A glimpse at exciting things to come.
Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.
After the thrilling finale to Stain's arc last week, My Hero Academia takes a break from all the action in "The Aftermath of Hero Killer: Stain" to set up what looks to be the series' biggest threat yet. While this was a much more low key episode than the few that came before, it never dragged or failed to hold my interest, thanks to the seamless blend of world building, character development and expertly written moments of comedic levity.
The story behind All Might's debilitating injury, which was introduced at the very beginning of the entire show, has been shrouded in mystery. In "The Aftermath of Hero Killer: Stain," All Might's conversation with Gran Torino does an excellent job of pulling back the curtain ever so slightly, teasing what one can assume is My Hero Academia's true big bad, All For One.
True to the episode's title, Stain's actions in Hosu city have motivated the villains scattered about to unite under the League of Villains, potentially making Shigaraki's crew a much more compelling antagonist than it was in Season 1. The brief glimpses we get at a few never-before-seen villains was very effective, as the eerie music heightened its haunting impact.
I also appreciated how "The Aftermath of Hero Killer: Stain" took its time to flesh out the consequences for Deku, Todoroki and Iida's actions in Hosu. They are not yet full-fledged heroes and defied the instruction of their mentors, and because of this Endeavor is publicly given all the credit for taking down Stain. What I wasn't a big fan of, however, is the portrayal of Tsuragamae, the Chief of the Police Force. His dog-like appearance and "Woof" tick made it difficult for me to take the character seriously, and I didn't find it all that funny.
That said, there were some truly great moments of comedy in "The Aftermath of Hero Killer: Stain," one of which adds some welcomed levity to a touching moment between friends. The revelation that Iida's left arm is permanently damaged not only serves as a great illustration of how there's a cost for one's reckless actions, but also sets up a great moment for Todoroki.
After seeing the parallel between Iida's arm and Deku's hand-damaging stunt in his battle at the U.A. Sports Festival, Todoroki realizes he's the common denominator and genuinely fears he's responsible, calling himself "The Hand Crusher," which causes Deku and Iida to erupt with laughter. I loved this moment because it shines a light on how serious Todoroki is and how quick he is to assume fault for something, which is likely a consequence of having Endeavor as a father. It was also a beautiful sequence because it shows just how far all three of these physically and emotionally scarred kids have come and how much more they will likely grow through the friendship they share.
I also enjoyed the quick looks we got at a few of the other students' internships. Deku freaking out after talking to Uraraka on the phone was adorable, and seeing the frustration on Yaoyorozu's face when filming a commercial for Uwabami was priceless. Even more hilarious was the brief shot of Bakugo, who is clearly out of his element working with Best Jeanist.
The Verdict
Despite not having any dramatic action moments, "The Aftermath of Hero Killer: Stain" had me thoroughly engaged from start to finish. The episode does an excellent job at dealing with the consequences of Stain's attack on Hosu, further building out the world of My Hero Academia and slowly peeling back the curtain on what promises to be an even greater villainous threat. The touching conversation between Deku, Iida and Todoroki serves as an endearing reflection on just how far these characters have come. The handful of glimpses we get at some of the other students deliver some great comedy and have me excited to see how the internships of Deku's other classmates have been going in next week's anime-original episode.
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