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My Hero Academia Season 5, Episode 4 Review

I remember telling you guys last week just how highly I thought of Shinso’s Quirk, Brainwashing, right? In the right circumstances, it can subdue a villain without any injuries or collateral damage. Since that often wont’ happen, though, we have to see how Shinso holds up in an actual fight. And I think that he does pretty well. Not only that, but the fighting animation for this episode is pretty darn good!

The Rules of Shinso’s Quirk

Picking up a short time before the training exercise started, Shinso explained to his new teammates the rules of his Quirk.

1. He has to think about using it in order for it to work.
2. Shinso must speak first, then get his target to respond.
3. Shinso can make his target perform basic tasks, but none that require actual thinking.

These are the basic rules behind his Quirk, meaning that those aware of it will be hard to trick, hence why he has that cool new collar: Persona Cord. (Which I personally think would make a good superhero name!)

As we all expected, Shinso’s lack of experience makes him an initial hindrance to Class 1-A, costing them the lead at first. However, Class 1-A successfully offsets this with their excellent teamwork. That, and Asui’s ability to secret toxic mucus that can disguise their scents. Which is both cool, and gross.

Aside from seeing Shinso work his Quirk in an actual fight, and seeing how how Eraser-Head’s been teaching him his methods, there was one other thing I loved about this episode: the animation. The fight scenes were so smooth and amazing to look at! If this is what’s going to be in store for us for the rest of the season, then I think that I’m going to be enjoying this over the summer!

I’m really going to enjoy this! Go Shinso! GO BEYOND, PLUS ULTRA

I Give “Go for it, Shinso” a 4.5/5

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My Hero Academia Season 5, Episode 3 Review

I’ll be honest with you guys going in. The Joint Training Arc of My Hero Academia wasn’t among my favorite parts of the story. Don’t get me wrong: I understand how important it is to showcasing the growth of all the heroes. However, I feel like they keep repeating this scenario more than necessary. Well, at least I know I’m in for some real enteretainment. Plus, we see the return of an aspiring hero.

The Secrets of One for All

Last episode saw some pretty big reveals in regards to One for All, as we got a glimpse into how All for One gave his brother the power. However, the dream got cut off because Deku’s yet to master the full extent of his inherited Quirk. In addition, there’s the fact the previous wielders speaking to him is something that’s unique to him. Needless to say, All Might and Deku are stumped, as will the people who only watch the anime be.

The only other thing that I want to say is that this is foreshadowing some big things that are about to happen in the Joint Training Arc.

Class 1-A vs. Class 1-B! The Joint Training Arc Begins

As the title implies, the focus of this arc is on a joint training exercise between the two hero courses: the main heroes Class 1-A and Class 1-B. They’re playing what amounts to an advanced version of cops and robbers: one side has to capture the villains, while the other has to stay alive. Only there’s a twist. They have a new member who will be participating: Hitoshi Shinso from the Sports Festival. In case you guys forgot, he’s the one whose Quirk lets him control anyone who talks to him.

In a world that is full of flashy powers, the ability to control someone through brainwashing may seem mundane at best, or villainous at worst. However, I actually like Shinso’s powers for their praticality. Being able to subdue criminals through talking can save lives and millions in property damage. And if Shinso does well in this joint training, he can transfer to the hero course.

So far, he’s getting off on the right foot. He’s got this new tool that can imitate someone else’s voice, which makes him even more formidable. This arc may end up being pretty fun to watch. I’m looking forward to it. PLUS ULTRA!

I Give “Class 1-A vs. Class 1-B” a 3.9/5

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My Hero Academia Season 5, Episode 2

Okay, so the first episode of the new season of My Hero Academia may have been lackluster. However, now that the obligatory introduction’s done with, we’re finally getting to the good stuff. This episode sees the vestiges of the past come back to haunt the present day as we dive deep into the origin of One for All. And we also see just how bad of a parent Endeavor really was.

Endeavor’s Dark Past

So, My Hero Academia has established the fact that Endeavor has been a pretty terrible husband and father. Granted he’s trying to make things right now, but that’s not going to erase what he did in the past, a fact that most of his kids make clear to him when he returns after his battle with the Nomu.

I’m going to be blunt: even after all this time, I haven’t forgiven Endeavor for what he did to his family. It was the kind of abuse that would land someone in real life in jail. And his kids have every right to not forgive him, much like Shoto’s older brother makes clear in this episode. However, I can tell he’s trying to make thing right. And as I’ve read the manga, I know that he’s only going to get better from here.

The problem is, the vestiges of his past are starting to come out of the shadows. And if you’ve read the manga, then you know what I’m talking about, and what’s going to await Endeavor.

Vestiges of One For All

The real heart of the episode, though, comes in the second half as we get our biggest look yet into the origin of One for All and its creator, All for One. Getting to see how All for One and his brother interacted with each other in the early days following the emergence of Quirks was very…interesting. On the surface, All for One acts like he’s the good guy, willingly taking Quirks away from those who don’t want them and giving it to those who need them. However, this isn’t altruism, but rather, high level manipulation, something that his brother is quick to call him out on. All for One may act like someone’s friend, but in truth, he’s very much a Satanic Archetype that seeks to control everything in this super-powered world.

What I found most interesting, though, is how the vestiges of the original bearer of One for All is trying to talk to Deku in his dreams. It’s like part of the previous user’ will was literally passed down to Deku, and now they’re trying to help him. And again, as someone who’s read the manga, I know where this is going. But it’s going to be fun seeing it happen in anime form.

Next week, though, we get to one of the big turning points in the story with the joint training exercise between the hero courses. Get ready, because a lot of old faces are going to be returning. GO BEYOND, PLUS ULTRA!

I Give “Vestiges” a 2.5/5

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My Hero Academia Season 5, Episode 1 Review

It’s been more than a year since the end of the last season of My Hero Academia. From the perspective of 2020, though, it might as well be a lifetime. Thankfully, the vaccines are rolling out, which means that we can slowly start returning to a new normal. And the arrival of spring brings MHA‘s fifth season! And while I may be writing more now than I was at this time last year, I can’t resist wanting to get in on the anime. Granted, I will simply be reviewing rather than recapping like I did last year in order to conserve time, so it balances out in the end. However, with that out of the way, we can dive into the season premiere. How was it, you may ask?

Honestly, it was all right. Not as fun as last year’s premiere, but still good.

Class Is In Session

So, this episode takes place the day after that big fight between Endeavor and that Nomu at the end of Season 4. Everyone’s talking about as class starts, only for class to shift into an emergency drill. As a result, Class 1-A suits up to test out how well they’ll do in a real-world crisis. In this scenario, villains, played by Nejiro-Chan and Suneater, are attacking the school, with Class 1-A having to deal with them, rescue civilians, and contain the disaster. In other words, this episode’s basically an introduction episode to let newcomers know who’s who in the cast and reminding long-time fans about what they can do.

To be totally honest, I had to struggle to pay attention to this episode. Not because I stopped like the premise of the series, but because I already know who everyone is. I’ve read the manga, I’ve watched the anime, I don’t need to be reminded on who’s who. That said, I understand that some people will need to be reminded, so I’m willing to let this slide.

It’s only in the episode’s final moments when I really start to pay attention. If you’ve been reading the manga, than you know that a lot of crazy stuff is about to go down. I won’t spoil anything for anime-only watchers, but let’s just say that this season is going to be insane. Like really insane! But until then, GO BEYOND, PLUS ULTRA!!

I Give “All Hands on Deck! Class 1-A” a 2.5/5

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My Hero Academia Season 4, Episode 25 Review/Recap

Well, folks, here we are at the end of this season of My Hero Academia, and what a season it’s been! In a world without the Symbol of Peace, All Might, society’s more on edge than ever. As a result, Deku and his classmates have had to step up far sooner than they would otherwise. Which led to one of the biggest anime moments of 2019 when Deku beat down the evil Overhaul to save Eri, a girl with the power to rewind people.

Things have been low-key since Overhaul’s defeat, with the show focusing on the students. Yet in the penultimate episode, we saw the Pro Heroes return to the spotlight, now lead by Endeavor. He’s always wanted to be the Symbol of Peace (or at least No. 1), and when a deadly new Nomu attacks, he has his chance to prove himself. He. Does not. Waste it.

Recap

As Hawks works to evacuate all the civilians in the area and provide aid to Endeavor, the fiery hero throws everything he has at the Nomu. To everyone’s horror, though, this Nomu can not only regenerate, but is smart enough to come up with plans to fight Endeavor, putting him on the defensive. It turns out, if he uses his fire powers too often, they’ll eventually overheat. As a result, the Nomu manages to briefly overwhelm him. All across Japan, people watching fear that there’s no more Symbol of Peace.

However, Endeavor gets a second wind, as the Nomu reminds him of how he used to be: someone who kept trying to attain more power (or something). Bottom line, he wants to prove that he’s trying to change for the better, and after forcing the Nomu high into the sky, manages to burn him into ash. When the dust settles, Endeavor proudly stands with his fist in the air, having earned his place as the new Symbol of Peace.

Review

Studio BONES manages to create some of the most action-packed fight scenes in modern anime, as this season of MHA proves. Watching Endeavor go toe to toe with the Nomu was the best fight the anime has seen since Deku’s glorious beatdown of Overhaul. The animation was superb, the emotional stakes were high, and when the dust settles, you can’t help but want to cheer for Endeavor.

Yes, I know that Endeavor has been a horrible father and an overall jerk in the past. Though, to be fair, a lot of heroes in Shonen anime start out like that! Piccolo, Vegeta, Gaara, and more. The point is that he’s trying to change and make things right. Why else would he visit his wife in the hospital and give her the flowers she said she liked?

Endeavor’s more than proven himself as the Symbol of Peace. He can take things from here until Class 1-A graduates.

In the meantime, though, we have confirmation that there’s going to be a Season Five, and based on the post-credits, things are about to getting crazy with Midoriya. Those who read the manga will know what’s coming, but for the anime only people, my lips are sealed. I will say this, though: we’re going to learn more about One for All and it’s past in the next season, and it’s going to be awesome. GO BEYOND, PLUS ULTRA!

I Give “His Start” a Solid 4/5.

See You Next Season! Stay Safe From the Virus!

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