MHA is one of my favorite shows. But I have to admit that the pacing this season has felt odd. I think what’s disconcerting is Season Four feels like an introductory season…despite having 3 prior (and a movie). We have had several backstory episodes and a couple first day of work/setting introductions – not normal fare four seasons in. Someone could start watching from Season 4 and feel like the story is just starting off – granted, they would be incorrect, but that’s the impression I’ve had so far.
I also am unhappy with the character creep. These shounens always run the risk of introducing too many characters and diluting the audience’s attachment – I think MHA is starting to get into that area. Specifically, the Big 3 – but also the Mafia and Overhaul. I think even the focus on Class 1-A’s side character, Red Riot, is odd – until now, his primary distinction was being able to befriend Bakugo. Froppy and Uraraka are around too, but they haven’t really done anything, and I can’t help but feel they’re just decoration. Bakugo and Todoroki have cameos so far, but most of the class is MIA. It just feels like a somewhat different show – we’re dealing with a pro hero mission instead of a class crisis. Which is okay, it’s just a departure from what got us here.
Episode 70 is really a setup episode, with both sides making their moves, strategies, countermeasures, etc. Quite passable, nice build-up, brief action, but nothing that really stood out to me, good or bad. It’s like toothpaste – really necessary to start your day off, but nothing you’re going to comment on. 71, “Suneater”, is a nice, self-contained episode about the quietest member of the “Big 3.” I liked the 1v3 here, and I really liked how the baddies weren’t paper tigers – they had legitimate abilities and a nice strategy. The conclusion of “You Don’t Eat Your Friends” is especially potent, given that Mirio is referred to as the “Sun” and Tamaki, the “Suneater.” I was wondering about that…
The other interesting trend that’s starting to emerge is the sympathetic villains. We saw this before a little with the League of Villains, but more and more we’re seeing ways where the bad guys have legitimate reasons for being this way. In a world of heroes and superpowers, there needs to be a place for the have-nots. I’m pretty curious how that will play out, but I’m also worried – Season 4’s been disjointed enough so far. With only a few episodes left in this cour, I’m hoping MHA can pull it together, save Eri, and show us something worthwhile in the process.
