Toaru Kagaku no Railgun S Episode 23

"Silent Party" (改革未明) is the 23rd episode of Toaru Kagaku no Railgun S and forty-fifth episode overall. It was first broadcasted on September 20, 2013. The episode was directed Ikehata Takashi, the screenplay written by Yoshino Hiroyuki, and storyboarded by Ohashi Yoshimitsu. The animation was co-directed by Fujibe Ikuma, Shibata Shiro, Naoya Takashi, and Yamashita Yuu.

In Academy City, one’s value is determined by one’s level. However, the power development is mostly decided by innate talent, so what if an esper could be created from scratch with some other method?

Aritomi explains the Chemicaloid Project to Mikoto and Nunotaba. STUDY will perform a large-scale experiment on the day of the Academy City Research Exhibition Assembly and revolutionize Academy City. While unable to move because of the drug, Mikoto is reminded of herself when she sees Nunotaba bearing an incident involving her past.

Then her trusted comrades appear to save the two of them...!

Major Events

 * STUDY initiates their city-wide "rebellion" called Silent Party.

Adapted from
Apart from a single scene taken from chapter 44 of the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun manga, this episode features mostly original content, as such it is not adapted from any previous material.

Characters

 * Nunotaba Shinobu
 * Misaka Mikoto
 * Kihara Gensei (flashback-only)
 * Aritomi Haruki
 * Sakurai Jun
 * Kinuhata Saiai (flashback-only)
 * Kosako Shunichi
 * Sekimura Hirotada
 * Madarame Kenji
 * Febrie
 * Janie
 * Heaven Canceller
 * Misaka Imouto
 * Shirai Kuroko
 * Uiharu Kazari
 * Konori Mii
 * Saten Ruiko
 * Yomikawa Aiho
 * Tsukuyomi Komoe (non-speaking role)
 * Kongou Mitsuko
 * Wannai Kinuho
 * Awatsuki Maaya
 * Yanagisako Aomi
 * Kamijou Touma (flashback-only)

New Characters

 * Aoki (cameo)
 * Kongou Mitsuko's father

Locations

 * Academy City
 * School District 17
 * School District 7
 * Heaven Canceller's Hospital
 * Judgment 177 Branch Office
 * Tsukuyomi Residence
 * Tokiwadai Dormitory
 * Uiharu Residence
 * Endymion

Abilities

 * Electromaster (Railgun-variant) - Misaka Mikoto, Level 5.
 * Teleport - Shirai Kuroko, Level 4.

New Abilities

 * Ability summoning earth pillars - Aoki
 * Diffusion Ghost - Janie

Trivia

 * The ED is replaced by Sachika Misawa's Infinia.
 * Despite having no desire to actually leave Academy City, the nanodevices that are injected to the students who want to leave are referenced and used for the first time in this episode.
 * Mii has a Musashino milk cover for her cellphone.
 * The Endymion was shown on the computer console used by STUDY.

Referbacks

 * Mikoto referencing on how it was Nunotaba helped her clones on her own in the beginning is a referenced to episode 21.
 * Mikoto being able to move her muscles through the sheer use of her electromaster abilities, may be a reference to the technique that would've been applied to the children with muscular dystrophy that Mikoto willingly gave DNA map to, referenced several times throughout the series, like episode 2.
 * Komoe's apartment still bears the damage that Index wrought upon it back in episode 6 of Toaru Majutsu no Index.
 * The blackout that caused the traffic jam back in episode 18 is finally explained in this episode as a way for STUDY to hide information while they transport their Powered Suits for the Assembly.
 * The speech that Touma gives to Mikoto on the bridge back in episode 14 is referenced once again.
 * The four leaf clover Kuroko picked back in episode 7 is shown once again.
 * Febrie finally gets to wear the dress Kongou bought for her.
 * Once again Saten takes up a bat for the finale, though this time it is made out of wood.

Cultural References
No references to culture where introduced this episode.

Animation Trivia

 * The scene where Shinobu was captured by Saiai back in episode 9 is reused for a flashback.
 * Several scenes from episode 3 is reused for a flashback during Shinobu's private talk with Mikoto.
 * Scenes from episode 12 of the first season are used as a comparison to Janie's power.
 * The scene where Touma gives his speech about his dream where everyone has a happy ending back in episode 14 is once again used for a flashback.

Unanswered Questions

 * What were those strange pieces of technology Kongou brought for the group against the Silent Party?
 * What is Endymion doing on STUDY's screens?
 * Did STUDY actually used 20,000 pieces of hair from Janie as a receive for their Powered Suits?

Quotes

 * Aritomi: "The idealist says, everyone is born equal.We are all of equal worth. The sportsman screams, no effort goes unrewarded. Work hard for your dreams! It's about how you play the game."―speech to his peers in one of theAcademy Research Exhibition Assembly award ceremony.
 * Gensei: "Competition? Oh, you mean that little summer school project?"―regarding Aritomi's plans.
 * Aritomi: "Even the best scientists are just senile old fools who believe in the esper level system. Revolutionary ideas are always labeled as heretic."―to Mikoto regarding the Chemicaloid Project.
 * Mikoto: "Who said I can't move?"―to Shinobu.
 * Mii: "Say, Aomi. What do you think of this city?"―to Aomi.
 * Jun: "Ten minutes to sunrise. It's been a long night. But dawn will soon come on that long night."
 * Aritomi: "Let's get this Silent Party started, then."