Review
Alright so today I’m back with yet another chapter review and today we will go over chapter 244 which is insane. So be sure to stick till the end because you don’t want to miss it anyway.
Chapter Overview
To begin chapter 244, we are led into the German stratum and into the four-man room where we see Yukimiia, Isagi, Corona, and Hori. Corona says that if his math is correct then scoring a goal is worth anywhere between 30 and 50 million. He looks over and asks if it sounds about right. Yukimia ensures him that it sounds about right and that Isagi’s value increased by 100 million since he got two goals and an assist. Even if they take other factors like chances created into account, it probably adds up to Corona’s total amount.
Hori adds on by saying that he got valued at 20 million thanks to his assist and says that to put it simply, your value increases if you contribute to scoring goals. Corona, really embracing his inner shark, says that he will put on a show in the next match while binding something. However, Hori says that he will be the star and Yukimia, standing in the corner while burning up, says that it will be him this time as he’s sick and tired of everyone calling him a Mud boatat.
Isagi is quietly lying in his bed. As he looks at his iPad, he looks at their values and thinks that right now, the difference between Rin’s value and his is 30 million. He wonders if it means that if they beat PXG and Isagi outscored Rin, he will overtake him in the rankings and finally be given the title of Blue Lock’s number one player. He looks at Rin’s name, saying that he wants to defeat and surpass him, but that’s not enough for our blood-hungry Isagi, as we can see him imagining himself standing on top of all the players while saying that he wants to see the scenery from the top. Suddenly, he gets dragged out of his imagination by Yukimia, who tells him to get up and that Rin’s match is just about to start.
The Match Begins
Match Seven: The Barchan vs. PXG match. They go into the monitor room and sit next to Recti and Gagamau, who are already in there. Gagamau says that he’s curious as to what kind of team PXG is. Isagi, however, says that to win and become number one, he needs to analyze Rin and PXG. The match starts with Rin at the top and with the ball at his feet. Isagi is surprised to see that Rin’s playing as a lone striker while Shida is sitting quietly on the bench.
Not before long, both Pottoya and Bairro go in front of Rin. Bairro tells Rin to just try and get behind them, while Otoya is saying some random word over and over. Both Nanase and Tokimitsu quickly come to Rin’s help as they say that they are open. Isagi, looking at this, is amazed that they are providing Rin with support while simultaneously creating a three vs. two situation and calls them good. Rin passes to Naas, who passes it over to Tokimitsu, who is handling Bairro, but not before long he passes it back to Rin. However, Rin lets the ball go by and it instead goes to number Six, who without hesitation passes it to Rin, who is now in range. Isagi is looking with big eyes on the monitor, saying that it’s about to come out. Rin’s trump card is a highly accurate curve shot.
Rin shoots the ball, but something isn’t right. Even though the ball goes in, Isagi notes that this wasn’t Rin’s trump card, but instead a devilish spinning mid-range shot. Everyone is a bit caught off guard, and Gagamau wonders when Rin learned to shoot a shot like that. Isagi thinks that by adding different spins to his shot, his scoring options have increased drastically, and he finally understands that this is the new and powerful Itoshi Rin. But just then, Loki claps his hands and requests a substitution change, and behind him, we see both Xantetsu and Karas get ready to go in. To everyone’s surprise, Rin, after just scoring the first goal, is leaving the field for Shida. While Xantetsu and Karas change for both Nanase and Tokimitsu. The game restarts and Isagi says that they did a wholesale change and that the PXG playing right now is a completely different system from when Rin was on the field.
Shida’s Impact
Otoya has the ball, but Kaassu quickly goes and tackles the ball away and gives it to Zantetsu, who is sprinting up on the field. Isagi thinks that unlike before, this team is playing a very counterattacking style and that they immediately go on the counter once they gain possession. Zantetsu, who just got the ball, gives it to number six who again without hesitation just fears it off a high-reaching pass. But Gagamau is confused as it’s too fast and says that there’s no way for Shida to get to it. Shida, I don’t know what he is saying, but Bro just set a skull emoji. I guess. However, after that, Shida decided to prove Gagamau wrong by just right away shooting the ball away which goes into the net and gives PXG a two-goal lead.
Everyone is shocked by Shida’s goal and Isagi thinks that Shida is an otherworldly bad shot-taker and maker, but still to pull this genius level off is insane. Yukimia calls him a freak, and Reiici calls it bullshit and says that there’s absolutely no way to game plan against this. Gagamau adds that PXG relies heavily on the striker’s talents to score. Yukimia says that Rin-centered System and Shida Centered System create a dangerous team with two distinct styles with which they can win. While everyone is curious as to whether that pass was intentional or not, Isagi and Hori come in saying that it was and that Number Six knew Shida’s tendencies and intentionally sent that pass. This leaves the whole Bastard Munch mind-blown except Isagi and Hori.
Of course, Isagi says that Number Six was able to deliver a pinpoint pass with some backspin, so Rin had more scoring options. Hori says that not only does he have a good understanding of Shida’s instinctive playstyle, but he can also sync and match up with Rin’s vision and playmaking. Coming to the conclusion that the reason PXG can win with two polar opposite playing styles is because of the beautiful passes Number Six dishes out. And then finally, we see the powerful and mysterious Number Six, who is none other than Charles Chevalier, the beating heart of PXG. But just quickly, why does everyone in Blue Lock need to have shark teeth sticking out? He’s definitely a distant cousin to Corona.
Analysis and Thoughts
The text at the bottom says PXG Style is a double standard system that maximizes the strength of their two strikers, Rin and Shida, as the two steal all the attention. Who is the skilled maestro playing behind them that brings the best out of their polar opposite strikers? And the next chapter is going to be called Die All at Once, which I’ve got no clue as to what that could be hinting at.
Personal Reflections
Now, let’s talk about this chapter. This isn’t such a major thing; however, I really enjoyed seeing Isagi’s lust and greed for the number one place, saying that he wants to defeat and surpass the current number one, which of course is none other than Rin himself. And then this amazing panel of Isagi standing over everyone at the top; there’s just something about Isagi’s eyes and how determined he seems to crush everyone, which Blue Lock is about after all, as it’s only one striker who can rise himself to the top and come out of Blue Lock as the best.
PXG vs. Barchan Match Highlights
Now the PXG vs. Barchan match. I really enjoyed seeing both Tokimitsu and Nani out on the field playing as it feels like it was about 100 chapters since we last saw them. I really can’t remember them since the third selection arc, which is kinda crazy, but yeah, it will probably be about 100 more chapters until we see them again, so I guess we’ll just have to hope and pray.
And while we were on the topic of Shida, I think it’s safe to say that he deserves a spot in the starting lineup due to his insane level of skill which should have been noticed by the coaching staff before and his match-winner traits. Like how could they just allow someone like him to be on the bench? All in all, it’s a pretty awesome chapter. It really builds up the excitement for the next one and you can’t help but feel the thrill of this Blue Lock battle. And yeah, I think that’s going to wrap it up for me today. And once again, don’t forget to subscribe. I will see you in the next chapter review!