The Blue Lock season finale aired on Saturday and ended on a perfect note. It wasn’t because of one single thing or another, though. It was because this season finale was a culmination of a lot of moving pieces that made it great. I wouldn’t so much say it was a perfect finale in the broader sense, but it definitely ended on the perfect note for Blue Lock — proving me wrong yet again after what I said last week.
Fast Work
For the most part, the Blue Lock season finale was extremely fast-paced, as it should have been. After introducing a new match (World Five vs Isagi's Team) just one week before the season finale, I was left wondering how the season would end. But, as it turned out, the match was over in the blink of an eye, paving the way for everything that followed.
Blue Lock has been an experiment based around these teenagers’ egos, and it was finally time for them to experience a humbling moment, even for Rin. But this took them down a notch just for Ego to build them back up at the end and it was wonderfully executed simply because it wasn’t planned to go that way for everyone in the series.
In some ways, the match against the World Five felt like a teaser. Something that made me think, "We're going to see these guys again a long time from now." That, combined with the quick introduction of all of the new characters, particularly the new villain at Blue Lock, provided us with everything we could want in a season finale. It made me feel like I should be excited for what's to come, which is essential for the series finale of an anime that clearly has a lot in store, as Blue Lock clearly does.
In some ways, the match against the World Five felt like a teaser. Something that made me think, "We're going to see these guys again a long time from now." That, combined with the quick introduction of all of the new characters, particularly the new villain at Blue Lock, provided us with everything we could want in a season finale. It made me feel like I should be excited for what's to come, which is essential for the series finale of an anime that clearly has a lot in store, as Blue Lock clearly does.
To add a little more excitement, seeing Kunigami at the end gives us yet another role to look forward to in the next season. If Kunigami wasn't returning, the episode wouldn't have shown him at the end. Whether by player vote or because one of the 35 is currently injured, Kunigami will undoubtedly return better than ever at some point, and I cannot wait!
A Speech Different Any Other
Over all of the introductions, Ego's speech to the remaining 35 players at Blue Lock takes the cake for me in this episode. Until now, Ego has been that strict teacher that everyone dislikes at first, but eventually comes to understand why he is that way and that it is for their benefit, not their detriment. But seeing him transform into that irritated coach who believes his team is doomed before they even take the field got me more excited than anything else.
Not only was the speech brilliant, but the fact that it was set up at the start of the episode and we didn't see him again until the very end is my favorite type of series writing. I don't need one scene to always be followed by another. If Ego's meeting with the committee had ended and he had gone straight to his speech, it would have felt completely out of place, and the timing would have been strange.
"We're not going to lose to these money-hungry [explicative], and I'm going to make sure we build up a team that crushes the U-20 Japan team," he said. Ego's signature sarcastic, smart-ass tone was missing from his speech. There was only rage and determination to prove the entire country wrong. What I liked best about it all was that he trusted the people at Blue Lock. This time, it wasn't a mind trick or a lecture; it was him declaring that he is with them and no one else outside of Blue Lock. Ego was finally demonstrating his faith in his players and their abilities.
Blue Lock Season Finale Wrap Up
The season finale's humor was an underappreciated aspect. Rin's frustration with everyone, especially Bachira, trying to learn English was hilarious, and it was even funnier the second time I watched it. It couldn't have come at a better time. It was right in the middle of the World Five match's demise and Ego's motivational speech. It's difficult to have humorous moments serve as a bridge between two serious ones, but the directing in this episode was fantastic.
Overall, it was a fitting season finale for Blue Lock. It wasn't the best Winter 2023 season finale, but it was certainly up there. We met 19 new characters, including a "villain." Ego is enraged and determined to defeat the U-20 Japan team, Rin will face his brother in the U-20 match, Kunigami is currently out of Blue Lock, and Bachira is still learning how to pronounce the days of the week in English. Now for Blue Lock Season 2!
Season finale score: 10/10
