REVIEW: ‘Blue Lock’ Season 2 Episode 3 — “The World You Feel”

Down by two with their opponents at match point, Isagi’s (Kazuki Ura, Unicorn Overlord) team is feeling the heat. If they are to come together and turn this game around they will need to learn how to play off each other and  fast. Luckily, despite their star players’ inability to do so, the strength of the team seems to be falling into place in Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 3 “The World You Feel.”

Injecting internal monologues or external dialogue into fast-paced moments that would never permit them isn’t new. Animation and comics use the properties of their mediums to allow characters to keep conversations going even as they rush across a soccer field or engage in brawls. This is done so they can keep the action going while delivering character and plot at the same time. Getting a character’s running analysis in a stressful situation can build up both character and situation.

However, too much of this can begin to weigh down a scene. When this happens, the tension and stress of a moment are lost in the exposition the character delivers. This quickly becomes the case in Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 3.

Isagi’s analysis of the unfolding situation is intended to showcase the character’s lighting quick mind and deep understanding of soccer. It does so but at the expense of all else. All the speed and tension that the moments between the game board style visual interpretations of Isagi’s mind are swallowed up, lost in the monologue. Even with Ura delivering on the tension Isagi feels, it can do little to keep the energy from stalling out.

The speed of the plays unfolding is further slowed by lots of momentary chatter between players on the field. These moments of banter and trash talk would feel fine, if not for the presence of Isagi’s internal thoughts. Despite the chatter not helping the sense of speed and tension in the game, it does help Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 3 further flesh out the personalities of the various players.

Woven within the endless monologuing is the coming together of Isagi’s team. Seeing the emphasis of the gameplay focusing on the team dynamic over all-out personal skill is a nice change. Team sports are won by teams, and Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 3 makes a concerted effort to showcase this. This teamwork is brought to life with great animation both on the field and in Isagi’s mind. While the team’s growth is a great thing to see, this is Isagi’s story. As the main character finds himself struggling to keep up he is given an important bit of information.

When he comes up just short of scoring the game-tieing goal, one of his teammates observes that his thinking, while his greatest strength, is slowing him down. If he wants to keep up with the highest tier of players, he must learn to think reflexively. Or rather, not think at all and just know what to do next. Despite the observation being valid, reflexive action is only gained through endless repetition. It comes from doing a thing so many times that you just know what to do. No thought is required. It’s not something someone simply decides to start doing. Needless to say, that doesn’t stop Isagi from flipping it on like a light switch.

The moment that Isagi levels up comes with a great bit of visual flair. His increased speed and fiery determination come through fantastically thanks to the strong animation and camera work by 8-Bit. The viewer feels the increase in speed that Isagi acquires in this pivotal moment.

Isagi’s newfound focus allows him to access greater levels of speed, now that he isn’t splitting his attention with active analysis. This allows him to score the game-winning goal, even though two other players were already lined up to score it. This return to making yourself shine over your team, while par for the series, nevertheless feels like an eye-rolling element. But Isaki’s grand-standing play gets him the acknowledgment of Shindou and Rin, his team’s two-star players. A development that lets Isaki end the episode feeling good about himself.

Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 3 brings dynamic soccer plays and deep analysis to its narrative. Despite the latter often overwhelming the former, the episode brings a fair amount for fans as it showcases Isagi’s next step in his transformation into a top-flight soccer player.

Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 3 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.