Boku no Hero Academia – 62
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「出会いの季節」 (Deai no Kisetsu)
“A Season for Encounters”
Everything’s changing, villains and heroes alike.
I really appreciate the first half of the episode, which doesn’t just say “The villains are organizing,” but let’s us see it as well. It’s classic show don’t tell—but here’s a funny thing. Notice how we were told this was happening before we were shown it? “Show, don’t tell” assumes the storyteller and his/her audience have a common lexicon, which isn’t true in many cases. It’s not true of author/audience pairings when they come from different cultures (especially historically ignored/dismissed cultures), but it also doesn’t work as well in SFF, because the rules of the world have to be explained. They have to be told. That’s true of both the base rules, and of any effect of changes, because we can’t be assumed to follow along with what happens when a pillar of hero society is lost, because we don’t have those. All of which is to say: Hirokoshi-sensei told us first, which is excellent, because now he can show us without us getting lost.
It was also cool getting to see the human face of the villain Twice, who has come across as a rather silly Deadpool expy prior to this, but is anything but. Well, he’s still that too, but showing why he joined the League of Villains is great, because it shows they aren’t all doing it for the same reasons. Some want to murder, some exalt Stain, others are merely searching for a place to belong—it mirrors hero society itself, where some people are heroes even though they’ve risen to the level of their incompetence. (Endeavor would be a fine rank 15 hero, but rank 2 or rank 1? Not so much.) It takes all sorts, it turns out, and even when the characters look anything but, they’re all still humans in the end. No surprise there.
In contrast, it was easy to show-don’t-tell with Izuku’s frustration, and I really feel for him. I don’t do well in situations like that myself, not knowing about a program with direct effects on my future would infuriate me, and falling behind on something I want to do more than anything else? Ugh! Totally feel for him.
My most exciting thing, though: more classes are going to be held jointly with Class A and Class B! Woot! I really want to learn more about all the Class B characters we haven’t seen as much, so I’m total hype.
Finally, there’s the Big Three. Togata Mirio (Shingaki Tarusuke) is already really funny, so I have high hopes. Even better: I really like how the season is ending not at the end of an arc (last episode), but in the lead in to the next one. If this weren’t a series we all but know is going to get another season (I’d be very surprised if it doesn’t, though it’s not impossible), I’d be annoyed, but since it is, it leaves off on a point that has us wanting more. One more episode until the season ends! I can’t wait to watch.
My SECOND novel, Freelance Heroics, is available now! (Now in print!) (Also available: Firesign #1 Wage Slave Rebellion.) Sign up for my email list for updates. At stephenwgee.com, the latest post: An Author’s Review of: Wage Slave Rebellion.
Preview
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September 23, 2018 at 12:59 pmBROOKLYN otaku
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…….”AAAAHHRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!”….
September 23, 2018 at 1:29 pmMeatball
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Endeavor didn’t rise through incompetence, he has an inherently dominate power and aside from that is incredibly intelligent and persistent, hence his rank i.e Bakugou.
The issue is his spirit and methodology, which is why he’s undeserving and unfitting for the top.
Also funnily enough in the manga this chapter came immediately after the license exam and prior to the AFO chat which went over what he predicted was occuring, I think I like this switch around better.
September 23, 2018 at 2:02 pmWanderer
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Stilts didn’t say “through” incompetence, he said “to” the level of his incompetence. He’s quoting what is referred to as The Peter Principle. Basically the concept is employees are promoted based on their success in previous jobs until they reach a level at which they are no longer competent, as skills in one job do not necessarily translate to another.
In Endeavor’s case he rose up through his ability and skill (which are considerable, don’t get me wrong) to a level where those things aren’t the only things he needs. In such a significant position among the heroes he also needs social skills and a public face that people can support and feel encouraged by. He doesn’t have those things, so he has “risen to the level of his incompetence”: been promoted to a point where the skills he possesses are no longer enough to perform his job, and he does not have the new skills he needs.
September 23, 2018 at 11:54 pmStilts
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What Wanderer said.
September 23, 2018 at 1:33 pmAll Might
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When they showed the flashback of Nezumi recommending All Might pick a successor from the student body(which had to be prior to meeting Izuku), he said he wasn’t saying so with a vague idea and mind and then zoomed in on the new blonde boy who looks like Lucas and has that All Might hero aura.
Is it implying that he was worthy of having OFA or would have been chosen under other circumstances?
September 23, 2018 at 1:56 pmWanderer
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This will be discussed eventually.
September 23, 2018 at 5:42 pmFlappy
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Our resident Tin Tin has entered the fray.
With regards to Endevour, the ranking is not based on achievements or strength but on popularity alone. We as viewers who are aware of his abuse and lack of empathy at home does not mean the general population see him as such. Take the Stain incident for example, the confidence and overwhelming powers he’s shown has his own brand of: “I am here!” that gives everyone a peace of mind and elevate Endevour to be worthy of his Rank 2 status. He has lots of fans; some like Inasa Toarashi did come to realise Endvour was a prick. On the other hand, heroes like Eraserhead would be near the bottom in the rankings due to most of his work happen to be covert in nature and that he hates the media. If both hero were to enter a conflict at the same time, the heroic cheers from the public, the morale boost they would provide for the general population would be night and day.
September 23, 2018 at 6:09 pmRedRocket
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Always enjoy this show.
These low-level villains tell me the police and government have become too dependent on hero’s direct action. Most of these villains could be taken down with modern weapons and with item producing hero’s the police could significantly improve their firepower.
They may have reset the police in New York in Marvel but awhile ago recognizing decades of villain activity and availability of higher tech weaponry including stuff from space aliens Marvel’s New York police would have had no trouble taking out the weaker villains shown especially with the battle suits and ray guns they have.
Not a criticism, but as the author is a major hero story fan I assume this one of the weaknesses of the hero society in this world.
September 23, 2018 at 6:59 pmyoloalchemist
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It took 3 whole anime seasons to end a saga. I already read the next arc in the manga, but within the whole scope of finding proper footing for society following All Might’s retirement, I can’t imagine where the story may go eventually. I do know I’m in it for the whole ride no matter what happens. All Might may be done, but Yagi Toshinori isn’t. Same for All For One. I love how the story proplerly and thoroughly explores the ins and outs of each side to flesh them out instead of simply settling for “Hero good. Villain bad.” Makes the story more complex by adding meaning to each character’s input that , in turn, further feeds into the setting. How it all concludes (which is still kinda far off) must be nerve wracking for Horikoshi-sensei LOL
September 23, 2018 at 11:59 pmStilts
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What I also appreciate is that while it’s not just “heroes good, villains bad,” it also very much is that. The characters are not flat, but HeroAca is never arguing about some kind of false equivalence. The villains still do evil, and the heroes still do good … even if they’re not entirely irredeemable/perfect in their pursuit thereof.
And I have a feeling Horikoshi-sensei is loving all this.
September 24, 2018 at 12:14 amyoloalchemist
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Oh man, I write this reply to you right at the moment I’ve beaten Spider-Man on the PS4, just to tell you how very right you are. Especially when you see how both sides are fleshed out in both stories.