To Be Hero X is no stranger to chaos, but Episode 4 chooses precision over noise. Picking up right from last episode’s cliffhanger, we find Moon held hostage by the villainous hacker God Eye. The company’s first reaction is to send in a PR-backed fighter to handle the situation a hulking Balrog-style bruiser meant to impress the crowd. However, in a welcome surprise, the spotlight quickly returns to Lin Ling as he finally sheds the “Nice” mask and fights as himself.
Here, the superhero satire takes a backseat. Instead, we get a story about honesty, self-worth, and raw courage. It’s To Be Hero X at its most stripped down and impactful.
Trust is Power, Literally
One of the show’s most unique mechanics is how superhero powers literally depend on public trust. This concept drives the central tension in Episode 4. When the company deploys Rog a hulking boxer with Balrog energy his strength hinges on fan support. But once his past cheating scandal is exposed mid-battle, the crowd’s faith evaporates instantly. His power wanes along with the fanbase, and God Eye quickly defeats him.
This brutal public fall sets the stage for Lin Ling’s raw and unfiltered entrance. With no corporate gimmicks, no filtered persona, and no flashy branding, he steps into the fight with nothing but truth and heart. At first, Lin gets beaten down badly. But his honesty begins to resonate with the audience. Fans watching respond to something real and vulnerable. That growing momentum builds just enough for Lin Ling to pull off a gritty, hard-fought victory not with elegance, but with raw grit and determination.
Moon Was Never There
Just when the victory feels earned, the emotional rug is pulled out from under us. Lin discovers that the Moon he saved is nothing more than a decoy puppet an empty shell meant to fool the enemy and the audience. The real Moon was never there, and her actual body is hidden away on a remote, isolated island. When Lin finally finds her, their reunion is brief and bittersweet. Before they can connect, a sudden gunshot echoes a stark, Jujutsu Kaisen-style moment that leaves the audience stunned. It’s fast, brutal, and final.
This moment marks a major turning point for the series. The show has officially shifted gears, moving away from playful deconstruction and satire toward serious, darker storytelling. That closing shot pushes the narrative into unfamiliar territory and challenges the idea that this is just another irreverent superhero spoof.
The Real Hero Appears
Lin Ling’s transformation into “The Commoner” is now complete. This isn’t about climbing the ranks of corporate heroes or playing along with PR narratives anymore. It’s deeply personal, raw, and painful. That emotional weight, paired with the show’s signature sharp writing and vivid visual style, gives the episode a serious edge.
Some fans may question the pacing or the sudden shifts in power logic, but the core message hits hard: sincerity has consequences. Heroism doesn’t always pay off. And sometimes, the people you fight for vanish before you can save them.
Episode 4 Scorecard
| Category | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Emotional Impact | 9/10 | Lin Ling’s vulnerable fight and loss hit hard |
| Fight Choreography | 8.5/10 | Gritty animation style matches the raw tone of the battle |
| Plot Development | 9/10 | Bold narrative choices and shocking twists push story forward |
| Pacing | 7.5/10 | Some unevenness, but the big moments land strongly |
| Cliffhanger Shock | 10/10 | The brutal ending leaves viewers stunned and hooked |
| Overall | 8.8/10 | A major turning point that reshapes the series |
Final Thoughts
Episode 4 is a bold and emotional shift for To Be Hero X. Lin Ling’s rejection of the fake superhero image in favor of honest, unvarnished action gives the series the heart it needed. The twist ending with Moon adds unexpected depth, breaking the rhythm of episodic storytelling with stakes that clearly carry consequences.
If the first three episodes played with hero tropes, Episode 4 shatters them. This is where the real story begins, and the emotional journey gets serious.
What Did You Think of Episode 4?
🔥 Did Lin Ling’s fight as “The Commoner” give you chills?
💔 Was that ending with Moon too brutal or perfectly timed?
💬 Drop your thoughts in the comments — how do you think this will change the show’s direction?
📲 Follow Otaku Nadu for weekly reviews, character breakdowns, and all the biggest updates from To Be Hero X and beyond.
🗣 Share this with your anime crew and keep the hype alive!
🎬 We’ll be back next week to break down Episode 5. Don’t miss it.
