Viewer Log: My Hero Academia ep 101

Interviews and Christmas, who'd have tried these two together? 

Last time on My Hero Academia, Shinzo got the news he’s been hoping to hear for 70 odd episodes. He’s going to join the Hero Program starting in year 2. Good for him. Izuku, meanwhile, tried to get handle on this evolved form of his power called Blackwhip with All Might and Bakugo without success. Later, Aizawa had that dick Monoma attempt to copy Eri’s power as part of a somewhat convoluted plan. He’d hoped that Monoma could train with the power to help Eri learn control should he power reaccumulate and go out of control again. It unfortunately didn’t work, as Eri’s power is a “blank” to Monoma. That’s his term for any quirk that stockpiles energy over time for use, like One For All. He can copy the power, but at it’s most base level, no energy to work with. Much later, a group of villains ride a tidal wave through the downtown area, but are stopped in their antics by Shoto Todoroki and Katsuki Bakugo, whom just thirty minutes before had finished their provisional license make up class and gotten their Provisional Hero Licenses (PHL). They stop the villain I dubbed the Bubbler and his crew, and got a pat on the back from a pro hero. And later some cake made by Sato at the 1A surprise party for their conquering teammates. High fives all around. Enough recap. Let’s get to it.

 

We open nine days ago. Future narrator Izuku eerily states that and event happened here in Deika city, a tragedy that was, unbeknownst to them at the time, a precursor of what is to come. We’re shown buildings shattering and streets falling as apparently Tomura Shigaraki (League of Villains leader, disintegrates things if he touches them with all five fingers of either hand) laughs manically. He looks real beat up, covered in blood and his hair now a glowing white instead of just dead white. Huh, that can’t possibly be good.

 

Polar opposite personalities on polar opposite
sides of the couch.

We jump back to Bakugo and Todoroki capturing the Bubbler, which is part of a reporter doing a story on the two of them. Bakugo tries to vehemently deny that they’re friends, but Todoroki is very rational about it. They spend a  lot of time together at the supplementary lessons, they train together, Bakugo yells at him a lot which is a sign of affection in him, so they’re friends. Okay, that last one is implied. Everyone watches in slight horror.

 

Later in class, Sero and Kaminari laugh hysterically at the interview. Why? Because Bakugo was completely edited out, it looks like she’s just talking to Todoroki. “He’s just an angry blip in the corner!” As Kaminari put it. Izuku is watching another news report, this one about whatever the hell Shigaraki did at Deika city nine days ago. The interview states that a riot committed by only 20 people severely damaged the city in under an hour. Iida overhears and mentions that he heard that the damage was much worse than Kamino Ward, but because the area was less populated, there were fewer casualties and thus less press. People on the street seem to think that they can’t blame the heroes for what happened, but that the system needs fine tuning. Uraraka mentions that the “Look Boy” video, of that kid that sounded suspiciously like Natsu Dragneel from Fairy Tail (Same actor), that people have started supporting Endeavor more and heroes in general. The kids are interrupted by the arrival of their guest speakers for the day, Midnight (mind control Pheromones) and Mt. Lady (size shifter), telling them they need to look at the bigger picture. People are scared, the worlds on fire, so they should be cautious about the support. Are the people cheering for pros they’ve got ample faith in, or are they praying don’t get their butts kicked. Mt. Lady says that hero work has largely been a celebrity deal for the past decade or so, so now people want to see them as real heroes again. There’s some gratuitous shots of ass and boobs, but this is a shonen manga so I’m not going to comment anymore because we’ll be here all day. Mt. Lady causes Mineta to panic visibly and thus has my seal of approval. Aizawa, already in his sleeping bag, says Mt. Lady is a guest instructor for the day. The topic? Dealing with publicity.

 

Shoto is definitely not much of an interviewee.

Mt. Lady takes them all outside to a stage and announces they’re going to practice interviews. Mt. Lady pulls Todoroki up first. She gives him a few softball questions and is impressed by his big flashy ice attacks. Mt. Lady insists that he should smile more and that might help people relax around him. Tokoyami asks if its usual in interviews to show off their powers like that, to which Mt. Lady tells them, yes, since when you’re first starting out you need to give the public some idea of what they’re working with. The moves give confidence to people. Mineta comments that the last time he saw her, Mt. Lady was all about how she looked on camera and nothing else. Aizawa explains that heroes in general are trying to do better and be more active since Endeavor got the top spot.

 

We get some rapid fire interview questions, Iida explains why he’s going by Ingenium, Yaoyorozu says that she, Creati, will guarantee people’s safety thanks to her encyclopedic knowledge, Uraraka “when I’m around, your problems and fears are weightless, Tokoyami “Glory is reserved for those who touched darkness,” Kirishima takes about him being an impenetrable wall of protection and things spiral off from there. Bakugo announces he’s not saying stupid stuff like that, way to kill the mood, Katsuki. Mt. Lady thinks Bakugo’s issue is just, generally, with humanity. Todoroki apologizes to Bakugo for his part in getting him cut from the interview, which just pisses him off more. Midnight thinks that maybe Aizawa should teach Bakugo his style of media avoidance. He thinks there’s someone else he should be learning from. Izuku is up next and is so ridged that Kirishima thinks he’s somehow learned to use his Hardening Quirk. When asked if his moves are based off All Might, he starts talking… but it’s fanboy muttering about how he tired to be like All Might without ripping him off. Midnight asks Aizawa about his out-of-control power, and if he made progress. Izuku decides to show them. In just about two weeks, he’s got Blackwhip locked down in a manner similar to his percentages of OFA control. And after a big build up about how he’s gotten it to work, we see his level of Blackwhip control is like a .5 second burst of energy. Needless to say, people aren’t that impressed. Bakugo tells him to not be happy about something so weak.

 

Good to have range options.

Nezu visits All Might, commenting that he looks like he hasn’t gotten much sleep. We’re shown his composite notebook, same style as Izuku likes, where he’s compiling information on previous OFA users. It’s not going that well, unfortunately due to there not being much info from the early years. Nezu reveals that they’re getting ready to restart Work Studies. All Might is a bit terrified by this.

 

Later, the teachers have a meeting on restarting the Work Studies. Mr. Nezu, nestled in Aizawa’s scarf because it’s so warm, explains that the Public Safety Commission is insisting that the heroes use the Work Studies as in the field training for students. It’ pretty clear that this is in reaction to the Deiki city incident, and seems to suggest that the PSC wants to fast track training because they think another incident might be in the works. We’re shown Hawks meeting with the PSC Director, to visually clue us in to that being exactly the case. The heroes aren’t sure about this, but Nezu tells them to focus on getting their students into agencies with a good track record. He also wants to talk to Aizawa about the commissions “other” program, but trails off before we hear the rest.

 

A few days later, Nezu is speaking the Det. Tsukauchi and All Might, informing them that he doesn’t believe a student is a mole for the League of Villains. All Might agrees, saying every student’s hear beats with the heart of justice. Nezu asks if All Might will be returning today. When All Might is confused about this ask, Nezu asks if he forgot what day it is.

 

Japan must be different, because in my 31 years on this Earth, no one COULD miss all the countdowns. Yes, I’m including my first Christmas when I was literally six days old and the one the following year. Baby me was aware.

 

Secret santa is fun when the Giver is super obvious.
Looking at you, Aoyama headshot.

We cut to the kids having a big Christmas party. Everyone, except Bakugo who is a sourpuss, is dressed in green or red Santa outfits, Uraraka is drooling over the decadent food, Sato shares cake and everyone just has a good time. Also, all their Santa hats have a character appropriate “thing” on the end, Uraraka has a planet, Jiro a music note, Mineta one of his own balls. We learn that Tsu and Uraraka are going back to Ryukyu’s agency when the Work Studies start again. Izuku, unfortunately, can’t go back to the Nighteye Agency. Not because Nighteye is dead, his sidekick Centipeder is now running it, but because he and Bubble Girl are SWAMPED trying to keep up with paperwork and can’t spare the time to train him. And he can’t go work with Gran Torino because he’s busy too. But he’s not too bummed, since this round is mandatory and so he’ll get a trainer. Ashido tries to slip a Santa coat on Bakugo, but he’s not having it. When Kirishima asks him if he’s working with Best Jeanist, Kaminari runs up and get his Santa hat on him. It’s revealed that Bakugo knows Best Jeanist is currently missing. He flashes back to Jeanist being… confused as to why Bakugo doesn’t have a hero name. He lists off his destructive hero names, and Best Jeanist tells him he needs to look beyond himself and figure out what being a hero means to him. He also says that when Bakugo gets his PHL in his second year, to come back and tell him what name he decided upon.

 

Mineta insists they stop talking about school stuff and party! Aizawa arrives with Eri, who says “Trick or treat?” Screw Overhaul again for keeping holidays from this girl. She’s adorable, and keeps mixing up holidays/life events, “here, have these eggs I’ve painted” “in sickness, and in health” etc. Izuku notes that her horn has grown a bit. Aizawa says that her attitude is remaining positive, and she took his advice to heart.

 

She. Gets. To. Keep. The. Sword.

We get a bunch of shots of the kids enjoying their dinner, each other’s company, Jiro’s singing, Sato cake, and their gift exchange. Tokoyami put a big sword in their gift exchange thing, which Eri got. … Probably should take that from her. And it looks like Uraraka got Izuku’s contribution, who else would put in an All Might doll? Future Narrator Izuku chimes in to say that, not knowing what was coming next, he sincerely wished they could have another great Christmas the following year. That is so damn sweet!

 

An alliance is brewing.

After the credits, Todoroki approaches Izuku and Bakugo, telling them that if they don’t have other options, why not join him at his dad’s agency? STUDIO BONES, STOP PUTTING THESE IMPORTANT SCENES AFTER THE CREDITS!!!

 

This was a fun episode, but a bit choppy. It’s been a while since we’ve seen this situation, but it’s pretty clear that the events of this episode were two one-chapter stories smooshed together to form a full episode. Which is a shame, because I’d have watched a full twenty-minute interview simulation episode as well as a full twenty-minute Christmas episode without complaining. The interview section was just a good lore info dump, with Mt. Lady telling the kids and we the viewers how early hero interviews are handles. I like that it seems to be as much about showing off powers as it is answering questions. I’d probably actually watch those. And it’s good to know going forward there will be greater emphasis on power use just to basically put the public at ease that the kids have what it takes. Izuku being the most wooden speaker is pretty much what I expected, as it’ is exact polar opposite to All Might’s effortless charisma. I’m sure he’ll get better. And the Christmas party section was just a fun moment for the kids to relax and enjoy each other’s company. Eri’s addition was cute, but again, infuriating because this six-year-old doesn’t understand holidays due to a bastard guardian. I sniggered to myself pretty hard with the repeated attempts to get Bakugo into the holiday spirit. They know it’s an uphill battle, but still worth it just to see him in the hat for a few seconds. And obviously it end with that big tease the Izuku, Bakugo and Todoroki are all going to work together for Endeavor. After being benched for so long, the big three fan favorite boys are moving up in the world together. Or so I think. Next time, we’re going to talk about Moon Knight or Dr. Strange. I’m still deciding which. Have a good night.

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