REVIEW: ‘Blue Lock’ Season 2 Episode 8 — “Blue Genes”

The epic showdown between the Blue Lock program and the Japan U-20 National Team is in full swing, with Nagi’s goal tying it up at 1-1. Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 8, “Blue Genes,” continues the battle for the soul of soccer. While the last two episodes focused on setting up the match and introducing all players involved, Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 8 provides a more zoomed-in look at the Itoshi brothers, Sae and Rin. Sae is the best player for the U-20s, and Rin is the top-ranked player in Blue Lock. They are both key players for their teams, but their familial connection adds another layer of intrigue.

Ego explains Rin’s contributions to the Blue Lock team reasonably well at the start of Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 8. He breaks down Rin’s link-up play and how his creativity helped open up the chance for Nagi to score. Scenes like this are essential for viewers who are not as well-versed in the minutiae of soccer because they explain the game’s inner workings. Having Ego explain to his assistant is a natural way to explain what is happening without losing focus on the game itself.

It is also a great look into how Ego thinks. He has mainly been a closed-off character, and little is known about him other than the monologues he gives about how soccer is all about ego. Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 8 sends him into another of these monologues, but the context of the match and the storybook animation used help convey his point more interestingly.

Rin is living proof that, to some extent, Ego’s idea works. His overwhelming drive to be the best player unlocked the U-20s defense and allowed the Blue Lock team to take advantage. The little moments of internal and external dialogue we get from Rin show that he is all-in on pushing himself to be the absolute best no matter who he must step over to get there. He is the ultimate test to see if Ego’s ideal way of playing soccer is best.

His brother Sae is not much different. The two clash on the field in a battle of both wits and skill, but not much separates them from each other. They both have immense talent and an unwavering commitment to being the best. Using a sibling rivalry to showcase how cutthroat soccer can be is an excellent choice, and it shines through well here in Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 8.

Rin and Sae might share the same mentality, but they are still different. Sae knows that a whole team still needs to function, and it can not all come down to one player. Sure, one elite player can make a huge difference, but at some point, they have to rely on teammates to get the job done. Sae can coordinate with his teammates without verbally communicating, which gives the U-20s an advantage.

Blue Lock does have a plan to counter, but it is not easy to beat such a well-oiled machine. Watching Blue Lock figure out how to stop the U-20s is enjoyable, but more animation issues hamper it. The awkward stillness amid action is increasingly jarring as the series progresses, and the CGI animation worsens. There is one moment where CGI is used to show players as pieces on a game board, and that would have worked so much better if it had been drawn in animation instead.

All of the time spent explaining how Blue Lock is breaking past the U-20s initially feels like it is taking away from the focus on the two brothers. But when viewers wonder when Sae or Rin will play a vital role again, Sae leaps into action and stops the Blue Lock movement. Rin does not settle and comes in with a great play. He scores a beautiful goal to shockingly put the Blue Lock team ahead 2-1 and sends the crowd into a frenzy.

The way Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 8 breaks away from the main focal characters only to have them lurking in the shadows waiting to strike is very well done and makes for some genuinely entertaining television. Both teams are going all out, and the Itoshi brothers are at the center of it all, even when the on-screen time is dedicated to other players. This also makes it more satisfying when either of the brothers is foiled by one of the other players, giving someone else a moment in the spotlight.

Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 8 is an excellent exploration of the battle over the soul of soccer through the eyes of two brothers. There is plenty of exciting action and tension which is only slightly marred by lackluster animation in the most chaotic moments.

Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 8 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.