REVIEW: ‘Blue Lock’ Season 2 Episode 2 — “The Assassin and the Ninja”

With the teams set, Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 2, “The Assassin and the Ninja,” sees Isagi (Kazuki Ura, Unicorn Overlord) picked to participate in the first match. The pressure is on as the non-top six players have only one chance to stand out against the rest of the hyper-competitive field. However, the situation gets particularly grim for our protagonist when he draws the eye of one of the top players.

As the episode opens, we learn which selection of three players from teams A and B will participate in the upcoming match. The most noteworthy pull comes from Hyoma Chigiri’s (Sôma Saitô, Undead Murder Farce) selection for the team. As the player is familiar with Isagi’s play style, his appearance is an immediate cause of concern for the protagonist.

With the match about to begin, Isagi makes his way to the arena with his two temporary teammates. As the trio walks towards the field, Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 2 delivers a surprising moment of camaraderie. With so much of the series focusing on the cutthroat “kill or be killed” energy of the completion, the lighthearted exchange is a refreshing moment. Placed perfectly before the intensity once more ratchets up, it allows both Isagi and the viewer to breathe momentarily.

Once the match begins, viewers are treated to the high-intensity sports animation that 8-Bit has made the series famous for. The visual depictions of every player bring a great sense of speed to the plays that unfold on the field and allow each athlete to stand out thanks to unique visual flares. As viewers learn the visual language of the match, it helps them keep track of who is who.

Isagi’s trademark analysis keeps the main event of Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 2 from becoming just a blur of passes and shots. As plays unfold, we get his running commentary and cutaway shots to a more tactical angle of the game, allowing viewers to keep up with the action and understand why the players are performing as they are.

Sadly, Isagi’s analytical skills prove to be of little worth when he draws the attention of Karasu Tabito (Makoto Furukawa, Bartender: Glass of God). Karasu singles out Isagi, reasoning that he is only at his best when he coordinates with his teammates. Separate him, and he’ll lag behind. This strategy proves effective as Isagi quickly falls out of prominence in the match’s events.

This situation cannot help but draw attention to the obvious flaw in the competition. Because Isagi has drawn the singular attention of one of the top six players, he could get knocked out of Blue Lock. The fact that Isagi can perform well enough to draw such attention should make him more noteworthy, not less. The reality that if he can’t one v one Karasau, he’ll get eliminated shows a severe lack of understanding of team sports. Not everyone can be the star, and nothing can tear a team down faster than everyone trying to be the star.

While Isagi struggles, Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 2 showcases the various playstyles of the other nine players on the field. The variety in approach and abilities keeps the action throughout the episode engaging and interesting. From sheer speed to ingenuous approaches, it’s never hard to understand why each character has made it this far into Blue Lock.

Chigir stands out in this showcase of skills. Like Isagi, he initially struggles to make a splash in the game. But by using all his understanding of soccer and a healthy dose of assertiveness, he can break away and force the top players to acknowledge him. The sequence showing his big moment beautifully delivers the character’s actions as his internal monologue guides the viewer along his chosen path.

Despite their best efforts, though, Isagi’s team finds itself trailing as the credits roll. With only this one chance to prove himself, Isagi will have to find a way to overcome the latest obstacle before him or go home with his soccer dreams shattered.

Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 2 brings high-intensity soccer through engaging analysis and some unexpected comradery. It is brought to life through a superlative visual presentation, and fans of the series will have little to complain about as the new season kicks into high gear.

Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 2 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.