Blue Lockhas taken the sports genre in anime by storm, completely breaking from the standard tropes. It even created buzz during the 2023 FIFA World Cup, with fans drawing comparisons between the Japanese national team’s spirited performance and the anime’s committed and determined approach to the game.
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With a growing fan base even outside sports enthusiasts, Blue Lock is set to be one of the defining giants in the sporting genre. The second season is certain to make as mighty an impact as the first. While the wait is on for that, here are the episodes you should revisit to sharpen your weapons and reignite your competitive spirit. They’re the very best in Blue Lock history so far.
Beware of spoilers for the debut season of Blue Lock.
10Episode 13: Rin Itoshi
This is the first episode that lets us truly get a look at the last boss of the first season. Rin is a puppeteer of the field, using his superior skill and analytical abilities to exert complete dominance. Even after conceding an early goal to Isagi’s team, Rin quickly shuts them down with an immediate goal of his own and blocks every move they make thereafter.
The episode showcases some masterful skill, eccentric characters, and ends with a massive setback for Isagi’s team: The loss of Bachira. It really sets up the anticipation for the rest of the season, so it definitely deserves a spot on the list.
9Episode 1: Origins
The first episode of any anime is arguably its most crucial, and Blue Lock’s first episode makes sure to grab your attention and doesn’t let go. Very early, we’re introduced to Isagi losing a match because he chose to pass instead of taking the shot himself. It’s a clear signal, and a promise, that this anime is going to be unlike any sports anime you’ve seen before.
It also does a good job of introducing multiple key characters in a matter of a few minutes. Watching Bachira’s eccentric personality and Isagi’s ego in action is a thrilling sensation that will stay with you long after the episode is through.
8Episode 5: Isagi Vs Nico
The first real challenge to Isagi’s Team Z comes in the form of a character who is like a mirror image of him. Nicowields a weapon similar to Isagi’s own, which lets him control the field with his spatial awareness. Going head-to-head with someone with the same abilities, Isagi is forced to dig deep to find a route to victory.
This episode is where we first see Isagi start to control his weapon, and the mind-games between him and Nico as they vie for control of the field are quite exciting. It also has the most hard-hitting ending to a match in this season, as Isagi stands reveling in his win, having crushed the dreams of his opponents.
7Episode 7: Chigiri Unleashed
After Kuon’s betrayal, Team Z has the daunting challenge of playing a game of ten versus 12. During this high-stakes game, Chigiri has been searching for a reason to give up on soccer, but Isagi’s determination and unbridled ego awaken his own.
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The episode gives us a look at Chigiri’s past and the injury that constantly threatens his career. Watching him throw caution to the wind and tear down the field at remarkable speeds is undeniably exhilarating, and something many athletes will relate to. Add to this the incentive to get revenge on the traitor, and this episode offers one of the most satisfying conclusions to a match.
6Episode 15: The True Power Of Isagi’s Weapon
This episode sees Isagi face off against his former teammate Naruhaya and Barou. With Naruhaya and Isagi both under threat of being eliminated, the stakes for this match could not be higher, and both are fighting with their lives on the line.
Through the episode, we get a look at Naruhaya’s past, witnessing his reasons for pursuing soccer: to provide a better life for his siblings. Not everyone can achieve their dreams, sadly, and when he is forced to pit his own against Naruhaya’s, Isagi finally realizes the true potential of his weapon. Although Naruhaya is a character who never really stood out before this episode, his story and battle with Isagi provide this episode with some of the most emotionally engaging moments of the season. You don’t want to miss it.
5Episode 17: The King, Dethroned
After beating Naruhaya and adding Barou to their ranks, Isagi quickly learns it’s impossible to work with him. His opponents, Rin, Kunigami and Chigiri, also know this, and use it to their full advantage to block any plays Isagi’s team makes.
What makes this episode so interesting is that it’s not just a match between two teams, it’s a match between two tremendous egos on the same team. Watching Isagi, who used to be in Barou’s shadow, use Barou for his own ends and break his spirit isas far from conventional anime protagonist behavior as it gets. However, it’s also an essential lesson for anyone familiar with sports who want to grow and better themselves.
4Episode 18: The King’s Comeback
Unable to bear the humiliation of being used by Isagi, something snaps in Barou, and the king is reborn as a tyrant. Realizing the perverse pleasure he derives from pushing others out of the limelight, Barou embraces a twisted new play style – using chop-feints and deception to further his selfish hunger for goals.
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Barou’s rebirth is a clear testament to what Blue Lock is all about. It speaks of the need to accept despair and use it to fuel an relentless drive for growth. With Barou’s awakening, the episode devolves into some truly wild play. It’s also depicted through some of the best art in the season, making this episode a must-watch.
3Episode 21: Isagi Vs Rin
Blue Lock’s last big match is also some of the bestnon-battle Shonen actionin the season. Isagi and Rin go head-to-head, turning the game into a battle both on the field and in the mind. With each trying to outplay and outsmart the other, the match features some of the best back-and-forth play in the entire season.
But it’s not just Isagi and Rin who dominate through the game. Each character commands your attention, leading to some incredible teamwork and individual moments. Through it all, you’re able to feel the intensity of their ambition, with no one giving ground as they fight to be the best. For the brilliant plays it inspired, Isagi and Rin’s rivalry would have made the top spot on this list, if it wasn’t outdone by the rivalry in the next entry.
2Episode 10: Nagi Awakens
When a genius gets serious, it’s a truly frightening thing. Close to defeat, and witnessing Isagi’s infectious passion, Nagi’s curiosity is piqued and he’s ready to give soccer a real chance. Taking the initiative, he puts his peerless control to use and outmaneuvers everyone on the field.
It’s the moment of greatest despair for Team Z and Isagi. Nagi is unstoppable, and lines up the shot to finish them off. In a truly character-defining moment, Kuon, who had betrayed the team earlier, sacrifices himself and commits a foul that gets him sent off. The episode is filled with edge-of-the-seat action and emotion, making it an easy choice for one of the top spots on this list.
1Episode 11: Isagi Vs Nagi
Continuing from the last episode, Team Z is given one more chance thanks to Kuon’s sacrifice and a desperate save. Nagi is now keenly aware of Isagi, though, and threatens to stop any chance at a counter. For Isagi to beat Nagi, he will have to discover a formula guaranteed to get him the winning goal, and he has to do it fast.
Their rivalry comes to a head with some of the most incredible moments of the season. Nagi proves to be a fantastic antagonist you’re able to’t take your eyes off of, and their clash is one of the best underdog vs top-dog battles in recent anime. For the sheer intensity of their conflict and some of the best character defining moments in the season, this episode takes the top spot on this list.
