Tropes:
- Abusive Parents: Keigo/Hawks' father is said to have been a petty thief on the run, after killing someone, and relied on the boy's mother for gigs and a means to escape. Keigo had to endure years of his abuse and paranoia, with the former frequently beating him up, and his mom's neglect, before Endeavor apprehended the father one day. His mom took him away to the streets and begged him to make money by any means necessary before he finally asked the authorities for help instead.
- Broken Pedestal: Best Jeanist catches a glimpse of a handful of people within the hopeful crowds giving a Death Glare to him, as if they are no longer happy to still have Heroes left to help them. Everything, from the news about the Nomus to multiple Villains breaking out, have severely damaged their confidence in Heroes, and it's only going to get worse.
- Caged Bird Metaphor: Hawks' broken home was treated as this as a kid, with him sneaking out occasionally, before the Hero Safety Commission took him in. In present time, with his mother disappearing, and the Safety Commission in shambles, Hawks feels like there is no one or nothing left to order him around or tie him down, allowing him to do as he pleases and deal with any loose ends before assisting Endeavor. Makes sense for someone with wings.
- Dramatic Irony: Despite becoming a hero, Hawks never had a chance to "save" his mother. Because he had to hide his real name from the public, he realized he had turned his back on his parents.
- Flashback Episode: The first half explores Keigo Takami's childhood before he became known as Hawks. It's not a pretty sight, thanks to his abusive father and broken home. However, he soon desires to become a Hero after being inspried by Endeavor.
- From Bad to Worse: People's faith in Heroes has gotten so bad, that many have taken matters into their own hands and use their own Quirks and Support items to fend off Villains. Without proper training for either, they hinder more than help, causing even greater collateral damage and leaving determined Pro Heroes to clean up.
- Gone Horribly Right:
- Re-Destro of the MLA/PLF believes in "society without order" and "true liberation", fighting for the public to use Meta Abilities/Quirks however they want. Many places are now in chaos and disarray thanks Villains who are wreaking havoc after being freed from prison, and their victims who are using their Quirks to defend themselves.
- Stain wanted to cull the country of "False Heroes"; specifically, those who pursue fame over virtue. Many, many Heroes, new and old, and their agencies have begun leaving en masse under public scrutiny or disillusion. Others are determined to carry on despite decreasing numbers, as if they are being tested to prove their worth of the title of "Hero".
- Humanizing Tears: The weight of the aftermath from the Jaku City battle, as well as the knowledge that is eldest son Toya is alive but has become the sinister Villain Dabi, causes Endeavor (who was played fairly unsympathetically for a large portion of the story and played up as unemotional) to completely break down in tears.
- Mood Whiplash: Endeavor's "SHOTO!" Running Gag breaks the gloom of his Humanizing Tears scene, if only briefly.
- Never Trust a Title: The episode focuses more on Hawks' past and the current state of Japan. The Todorokis don't meet up with Endeavor until the end of the episode.
- Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: Hawks' mother is less of a monster than his father, but she is no saint. She only took Keigo outside in secret, even though his father forbade him from doing so, and bought an Endeavor plushie (on sale) to keep him quiet. She unknowingly allowed him to acknowledge that Heroes exist and would eventually aspire to become one himself. He would then look up to Endeavor, after the same man arrested his father one day.
- Not Helping Your Case: The aftermath of the war leads to many Heroes retiring early and Hero Agencies shutting down under the weight of public scrutiny. When the former #9 Hero Yoroi Musha, announces his sudden retirement, the press accuses him of avoiding responsibility for what's to come; since most had treated their job as a way to make money and fame, such accusations may not be unjustified.
- The Reveal:
- Hawks learned exactly how Dabi knew his real name: the Villain sent goons to force the Hero's mother to spill the information. She soon left the household in guilt, not wanting to cause anymore trouble for her son.
- It turns out that the body Hawks showed Dabi was in fact the real Best Jeanist. They anticipated that the Villain wouldn't fall for a cheap decoy, and so Jeanist undergone a medical procedure which put him in a "death-like" state, based on how the Nomus were set up. Hawks then carried the No. 3 Hero to show that he "killed" him as a final test to join the PLF. They then put the Pro in a tank as a future plan to make him a Nomu. Though risky, Hawks snuck him out sometime before the raids began.
- That Man Is Dead:
- Young Keigo was recruited to become a rising Hero for the Safety Commission. In exchange for a comfty home and financial support for him and his mother, the Takami name had to remain secret and their ties to his father severed.
- Wracked with guilt, a recovering Enji Todoroki internally declares the Hero Endeavor is dead. His family isn't letting him go yet.
- So Proud of You: A letter left behind by Hawks' mother says this to him.
- Wham Shot: To Endeavor's shock, his wife Rei joins the rest of the Todoroki family. Beforehand, she was still mentally recovering from her traumatic relationship years ago, but Dabi/Toya's broadcast now has her arrive to her husband's room to talk about how to confront their long-lost son-turned-villain.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Hearing her husband Enji express guilt over everything that's happened, Rei reminds him that the rest of the Todoroki family suffered more because of his upbringing. Natsu doesn't sound too sympathetic about him crying either.
- You Are Too Late: An group of angry citizens lash out at Pro Hero Wash for arriving to the wreckage of a neighborhood, shortly after a battle between a restaurant staff and the Cider House gang; the latter recently broken out of prison. Wash brushes off this and tends to the people caught in the crossfire.
What's this about your heart?
~Rei Todoroki
