10 Second Anime - One-Punch Man - Episode 7

Saitama saves Z City from a meteor but finds surprising consequences in the aftermath.

Episode 7 - "The Ultimate Disciple"

Hmm.

I'll address how satisfying this episode was to watch in relation to Saitama being the hero we knew he could be, but I want to talk about the episode title first. Genos isn't the Ultimate Disciple because of how powerful he is. In the end, he still had only a miniscule fraction of power compared to his Master. What showed his quality was how he pledged to follow Saitama after his seemingly petty rant against the survivors of the fallout. Because even in the midst of that flash of irritation where Saitama displayed his everyman sensibilities instead of a noble heroic attitude, he still said what he always said to Genos: he became a hero because he wanted to.

 

The pedestrian attitude came out when Saitama said he didn't do it for the public's admiration, but it sounded unconvincing. Mixed in with admiration is recognition and attention, things that our modern culture craves through reality television and social media. But Saitama's heroic motivation, because he wants to, is still the core that Genos is drawn to and wants to follow. Besides, without that core, Saitama couldn't say simple stuff like "If the heroes run away, who will be left to help?" Genos knew pure gold when he heard it.

 

A good disciple also teaches his master. When Genos asked Saitama to come home after he had made his point to the crowd, Saitama deferred to his judgment. His little smile at the end of the episode in response to Genos' profession of loyalty was one of those little moments that make this show so great.

 

As for Saitama himself, this was the episode where he announced to the world and the other heroes that there was someone among their numbers beyond their imagination. I got man tears when he calmly walked up to Bang and the spent Genos. He answered Bang's question the only way Saitama could, "I am a hero." And then he was.

 

I liked especially how Saitama was a hero in the mold of the old man Bang. He did what he could and muddled through. A hero's actions are already more than what could be hoped for, as long as they don't make things worse. Unfortunately, which is what is also great about this parody on superheroes, is that regular people aren't always that grateful just to be alive. If a natural disaster wrecks everything, people can't really take their anger out on it. It's already gone. But if a hero walks around the aftermath of a smaller disaster than what would have happened without his help, then people have a target to direct their frustration. The C-class hero brothers took advantage of that bit of human psychology.

 

Unfortunately for them, they did not understand that Saitama wasn't a hanger-on who just happened to be there when S-class heroes saved the city. He actually did it all by himself. At that point, Saitama had a chance to say what I'm sure all the superheroes have always wanted to say to the big whiners they protect, "Don't tell me your problems. Tell it to the meteor!" Exactly right.

Heh.

Genos is a great exposition device for the viewers. As a cyborg, we can accept that he would be kind of nerdy and fastidious, so it makes sense that he read all the Hero Association material and can explain it to Saitama. I like the dynamic in their relationship where Genos thinks Saitama is so powerful that these details, like the disaster classes of Tiger, Demon, Dragon and God levels are beneath his attention, but the viewers know that Saitama is really just a lazy regular person. It really drives home the point that this kind of person really, really wanted to be a hero if he dedicated himself to that harsh strength training.

 

And now we know. Genos is Iron Man if Tony Stark built his suit around an orphan he was taking care of. 

Even down to the power core in his chest! It's all good.

"Silver Fang" Bang was also a great character to give us perspective on the motivations of the heroes in the Hero Association. It's obvious that he was a hero before the association was formed and he'll be one when it inevitably becomes something else.

His thoughts on how Saitama wouldn't be a good fit for the Hero Association because of how strong he was and how his motivations don't follow all the rankings which require public relations and competing with the other heroes really show what this comedy is paying attention to in the superhero genre.

Genos tried his best and muddled through. He knows good advice when he hears it. That's what makes him the Ultimate Disciple. That's why he had to write down Saitama's rhetorical question, "If the heroes run away, who will be left to help?"

"Who are you?"

"I'm Batman." No, wait. "I am a hero." Yes, yes he is.

 

I'm hoping that we get a scene where Saitama gets his Hero Association name. Will it be One Punch Man? Hell, I'd be satisfied if it were Uncle Baldy. That would totally fit how this satire treats its hero.