Blue Lock season two has already shown off so many talented players thus far, but two of the most skilled are Rin Itoshi and Shido Ryusei. Both Rin and Shido rank in the top six players currently at Blue Lock according to the project's leader, Jinpachi Ego. Rin ranks #1 and Shido ranks #2, and during the U-20 match tryouts, they both lead a team together. Although they are phenomenally talented, they cannot seem to help but butt heads though.
Blue Lock has always been framed as an anti-teamwork series, since it places so much emphasis on “ego” and individuality. However, teamwork is still a crucial component, since soccer is a team game. The players cannot survive in the competition without some level of working with others and completely individualistic play is just not possible. Rin and Shido do not buy into the idea of teamwork, though, both selfishly pursuing their own success, at any cost to the team they are supposed to be leading. The two prodigy players may actually be Blue Lock's worst match up ever.
Rin and Shido Prove Too Much Independence on the Field Can Be a Problem Too
In the First Game, Rin and Shido Almost Cost Team A a Goal Due to Their Refusal To Cooperate
In season two, Rin and Shido have played two games together so far. Their team, team A, achieved victory in both matches, but Rin and Shido's lack of cooperation certainly did Team A no favors. When the teams were announced for the U-20 tryouts and Rin and Shido discovered they would be on Team A together, neither one was happy about the news. Shido immediately kicked Rin in the face and they both argued and physically fought until Ego separated them. This initial interaction between the two forewarned viewers that their bond would certainly not be a collaborative one.
Rin and Shido's problems continued into the games themselves. They refused to coordinate moves together, each playing completely on their own and disregarding the other. They were so focused on outshining each other, in fact, that it almost cost the team a goal. During the first match against Team B, led by Eita Otoya and Tabito Karasu, Rin took possession of the ball, preparing to score. Before he could act, Shido crashed into him from behind and stole the ball from his own teammate, too focused on showing off his own talent rather than making the best choice for the team as a whole.
Ego Stated That “Coexistence” Is as Important as “Assertion,” Proving Teamwork Is Crucial
Rin and Shido Can Definitely Assert Themselves, but Are Struggling Miserably To Coexist
When Jinpachi Ego was offering advice to the remaining Blue Lock participants who were not in the group of top six players, he named two specific values for the competitors to focus on above all else. In Ego's own words, the key to becoming Japan's best striker and winning in Blue Lock is ensuring these two traits stay top of mind: "assertion" and "coexistence." This is an interesting duo of words for Ego to highlight, since up until this point, he had focused primarily on the players developing "ego," or, in other words, becoming independent and focusing on their own development.
Ego and self-development are still absolutely crucial. The "assertion" aspect of the equation emphasizes this point, proving that players must make a name for themselves and stand out as unique among the other players on the field. Rin and Shido have definitely both mastered the "assertion" component, evidenced by their rankings as Blue Lock's top two players. However, they are both failing at "coexisting." Unfortunately, Ego's words make it clear that if the pair cannot figure out how to “coexist” properly, they will both be doomed, lose the competition, and ultimately end up being sent home from Blue Lock.
Isagi Is Better at Cooperation Than Rin or Shido, Giving Him an Advantage Over Them
Soon, Isagi Will Surpass Rin and Shido if They Cannot Work Out Their Differences and Learn To Collaborate
Isagi Yoichi's skills on the field may not be as jaw-dropping or experienced as either Rin or Shido's, but he is clearly taking Ego's words to heart and implementing his wise advice into his playing style. With his new teammates, Yo Hiori and Nijiro Nanase, Isagi has achieved a perfect blend of self-reliance and harmony. Nanase, Hiori, and Isagi are in near perfect sync, and although none of them are perfect players yet, their group efforts, synchronized passes, and verbal and non-verbal communication have allowed them to score quite a few amazing goals during the U-20 tryouts, contributing to Team A's success.
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Rin and Shido both thrive on their own, but clash horrifically when forced to partner up with another player. They are both spending too much time and effort antagonizing one another, rather than strategizing and working together to win the games they play together. Neither player realizes it yet, but Isagi is creeping up on them steadily. His willingness to heed the advice of those more experienced than himself and knack for cooperating with teammates are causing him to level up with each new episode of season two, and eventually, he will surpass the top players if they allow him to.
Rin and Shido’s Interactions Highlight Their Flaws as Players
Each of Them Must Move Past Personal Setbacks if They Truly Want To Become the Best Striker
The ultimate goal of Blue Lock is for one player to become the world’s best striker, but teamwork is necessary to get there. Rin and Shido are living proof of what happens when no cooperation is present. None of the players in Blue Lock are equipped to be Japan's best striker yet, which is why they all must devote themselves to perfecting their skills and becoming better. Rin and Shido's unfortunate dynamic sheds light on the problems both of them must overcome in order to have a fighting chance of being the best: self-obsession, overconfidence, and, most importantly, a lack of teamwork.
Blue Lock is a sports-centric animated series based on the manga series of the same name. The show follows the Japan Football Association trying to recover from their poor showing in the 2018 FIFA World Cup by hiring a football genius, Ego Jinpachi. With his new intense training regimen, Jinpachi invites the best football players in Japan to compete to become the team's new star player - and high school student Yoichi Isagi may be exactly who he's looking for.
Cast Ricco Fajardo , Drew Breedlove , Alex Horn , Mark Allen Jr.
Release Date October 8, 2022
Seasons 2
Writers Taku Kishimoto
Directors Tetsuaki Watanabe , Shunsuke Ishikawa
English (US) ·