“My Hero Academia: Vigilantes” episode 5, titled “Judgement,” premiered on May 5, 2025, and delves into character backstories and introduces a new vigilante with a dark sense of justice. The episode offers a blend of action, humor, and emotional depth, enhancing the intrigue of the MHA universe.
Koichi’s College Mishaps and Heroic Aspirations
The episode begins by exploring Koichi’s past, revealing his difficulties in making friends during his college years. An incident involving a misunderstanding led to him being ostracized and labeled as a creep. Despite this, Koichi’s desire to become a hero remained.
A flashback reveals that Koichi had signed up for the hero course entrance exam. However, on the day of the exam, he encountered a child drowning in a river and jumped in to save them, giving the child his All Might hoodie to keep warm. This act of heroism caused him to miss the exam. Koichi hopes that the child he saved was inspired to do good.
The Revelation of Pop Step’s Past
The episode reveals that Pop Step was the child Koichi saved. She still has the All Might hoodie he gave her. Pop Step decides to tell Koichi the truth about her past, but Knuckleduster interrupts her.
Pop’s backstory adds emotional depth to her dynamic with Koichi. Her initial frustration with him turns into guilt and embarrassment because she doesn’t know how to thank him properly. The reveal highlights Koichi’s inherent goodness and the direct impact of his kindness.
A New Vigilante Enters the Scene: Stendhal
As the news talks about a villain with several arms, a man watches people from an alley. An ominous samurai watches the man slowly bleed out before the screen fades. Later, the police release Akira, the hardening quirk thug who fought the vigilantes before. Kuin offers him another version of Trigger. Koichi and Pop☆Step find him tearing the city apart.
While Koichi and Pop Step confront Akira, a new vigilante named Stendhal appears and saves Koichi. Stendhal is a katana-wielding vigilante who sees himself as a judge and executioner. He brutally kills Akira, showcasing his skewed sense of justice.
Koichi is excited to meet another vigilante, but Stendhal’s approach to justice differs greatly from his own. Knuckleduster warns Koichi about people who take justice into their own hands, as they may have a skewed idea of right and wrong.
Kuin’s Plot and the Trigger
Kuin continues her plot by giving Akira an enhanced version of Trigger. She observes the battle between Akira and The Crawler, gathering data. Kuin’s actions and Stendhal’s arrival hint at a potentially dangerous twist in the narrative.
Final Thoughts on Episode 5
Episode 5 of “My Hero Academia: Vigilantes” is a compelling installment that deepens the story with major developments. The unveiling of Koichi and Pop’s shared backstory and the introduction of Stendhal add intrigue to the series. The episode balances action, emotion, and character development, making it an engaging viewing experience.
The episode’s exploration of Koichi’s past and his relationship with Pop Step adds emotional resonance to the story. Stendhal’s introduction as a vigilante who kills villains raises questions about justice and the line between heroes and vigilantes. The episode’s ending leaves viewers anticipating the next developments in the story.
