REVIEW: ‘My Hero Academia: Vigilantes’ Episode 7 — “Makoto/Truth”

My Hero Academia Vigilantes Episode 7 is perfectly pleasant and continues to technically strike the right beats, invigorated by strong, vitalized animation. And yet, the longer the debut season continues, the more glaring a major issue becomes. Despite the big names and familiar characters attached to the series, Vigilantes isn’t leaving a mark, regardless of the zippy and kinetic action sequences.

The most condemnable aspect of My Hero Academia Vigilantes is that it’s forgettable. While it’s perfectly enjoyable and undeniably well-made, it’s not a series that inspires us to eagerly await the next episode. More often than not, it’s easy to forget it’s airing. The mystery is too slow in its rollout, and the characters, while mostly charming, are too shallow in their depiction, so much so that the depth goes little beyond their most defining characteristics.

And this isn’t helped by the constant barrage and introduction of bits and supporting characters. Makoto is an interesting character who works to bridge the world of vigilantes – Koichi (Shuichiro Umeda) – with her brother, Detective Tsukauchi (Tokuyoshi Kawashima).

On a technical level, her introduction helps deepen the world’s lore while offering an interesting and fresh perspective on the power imbalance of quirks and the rigid lines society has implemented to define heroes versus villains. But with seven episodes under its belt, Vigilantes desperately needs more time with its core three.

Pop can’t stand Koichi’s newest friend. 

Because the best interactions remain those between Koichi, Pop Step (Ikumi Hasegawa), and Knuckleduster (Yasuhiro Mamiya). The three and their odd found family dynamics make for an instantly lovable cast if only the series were to spend more intentional time with them. Instead, the story spreads thin by spending too much time elsewhere.

Makoto at least allows for some strong developments and pushes the buttons of both Koichi and Pop. A fellow student of Koichi, she offers him her help with studying with an ulterior motive. She wants him to be her bodyguard while trying to track down vigilantes. Namely, himself, Pop, and Knuckleduster. But it’s more than just that. Makoto suspects that Koichi is The Crawler and even uses her quirk, polygraph, to detect whether he is or not. Yet somehow he’s able to evade the truth.

It’s a surprising development that upends our expectations and grants the three secrecy for a while longer. Makoto also helps deliver one of the series’ funniest moments to date when she arrives at Koichi’s apartment, where Pop, in typical fashion, is lounging as if it’s her own home.

Her desperate attempts at hiding, followed by her incessant glowering at Makoto’s presence, are the perfect concoction of character-driven slapstick. We know of her affection for Koichi while the latter remains oblivious, making his acknowledgment of her being in a sour mood all the more comical. He only half understands what’s led her to her foul attitude.

My Hero Academia Vigilantes Episode 7 thrives in found family dynamics. 

It gives way to another standout sequence in My Hero Academia Vigilantes Episode 7, as they and Knuckleduster resume their training regimen. We haven’t seen much of his improvement, but it is great to see the small, incremental ways Koichi has strengthened his quirk due to a better understanding of it. It doesn’t feel rushed or unbelievable, making sense for his character and specific journey. It makes Knuckleduster’s approval all the more gratifying because it feels earned.

It’s the animation, however, that remains the highlight —and not just in the fluid, comic book-inspired action. Makoto and Koichi simply walking to a patrol area is striking because of the motion and details given to their gait and posture, allowing us to infer more about them without them saying anything explicit. There’s personality to how the characters move, separate from brawls or life-and-death scenarios. That, plus the continued visual vibrancy, gives My Hero Academia Vigilantes Episode 7 a necessary glow.

My Hero Academia Vigilantes Episode 7 is enjoyable and easily immerses us in its world. It even offers more information and perspectives on this world than its predecessor series. But it lacks the ‘It’ factor that would make the series an absolute must-watch, at least for now.

My Hero Academia Vigilantes Episode 7 is out now on Crunchyroll.

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