Protagonist Ryuko Matoi transfers into Honnouji Academy in search of her father's killer, and suspects that the head of the academy, Satsuki Kiryuin, knows of the murder as well as the other half of Ryuko's scissor blade.
This Episode provides the examples of the following:
- BFS: The Scissor Blade.
- Break the Haughty: Ryuko spends the first part of the episode acting all tough and cold, but after Takaharu proves to be more than a match for her, retreats, goes to Isshin's mansion, and starts crying.
- Butt-Monkey: That poor Ring Side girl gets punched aside twice during the boxing round between Ryuko and Takaharu.
- Chekhov's Gun: As a Senketsu-worn Ryuko defeats Takaharu, his two-star Goku Uniform is torn to shreds and a red string is seen entering the suit...
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Ryuko's first battle against Takaharu, the Boxing Club captain, ends badly for Ryuko since he has a Goku Uniform and she doesn't have the strength to cut through it. Round 2 however is less one-sided once she gets her Senketsu uniform.
- Early-Installment Weirdness: This is the first and only time we see one of the Elite Four murder a student. Later episodes show this to be completely above and beyond them even at their worst.
- Establishing Character Moment: Ira Gamagoori No Selling a one-star students blows, then giving a No-Holds-Barred Beatdown towards said student.
- Then he bows down to Satsuki, proving that she's top dog at Honnouji Academy, who proceeds to recite her "Pigs in Human Clothing" speech, establishing her motives and personality for the rest of the series.
- Roaring Rampage of Revenge: When one of Satsuki's Elite Four look up Ryuko's profile, it reads that she has a habit of starting fights in any school under the Honnouji Academy umbrella. During her retreat from Takaharu, she laments that she has been trying to find her father's murderer, whom she believes has half of the Scissor Blade she is carrying. If they have that half, there is a chance they are responsible for his death. She hopes to get answers from Satsuki, by force if necessary.
