Blue Lock: Best Episodes, Ranked

Summary

• Blue Lock’s standout storytelling and characters make it a must-watch for sports anime fans worldwide.
• Select episodes like “Last Attack” and “Not Alone” excel in emotional intensity and gameplay excitement.
• Each arc showcases well-developed character growth and action, setting a high standard for the series.

Blue Lock‘s unique storytelling and eccentric characters have captured the attention of sports anime fans worldwide, setting it apart as a standout in the genre. It has even garnered attention outside of the usual sports anime niche thanks to its powerful narrative.

Every arc in the series is well-developed and carries the perfect balance of character growth and action. While it’s tough to pick Blue Lock‘s best episode, there are undoubtedly a few that stand head and shoulders above the rest because of their intense emotions, drama, and the breathtaking gameplay it portrays.

8

Season 1, Episode 22: “Rush”

Bachira Tames the Monster Inside His Head

• IMDb rating: 8.8
• Arc: Second Selection Arc

On the verge of becoming the first team to pass the second selection, Isagi, Nagi, Chigiri, and Baro’s team face Rin, Jyubei, Bachira, and Tokimitsu. With the score level, players on both teams are desperate to score the winning goal and end the grueling match on their terms.

It’s not a matter of making the right choice; I’ll make it so the path I choose is the right one. That’s how you get to the top of the world. So what I trust most isn’t logic, it’s instinct.

While everyone is dedicated to helping their team win, no one is as emotionally and psychologically invested as Bachira, who is experiencing a unique transformation. Having depended on the voice in his head to drive his on-field creativity, he finally begins to question his reliance on it. The episode revolves around Bachira’s psychological evolution that transforms his game and helps him mature into an even better player.

7

Season 2, Episode 7: “Itoshi Sae”

Japan’s High-Intensity Game Kicks Off on a High Note

• IMDb rating: 8.8
• Arc: U-20 Arc

As the future of Japanese football hangs in the balance, the U-20 team prepares to face Jinpachi Ego’s Blue Lock Eleven. The stadium is teeming with fans as the star footballer Itoshi Sae is all set to play. It does not take long for the prodigious international player to make his mark on the game as he scores the first goal in the seventh minute.

This is the first time I’ve felt like this, and in order for me to understand this frustration, I want to play football with this guy. I want to try to put in some effort.

Japan’s U-20 team seems too strong for Ego’s ragtag group of strikers who are playing to save their careers. “Itoshi Sae” is a riveting episode that captures the intensity of the U-20 arc and establishes the eponymous footballer as a formidable force on the field, while Blue Lock Eleven plays their hearts out to change the flow of the game.

6

Season 1, Episode 1: “Dream”

Jinpachi Ego Sows the Seed for Japan’s Ascent

• IMDb rating: 8.4
• Arc: Introduction Arc

Failing to make it to the nationals, Isagi Yoichi’s dream of becoming a star striker suddenly seems like an impractical goal. He struggles to keep his emotions in check, but by the time he makes his way home, a letter from the Japan Football Union is waiting for him. In it lies a tempting offer to join a Player Improvement Project.

With his future uncertain, Isagi naturally grabs the chance with both hands. But nothing could have prepared him for the incredible journey he was unknowingly about to embark on. “Dream” brilliantly sets the tone for the entire series through Jinpachi’s motivational speech and introduction of Blue Lock’s cutthroat philosophy.

5

Season 1, Episode 18: “The Stage for the Lead”

Baro Sets Out to Stamp His Authority

• IMDb rating: 9.1
• Arc: Second Selection Arc

Losing the first game in the second selection and being picked by Isagi and Nagi hurts Baro’s ego. But in the next match against Kunigami, Chigiri, and Reo, King feels even more left behind and outclassed as Isagi and Nagi’s teamwork uses his skills to evolve their game. Driven by his innate desire for competition and success, Baro undergoes a dramatic shift to change the course of the game.

4

Season 1, Episode 10: “Just the Way It Is”

Team Z vs. Team V

• IMDb rating: 9.1
• Arc: First Selection Arc

Blue Lock‘s first selection focuses on round-robin matches between five teams desperate to survive the facility’s cutthroat competition. With the knife of elimination hanging over their heads, Team Z prepares to face the dangerous Team V. “Just the Way It Is” focuses on the last and most exciting game of the first selection, and highlights Isagi and Nagi’s evolution as players.

3

Season 2, Episode 13: “Not Alone”

Rin Evolves as Blue Lock Eleven Tries to Contain Shido

• IMDb rating: 9.3
• Arc: U-20 Arc

With scores leveled, the Japan U-20 vs. Blue Lock Eleven game reaches its final stage. Ryusei Shido, who has been brilliant throughout the game, continues to lead the attack on the rival defensive line with Sae’s support. But unbeknownst to them, a fire has been ignited inside Rin’s heart as he sets out to reassert his dominance and defeat his brother.

“Not Alone” is an exciting episode that focuses on the highs and lows of individual brilliance and highlights the transformative power of dedicating oneself to a shared goal.

2

Season 2, Episode 11: “What You Taught Us”

Baro Inspires Blue Lock Eleven

• IMDb rating: 9.2
• Arc: U-20 Arc

After getting subbed in, Ryusei Shido drastically shifts the game in his team’s favor by scoring an incredible goal. But he goes a step further and evolves into an even more dangerous striker during the game by unleashing the Big Bang Drive to give his team a lead.

On the field, there is already one true king.

With their backs against the wall, Blue Lock is forced to send in Baro, whose bizarre and unpredictable playing style throws off Japan U-20’s defense. In a strange turn of events, Shido’s tremendous goal and Baro’s eccentric playing style inspire other players who dramatically find their flow one after another.

1

Season 2, Episode 14: “Last Attack”

Blue Lock Eleven’s Shocking Victory Over Japan U-20 Team

• IMDb rating: 9.5
• Arc: U-20 Arc

After going through a remarkable transformation, Rin Itoshi single-handedly takes on Japan U-20‘s Iron Quartet and annihilates their defensive lines. In a life-defining turn of events, he also goes on to best his older brother for the first time and proves that he is well on his way to footballing greatness. Meanwhile, Isagi uses the chance created by Rin to score the match-winning goal and make his mark on Japanese football.

“Last Attack” focuses on the final minutes of the high-stakes game between Japan U-20 and Blue Lock Eleven. The episode captures the turning point of Japanese football and sets the stage for its takeover by Jinpachi Ego. Filled with drama, action, and intense emotions, “Last Attack” is arguably the best episode of the series so far.