My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Episode 5 Review: Stain, Is That You?

The 5th episode of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes had some pretty good twists. Let us see how this episode turned out.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Episode 4 Recap

It doesn’t take long for Koichi to notice something’s off with Mr. Knuckle. He appears visibly shaken after the topic of honeybee control comes up. This hints at a deeper connection between him and Hachisuka, one that’s bound to be revealed later on.

Meanwhile, Hachisuka is seen on a sinister mission, injecting multiple people with a quirk-boosting drug. She’s also caught in conversation over the phone, and though it’s not explicitly shown, it strongly suggests she’s in contact with All For One. He seems to be gathering intel through her, emphasising the importance of strong-willed individuals. The drug apparently yields better results in those who are determined to amplify their quirks.

One of the standout moments for me was the surprise appearance of Ingenium. His entrance was nothing short of iconic, and the throwback to his speed and heroism brought a wave of nostalgia. Soon after, he crosses paths with Koichi, and the two share a genuinely warm conversation. Ingenium takes a keen interest in Koichi’s quirk, even offering a helpful tip to solve a long-standing issue Koichi has had with braking while in motion.

Their encounter doesn’t end there. Later in the episode, as Ingenium pursues another villain, Koichi and his team jump in to assist, solidifying the bond between the two.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Episode 5 Review

This episode sheds more light on Koichi’s background, starting with why he does not have friends from college. Apparently, he invited them once to his abode, but it was so run down they thought Koichi wanted to harm them. But now that Knuckleduster and Pop Step with him all the time, he does not feel lonely anymore. But, we get another interesting angle here as Pop was already acquainted with Koichi.

There was a time when Koichi was late for his exams at the hero school because he got caught up in saving a kid. He thought it was a boy, but it was Pop. Koichi never recognised her, but she did, and this is why she hung out with him. She plans on telling him the truth and saying thank you someday, but she is too shy to do that.

Apart from that, we also saw the appearance of another interesting character with a very weird sense of justice. He is not an official hero but goes around and kills whoever he deems is a threat to society. He saves Koichi, but Knuckleduster points out how anyone with their own moral code of right and wrong can be eventually dangerous.

His suspicion is pretty spot-on as we see this mysterious man killing a villain. He does not spare anyone, and he also seems to act on whatever he believes. Even Hachisuka sees how dangerous he can be, and now, she might take advantage of him for her own goals. However, the aspect of Knuckleduster’s knowing Hachisuka is also a big mystery. Do they share a connection? Why was he so rattled when he heard of the bee tamer in one of the previous episodes?

Verdict

I really loved today’s episode, as we might get a romantic angle later and see the origin story of Stain. Koichi and Pop are really interesting characters, and I would love to see more chemistry between them. Hopefully, the new character will also prove to be as dynamic as we think he is.

Must Read: My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Reviews