EPISODE CONTEXT

Sitting at episode 7 of 21, 'Inflation' marks the transition from the strategic setup phase into the season's sustained combat arc. It follows 'Division,' which saw the heroes' coordinated plans disrupted and scattered across multiple fronts, and now each of those fronts demands individual resolution. This episode directly sets the stage for 'Two Flashfires,' pivoting from ensemble-scale tactics to deeply personal confrontations—particularly within the Todoroki family conflict—that will define the season's emotional and narrative trajectory going forward.