REVIEW: ‘My Hero Academia: Vigilantes’ Season 2 Episode 13 – “Graduation and Career Path”

My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 Episode 13 makes a long-running suspicion clear: the series is best when you think of it as an ensemble piece. Realizing that, accepting that, allows the endless frustrations over the lack of narrative or character focus to simmer. When looked at through that lens, the spinoff series is a highly enjoyable string of vignettes that highlight how this world of superheroes operates on the ground level. 

In many ways, My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 Episode 13 closes a significant chapter, indicated by a telling two-year time jump. But it’s the moments before the time-jump that shine with personality, largely due to Pamela’s  (Yū Serizawa) storming into Captain Celebrity’s (Toshiyuki Morikawa) hospital room. Truly, the image of her all but tossing her baby into Makoto’s arms is a comedic highlight of the series and makes one wish there were an entire spinoff dedicated to her agitated fatigue. 

But these moments also highlight Koichi  (Shūichirō Umeda), you know, the protagonist, and his willingness to be left in the shadows. He knows he helped save the day, and the heroes present that day know he deserves as much recognition for his efforts as Captain Celebrity is getting. But to recognize him would also be to condemn him, as what he did is technically against the law. 

The rules of heroism are rigid in the world of My Hero Academia. 

These nuggets do a lot of work once again to enrich the greater world of this particular universe. Because it’s not just a society where a few, superhuman or God-like figures show up to save the day. There isn’t one hero assigned to each city. It’s a world where heroics are a career plan. There’s an entire infrastructure built around them for both oversight and economic growth. Sure, Koichi saved the day, but he doesn’t have a hero’s license, so he has to avoid the spotlight. 

However, considering the disappearance of Knuckleduster  (Yasuhiro Mamiya) following his fight with The Scarred Man/Number 6 (Taku Yashiro), and Tsukauchi’s (Tokuyoshi Kawashima) struggle to find out the source of the explosion caused by their fight, there’s more trouble on the way. And, considering Koichi’s ties to it all, it seems likely he’ll be forced into action more than he might like. 

My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 Episode 13 doesn’t spend a ton of time on their fight, but it’s enough to reinforce Knuckleduster’s resolve. Number 6 even respects him for it, as the two charge one another before the building collapses around them.

The Season 2 finale pivots back to Koichi’s story. 

It’s another moment where the series refuses to shy away from bloodshed, Number 6 having willingly sacrificed his arm for the sake of trying to take Knuckleduster down. And Number 6 remains a pitifully evil character, as we watch him, later, being modified by All for One. 

Beyond the many, many side plots, the finale does try to course-correct by giving us more time to explore Koichi’s internal thoughts. The writing for him remains nuanced, believably excited to have helped save the day, and similarly let down that he can’t receive any praise. But ultimately, he knows he’s doing the right thing, even if no one publicly says as much. 

It makes the jump ahead as satisfying as it is melancholy, as we watch Koichi, now a college senior, strike out into the job force, looking for jobs that still help people, even if they’re not tied to vigilantism. Through steady work, he has made a name for himself, which makes his suggestion of retirement to Pop all the more surprising. He believes it’s an era of his that’s come to an end, one that he’ll forever cherish. And it’s a fun thread: he is counting down his time as a vigilante through his All Might hoodies, a tie to his childhood aspirations. 

My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 Episode 13 is a stepping block for greater stories. 

And, in many ways, it feels oddly relatable. The idea of having to modify a dream to confront a reality. He can still help people, it just might manifest in the way he once expected.

And, in this regard, it strengthens what is, at its core, a coming-of-age story that mirrors the origin story by suggesting there are other ways to become a hero, rather than being gifted an all-powerful Quirk. Granted, the plans for retirement are unlikely. But it doesn’t diminish the moment’s effect, helped by Pop’s clear discomfort. 

All in all, My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 Episode 13 is a solid, if somewhat lackluster, finale that refocuses the story on its proposed lead. The ensemble elements work because the series has invested time and effort in ensuring their narrative significance. Now, let’s just hope they can give Koichi the same space. 

My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 Episode 13 is out now on Crunchyroll. 

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