The following may contain spoilers for Blue Lock Episode 1, “Dream”, now streaming on Crunchyroll.
The first episode of Blue Lock dropped right as the Fall 2022 anime season began, following Yoichi Isagi, a high school soccer player who is recruited by the Japan Football Union to participate in a competition against 299 other boys. Whoever of the 300 boys comes out on top will have the opportunity to be the lead striker for Japan’s national team.
What makes this series so different from others in the sports anime genre is Blue Lock’s reversal of teamwork. The Japan Football Union pits the boys against each other, erasing the possibility for them to work together. Instead, the Japan Football Union encourages self-centric ideas and egotism. With these ideas being the expectation, the 300 boys have a reason to question their established morals. The main protagonist is quick to adapt to the environment created by the Japan Football Union, causing him to make a story-changing decision.
The Start of Isagi’s Decision
In the first episode, all the boys are brought to Blue Lock, a training facility where the competition will take place. Yoichi Isagi ends up ranked 299 out of 300 on his skill level. Isagi must fight in order to keep in the ranks by winning different games against the other boys. The first game he must play is a game of tag — with a twist. In a room with 12 players, they have 136 seconds to play. Whoever ends up with the ball in the end isn’t allowed to move forward. With a single second left on the clock, Isagi is left with the ball. His final decision will impact everything for him moving forward. Isagi’s right leg flies back, flicking the ball into the face of Ryosuke Kira, the highest ranked player in the room.
Before any of the 300 boys were invited to compete by the Japan Football Union, Yoichi Isagi’s high school team was playing in the Prefectural Finals in order to play in the National High School Soccer Tournament. Encouraged by his teammates and coach, Isagi makes the decision to pass the ball to a fellow player. This choice cost them the game, losing to Matsukaze High School. This is the first time that viewers see Isagi meet Ryosuke Kira, a player for the other team. The next time the boys interact is when they bump into each other arriving at the Japan Football Union.
Crushing Kira’s Chance
Kira is energetic, bright, and very kind to Isagi. He recognizes Isagi instantly, and chooses to strike up conversation with him. The two boys immediately form a bond as they step into the building together and face what awaits them. Viewers are made to believe that Isagi and Kira will become the two main characters, as their reactions to the explanation of the game are both given plenty of coverage. What is truly shocking about it all is the quick and easy decision made by Isagi to cut their ties, leaving Kira with the ball as the time runs out. Any thought about Kira getting more screen time is instantly wiped away as Isagi chooses to target him.
What makes the ending of Blue Lock’s first episode surprising is how quickly Yoichi Isagi drops the sports ideology of teamwork. Isagi blames himself for relying on a teammate to make the final goal during the Prefectural Finals, which is a large influence as to why he knew he needed to cut any bond he created at Blue Lock. This decision is one that will change the rest of the story. Isagi wins by working alone and targeting anyone who will get in his way. Isagi’s choice destroys the possibility of friendship sand teamwork throughout the rest of the series.
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