REVIEW: ‘SHY’ Episode 13 “Hero’s High”

Since the incident in Russia, Teru Momijiyama (Shino Shimoji, The Wrong Way to use Healing Magic) continues to protect the world as the hero Shy. But while she and the other heroes work tirelessly to protect the people of the earth, Stigma ( Mutsumi Tamura, Kaiju Number 8) is preparing to make his next move in SHY Episode 13, “Hero’s High” from 8-Bit.

This episode spends the bulk of its time reacquainting the audience with the series’ heroic cast. We see familiar characters like Piltz Dunant/Lady Black (Sayumi Suzushiro, Bocchi the Rock) and David W John/Stardust (Shin’ichirô Miki, Undead Murder Farce) as they utilize both their heroic and everyday personas to help people. These moments remind viewers of the personalities of the cast, as well as the powers they wield. Choosing to emphasize the civilian work various heroes do to help others as much as their costumed work speaks wonderfully to the show’s focus. It subtly reminds us that there is work we all can do to be a hero.

While the series does a great job of reestablishing its larger cast, as well as introducing a new heroic face, the show is still about Shy. When we catch up to our eternally anxious protagonist, we see her training hard as she goes for a jog. Despite feeling exhausted at the end of her run, Shy manages to save a young girl from being hit by a car. Her swift action catches the eye of a nearby reporter, Tojiko Asuka.

We learn in a flashback that Asuka was searching for a story to help her career get back on track. Her boss isn’t pleased with her current performance, and she desperately needs something good to bring him. Asuka feels rundown and frustrated with her work. We see a flash of energy come out of her when she witnesses Shy’s good deed. Seeing Shy as her chance at getting a great story, she manages to wrangle an interview with the hero.

Initially, Asuka’s interview with Shy plays out as expected. Shy mumbles uncertain answers to Asuka’s questions. These barely audible responses at first leave Asuka wondering if asking for the interview was a mistake. Despite Shy’s work, she comes across as a completely ordinary person. The conversation turns around when Shy asks Asuka a question.

Worried about dominating the conversation, despite it being her interview, Shy takes a moment to ask why Asuka became a reporter. As the reporter answers, two things happen. The first is that we learn about Asuka’s motivations as she remembers what originally pushed her into the career she’s in.

The exploration of Asuka’s past in SHY Episode 13 brings some heartfelt energy to the conversation. The character’s motivations for becoming a reporter resonate with the audience well while also explaining why she may be struggling. It allows the viewer to understand Asuka well in a short amount of time.

The second thing that the shift in focus of this scene does is wonderfully transition Shy from the anxious focus of the scene to a cheerful participant. Without feeling like she’s in the spotlight, Shy’s calm returns as she begins chatting with Asuka. This transition is done with a wonderfully natural flow. While it may be surprising to some to see the character change so quickly, as someone who suffers from social anxiety, I can appreciate how a seemingly small thing like a shift in focus can allow a greater sense of ease in a conversation.

From the beginning of the interview, Asuka is surprised by Shy. With her status as a hero, Asuka expected her to be more outgoing and bold. Seeing the nervous young woman fidgeting in the booth across from her leaves her at a loss for where to take their interview. She struggles at first to find the story in her subject. As the conversation continues, Asuka realizes that the story is about how normal a person Shy is. Rather than a godlike superpower, she is an ordinary person.

The earlier focus in Shy Episode 13 on the non-hero work of its protagonists combined with this realization to drive home the point of the narrative. You don’t need to be super to be a hero. Simply being a good person and watching out for others can make a world of difference.

Once the interview is over, the narrative jumps ahead to find the story published. Shy comes across a copy while out with Iko Koishikawa (Nao Tôyama, Train to the End of the World). After some gentle teasing from her friend, Shy vowes to purchase every issue printed to spare herself the embarrassment of people reading about her. It is a fun moment to end Shy’s time in the episode.

This playful moment is contrasted nicely by another group discovering the interview. Stigma and his followers also see the article. Drawing the ire of the villain, Stigma once more vows to destroy the heroes and the hope they bring to the world. The dark visuals and gloomy color palate that are in play when Stigm’s group takes the screen further separate them from the rest of the brightly lit and warm-colored episode.

SHY Episode 13 brings the viewer back into its world smoothly and efficiently. It establishes returning characters and introduces new ones while also reminding viewers of the show’s thematic priorities. SHY is about the characters first and the ominous threat second. Hopefully, the series will continue to build off of what this entry starts.

SHY Episode 13 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.