To say that Boku no Hero Academia is a frustrating series is an understatement. To an extent that’s often been the case, as there can be a wide gap between the best material and the weakest. But in its current mode that’s especially acute. That it can serve up such meaningful and powerful episodes as this one and the one two weeks ago sandwiched around frankly mediocre chaff in-between is somewhat remarkable. Some of that is down to manga vs. original content, but not all of it – as the intermittently pedestrian nature of the class battle arc bears out.
To an extent I suppose one might either be interested in the Todoroki family drama or not. If you’re tuning in to HeroAca for epic battle scenes and serious political drama, this stuff may be a miss. But I’ve always found it fascinating, mostly because Horikoshi-sensei happens to be really good at writing it. Endeavor is the most difficult and vexing character in BnHA for me, and in a series with Bakugo Katsuki that’s really saying something. Through him Horikoshi asks a lot of questions that aren’t easy to answer and offers no easy answers, and I always like it when a writer does that.
Fathers are a vexing part of My Hero Academia generally speaking. Of Deku’s we’ve heard nothing whatsoever, to the point where the absence is so total it becomes conspicuous. Kacchan’s father seems to be a pretty reserved and remote figure in his life. Iida’s parents are likewise a void. We have father figures to be sure – All Might to Deku, Iida’s older brother to him – but generally, mothers are much more prominent and important in this series. Endeavor wraps all that up and takes it to another plane. As fathers go, he’s as problematical as you’re going to see – especially given his crucial role in the story independent of the one within his family.
I think of all those difficult questions Horikoshi asks through Todoroki Enji, the most difficult – and obvious – is this: should be be forgiven? Fuyumi does everything she can to bury the past and patch things together – that’s her choice. Natsuo (love the “front” and “back” t-shirt by the way – Horikoshi’s imagination with wardrobe never fails to amuse) can’t forgive and has no desire do – that’s his choice. Shouto is perpetually caught in the middle, the symbolism of his quirk being hardly subtle. I don’t think there’s any question Enji has come to accept that he did things which were wrong, and wants to try and fix what he’s broken. But does he really understand why his sons resent him so much – why what he did was so, well, unforgivable? And does it even matter if he does – is that enough?
I don’t know the answer, but I appreciate that Horikoshi doesn’t try to force one on his audience. And there are still things we don’t know – like what happened with Touya, the eldest child. Touya is clearly very much on the mind of Natsuo and Shouto, but his name is rarely discussed openly. These scenes in the Todoroki household are hard to watch, and anyone who’s ever witnessed another family at war in their presence understands. This is not stuff that Izuku and Bakugo should be seeing, honestly – but then both of them know much of the story already.
Another interesting element for me is the contrast between Deku and Kacchan here. In the first place, while it’s mostly played for comedy the difference in their social skills is actually kind of important. There’s value in being considerate of other people – common courtesy does matter in this world. But more than that, Deku genuinely cares about what’s happening and actually has the courage to speak to Shouto about it. It’s not a bad thing to be reminded sometimes of what a truly kind person he is, and why that matters. And believe me it does, given Deku’s place in the story, and his ambitions for the future…
leongsh
July 25, 2021 at 2:36 amBaby steps. If the members of the Todoroki family are to reunite, and forgive and accept Enji, baby steps need to be done. Enji has to make the bigger steps of repairing the situation but he needs to show remorse, and have patience. It’s a broken family for sure. What Midoriya stated is true as well, they are showing hints and are waiting for the moment to arrive. Maybe not all will come to the position of forgiving Enji and reconciling with him. Fuyumi is the furthest along the process. Natsuo harbours the most resentment and the furthest away from the process. Shoto has started the process but first, he is reconnecting with his mother.
With how it is shaping up, I wonder whether Endeavour would be killed off before he achieves that moment. That recurring dream of his is foreboding. The rest of surviving family being happy at the dinner table without his presence. If it goes down that route, will there be any regret or relief that he is gone from their lives? I wonder whether it would really go down that route or pull back at the last minute and have him survive. My expectation is that the latter would happen based on the track record of the series so far. I prefer the former since the ramifications are more interesting in terms of story, plot and character development.
Bob
July 25, 2021 at 6:17 amHalf of this episode was recaps, good lord. They’re turning a drama into a soap opera.
Guardian Enzo
July 25, 2021 at 7:45 amThat’s quite an exaggeration.
Riv
July 25, 2021 at 11:46 amI’ve always found the Todoroki storyline very compelling and appreciate how it doesn’t go for easy answers to hard questions. One of the highlights of BNHA for me is how although the kids are obviously the main characters, BNHA has some interesting adult characters too. Endeavor and All Might’s stories, in particular, although I would also throw Gentle Criminal in there too, as I found his story both amusing but also quite touching.
yoloalchemist
July 28, 2021 at 12:18 pmI love how part of what makes the approach to answering these hard questions not easy at all is both the presence and absence of Rei. Her metaphorical presence in the lives of her children and how her situation unfolded makes Shoto and Natsuo rightfully hate Enji. Her physical absence makes Fuyumi, Natsuo and Shoto have to deal with their father in their own ways. And say she was mentally healed for as much as she could be and she was home with all of them having dinner together. Her actual presence wouldn’t have made things easier anyway, and Deku and Bakugo would’ve still been unnerved.
Horikoshi-sensei made a difficult situation here. How that may or may not get resolved is going to be fascinating to follow.
Guardian Enzo
July 28, 2021 at 3:56 pmHorikoshi doesn’t got nearly enough credit for how well this subplot is handled, imo.
yoloalchemist
July 29, 2021 at 1:46 amThe sad part about that is how most of the detractors are basically “How dare you Horikoshi for giving Endeavor a redemption arc?! He shouldn’t be forgiven!” Most aren’t interested to look under the surface and realized how complex this situation is.
leongsh
July 29, 2021 at 11:19 amMy take on it is that they have made a final judgement that Endeavour should never be forgiven and should never have a chance for redemption. Nowadays, people are very quick to judge and cancel.
I do not know where this redemption side story is going since I am anime-only but considering how negative some fans are with respect to Endeavour, I presume that he will be partially redeemed in this current arc from the indicators given. I don’t expect a full redemption to happen soon as this has been percolating in the background all this time over the previous arcs with the occasional surfacing of it whenever Todoroki Shuto’s storyline is developed and he interacts with Endeavour.