“Encounter with the Unknown” largely deals with figuring out when it’s important to throw out a plan and go rogue, so to speak, because if there’s one thing that being a superhero isn’t, it’s predictable.

Hot off the heavy cliffhanger that the previous episode went out on, this installment begins with quite the burst of energy due to how it’s already deep into an emergency. The many-handed Tomura Shigaraki and his cabal of villains storm U.A. High and it makes for a very intimidating homecoming (Nomu is especially terrifying).

This also marks the first major attack and conflict between this organized league of villains, but their ambush is all the more significant because the show has saved it for the tail-end of the season. An earlier attack would have resulted in a clear defeat and while Midoriya and his classmates are still a long way from professional heroes, they’ve learned a lot since they started at U.A. High. It’s now time to see if their basic training will be enough to stay alive here. Who will rise to the occasion and who will be a part of the casualties? It’s a tremendous trial by fire for these fledgling heroes, but on some level this is what all of these guys have been looking for.

All Might happens to be absent from U.A. High during the moment of attack, but it’s still significant that the League of Villains finally make their strike against All Might. It’s almost worse that All Might’s not present because the school’s faculty and student body are the ones that come under attack as a result, which is exactly what All Might’s biggest fear has been about having a public image.

It’s like a living nightmare where All Might can’t even defend himself because he isn’t there. The questions then become just how big of a disaster is all of this going to be, will there be casualties that can be avoided, and just how much will All Might resent himself for the irreparable damage that happens to U.A. High, and perhaps his own reputation, when the dust settles?