“Turkey! Time to Strike,” the original Japanese anime series blending tenpin bowling with unexpected time travel, continued its captivating narrative with its fifth episode, “A Passing Hook Ball,” which premiered on August 6, 2025. This installment delved deeper into the challenges faced by the Ikkokukan High School Bowling Club members as they navigate their surreal predicament in the Warring States period, focusing on new attempts to return home and significant character development, particularly for Nozomi and Reena.
The Desperate Search for a Way Home
After their initial, accidental time slip, the five high school bowlers—Mai Otonashi, Rina Godai, Sayuri Ichinose, Nozomi Mitaka, and Nanase Nikaidō—find themselves stranded in historical Japan. Episode 5 saw the group attempting to replicate the circumstances that brought them to the past, shifting their focus from waiting for another lightning storm to a more audacious plan. Nanase, the more analytical member of the group, proposes a seemingly illogical method: throwing a bowling ball off a cliff in the hopes of triggering a similar time-traveling phenomenon. This desperate measure highlights the girls’ increasing urgency and frustration with their situation, especially given the rarity of thunderstorms in their current time period, which occurs only about once a year.
Unraveling Character Dynamics and Backstories
“A Passing Hook Ball” particularly shone a spotlight on Nozomi, offering viewers the first significant exploration of her character since the series began. Until this episode, Nozomi had remained somewhat in the background, making her increased screentime and development a welcome addition.
The episode also explored the complex relationship between the main group and Anzu, a character who had previously been portrayed as hostile towards them. Viewers learn that Anzu possesses a softer side and a surprising curiosity about modern technology, specifically smartphones. Her animosity towards “traveling performers” is revealed to stem from a past trauma where someone precious to her, an older sister, was taken away by such a person. This backstory adds a layer of depth to Anzu’s character and helps explain her guarded nature.
Furthermore, the episode delved into Reena’s struggles and her inability to distinguish between having fun and being “useful.” This internal conflict leads to a rare moment of anger from Mai, the club captain, who directly confronts Reena about her mindset, asserting that enjoyment and utility are not mutually exclusive. The episode culminates with a focus on Reena, even revealing a poignant backstory about her parents’ divorce, which seems to have shaped her view on personal value and happiness.
Themes of Causality and Personal Growth
The series has previously touched upon the “butterfly effect,” and Episode 5 continued to play with this theme, albeit with the girls seemingly becoming more relaxed about potential changes to the timeline. The efforts to return to their own time, particularly Nanase’s cliff-throwing experiment, serve as “butterfly effect-bait,” creating narrative tension around the consequences of their actions in the past.
Ultimately, “Turkey! Time to Strike” Episode 5 served as a crucial installment, pushing the plot forward with new attempts at time travel while enriching the series’ character roster. By providing deeper insights into Nozomi, Anzu, and Reena, “A Passing Hook Ball” layered emotional depth onto the unique blend of sports and sci-fi that defines the anime.
