Summary
- Animation quality slightly improved in Episode 3 of Blue Lock Season 2, but still not up to par.
- Isagi acts as a bridge between Rin and Shidou to lead Team A to victory with a score of 5-4.
- Isagi trusts his instincts, scores the winning goal, and showcases ninja skills in a humorous scene at the end.
Blue Lock has kept the intensity of being a soccer field throughout the series. The same intensity is kept during Season 2 as well, but through slightly toned-down animation and production quality.
The third episode of Blue Lock's second season, titled "The World You Feel," continues from where episode 2 left off, with the match between Team A and Team B. The match results were not looking good for Team A as it was 2-4 and Team B was only one goal away from winning. With the team unable to sync and in disarray, let’s dive into how they try to bounce back.
Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 2: The Running JPEGS
The series continued strong but fell off with it's animation and production budget in episode 2
Slight Improvement In Animations
More Than Just Moving JPEGS
Compared to Episode 2, the animation quality and production seem slightly improved in Season 2, Episode 3. However, at this level of scale and popularity, it is still not quite up to par. Fans of the series note how slightly cleaner the action scenes are and how transitions were handled a little better, but with everything said and done, the general pacing and dynamic shots still fall short of what was promised, more so in comparison to other top sports anime.
This episode benefited from having less intensity, as the episode mainly focused on Isagi's personal dilemma and desire to prove himself. Given the hype around Blue Lock due to its premise, there's at least a semblance of hope that the quality of production could get better after this arc-at least as the series ramps up toward the most intense moments. With a big show like Blue Lock, there's probably an expectation from the fans that the storytelling and visuals are further along as time progresses.
Third Selection Arc's First Match, Part 2
Team A vs. Team B
Rin and Shidou still not being able to sync up even after training with each other leaves Isagi confused as to how they would be able to win if the best two players aren't even compatible at all. He deduces that the only way to win would be to become a bridge between them, since both of them only play to score goals on their own.
Shidou passes to Rin at kickoff as Isagi and Hiori Yo prepare for the follow-up. Team B was still not giving any chance to Team A to break from their defenses, and with Karasu still continuing to harass him, Isagi realized he couldn't do anything if he couldn't get past Karasu; Nanase surged forward, running past both Isagi and Karasu. Nanase reluctantly admits that Rin and Shidou's moves are too clever for him to duplicate, but he can definitely reach up to Isagi and copy his moves to help the team goal.
Team A Starts To Bounce Back
Rin And Shidou Proving Why They’re Top Players
After breaking through their defense finally, Isagi tries to pass to Shidou in hopes of him passing it back to him and scoring a direct goal. But he pivots his body to score on his own. This changes the score to 4-3. Isagi is amazed at his spinning banana shot, and Shidou states that he is simply the best when inside the penalty zone. With all this, Karasu gets annoyed by how Isagi is improving and the team along with him. As Isagi and Karasu rush to take each other on, Rin gets in the way, telling Isagi he's in over his head.
Rin mocks Karasu for only targeting players weaker than himself. After a struggle between them to gain control of the ball. Karasu gives up on trying to fight Rin as he plans an escape, but, before he can make a move, Isagi uses Karasu's blind spot to slide in and steal the ball. As Isagi advances with the ball, Hiori and Nanase move with him. Hiori was able to give him a perfect pass, but Isagi’s physical strength went short, and he missed the chance to score, but to their surprise, Rin was on the counterattack and was able to tie down the score to 4-4.
Isagi's Jigsaw Puzzle Mind
It's Over Once Isagi Finds The Missing Piece
With one goal left to decide the fate of the players, Isagi decides this is not the type of soccer he wants to play and that he needs to goal himself. He completes the puzzle in his mind and figures out the best course of action is to listen to the advice from Hiori and empty his mind of all extra thinking to trust his instincts. Hiori dribbles around Chigiri and passes the ball. Both Rin and Shidou move to take the pass, but from nowhere, Isagi sprints in front of them, pushing them both aside.
Shidou is shocked by how fast and energetic Isagi is; even Rin can't believe his eyes. Putting all his strength into it, Isagi scores a super goal. The match is over with scores 5-4, Team A winning the first match. Nanase congratulates Isagi by tackling and hugging him. Nanase asks how he was able to blow past Rin and Shidou, and Isagi explains that he listened to Hiori and relied on his reflexes.
Most Important Skills For A Ninja
Being A Flirting Egotist Is A Must To Be A Brilliant Striker
The best scene in Blue Lock Season 2, Episode 3, was, of course, at the end, during the segment "Additional Time.". This was a completely unexpected yet hilarious addition to include. Chigiri asks Otoya if he is actually a ninja and if he knows any ninjutsu, with Otoya demonstrating his ninja skills and how hilariously it could be applied to everyday life with women, and him using all the techniques on Karasu was the cherry on top.
It is in this segment that the humor and charm really connect with fans, delightfully deviating from the usual tropes expected from a sports anime. It was a display of how writers could balance even comedy with the overall thematic elements of the series: competition and personal growth.
- Release Date
- 2022 - 2024
- Directors
- Tetsuaki Watanabe, Shunsuke Ishikawa
- Writers
- Taku Kishimoto
Cast
-
Ricco Fajardo -
Drew Breedlove
WHERE TO WATCH
Based on Muneyuki Kaneshiro's soccer manga, Blue Lock revolves around a program to develop a world-class Japanese striker. Just about qualifying, Isagi has to face off against the nation's best young talents and survive selections, while constantly growing as a player.
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- 8bit
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Muneyuki Kaneshiro
- Number of Episodes
- 24 Episodes (Season 1); 14 Episodes (Season 2)
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8.22 (Season 1)
