As good as this episode was, it would be very tempting to obsess mostly over the last three seconds of it. They’re important, no doubt, but there will be plenty of time to discuss the final line of dialogue of the episode in the coming weeks. But we’re at the stage of Boku no Hero Academia right now where pretty much everything is important – this would not be a good time to take a sabbatical as a viewer, that’s for sure.
If consequence is a dominant theme of this series – and was dramatically highlighted last week – then “choices” is no less so. And this was an ep where Horikoshi-sensei’s perspective on choices was starkly on display. It would be nice if the world of heroes was such that there was always a clear-cut right and wrong choice for every decision that had to be made. But it’s not like that for the rest of us, so it’s hardly surprising that it wouldn’t be for heroes, either. Because every decision has consequences, sometimes every possible decision can seem like the wrong one. I suppose that how one responds in such moments goes a long way in determining just how “heroic” they are.
So is there a right or wrong answer when it comes to what Todoroki and Kirishima are planning, and which Iida-kun unabashedly opposes? Let me start first that I’m not a consequentialist – I don’t believe that a bad choice that ends up working out suddenly becomes a good one, or vice-versa. So this is not a spoiler, merely my personal opinion: Iida is right, Todorokirishima are wrong. This is indeed a job for professional heroes, not students. And the list of reasons why is a long one, many of which Iida expounds on himself in a somewhat petulant tirade (that includes a right cross to the jaw of Mr. Midoriya).
Truthfully, I get it – the boys know roughly where Bakugo is, and they feel responsible for losing him. The thing is, Iida knows about this better than anyone – because he almost caused a terrible disaster by rashly acting on personal feelings, and forced Todoroki and Deku to rescue (and scold) him. The consequences for failure here are daunting – possible death for themselves of the kid they’re trying to rescue. Tipping off the kidnappers and having them bug out before the real heroes can arrive to rescue Kacchan. And (as Iida points out) a potential death blow to Yuuei’s reputation if they act on their own and disaster follows. I’m convinced – Kirishima and Todoroki are not.
The kicker here is that Kirishima more or less insists that Izuku come along. This is in spite of his terrible injuries, which his doctor tells him have put him two or three more incidents away from losing the use of his arms, and the pleas of his mother to leave U.A.. It’s also in spite of Deku’s own words to Iida when their roles were reversed in the Stain incident, so the hypocrisy hangs pretty thick in the air here. But a big part of the problem is that All Might is part of the problem – Deku was already cut from the same psychological cloth, and All Might has fed into that with stories of his own rash acts in the past. All Might clearly thinks everything he’s given up has been worth it, so why should young, adoring and impressionable Izuku feel any different?
The notion that this is going to be some sort of “covert” non-combat rescue mission is a transparent attempt to justify it. And Momo and Iida telling themselves that they’re going to come along to make sure there’s no combat are a transparent attempt to make them feel better about not stopping what they know is a foolhardy endeavor. But this is all part of the problem – by most measures, what Deku did to his body in order to save Kota was foolhardy. But he’d do it again without hesitation, knowing the outcome or not – as would All Might. This whole system is messed up, and Deku and All Might are both innocents caught up in it because truthfully, it couldn’t function without people like them.
So the kids go on their rescue mission to Yokohama, with a stop at Donqi along the way to pick up some hilariously inept disguises (a rare moment of levity in a very heavy episode), even as the heads of Yuuei are humiliated at a televised news conference. As for Bakugo, it’s now clear that this is a flat-out recruitment effort by the League. But the early returns are not positive, to say the least – Bakugo wants no part of the villains’ self-justifying worldview. His answer is to blow the hand right off Ishigaki’s face, and to confirm what may not always have seemed clear – that he considers All Might the measure by which all coolness is to be measured. If Bakugo is anything, he’s unsparing and steadfastly consistent – this boy has no self-doubts when it comes to his ideals, warped though they may be in many ways. In his own way, Kacchan is every bit the innocent Deku is – and the world has a way of treating innocents very harshly.
animealex
May 27, 2018 at 3:08 amUhm, I’d like to disagree with you on a point or two because I perceive it, as you’re being too harsh on some of this characters in the context of this story.
First, there’s a big difference between what Iida did in season two and what Kirishima, Todoroki and Midoriya are trying to do now. Iida went for revenge and the other three are trying to save someone. So I don’t think the hypocrisy is as much a problem as you may think.
Second (so far at least) people meddling when they don’t have to, has always been shown to be the right thing in this story, provided it was done for good/heroic reasons. See Midoriya vs. Todoroki in the sports festival for just one example. A logical out-of-universe look shows us, yes what the “Rescue Squad” is trying to do, is foolish, dangerous and possibly even redundant. But to me it seems, this series promotes a more idealistic point of view. Something like: You should always act, if it’s done out of good intentions. Now what those “good intentions” exactly are and that Stain reminded us, that the road to Hell is indeed paved with good intentions is another lengthy discussion.
Disclaimer: I read the manga and hope this is spoiler free.
Guardian Enzo
May 27, 2018 at 3:10 amFair enough – agree to disagree. I think there’s a lot of moral relativism in your argument, first of all. Second, I would disagree that meddling is always shown as the right thing to do in BnHA – II feel as if Horikoshi goes out of his way to tell both sides of that story.
leongsh
May 27, 2018 at 4:11 amThe safe and mature decision is to hang back and let the pros handle it. Asui summarised it best that they would be no better than the villains if they go breaking the rules just to assuage themselves. Kudos to Asui for being the most level headed in their class.
Teenagers being teenagers, there will always be a few that are impetuous. Guilt is a major driver here. Guilt that they could not do much to protect Bakugo. They couldn’t handle the advance team of the League. How the hell do they think they can handle the senior team? No matter what happens, I hope they get discovered by the teachers and they get the book thrown at them. Particularly, Midoriya, Todoroki and even Iida – this is the 2nd count for them. Suspension or even expulsion and banned from being a hero. Compulsion to do heroic deeds? Banning for life for a hero license should knock sense into them. Unlikely to happen since Midoriya became an adult hero >_>
These kids need to learn some harsh lessons or else it does get into their heads.
Re: Bakugo – Hah! Knew it. He’s too driven to become a hero to be so easily turned. However, he has put himself into a more precarious position by his strong vows and actions. Let’s see where it goes in the next episode.
The wild guesser
May 27, 2018 at 4:32 amIt is episodes like these that separate Boku No Hero Academia from standard good shounen, and place it in the realm of great ones.
The fact that both Kirishima, Todoroki, and Izuku’s camp and Tenya and Momo’s camp think THEY’RE right, and that each character acts in a way consistent to themselves, is proof of pretty great storytelling. And the fact that neither faction is honestly swayed by the other, kinda shows that the definition of “the right decision” is left up to the viewer rather than forced-fed to the viewer (looking at you, Naruto).
This is a heroic society with rules and regulations, not the Wild West of heroics that a lot of western media depicts a hero society to be (such as pre-Civil War MCU). These children, in the hopes of becoming heroes, have been fes an ideology of pro activity rather than reactivity. They’ve been told to use their quirks to help those in need and fight villains. But now, when the chips are down and simulations and tests are replaced with the reality of death, they’re told to stand down and are made to feel powerless by the very people who have thus far empowered them. While their choices may not be rational, or right (a bad choice with good consequences ISN’T a good choice, it’s a LUCKY bad choice), it is pretty understandable where these kids are coming from.
Guardian Enzo
May 27, 2018 at 4:35 amYes, I agree it’s understandable (I feel like I made that clear in the post, but if I didn’t I meant to). That still doesn’t make it right, though. Horikoshi shies away from black-and-white choices and makes sure we see the consequences of each, but we can still pick a side as an audience member – and for me, Iida is in the right here. I often find myself in disagreement with him because he’s too cautious and by the book, but in this instance I think he’s got it right.
Kurik
June 1, 2018 at 6:59 amFinally got a chance to watch this episode yesterday and yes I was burning to to watch as its been over a week! Man did it deliver….No lie, I was part shouting at the kids to listen to Asui and Iida but they gonna do what they gonna do regardless though I really like that the writer didn’t shy away from highlighting that what they are doing is VERY wrong. I am quite surprised Deku wasn’t more level headed like Asui – he and To got away the last time with the teachers and if they get away this time without any consequence I am gonna be really pissed off. Looking forward to the next ep. Only good thing is I have to only wait 2 days :-P. Nice post Enzo!