I’d actually forgotten about it until ruicarlov pointed it out in the comments, but Deku and Inko make a cameo appearance in this arc. You can see them in the crowd at the Sky (“Easter”?) Egg. Or maybe I didn’t forget and Bones added it, I’m not sure. It’s always interesting to juxtapose these two series, because for all that links them Vigilante really is very different. This episode in many ways is the most HeroAca-like of the series, but even here it reminds us very strongly of how it differs.

On the whole, this season has included elements from the parent series much more, where the first was mostly about establishing the distinct universe. We’re kind of in hybrid mode here, because we have a very HeroAca plot built around two very Illegals characters. Captain Celebrity in really screwed here. He has to hold up the Sky Egg and keep taking punches. Scarface, meanwhile, sends another proto-nomu in to zap the tower with an EM pulse and wipe out communications, preventing the heroes inside from knowing exactly what’s happening. He’s thorough, you have to give him that.

What the difference with this take on the story really comes down to is that it’s a chronicle of something very different. No one here is on a quest to be the #1 hero. This is about people doing their best despite being limited in their powers, which if nothing else is infinitely more relatable. This is exemplified in Kouichi of course, and he – realizing that no one else can – comes to the aid of Captain Celebrity. Can he take down the bombers? No. But he can hang on to the underside of the tower and use his new “SGBBBB” ability to shoot his energy bullets at those fists as they’re about to detonate. It’s a stalemate, but a stalemate is a step up from what the good guys were facing before.

This is Kouichi, and this is Illegals. He does what he can, the best he can, and buys time to give the heroes inside the chance to work their magic. And here we’re reminded that Best Jeanist is one of the best in the business, as he calmly takes charge of the situation. With his consciousness fading in and out the Captain flashes back to memories of how he met his wife at college, and struggled to win over her skeptical heart. This is very well-done, really painting a picture of the sort of guy CC is. He’s come such a long way as a character, far surpassing any expectations I had for him. A simple guy, not really cut out for the twisted politics and power play that’s really the essence of the hero business.

In that sense, this is sort of an ideal situation for Chris – except from the part where he’s about to die. He knows exactly what he has to do and doesn’t have to consider any options. But Jeanist has other ideas for an ending, and given that his quirk can extend even to high-strength steel cables. As he works to support the tower, Eraser plays cat and mouse with the bomber, cancelling out its quirk when he can see it as it ducks behind the building and generates a smokescreen to cloud Aizawa’s vision. Captain Celebrity has had a U.N. of death flags hoisted for him by this point, and the one planted on the summit of Everest is when he asks Kouichi to tell his wife and kid that he was a great hero (no lie, that).

Kouichi isn’t willing to take this lying down – falling down, yes – but he hasn’t really thought this through. As this high drama plays out, there are two characters – one old and one new – whose absence is impossible to ignore. One of them specializes in saving the day, but would it really be right for that to be the person that does so here? Vigilante is a story about a different sort of hero – the kind who does the dirty work behind the scenes, in the places the marketing department never talks about. That’s the sort of hero who really should save the day in this sort of story.