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My Hero Academia Season 4, Episode 23 Review/Recap

You know, it’s almost funny when you think about it. Right now, the world of My Hero Academia is going through some tough times. Meanwhile in the real world, everyone’s hunkering down from the pandemic. But you know what, it’s in these trying times that we need to remember how to smile and have fun. That’s just what this episode of My Hero Academia does for us.

Recap

Thanks to Deku’s efforts, Gentle and La Brava’s plans to crash the school festival are stopped. Gentle turns himself in to the heroes and tells them he brainwashed La Brava so she won’t go to jail with him. Before he leaves, though, he affirms his respect to the young hero, who then proceeds to finish his task and make it back in time for the concert.

And rather than talk about it, I’ll just show you what happens.

Needless to say, the concert, and the festival, are a huge success, with everyone enjoying themselves and having fun. And best of all, Eri was finally able to smile for the first time in living memory. At last, Overhaul’s grasp on her has been broken.

As for Gentle and La Brava, the authorities seem like they’re willing to be lenient with them.

Review

I absolutely loved this episode; it’s the best one since the fight between Deku and Overhaul. It wasn’t action-packed or suspenseful as any of the big fights in the series, but it’s still a great episode. In fact, I think Studio BONES improved on the manga. As great as it can be, some things can only be fully appreciated in animated form.

Being able to see Eri smile for the first time was enough to bring tears to a person’s eyes, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Right now, the entire world’s paralyzed with fear by the Coronavirus Pandemic. Here in America, the country’s close to being on lockdown! People are as scared, confused, and alone as Eri was when we first met her.

I know it may sound silly, but I think that it’s in times of hardship that we need to remember the importance of smiling and having fun. No matter how bad things may get, we need to keep reminding ourselves that things can get better, and it’s concerts like what Class 1-A put on that help with that. Heck, even Gentle and La Brava get a silver lining from all this.

Rather than treat him badly, the authorities seem to be willing to help him rebuild his life. Moreover, they’re impressed with La Brava’s hacking skills and even offer her a job. Hopefully, they’ll be able to turn their lives around and move beyond their sad past together. GO BEYOND, PLUS ULTRA

I Give “Let It Flow! School Festival!” a 5/5.

Also, I love the face that Bakugo makes here

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My Hero Academia Season 4, Episode 22 Review/Recap

How many of you have had some fantastic dream as a child only for it to be crushed by reality? I’m pretty sure that everyone has, but that doesn’t make our inability to attain it hurt any less. Why bring this up? Because we get a look at Gentle and La Brava’s pasts in this episode, and it makes us realize that they’re not evil. They’re just two people who’ve had a lousy life and are trying to make something of it.

Recap

With the School Festival about to start, Deku’s trying desperately to apprehend Gentle, and La Brava before the alarm can be raised. Thanks to his new gauntlets, the young hero can keep up with the duo, finally pinning them down. In desperation, La Brava activates her Quirk, Lover. Once a day, she can power up the person she loves most beyond their normal limits, giving Gentle the strength to match Deku. However, not even this is enough, as Deku uses his power and analytical mind to subdue Gentle.

The episode then shows us two flashbacks about Gentle and La Brava. Growing up, Gentle wanted to be a Pro-Hero, but couldn’t make the grades for it; when he tried to help a hero one day, someone got hurt. This experience led him to become a villain so he could write himself into history. La Brava, a depressed middle school student, found his work online, and it inspired her to meet him and help him with his dream. Realizing he cares too much for La Brava to let her stay a villain, Gentle uses the last of his strength to throw Deku away and then turns them both in to some patrolling heroes, saving the Festival.

Review

I read the manga chapters for the School Festival months ago, so I already knew the story of Gentle and La Brava. Even so, it’s sad to see how their lives turned out. Gentle is what Deku could have ended up turning into if he hadn’t met All Might, down to interfering in a Pro-Hero’s work. Having to give up on your childhood dream is one of the hardest things a person can experience, and too many people end up doing so. The same goes for La Brava, who was barred for being considered weird.

Both of these two villains had terrible hands dealt with them in life, but that led them to find each other, and this episode shows how much they mean to each other. It helps show that they’re not bad people; they need help. Thanks to Deku interfering with their plan, they can get a chance to change for the better.

This episode didn’t come close to the Hassakai Arc, but I think it serves as an exciting look into what could have happened to Deku if no one had believed in him. In the long run, I think this will help Deku become a better person. For now, though, the School Festival and the heroes dream of assisting Eri can move forward. Go beyond, Plus Ultra!

I Give “School Festival Start” a 3/5

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My Hero Academia Season 4 Episode 21 Review/Recap

Well, the day’s finally here. The UA School Festival is about to start, and Deku and Togata are betting on it. It could be the only chance they have to teach Eri what it means to be happy and smile, after all. However, Gentle Criminal and La Brava plan on crashing the Festival and ruin everything. The fight to protect the UA School Festival starts!

Recap

On the morning of the UA School Festival, Midoriya wakes up early to get some training in with All Might before getting some last minute supplies. By sheer coincidence, though, he ends up running into Gentle and La Brava as they finish their tea ritual. When the former can’t help but gush about the tea he had, Midoriya connects the dots and figures out who Gentle is and what he plans to do. Which is something he cannot allow.

As Deku rushes to stop the villain from crashing the festival, he’s blown back by Gentle’s Quirk, Elasticity. It allows him to give anything rubber qualities, including the air around him. Were Deku relying on his normal tactics, he wouldn’t have chance. However, that morning, Hatsume gave him a completed version of the support gear he asked for: special gloves that let him use his Quirk to create high pressure air shots. With his new abilities, Deku stands his ground against Gentle. The time until the concert begins: 69 minutes.

Review

I would like to reiterate the fact that nothing this season does will top the Hassakai Arc. Thus, I don’t think the show should try and top it. The UA School Festival Arc is about Midoriya growing as a hero by putting him in a situation where he can’t expect any help. If he wants to stop Gentle from wrecking everyone’s fun, he’s got to do it on his own.

Fortunately, the episode makes a point of demonstrating how Midoriya’s improved. His new gloves allow him to create ranged attacks without One for All’s recoil, while the dance training he did for the concert has helped his coordination and reaction timing. It may not seem like much, but without either of those skills, Deku wouldn’t be able to fight Gentle. I’m still hoping that the next few episodes will make up for the lack of action. Go Beyond, PLUS ULTRA!

I Give “Deku vs. Gentle Criminal” a 3/5

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My Hero Academia Season 4 Episode 20 Review/Recap

Ever since Midoriya began attending U.A., life seems to have gotten bleaker. First, the League of Villains, then Stain, All for One, Overhaul, and All Might’s retirement. However, despite how dark things are, U.A.’s determined to have their School Festival even as some seek to ruin it. Thus, both sides steel their resolve over a cup of rare tea in this episode.

Recap

Having gotten the go-ahead from Principal Nezu for Eri to visit the Festival, Togata brings her to U.A. ahead of time to meet everyone. Eri immediately endears herself to the entire school as they gush over her and look forward to seeing her at the Festival. Meanwhile, Principal Nezu speaks to the authorities, telling them of his plans for the Festival- if the alarm’s sounded, even on a false alarm, the Festival will be cancelled. Thus, Class 1-A steels their resolve over a cup of Gold Tips Imperial tea.

Meanwhile, Gentle Criminal prepares for his and La Brava’sgreatest stunt yet. On the day of the Festival, they’ll have Gold Tips Imperial tea at a nearby cafe. Then, they’ll sneak into U.A. High.

Review

In a nutshell, this ”School Festival Arc” has been pretty boring and forgettable. After everything we saw in the Hassakai Arc, though, it would be hard to top that. Nonetheless, I feel this episode sets that stakes for what’s to come and why they’re still important, if on a smaller scale.

This episode has Principal Nezu explain his reasons for having the Festival, regardless of the times they’re in. It’s because I’m times of hardship, it’s all the more important for people to smile and remember that bad things won’t last forever. Since Midoriya hopes the Festival will help zero smile again, it’s all the more important it succeeds. Conversely, Gentle wants to ruin it because it will make people be even more paranoid.

That said, I think Gentle and La Brava are the best part of this arc. They’re like the Joker and Harley Quinn, only the Joker genuinely cares about his Harley. It’s sweet to see, but I still don’t want then to win.

In addition, this episode has seen Midoriya try to branch out into ranged attacks, something that his fighting repertoire has been sorry lacking. He may not be able to do them on his own yet, but maybe Hatsume may be able to help.

That said, why did they name this episode after tea? I get that tea’s important to Gentle, but what does it have to do with the of the episode? It doesn’t really make sense to me. regardless, next episode will hopefully see the start of the fight between Deku and Gentle. Go beyond, PLUS ULTRA!

I Give “Gold Tips Imperial” A 2.5/5

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