To Be Hero X is the kind of anime that's unlikely to leave you bored. Besides the episode endings, which aren't always what they seem, the narrative is surprising. However, the tension present in the heroes' lives seems to be a recurring theme in each episode. The difficulty isn't about facing danger and risking one's own life, but rather because, in the world they live in, their powers and actions are based on the audience's trust and will.
In the last episode, we met Em Riste, a hero who, due to his fans' wishes, always remained standing. Therefore, he faced several uncomfortable situations in his daily life, such as not being able to sleep properly.
Then there's Xiao Yueqing, whose personal desires were also hampered by the public's desire for her and Nice to remain together forever. As a result, her teleportation device wouldn't work for locations far from the hero.
To Be Hero X brings Lin Ling into the narrative spotlight
From the first episode, we knew that the real Nice had died, and that Lin Ling had replaced him. The boy gradually became more and more like the hero, as the audience's trust was now directed towards him. However, as the episodes progressed, it became clear that he had doubts about whether or not he was on the right path.
At the beginning of episode 4 , released on April 26, Nice tries to save Xiao Yueqing, who, apparently, has been kidnapped by Enlightenment. However, fans urge him not to fall for the villain's provocation and hope he doesn't rescue the girl. Because of this, Nice finds it extremely difficult to leave the tower, but even so, he doesn't give up and uses all his strength to try to save her.
While Nice does everything she can to overcome the fans' control of her body, the company sends the hero Crusher to defeat the Enlightenment. The villain, intent on unmasking all the heroes, reveals that Crusher was nothing before gaining his powers.
The scene blends the hero's past with the conflict between him and the Enlightenment. Furthermore, the fight movements are fluid and dynamic, and the use of effects makes the moment even more immersive. However, it's the fight between Nice and the villain that truly deserves to be highlighted in this episode.
Amidst all the confusion, Nice loses some of the public's trust and reverts to his true appearance. Against all those who want him to remain in the tower, the hero uses his last bit of strength to escape. The moment Lin Ling manages to escape and runs to Xiao Yueqing is magnificent.
As the boy walks through the crowd, without anyone recognizing him as the person who, minutes before, had looked like Nice, some flashbacks of the moments he lived alongside Xiao Yueqing complement the scene.
Lin Ling wins over the public and now occupies 10th place in the hero rankings
The fight between Lin Ling and Enlightenment is simply incredible. The soundtrack, the character's perseverance, and the animation make it an unforgettable experience. Furthermore, at certain points in the scene, the anime adopts a very comic-book-like aesthetic, featuring striking textures and lines.
With her persistence and determination to save those she loves, Lin Ling wins over the audience and inspires an entire crowd to cheer her victory. Thus, Ling returns to 10th place in the hero rankings, but now without having to assume someone else's identity.
At the end of the episode, it's revealed that Xiao Yueqing wasn't kidnapped. The Enlightenment had merely set a trap for Nice. Knowing that the girl is still on the island, Lin Ling searches for the teleporter she left behind and goes to find her.
The final scene, once again, is surprising, as someone appears on the island and seemingly kills the character. However, in To Be Hero X, nothing is as it seems, and this is one of the work's strengths. We were previously deceived about Xiao Yueqing's death, and this leaves an open question: was this truly the character's end?
Lin Ling's decision to abandon her Nice identity, the character's evolution into one of the ten most powerful heroes, the action scenes, and the soundtrack are all reasons that solidify the fourth episode as one of the best yet. Furthermore, they reinforce To Be Hero X as one of the best anime of the season.
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