Toaru Kagaku no Railgun S Episode 02

"Critical" (寿命中断 (クリティカル) ) is the 2nd episode of the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun S anime series, and the 26th episode of the anime series adaptation of the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun manga series. It was first broadcast on April 20, 2013. The script was written by Minikami Seishi, the episode storyboarded by Takayanagi Shigehito, and directed Takashima Daisuke.

Before the "Large-scale Field Trip," Mikoto plans to go shopping. After following Kuroko's suggestion to to use a shortcut to get to the shopping malls, they discover a noticeable increase of pedestrians who use the dark alleyways in the metropolis. Aside from this, envelopes containing cash cards can be found in certain areas. Similar incidents have been occurring around School District 7, and has been increasing as of late according to Konori Mii. Saten Ruiko who has come to know of the rumor takes Mikoto in search of cash cards all day long. As she tries to go home after being exhausted, her ears catches a conversation between the Skill-Outs, telling of an abandoned building where a girl who is responsible for the incidents resides.

Major events

 * Misaka Mikoto meets Nunotaba Shinobu.

Adapted From

 * Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Manga Chapter 018

Characters
By order of appearance
 * Misaka Mikoto
 * Edasaki Banri (referenced)
 * Shirai Kuroko
 * Uiharu Kazari
 * Konori Mii
 * Saten Ruiko
 * Haruue Erii (referenced)
 * Tokiwadai Dorm Supervisor

New Characters

 * Nunotaba Shinobu
 * Hikoichi
 * Satoshi
 * Tetsu

Locations

 * Academy City
 * Seventh Mist (referenced)
 * Judgment 177 Branch Office
 * Saten Residence
 * Tokiwadai Dormitory
 * Nagatenjouki Academy (referenced)

New locations
No new locations were introduced during this episode.

Abilities

 * Teleport - Shirai Kuroko, Level 4

New Abilities

 * Critical - Nunotaba Shinobu (Not a real ability)

Trivia

 * The episode preview summary references the Large-scale field trip, the event that Mikoto and the gang partake in Toaru Kagaku no Railgun SS: Liberal Arts City.
 * Shinobu's character design removes her trademark fisheyes.
 * Shinobu references AIM Stalker when she makes her bluff of explaining her powers against the thugs.

Referbacks

 * Mikoto references the previous episode where she receives a flashback after watching children go to rehabilitative therapy.
 * Kirugumar as seen back in episode 10 of Toaru Majutsu no Index is show during this episode.
 * The flashback of Mikoto agreeing to give her DNA map from Episode 12 of Toaru Majutsu no Index is not only referenced but expanded on during this episode.

Cultural References

 * Saten has a green slime doll in her room of Dragon Quest fame.

Animation Trivia

 * The entire flasback scene in the beginning is done with a effect.
 * The document that Uiharu's phone is resting on as Saten calls refers to China and the United States' nuclear history and capabilities.

Unanswered Questions

 * Why did the Shinobu leave those envelopes with cash cards with a random amount of money in back alleys anyway?
 * Who was the Tokiwadai student that Saten mistook for Mikoto?
 * Are the rumors of the Level 5 clones true, and if so, which Level 5?

Quotes

 * Doctor: "Won't you grant us your DNA map?" —said to a young Misaka Mikoto.
 * Uiharu: "Now, would you please patrol these areas, Shirai-san?" —said to a disappointed Kuroko.
 * Saten: "I'm actually pretty good at sniffing out rumors like this. —said to Mikoto.
 * Kuroko: "Good evening, Dorm Supervisor. Your diligence is an example for us all." —said to the Tokiwadai Dorm Supervisor.
 * Kuroko: "Good grief. 'I'll be home past curfew, so trick the dorm supervisor for me.' Thank goodness I had my secret Onee-sama Voice Collection, or I'd have been in real trouble. It's been a while since I've had to do something like this. She used to do this a lot more. Onee-sama..."
 * Shinobu: "There are certain requirements for it. My power is called Critical. It only works on people who I've touched. However, once I've touched them, no matter where they run, they will die." —to the Skill-Outs.
 * Shinobu: "That's right, you shouldn't fight among yourselves." —to the Skill-Outs.
 * Mikoto: "That was an interesing performance. I was going to help you out if things got dangerous, but you dealt with this many Skill-Outs so easily... With nothing buy talking, a dramatic performance, and... What was that, some anesthetic?" —to Shinobu.
 * Shinobu: "So... you're the Original." to Mikoto.