainous force will have to be a formidable foe who matches Adam in skills. Fans anticipate next season's antagonist to be a new challenge for Reki and Langa.
Cherry Blossom, Joe, Miya, and Shadow
Sk8 The Infinity introduced several supporting characters that fans grew to love. Cherry Blossom, Joe, Miya, and Shadow proved to be formidable opponents in S. Each skater had unique skating styles and specialties that made them fun to watch. Although there are fierce rivalries at S, they also proved to be good friends and mentors for Reki and Langa. Though SK8 focused on Reki and Langa and their rivalry with Adam, each skater had moments to shine, and fans now wonder if they will get more screen time in Season 2.
Each skater has a potential storyline that has room for development next season. Cherry and Joe's complete past with Adam is unknown. Miya is considered a prodigy, but viewers don't know much about his upbringing. Shadow is still a complete mystery. The new season has the potential to dive deeper into these characters' backgrounds and add more conflict to the plot.
The Future Of S
S is a secret underground race with no rules except for crowning a winner. The race can be dangerous as it's risky to skate on, but competitors can also use underhanded methods to win. S is a private event where participants need a pin to enter the races. However, S is an illegal group, and the police have chased racers away from the track. Adam runs the race and pays the police to keep them from leaking information about it, but the competition still poses many risks.
With the future of S uncertain, it is a possibility that the race may bring about new challenges for Reki and Langa. There is a chance that S may get shut down altogether, prompting the duo to find a new means of competition. S is also dangerous, and Reki has gotten injured on several occasions while competing. There is another possibility that the race may cause another more serious injury that ends Reki's skating career altogether.
With little details released about the second season and the last episode ending on a bit of a cliffhanger, the future of Reki and Langa is up to the creators. Fans have high hopes for the next season and anticipate it to be as successful as the first.