Episode 24, titled “The Time Has Come,” brought the season to a close, and just like most episodes throughout Blue Lock, it kept springing surprises that no one saw coming. From the beginning of the season till now, one consistent thing has been how the anime avoids becoming predictable.
It keeps the tension high with fresh twists. This final episode didn’t stray from that path at all. It brought in unexpected developments that didn’t align with what fans assumed would happen to end things. The episode was not so much about the actual football action, which came as a surprise.
Twists kept flying while the clock kept ticking (Photo: Blue Lock Shocking Season 1/8-bit)Rather, it focused more on setting up what fans should expect in the next chapter, while giving proper closure to this segment of season one. Given how well Blue Lock performed during both the fall and winter anime periods, there’s a strong chance the show will continue.
Still, this episode managed to close out the Second Selection storyline in a satisfying way while also leaving plenty to look forward to moving forward.
The Match with World 5 Was Brief
Instead of dragging out the World 5 game, the anime kept things short and direct, which was not what most fans saw coming. The last episode had already created a lot of hype for the face-off between Isagi’s group and World 5, a team made up of five professional footballers from different parts of the world.
Rin had even scored early in the game, building expectations that we were about to see an intense and drawn-out match. Isagi’s closing statement from the previous episode about being the next to score made it look like a battle was about to happen.
But what played out made more sense when viewed realistically. These World 5 players are seasoned professionals, with some already representing their countries. While Blue Lock participants aim to reach that level, these professionals are already there.
Within the first few minutes of Episode 24, the match ended. World 5 convincingly defeated the Blue Lock boys with a scoreline of 5-1, and the only goal that came from Rin couldn’t be matched by any other player. Every single move and tactic used by the Blue Lock team was neutralised with ease.
This result worked as a clear reminder of the gap the Blue Lock players still need to cover if they truly want to represent Japan. If they had outplayed international professionals, there would be no challenge left for the show to continue with.
We might always see Isagi, Rin, and their teammates as top players, but this match against real professionals exposed their current limits and reminded viewers that there’s still a journey of growth ahead, which helps to keep interest alive in the story.
Is Blue Lock at Risk of Getting Shut Down?
The final episode also brought back the Japanese Football Association – the group funding Ego’s intense training project – and their doubts were more obvious than ever. Even from the beginning of the programme, they weren’t completely convinced, and now, their patience seems to be running out.
Ego had been spending money without restraint, especially to bring in World 5, because to him, results matter more than the cost. But to those running the business side of things, money matters more than ideals. Without results to justify the massive budget, they’re ready to pull the plug.
Faced with the possibility of Blue Lock being cancelled on the spot, Ego had to change tactics immediately. His earlier plan for how the training would go and the path viewers expected could no longer continue. Instead of using elimination rounds to push players forward, a new idea was introduced.
The remaining players will now take on Japan’s current under-20 team in a match. If they manage to win, they will replace the under-20 squad as the new national representatives. But it’s worth remembering that everyone in Blue Lock is a striker, and none of them have made it to the professional stage yet.
The risk is huge, but Blue Lock has always been about taking bold steps.
Kunigami Didn’t Make It Through
Episode 24 ended by showing the names and faces of the players who would be advancing to the next stage after passing the Second Selection. Apart from Isagi’s group, other familiar faces like Nagi, Chigiri, Barou, and Reo made it, and even players we had not seen in a while, like Niko, Raichi, and Gagamaru, were included.
The game was short, but the impact hit hard (Photo: Blue Lock Shocking Season 1/8-bit)All of Isagi’s main teammates from the earlier episodes reappeared, showing that their stories would continue in the next chapters of the anime. But there was one major absence – Kunigami. Throughout the early parts of the season, he and Isagi had developed a strong bond, and Kunigami was positioned as a major supporting character.
Though he had not been part of recent episodes, it still felt like his role in the story was far from over, especially compared to some players who barely stood out. But it looks like this is where his journey ends. He wasn’t selected to go forward to the next stage.
Kunigami’s exit brought an emotional moment for both the audience and Isagi, as it showed the reality of failure even among close friends. That shock added a deeper layer to the final episode, and once again reminded viewers that Blue Lock doesn’t operate on safe or expected outcomes.
Instead of giving all of Isagi’s teammates a free pass, the anime kept up its habit of throwing surprises, right until the final moments. This choice reinforces what makes Blue Lock stand out compared to many other sports-themed shows.
