20 : Super Link-Up Play
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The backbone of this episode was established in the first five minutes, when the members of the Red and White Teams paired off with one another. They paired up for various reasons, and then as the episode played out, we could see whether the pairing actually worked or not. It will likely continue to affect the rest of the match, so let's look at why the pairings happened and if they were helpful or not.
Chigiri and Aryu had the most superficial reason for pairing up, and it happened the quickest and set off the chain reaction of the other team members shifting who they would be focused on. Aryu is obsessed with image and \"glam,\" as we learned when he was first introduced. He also has long, beautiful hair, a feature he and Chirigi share. And that hair was what drew Aryu to Chigiri in the first place. Since everything Aryu does has to have \"glam,\" he decided that Chigiri had the kind of \"glam\" he wanted to face.
We did not get a lot of chances to see Barou vs Tokimitsu this week, but what we did see showed that they are an interesting pair at least. Barou has always dominated the field with his physical prowess and strength, overpowering smaller and more lithe players like Isagi all the time. But Tokimitsu also has incredible physical strength that does not match his personality, which really shocked Barou. Tokimitsu can actually stand up to him, which is exactly what Barou needs to grow.
Nagi and Rin were an unexpected pairing. We had assumed that Isagi and Rin would be the pairing, considering they both stand at the center of their respective teams as leaders. But when Nagi left Reo behind, he did so because he wanted to only play the best soccer, against the best players. Rin seemed like the strongest member of the Red Team (which may or may not be true now), and the core of their strength, which is what attracted Nagi to him.
Nagi and Rin's pairing is more complicated to analyze than the ones above. The two are really skilled players, and both are adaptable on the field. They were playing off of one another a lot on the field, but Rin's ability seems more like Isagi's than Nagi's as he is able to see the whole field of play and make his moves by predicting what will happen next. Our prediction of Isagi and Rin as a pairing may have been more interesting, as we could have seen their strategies playing against one another more clearly.
Finally, we come to the old friends Isagi and Bachira. Isagi became paired with Bachira because that was the only person left, but their pairing does make sense. They are friends, and are trying to play together again. Plus they both have the \"monster\" that controls them on the field and helps them excel, something we learned about very early on in Blue Lock.
We went back and forth about whether Bachira and Isagi was the best pairing or not. At first, we were stuck on Isagi and Rin being a better match. But as Episode 20 continued, we started to see that actually Bachira may be the top player on the Red Team. He also could see the strategy on the field, could predict even what Rin was going to do. Importantly, he and Isagi are both the ones who can \"devour\" other player's moves and make them their own.
Chigiri and Aryu, and Barou and Tokimitsu are both great pairings. They compliment one another well and push the other character to up their skills and be challenged on the pitch when few others could do the same. Rin and Nagi, and Isagi and Bachira are more complicated. Nagi and Isagi have been going back and forth on who was the better player for a while now, and Rin and Bachira are now doing the same. We will be waiting to see what happens in the next part of the match in Blue Lock!
Based in Tokyo, Jack has been writing about Japanese pop culture for six years now, and loves cosplaying any time he gets a chance. He is also a gamer, hiker, wannabe barista, and proud herbivore. His passion is bringing news straight from Japan to you, in English, keeping the otaku world accessible for everyone. He lives with his two rescued street cats, Nezuko and Chachamaru. Jack has lived in Japan for ten years now, three in a small city and seven in downtown Tokyo. He writes part time for GameRant, mostly anime-related news stories covering events, products, premiers, cafes, and more in Japan, and works full time in the HR industry. When he's not working, Jack is playing PlayStation 5, working on his sci-fi novel at a cafe, or planning his next backpacking trip. He also gets tattooed on a pretty regular basis. Follow him on Instagram and send a message if you like his work!
Isagi and others are set to play a revenge match against the \"Top 3,\" who have defeated them and took Bachira from them. They have fought against formidable foes and advanced by repeating the process of ego and chemical reactions, and they're ready to throw everything they have at the Top 3. The final battle of 4 vs 4 is finally about to begin. Isagi, Nagi, Baro, and Chigiri desperately try to keep up to the extraordinary individual skills of the Top 3. But one pass from Bachira starts to evolve the game...
As the game between Itoshi's and Isagi's team is about to start, Aryu notices Chigiri's beautiful hair and asks him what he uses. Chigiri explains he uses what they have in the communal bath and Aryu guesses that he has natural-born glam. Aryu apologizes for touching his hair, but explains that he obeys the law of glam and that its a honor to play against a fellow member of the glam fam. Chigiri shakes his hand and states he has quite a classical name. Hearing him call him \"Jyubei\", Aryu states that his first name isn't glam at all and is outdated as a samurai. As that is Aryu's complex, he decides to do some glam poses to erase the thought of it. Tokimitsu tries to calm down Aryu, so that he doesn't waste his energy before the game even have started. Baro gets angry and wants them to start. Tokimitsu then asks if they can wait for Aryu to return to normal, but Baro denies it. Tokimitsu then starts worrying how confident Baro is and how he will live happily and rule society. Tokimitsu states that guys like Baro keep winning without suffering any setbacks. Baro then gets angry and decides that he will be covering Tokimitsu. Baro then attempts to pull up Tokimitsu, but is surprised that he can't move him. Nagi also makes a request and wants to play against Itoshi.
Isagi's team then start a counterattack. Isagi passes to Nagi, but he sees that Itoshi isn't trying to come and pressure him as he is aware of his first touch and keeps his distance so he is able to react to Nagi. As Itoshi has adapted quite well against Nagi, he decides to pass to Chigiri with his first touch. Itoshi and Aryu head for the ball, but speeding Chigiri manages to get it first. As Chigiri then scores, Bachira is impressed by the super link-up play they developed in order to beat them.
The game restarts and Bachira is again with the ball, but this time he is keeping aware of Baro. Isagi sees that Aryu passes him, but notes that as long as Bachira doesn't pass him, they are fine. Bachira faces Isagi, Baro then yells which gains Bachira's attention. Isagi decides to use the moment and take the ball, however Bachira then makes a no-look pass towards Aryu. Chigiri is trying to stop Aryu, but with his long reach, he is able to get the ball first. Aryu then passes towards Tokimitsu. Baro then clashes with Tokimitsu, who is afraid of Baro, however Baro is unable to move Tokimitsu. Tokimitsu then immediately passes the ball with his first touch. The ball heads towards Itoshi and Nagi rushes towards him. As he sees Itoshi preparing to shoot, Nagi tackles him, but Itoshi fakes the shot and passes Nagi. As Isagi was looking at the situation, he figured that would happen and that Itoshi lured Nagi. Isagi then comes to cover Itoshi and Chigiri also joins him. Bachira then also comes on the side. Itoshi prepares to shoot and Chigiri attempts to block it, but Isagi figures that will be another fake. Itoshi then fakes it and passes Chigiri, leaving them two on one against Isagi. As Itoshi manipulates everyone of the field as he pleases, Isagi realizes he is a monster that has limitless variations and doesn't need any chemical reactions. Isagi attacks Itoshi, however Itoshi passes him easily. He notes that he finally learned how to use his eyes, however his half-baked play won't move his heart. Itoshi then takes a shot and equalizes. Isagi notes that in the last game, he couldn't grasp why they lost, however this time he understands the logic behind every move Itoshi made. As long as Isagi devours him, they can win.
Nagi wonders how can even stop a play like that. Isagi explains that in the last play, Itoshi positioned himself to receive the ball within his shooting range. They lost the initiative because all they could think about was how to react to that. Predicting few steps ahead, and pulling them in by making them unable to think for themselves, is likely Itoshi's standard operating spec. Nagi states they can't deal with that and Chigiri guesses that Isagi's spec is quite close to him if he can analyze him. Isagi then realizes he is the only one on the field who can keep up with Itoshi's mind, and the only thing that can stop Itoshi is Isagi's eyes and brain.
The game continues and Chigiri gets the ball. With Aryu blocking him, Isagi sees that Itoshi has taken a position to respond to whatever Chigiri decides to do. However that leaves Nagi free as Bachira can't mark Isagi and Nagi by himself. Isagi decides that the moment everyone focuses on Nagi, he to run behind and emerge from a blind spot. That do happens and Chigiri passes, but Itoshi comes and interrupts the pass. Isagi guesses that his off the ball movement was also part of Itoshi's calculations. He must have seen the same field, but got there before Isagi. As Nagi and Baro cover Itoshi, he passes to Bachira. Isagi covers Bachira, who is impressed that Isagi can now play against Itoshi. As he also wa