Deku to the rescue!
Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.
The students of U.A. have grown so much since we first met them in Season 1. Both Deku and Todoroki have gained a better understanding of themselves and who they want to be as heroes, and "Hero Killer: Stain vs U.A. Students" provides an empowering display of just how far these two have come.
Iida's thirst for vengeance has clouded his vision, much like how Todoroki's desire to deny any semblance of his father previously kept him in bondage. Thanks to Deku's selfless plea in "Shoto Todoroki: Origin," Todoroki has since accepted himself and awakened his full potential, and seeing him do something similar for Iida was such an emotionally satisfying moment of character development.
Not only do we see Todoroki wielding his fire ability with confidence, we see that even Iida, the conscientious class president who's always been a stickler for the rules, is just as flawed as the rest of his peers. Overcome with a desire to avenge his brother, Iida has strayed from his dream of becoming a hero worthy of the name Ingenium. This is beautifully conveyed in the dialogue between Todoroki and Iida when, upon hearing that Iida took up his brother's hero name, Todoroki says, "You inherited it? That's strange. The Ingenium I saw before didn't have that look on his face, though."
While I'm glad that we got a glimpse what transpired when Todoroki visited his mom at the hospital, I wish a bit more time could have been spent fleshing out his personal growth since the U.A. Sports Festival. Considering this is ultimately Deku's story, though, I was satisfied with the way it was delivered.
Deku is such a good-natured and likable character, and that was only amplified in "Hero Killer: Stain vs U.A. Students." Even Stain, who's made it his mission to take down heroes he doesn't believe are worthy of the title, admires Deku's selfless heart. Deku is humble. He doesn't want the glory, he just wants to save people. This is evidenced by his willingness to look to others for help, while Iida, fueled by vengeance and pride, wants to be the one to take down Stain.
It was so rewarding to see Deku finally able to wield One For All without inflicting damage on himself, especially when he was able to unleash All Might's iconic Detroit Smash at five percent strength. The animation and sound design in the episode worked in harmony to deliver action that had a real sense of weight and impact. When Iida finds himself hopelessly paralyzed by Stain's Quirk, the episode goes silent as the camera cuts to an alley where Deku is seen jumping from wall to wall, propelling himself toward Stain. The sound then kicks back in with a swelling charge as Deku smashes Stain in the face, making Deku's arrival feel all the more triumphant.
Hero Killer: Stain has proven to be an incredibly fascinating villain thus far. While the episode is a bit heavy handed in explaining the nature of his Quirk, Bloodcurdle is quite inventive, especially given its varying degrees of effectiveness relative to blood type. While twisted, there is rationale behind his villainous actions, which is what ultimately makes him such a compelling character. Conversely, Shigaraki has yet to captivate me to the same degree. As such, I'm glad the focus was on Stain this episode, rather than Shigaraki's juvenile behavior and the Nomus he unleashed on the city. I hope that when the focus inevitably does swing back in his direction, we learn a bit more about the mysterious big bad Shigaraki answers to and the motivations that fuel this antagonistic threat.
The Verdict
Deku and his friends have grown a lot since they enrolled at U.A. High, and "Hero Killer: Stain vs U.A. Students" doesn't an excellent job at showcasing just how far they've come. Todoroki has accepted himself thanks to Deku's help, and seeing him now do the same for Iida is such a rewarding moment of character development for Todoroki. Likewise, it was great to see Deku finally in control of One For All as he battled against Stain in a beautifully animated display that was only heightened by the incredible sound design. Stain continues to grow increasingly more interesting as a villainous threat, and I only hope Shigaraki and his mysterious leader are able to engross me to the same degree in the episodes to come.
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