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I feel compelled to write a review for Blue Lock expressing my appreciation for it in response to the top three reviews for this anime being strongly negative, which I don't think did it justice at all. This review will address the main detraction I've heard directed towards it and offer my counter perspective in hopes of providing you with some context to my appraisal of it. Skip to the end for a quick TL;DR if you're not interested in all that noise and just want to know if the show is for you!

The main argument provided by people who dislike Blue Lock is ... (in my own words): "Blue Lock is not accurate to real soccer, and its premise is highly unrealistic and immersion breaking." There are other common gripes with it, like some dialogue being over the top or cringeworthy, but I think many of those complaints can be traced back to this core thought.

While I understand the sentiment behind this reaction, it strikes me as a problem of expectations. No one with common sense is under the delusion that the soccer portrayed in Blue Lock aligns with real soccer. Why does it have to? Anyone who enjoys fantasy buys into much crazier premises without sparing it a second thought, because we find it more interesting to consider the space of possibilities not limited by reality. Everyone gifted with an imagination (most people) is capable of becoming invested in unrealistic stories, and we apply fictional ideas to help us understand reality on a day-to-day basis. I think that we're able to suspend our disbelief to the extent that the story respects its own internal set of rules as well as the extent to which the story can engage us with its original ideas. This way, even an avid soccer fan could enjoy a story which doesn't directly match real soccer.

So does Blue Lock succeed on this front? Hell yeah, it's fun as hell and I was totally sold. While the concept of this sports facility is obviously completely unviable in the real world for a myriad of reasons, this extreme high-tension environment permits exciting situations that wouldn't be possible otherwise and serves as a constant reminder of the stakes. All of these young athletes are so desperate to become the best that they have willingly allowed themselves to be locked up in this brutal facility, betting their dreams on their talent and perseverance. It's a great metaphor through which the heart of the story is clearly visible.

Blue Lock is about analyzing your strengths and weaknesses, the nature of talent and the question of how much selfishness is necessary to become the best. Visually it's incredibly strong, selling key moments with maximum hype, and puts its vibrant cast of characters who live and die on the strength of their ego front and center. Easy recommendation from me!

P.S. Did you know the Blue Lock manga is really popular in China, even more than One Piece? Makes sense, China probably already does this with its student athletes. lol