The following contains spoilers for Tiger & Bunny 2 Episode 2, “No One Knows the Weight of Another’s Burden,” now streaming on Netflix.
After a jam-packed season premiere, Tiger & Bunny 2 slows down for its second episode to focus on some of its new characters — most prominently Subara Sengoku, the barrier-powered superhero Mr. Black.
Before coming to Stern Bild, Sengoku performed superheroics under the alias of ”Hello Goodbye” in a city called Panjourney alongside two other heroes. After doing well in Stern Bild’s superhero hiring exam, he was relocated to the city and his hero name was changed to Mr. Black. However, the difference between his prior hero life and his career in the First League prove to be something of a culture shock for young Sengoku.
As the lowest-ranked hero in the First League, Sengoku receives pressure from his sponsor and, after missing a mission, the threat of being fired. Sengoku, who became a hero out of a genuine desire to help others, comes to resent the rampant commercialism endemic to Stern Bild’s hero culture — similarly to Kotetsu in Season 1.
While Sengoku receives the brunt of this episode’s focus, his partner receives some additional development as well. It’s made clear that Thomas Taurus is considered a prodigy among the new batch of heroes, to the extent that Sengoku is asked to be little more than his backup.
Sengoku interrogates his fellow First Leaguers’ motivations for becoming heroes in the first place, including Thomas’. While Thomas insists he only became one because he ”felt like it”, a quick flashback to an incident from his past reveals this isn’t the case. No doubt a later Tiger & Bunny 2 episode will shine a light on what happened to young Thomas to actually make him a hero.
As Kotetsu asks Agnes about Black, it’s clear the veteran hero sees himself in the rookie. During Episode 2’s climactic mission to stop a drug lord, Sengoku, afraid of being overshadowed by Thomas, tries to take the spotlight all for himself — blowing Origami Cyclone’s cover in the process.
While the heroes manage to salvage the mission, they chew out Sengoku for his mistake. He admits he was afraid of being stuck in Thomas’ shadow but Kotetsu appeals to his better nature, reassuring him that all the heroes are on the same side and all that matters is saving people — a lesson Sengoku takes to heart.
Tiger & Bunny 2 Episode 2 also spotlights Kotetsu and Barnaby, with the two receiving new armor courtesy of Doc Saito, imbued with nanotechnology and an even more powerful version of Good Luck Mode — ”Hyper Good Luck Mode”.
Kotetsu reaffirms that his Hundred Power still only lasts one minute, while Barnaby confides to Judge Petrov that he is still haunted by the death of his parents at the hands of Maverick — as well as the criminal organization he worked for, Ouroboros. Nonetheless, Barnaby takes comfort in the support he has from Kotetsu and the other heroes, hoping one day his heroics will help him find a sense of inner peace.
Unfortunately for Barnaby, Ouroboros are still at large and are due to come crashing back into his life. In Episode 2’s post-credits stinger, it’s shown that Fugan and Mugan, the two white-haired villains from Episode 1, are members of the organization. If the Tiger & Bunny 2 premiere’s flash-forwards are any indication, they will come to blows with Barnaby in two months’ time, meaning the hero’s quest for inner peace will have to be put on hold.
