REVIEW: ‘Blue Box’ Season 2 Episode 2 – “Admiration”

Blue Box Season 2 Episode 2, “Admiration,” starts exploring the details surrounding Yumeka (Yoshino Aoyama, Bocchi the Rock) and her connection to Chinatsu (Reina Ueda, Black Torch). As Taiki (Shoya Chiba, Jujutsu Kaisen) learns about Yumeka, he cannot understand what he discovers. 

The series’ opening steps into Yumeka’s character exploration incredibly well in Blue Box Season 2 Episode 2. A reasonable blend of Taiki’s curiosity and circumstances that lead him to unlikely opportunities to interact with Chinatsu’s former friend lets the lead learn about her without coming across as weird or obsessive.  

The information he gleans in Blue Box Season 2 Episode 2 sets up an interesting narrative element for the series. As a former basketball player, Yumeka was both a teammate and an inspiration for Chinatsu. That is, before she walked away from the sport entirely. By every indication, Yumeka was just as good as Chinatsu, so how does someone just quit something they put so much time and effort into? 

Blue Box Season 2 Episode 2 focuses on exploring Yumeka.

The contradiction Yumeka creates compared to everyone else in the show is ripe for great storytelling. Her willingness to walk feels like a direct challenge to the “never say die” attitude that everyone else in the series clings to and defines themselves by. Seeing Yumeka living beyond her initial sports goals sets up likely moments of deep introspection and character growth for all involved. 

Another major element Taiki must contend with in Yumeka’s past is that she seems to dislike Chinatsu now. This revelation leaves Taiki in disbelief, as the kind-hearted and hard-working girl he’s fallen in love with seems impossible not to like. How could Yumeka dislike the perfect girl?

This line of exploration has great potential if the series can bring it together. Even if Chinatsu has always been the sweetheart Taiki knows, there are still plenty of reasons someone might come to resent a person, even if they know it may not be fair or right. Feelings can be stubborn, and it will be interesting to see how much Blue Box delves into them with Yumeka and Chinatsu’s falling out. 

Yumeka’s dislike of Chinatsu opens the door to an intriguing exploration of Taiki’s “perfect girl.”

While the bulk of Blue Box Season 2 Episode 2 revolves around Yumeka’s past, life still moves on at Eimei High School. It seems even the holidays won’t stop the hardcore athletes from training as plans for practice sessions up to and including Christmas Eve get made, testing everyone’s determination in yet another way.

Although these side elements are ancillary to the plot, it’s great that the series makes time to include them. Life always goes on, and the surrounding elements within the story drive home that the world doesn’t stop just so Taiki can ponder a new dilemma. This subtly further emphasizes what understanding the situation means to him, as expending time and energy on it means he has less for school and sports. 

While focusing on Yumeka, the episode makes sure to not neglect the daily lives of these students.

These moments also serve to welcome back familiar faces. Taiki’s consummate teammate Kyo (Chiaki Kobayashi, Akane-banashi) makes his return as the pair discusses the coming practice schedule while warming up in the gym alongside their manager Ayame Moriya (Kana Ichinose, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury). This is a far better way to work people into the story than to have Taiki obsess over Yumeka to Kyo, who would be unlikely to have any interest in the matter. 

Blue Box Season 2 Episode 2 does a great job of building out Yumeka’s presence within the show. It gives us the first inklings of what has transpired in her past with Chinatsu, without giving away everything, and continues to use the character’s presence compellingly. However, it doesn’t allow its narrative to forget about everything else the show brings, giving the sense that the world exists beyond just the central plot point. 

Blue Box Season 2 Episode 2 is streaming now on Netflix.

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