For the last two arcs, To Be Hero X has set up this sense of predictable pattern that gave fans, including me, this false sense of confidence. I definitely know how it’s going to end, or so I thought. I told myself I did because that’s what I had seen for Yang Cheng and Lin Ling’s arcs. It was something I both liked and disliked, as it made me feel that there was nothing new.
This changed drastically with Lucky Cyan’s arc. Not only did she get a happy ending, but she also proved that luck alone cannot act as the driving force for fate and destiny. Using it as a tool rather than fully depending on it is why the Dean and his plans failed. It is also why the SOS CEO felt like such a good guy. He understood that the world ran on numbers, but he wasn’t detaching heroes from being actual people.
To Be Hero X finally has a happy ending
I prayed for times like these when To Be Hero X won’t make me pull my hair out in frustration. I have become so used to something bad happening that even in this episode, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Not only did they confirm that X is a nobody who somehow defeated Queen to take his title, but it was also refreshing to see all of these characters interacting with each other outside of just competing.
Cyan earned her position and worked hard to become great at combat. Luck had little to do with how she made it so big. Her entire arc has not been about relying on luck to pave your path. The Dean made this mistake, and the rage consumed him so much that his orphanage and the surrounding area were described as hell because of his powers.
I had a feeling that whatever the Dean told Luo in the previous episode had something to do with his parents, but what I didn’t expect was that the origin story of Cyan’s Trust Value would make me cry. Cyan won’t let things play out just the way they have been.
The only way to make luck your own is to take matters into your own hands. She defeats the Dean while her Trust Value is rapidly declining. This was a testament to how powers in the world of To Be Hero X aren’t as simple as they have been laid out for us.
Playing into predictability
The entire time, I have been waiting for someone to die. It doesn’t have a lot to do with the story, but that is what has been happening for 9 episodes now. Luo was the optimal victim for this, and with the way things were set up, it almost felt inevitable. When, like me, the audience assumes they know the entire story, criticisms start flying.
This burst of confidence shows up out of nowhere, and suddenly you feel like you know everything about the story. To Be Hero X plays into that predictability to instead break it apart. For once, no prominent character died, and for once, we got a happy ending. Luo was so impacted by learning the truth that his bad luck slowly started spreading amongst everyone.
I love Cyan and Luo’s friendship because they cancel each other out. They’re friends in the rawest form without judgment or prejudice. They care for each other and help each other. So yes, when Luo’s father started singing, I was crying. Lucky Cyan was born of the hopes and dreams of people who wanted nothing more than for their loved ones to be happy. When survival is not an option, hope seems rare.
Rating: 8/10
To Be Hero X is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
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