I’m seeing the second HeroAca film “Heroes: Rising” tonight, which should provide an interesting contrast with the current incarnation of the TV series. Of course a movie is going to have a much bigger budget, but the stylistic changes go a lot deeper than that. I’ll be seeing it raw (with Japanese subtitles, interestingly), so no formal review is forthcoming yet. But given where it takes place in the series’ timeline (considerably later than the “Shie Hassaikai” arc) and the fact that Horikoshi considers it canon, I’ll be fascinated to see how Bones and Nagasaki Kenji finesse the matter of spoilers.
It seems as if consequence becomes a bigger part of the equation in Boku no Hero Academia the farther it progresses, and that trend continues in this arc. I’ve noted it before, but not having All Might around as a safety net for the first time lends a certain foreboding to these events. The heroes get an unexpected bit of help as the reason for Toga and Twice’s actions last week becomes clear – they just don’t buy into this whole yakuza thing, period. And Mimic plays right into their hands, rising to the bait and promptly getting himself exposed and captured.
This is going to throw a considerable spanner into Overhaul’s works, as we’ll soon find out. It’s Mirio who’s hot on his trail, more determined than ever to make amends for his perceived failure to Emi earlier. His quirk is an entirely useful one given the circumstances and it does allow him to catch up to Overhaul and Chronostasis more quickly than the villains had planned. But it’s striking as ever that compared to some of the monsters surrounding him on both sides, Mirio’s quirk isn’t actually all that strong. It’s his mastery of it that makes it powerful.
Tintin is, truthfully, a very straightforward fellow. Even in moments of combat, he practically gives the enemy a running play-by-play of what he’s doing and thinking. He makes it very clear why this is so important to him – all the more so when he finds out that Eri is (unsurprisingly if we’re honest) not actually Overhaul’s child at all. Overhaul is an odd duck, alternately preternaturally calm and manic (almost like Twice in a very limited way). Perhaps that’s why he seemed to inspire obsessive loyalty or outright hostility among his underlings. But he – and Chronostasis (one of the loyal ones) are only too happy to use Mirio’s openness against him.
Here, indeed, is where Lemillion’s lack of opacity really costs him. Overhaul and Chronostasis are not especially well-matched against his quirk, especially when their ultimate aim is to shoot him with one of their five precious quirk-destroying bullets. But he wears his heart on his sleeve, and Chronostasis knows Mirio will sacrifice permeation – and his own body – in order to protect Eri. All Might could be pretty straightforward that way too, but the difference is that his quirk was so strong he could power through almost any situation even if he made no attempt to hide his intentions. Mirio has no such luxury – and he pays the price for acting like he does.
Kurik
December 28, 2019 at 10:18 pmGreat episode even if it was full of stills during the fight they were still intense. Mirio is the hero of the day for sure and without him showing how much he wants to protect Eri any hero would have done what he did is a civilian was being shot at. Not much other options available to him if he doesn’t have the speed. Absolutely loved how he bounced back within a heartbeat as well and fought off the trio. Cliffhanger again! arrgh!
Deluxe
December 28, 2019 at 10:59 pmThis specific episode was good but overall I’m not really into this season of Hero Academia. This yakuza arc is dragging on for too long now and the series doesn’t handle its serious tone as well as it does for its more lighthearted moments.
Stöt
December 29, 2019 at 12:11 amYou saw the Camino Ward arc and still pretend that BNHA should only stick to lighthearted moments? Bullshit. I honestly don’t see why you would watch BNHA if you’re only in it for the light-hearted moments. The tournament arc was all about humour, was it? Midoriya messing up his arms was only for shits and giggles, I suppose. The same with Stain, I guess.
I don’t at all see why Enzo was opposed this arc, when I read it I thought it was brilliant. Some resistance to fleshing out supporting characters? If only Mirio was a forgettable sidekick with no back story. Thank god for DnA, where team members knew better than to shout anything but their catchphrase/-grunts. Kiya! Uga! lol.
Back on topic, I had to watch this episode twice, it was so good. Nothing can top that, right? Anime of the year.
Stöt
December 29, 2019 at 12:15 am>But he wears his heart on his sleeve, and Chronostasis* knows Mirio will sacrifice permeation – and his own body – in order to protect Eri.
*Nemoto. I’m not sure Chrono ever loaded those bullets
Tharizdun
December 29, 2019 at 4:31 amWhat did you think of the presentation of the episode? It’s been quite a controversy, it being more of a slideshow and no crip sakuga fight scenes? I thought the presentation was weird in other aspects too. Did it affect your enjoyment?
Guardian Enzo
December 29, 2019 at 10:27 amNot really, though watching the movie two hours later the contrast was pretty striking. There was nothing in this episode I would consider a real headliner fight that needed lavish treatment. I know most manga readers thought the Mirio fight was epic but to me, it was no big deal. It lacks the emotional subtlety of the best showdowns in this series.
ibtachi
December 29, 2019 at 2:25 pmFirst of all, the lack of sakuga isn’t really a complaint for me. Flash doesn’t equal substance (see: Fire Force as a recent example), this “slideshow” was fine considering the fact that this fight felt more like a vehicle of character development instead of an epic showcase of raw strength & will power. Sakuga would have actually detracted from the narrative implications here I think. I have no doubt the sakuga will come, but it wasn’t needed here and the director knew it— the change in staff has definitely been a blessing in disguise so far.
I am finding Mirio as a whole is a very interesting character from a narrative standpoint (both in contrast & as a compliment to Deku). Interesting choice by Horikoshi shine such a spotlight on him, because now by both merit and action Nighteye’s advocacy of Mirio seems as valid as All-Might’s decision to choose Deku as a successor. It seems that both Deku and Mirio’s hearts cannot ignore the call to heroism— regardless of whether they’re a master of their Quirk, a novice or even downright Quirkless a Hero will jump in the line of fire to save others.
We saw the apex of this heroic instinct in All-Might’s sacrifice against All for One. And we saw bright flashes of it when a Quirkless Deku jumped to Bakugo’s rescue, when Deku sacrificed his arm against Muscular, and now Mirio sacrificing his Quirk yet continuing to fight. There’s an element of hope in seeing the embers of true heroism in these kids and it’ll be interesting to see how that hope fares against the permanency of the quirk erasure.
Will Mirio, who hasn’t shown contempt towards Deku yet, become resentful of him? Will Deku’s feelings of inadequacy intensify once he finds Mirio is now Quirkless, as he once was? Or are the embers of hope strong enough to persevere against this loss?
Kaz
December 30, 2019 at 5:12 amI freaking love this episode!! It was epic! Even the stylistic approach and the stills were amazing, imo 🙂 i love what this new animation team is doing for the series.
blargnobia
December 30, 2019 at 7:59 amThis episode stressed me out so much–I kept thinking Mirio was going to die horribly. And the fact that Overjerk still has 4 quirk-killing bullets also stresses me out.
David Wayne
December 31, 2019 at 9:43 amI don’t know about this season. It def has its amazing moments but the pacing feels off to me. I’ve actually felt this through all the seasons, some seasons felt rushed and some seemed okay. I don’t want this show to turn into one piece where they can turn 1 arc to over 50 episodes but I wouldn’t hate it if they slowed the pace down a tad. I felt this part in particular could have been turned into 2 episodes, i meant this is the hottest anime in the world right now surely they can find more money to extend the season.
Guardian Enzo
December 31, 2019 at 10:00 amActually Yaiba is the hottest property at the moment for sure, but I take your point.
This pace is the manga’s pace, so… Bones has been faithful to that so far and I don’t expect it to change. I just think this is a good arc and not a great one, and the adaptation reflects that.