【BLUE LOCK】Episode 37 & 38 Impressions

  WARNING!   — This article contains spoilers for BLUE LOCK’S SEASON FINALE. Please read no further to avoid information you may not wish to know.

We finally have the conclusion of Blue Lock vs Japan’s U-20 team. I was a bit underwhelmed by this entire ordeal to be fair, with it not being nearly as good as I wanted it to be. Mainly because I felt like there was no real “growth” present within anyone, and no sudden epiphanies which were so prevalent within BLUE LOCK‘s first season. However, I was presently surprised by what I saw within the last couple of episodes, quickly cementing itself as perfect episodes to finish off things.

Episode 37 was much more of the same I’d come to expect; Isagi analyzing things to create possible scenarios and answers to them within his mind. However, the interesting thing is what happened at the very end of the episode, and that’s with Rin entering the “Flow” state. “Flow” as it’s called in BLUE LOCK, is very similar to “Zone” in SLAM DUNK. Basically its user enters a heightened state of awareness that is nearly autonomous, boosting their signature characteristic beyond its limits to awaken their abilities to the very limit. In BLUE LOCK however, it’s more so akin to “Flow State” in real life, which is described as “Flow state is a highly focused and immersive mental state in which an individual’s skill level matches the challenge of the task, resulting in reduced self-awareness, altered time perception, and heightened positive emotions. Flow state is the optimal state of human consciousness”.

Rin in flow allowed him to battle his brother, Itoshi Sae, and finally be on par with him. However, this makes him incredibly blood thirsty in an attempt to crush everyone around him. Being able to force a turnover from Itoshi Sae allowed Isagi to replicate what he’d learned back in the first season of BLUE LOCK; which is that “Luck” is the ability to take advantage of a situation you’ve prepared for by optimizing when random occurrences happen in your favor. Essentially, Isagi did exactly what Rin did before and managed to secure the win for Blue Lock against Japan’s U-20.

The interesting thing about this episode wasn’t the match itself, but the fact that Isagi embraced his inner Ego and claimed that HE will lead Japan to glory at the U-20 World Cup. You see a clear metamorphosis of someone who wouldn’t take the final shot at a game in lieu of his recognizing his teammates, to boldly declaring himself to be the head Blue Lock who will lead the team to victory. Beyond this, is the fact that Rin is now fixated on Isagi as his true objective since his brother, Itoshi Sae, recognized him. Can you imagine wanting the acknowledgement of your brother, who has always been your idol and bested you, only to lose to someone who many considered to be a lesser version of you? Oh, I cannot wait!