REVIEW: ‘Blue Lock’ Season 2 Episode 12 — “Flowers”

The match between Blue Lock and the Japan U-20 National Team rages on, and things are heating up in the second half. Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 12, “Flowers,” continues the exciting matchup as the players learn more about themselves and the game of soccer.

Blue Lock Season 2 has been about the battle over the soul of soccer. While that has mostly played out on a larger scale in the match between the two sides, it has also shown itself in the individual moments. Each player is learning his role in the team and the game. That continues in Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 12 with Oliver Aiku. The episode starts with a flashback that digs more into the season’s overall theme.

Like the rest of his teammates, Aiku wants to be a star striker. He wants to score goals and receive all the fame of being a star forward. As a kid, his coach challenged him to focus more on providing assists instead of scoring, something he initially disagreed with. This conversation eventually led to Aiku deciding to become a defender instead.

This scene has some great moments, but the sudden turn towards becoming a defender feels rushed. Like most characters in the series, Aiku makes a brash decision without thinking too hard about it.

It makes these moments in Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 12 feel cheaper than they are being set up for. A little more time spent discussing it with his coach, who had some interesting things to say, would have made this moment more memorable, and the decision would have had more impact.

Back in the match, Aiku is one of the best players. His ability to read the game puts him several steps ahead of the Blue Lock players. He makes a particularly striking comment about how he would have been one of the team’s players if the Blue Lock Project had started three years earlier. This is a significant moment, with Aiku voicing the idea that the Blue Lock mentality is enticing, but maturity is learning to focus on teamwork instead.

Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 12 does a great job of highlighting the philosophical debate within the context of the match. We get to see electric soccer unfold while hearing these players’ thoughts as they realize their role in the sport. The episode starts with Aiku but slowly begins to dive into the thoughts of the other 21 players on the field. They are all at different stages of making the same discovery Aiku made, making the ongoing match entertaining.

Blue Lock, Season 2 Episode 12, spends significant time breaking down what is happening on the field.

This is done through internal monologues as players process what is happening in front of them. This is usually an excellent tool for helping viewers understand what is happening who otherwise might be a little lost amid the action. Conversely, it can start bogging the episode with extra dialogue instead of visual action.

It is helpful to learn more about what the players are processing, but Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 12 highlights how it is starting to become an issue of information overload. As the match drags on, all this time spent explaining the situation feels more like filler than helpful information. The overall theme stays the same, especially when the revelations are slightly different each time, with the players and roles changing.

The most interesting revelation in Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 12 is when Aiku talks about wanting to see Japanese soccer reborn.

He is not pro-Blue Lock, but he does see the merits of strikers’ me-first mentality. The old and new ideals will eventually mesh to create a new, more effective one, and he is one of the first members of the old guard to wish for that openly.

The soccer itself is sometimes fun to watch, though there are still some issues with the animation. Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 12 relies too heavily on stopping before showing the actual moves, which is frustrating. The CGI feet remain disturbing, but their jarring sight starts to feel more normal as the series progresses.

Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 12 stands out visually with its skill moves. Seeing each player’s special move on screen is exhilarating. Studio 8-bit knows how to deliver incredible visuals that enhance the story, making the down moments even more frustrating. Still, plenty of skill is displayed in Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 12, making it a blast to watch unfold.

Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 12 is an exciting episode that sometimes staggers but ultimately sticks the landing as the match continues. It will be interesting to see how things wrap up in the battle over Japanese soccer’s soul by the time the match ends.

Blue Lock Season 2 Episode 12 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.