RJ Writing Ink

My Hero Academia Season 5, Episode 14 Review

Since the end of last week’s episode, I’ve heard more than a few fans complain about the way that the season of My Hero Academia is playing out. In the manga, the Joint Training Arc was followed by an arc focused solely on the villains of the series. However, the show’s taken a different route. It’s focusing on the Endeavor Agency Arc first, then moving to the villains arc while hinting at the liberation going on in the background. I can understand why they’re doing this, at least. They want to save the best for last for this season. That way, when we get to Season Six, they can focus entirely on the biggest arc to date.

At least we’ve got a new opening, though.

A Slow Breather Episode

At the end of the Christmas party last episode, Shoto gave Deku and Bakugo a big opportunity to study with him under his Dad, Endeavor! The three strongest heroes of Class 1-A studying on the number one Hero. That’s a recipe for epicness waiting to happen. And it leaves us getting to watching the four of them take down a delusional villain who can control glass in the process.

However, the plot with the students isn’t the big draw to the episode. Rather, it’s what’s going on behind the scenes that’s got everyone’s attention. While anime-only fans will have to wait a little bit, those who read the manga will know what the plot revolving around Hawks is about. And it’s going to be big. And what’s worse is that Hawks can’t let the other heroes know since he can’t blow his cover. However, that doesn’t stop him from giving Endeavor a warning in the form of a coded message inside a book.

Okay, to be honest, it’s hard to talk about this episode without spoiling what happened in the villain arc that’s coming up. But that message to Endeavor about the enemy being liberation shouldn’t be taken lightly. Someday, very soon, a battle will be fought that will shake the world of heroes to its core.

Until then, though, there’s not that much to enjoy about this episode on its own. When the season is over and we look back on it, there will be more to enjoy. For now, though, there isn’t a lot I can say without spoilers. Sorry, guys. Hopefully, the next episode can GO BEYOND, PLUS ULTRA!!

I Give “Off to Endeavor’s Agency” a 3/5

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The Owl House Season 2, Episode 3 Review

Who, or what, is King? Ever since The Owl House began, fans have fallen in love with the diminutive little demon. Not the least bit because A.) he looks like a Cubone, and B.) he’s voiced by Alex Hirsch. But we actually know very little about who he is and where he came from, besides his ranting about himself. Well, after twenty-three episodes, we finally get some hints about the origins of King! And it. Is. HUGE!

Where Did King Come From?

While Luz and Lilith are busy learning how to combine glyphs to create new spells, King tries getting their attention while talking about how he was the King of Demons. When Lilith rightfully calls him out on how crazy his claims are, King ups the ante by taking them to a mysterious island where he claims he ruled from.

This also leads to the three seeing how Hooty can detach himself from the house, and it must be absolutely disgusting.

Surprisingly, the island King takes them to isn’t just a delusional joke. It’s filled with ruins, images, and writing that not even Lilith knows about. If bookworm Lilith doesn’t know about it, then that’s saying something! And the ruins are filled with images of what looks like King in the past conquering his enemies. That, and there’s a hideous fusion rock, bone, and abomination goo that attacks them until Eda comes to the rescue.

It’s at this point where Eda finally tells everyone, the audience included, the truth about King; at least, from what she knows.

BABY KING IS SO KAWAII

Eight years ago, Eda was running from the Emperor’s Coven when she came across the mysterious island. Within the ruins, she found a baby King living by himself. Feeling sorry for him, Eda took him back home with her, gave him his name, and played along with his infantile fantasies of being a King of Demons.

Naturally, the revelation that most of what he considered his past is a fantasy leads the little guy to have a brief meltdown. However, As Luz points out while consoling him, this revelation doesn’t answer everything. Where did King come from, and why was he left inside those ruins? These are some big questions that need to be answered! And it’s this desire to learn more that leads the group to discover something major.

As it turns out, that ruined temple wasn’t where King ruled from; it’s where he was born after hatching from an egg. And that bizarre abomination (who he names Jean-Luc) was created to be some kind of guardian for him. And the images shown weren’t of King. They were of other members of his kind, including his father, who may still be out there!

A New Mystery to Discover

At the end of the day, King ultimately accepts the fact that he was never a King of Demons. However, he seems to be fine with this since he has the residents of the Owl House to help him come to terms with it. Additionally, there’s the revelation that there may more like him out there and that no one, not even the Emperor’s Coven, may know about them.

I can already hear the fans coming up with fan theories about King and his people. Where did they come from, and what happened to them? Why was King left alone? Does the Emperor have something to do with all of this? It’s enough to drive fans nuts!

One thing is for sure, though: I am looking forward to see what The Owl House does with this mystery going forward. Since this comes from The Gravity Falls tree of shows, though, I expect it to be this big, mind-blowing revelation.

I Give “Echoes of the Past” a 4.5/5

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