Never give up.
Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.
My Hero Academia's "Origin" episodes have proven to be some of its best. "Izuku Midoriya: Origin" was the title of the solid series premiere, and "Shoto Todoroki: Origin" stands head and shoulders above the rest as MHA's greatest episode yet. As such, I went into "Katsuki Bakugo: Origin" with insurmountably high expectations. While it doesn't quite reach the emotional heights of Season 2's aforementioned Todoroki-focused episode, "Katsuki Bakugo: Origin" comes impressively close, delivering a beautifully animated and thrilling conclusion to the practical exams that propels Deku and Bakugo's rivalry in an exciting new direction.
While the past few episodes have had their brief moments of impressive animation, it's clear much of Bones' production budget was reserved for this episode. Bakugo's explosive blasts are a dazzling sight to behold, and the way in which Deku and Bakugo's bodies contort after suffering powerful blows from All Might go a long way in conveying the incredible power of the world's number one hero. Likewise, the detailed line work in "Katsuki Bakugo: Origin," especially on the characters' faces, further illustrates the emotional and physical distress Deku and Bakugo are under.
The dysfunctional relationship between Bakugo and Deku is clearly core conflict of this episode, and one that has persisted in the background ever since it was presented in the first episode. The way in which that disconnect is portrayed really hammers home just how much of a roadblock Bakugo's pride is to their success. The moment when the two clash mid-air as Deku opts to flee while Bakugo charges in, perfectly illustrates just how at odds these two are. Yet, in the midst of Bakugo's rejection and insults, Deku still expresses concern for his classmate and, much like he did with Todoroki, puts himself in harm's way in an effort to help Bakugo fully realize his desire to be a hero and his resolve to never give up.
Instead of unrealistically resolving the situation with the two becoming best pals, I like the way in which Bakugo reluctantly joins forces with Deku after multiple failed attempts at taking down All Might on his own. Sometimes being a good leader means knowing when to follow, and we see Deku do just that by working as a sort of sidekick to Bakugo, donning one of his gauntlets in an attempt to surprise and slow down All Might. I appreciate how this strategic maneuver serves as a reminder that, despite being an uncontrollable hothead, Bakugo is quite smart and incredibly strong. Even Deku, who's begun to master the insane power of One For All, has trouble wielding the explosive power of just one of Bakugo's gauntlets.
The moment when Deku plunges his fist into All Might's face to rescue Bakugo and carry his unconscious body to the exit was perhaps the most powerful moment of the entire episode. At the start of the exam, Deku is hesitant to attack his mentor, wishing to flee rather than face All Might head-on. When that thinking shifts and Deku's admiration for All Might is eclipsed by his desire to rescue Bakugo, we see a huge moment of character development for Deku, as he takes one another step forward in breaking free from the shackles that bind him to All Might to further establish his own identity as a hero.
I also appreciate how this moment reminds me of the time Deku threw himself in harm's way to rescue Bakugo from the slime monster in Season 1. It's this courage and selflessness that defines Deku's identity as a hero, and we see him come to embrace that about himself when he apologizes to Bakugo as he carries his body to the escape gate, saying, "This is who I am."
Despite Bakugo's hateful words and persistent bullying, Deku has always admired Bakugo's resolve, and the flashbacks in the episode serve as an excellent reminder of that. The brief (and adorable) flashback scenes also remind us that Deku isn't the only one who grew up idolizing All Might. Bakugo also admired All Might as a youngster, but somewhere along the way, pride and envy took hold, turning him into the angry and power-hungry person he is today.
While I was initially hoping we'd get a bit more insight into what led to that transformation in this episode, I'm actually quite satisfied with the way the groundwork has been laid for Bakugo and Deku's relationship to evolve in light of the way the exam concluded. I can't imagine Bakugo will be all that pleased when he wakes to find he passed the exam because Deku carried his unconscious body to safety.
The final moments of the episode also have me eager to see what the future holds for the students of U.A. High. Thanks to a haunting tease that offers another peek at the truly terrifying villains we've only seen passing glimpses of before, my interest in The League of Villains has grown considerably.
Yet, amidst all of the tension and drama, "Katsuki Bakugo: Origin" manages to sneak in a few moments of comedy to keep things from ever feeling too dark. The moment when Deku is racing toward the escape gate and comments on the overly cute doorway is hilarious, and Deku's befuddled response when Bakugo screams "Die...!" as he hurls him to the exit offers welcomed moment of levity in the midst of such a tense situation.
The Verdict
The climactic conclusion to the U.A. High practical exams stands as one of Season 2's best episodes, thanks to some beautiful animation, as well as rich character development for not only Bakugo, but Deku as well. While it's clear Bakugo still has a lot of growing to do, his decision to work with Deku (albeit reluctantly) is a huge step forward for the character. Likewise, Deku's courage to attack All Might and rescue Bakugo is a crucial moment in bringing him one step closer to establishing his own identity apart from his mentor. With the League of Villains growing into what looks to be an even greater threat than before, "Katsuki Bakugo: Origin" has me all the more excited to see what surprises My Hero Academia brings next.
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