AniVet Does MHA

A Anime Veteran FINALLY watches My Hero Academia (will repost link on twitter when I update this)
I am VERY spoiled on this show, mostly because the fanbase seriously won't shut up about it and likes to spoil twists, and the authors like to yodle "Twist Twist Twist!" from the top of the metaphorical mountain. The timestamps here are based on the Hulu release, YMMV with other services.


ToC:
 Season 1 [MHAS1]
	Episode 1 [MHAS1E1]




Opening Thoughts:
This isn't SUPER unspoiled, in fact, this is super spoiled because the fandom won't stop gabbing about it on every website and chatroom they visit, I more or less dismissed this show as return-bait to get those of Japan who like American culture and comics to read and watch a Pro-Japan, Japanese-made Comic-like series, a literal wolf in sheep's clothing (Or a Sheep in Wolve's clothing? depends on your perspective) because Japan's Industry heads are usually just politicians acting like they know what's best for their field (heads up, they usually don't), But I recently found out it's actually hilariously UNPOPULAR in Japan and the characters essentially live and breathe the Americana, just set in japan with all the typical action hero tropes, which completely obliterates my initial impressions, so I decided to give it a shot.


Episode 1: [MHAS1] [MHAS1E1]
0:45 >	This bit was already spoiled for me ahead of time in it's entirety, just because it's the fandom's favorite scene.

1:42 >	The opening is somewhat familiar, like a hybrid between Bleach and Cowboy Bebop's Famous Tank opening,
		but it doesn't really have the same mind-blowing grade intro, it just sorta... happens? I'm going to be skipping most of
		these...

5:00 >	Morning wood. *Ding*

5:32 >	Oh boy, the fan art this one spawned was unavoidable. I wonder if they were intentionally applying covert innuendos..?

6:28 >	They had something sized for him on-hand? but wasn't the point that he just developed that "Quirk"?

7:31 >	Breaking the 4th wall on the first episode, in the first 10 minutes no less. that's a sin.

8:51 >	What's the point of constantly establishing things if you're going to immediately blow it of..?

10:07>	Oh boy, here comes All Might, the guy who's name has only been name dropped 3 times in the last two minutes.
		Talk about rushing through character establishment.

10:17>	Aaand screen transition, a fancy one too. Did they know ahead of time this show would be a big deal? Its not usually like the
		Industry to put this much funding into graphics for a animated series that hasn't already tested the waters without killing it
		in 12 episodes for manga sales.

11:37>	Please tell me this guy gets his ass handed to him in some comedic and Mock-able way. Please? I hate this guy, so much. Not
		even for being mean to Deku, but just for being a as of yet irredeemable asshole.

13:03>	Exponarration set to a weirdly patriotic theme. nice touch.

14:52>	How short do they think people's attention span is? you've used 4 separate establishing moments now to say "Deku has no quirk
		and is weak." that's a lot of time repeatedly establishing something that has it's reversal spoiled if you've ever glanced at
		any of the official artwork for this show, even the DVD box art spoils it.

16:40>	Well, that's just a little Geiger-ian, and VERY Rape-y.

17:43>	Hero-sposition.

18:35>	I wouldn't be surprised if this comes back to bite him in the ass, but as the fandom has so helpfully established, that doesn't
		happen. But that's what happens with a fanbase as rabid as this show's.

19:21>	In two separate bottles no less. neat.

19:44>	HE ALREADY SIGNED IT. That EGO! XD

20:20>	Superman:"Up, Up, and Away!" Allmight:"I Count on your continued support!" well, that's not going to catch on.

20:25>	WHY DID HE THINK THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA!!!!

11:00>	"Shit" *Bleeds from the mouth*, Edgy.

22:34>	Future Narration, that's a sin.

23:30>	Okay, that's a good outro. nice camera angle, has a "End of the day" vibe, very nice. fitting even.


Final Thoughts: So it's about how anyone without superpowers can be a hero, if they just GET super powers..? Seems counter-intuitive
but... okay.



Episode 2: [MHAS1E2]

2:29 >	The secret is revealed. He was blonde Skeletor all along! Nye he he! (Sorry, I couldn't help it. XD)
9:54 >	Wait, doesn't heat turn liquids into gasses? Even if this sewage thing is mostly matter, it'd just leave him powder with
		all this burning around him, alongside the huge explosions that were happening within him.

13:50>	The bystander effect at play, those people aren't moving an inch.

16:50>	Yeah but was it really Hypocracy? You were taking your own advice into consideration and being a realist. Can anyone blame you?

16:55>	I don't think just partially blocking the wind would let those people stay on their feet...

17:42>	For once, there is a logical reason for rain at a dramatic moment in an otherwise clear day. also, that dude is dead.
		Allmight just straight up turned him into steam. I assume they just let that slide?

18:11>	Aaand he's passed out. again. great...

18:45>	"Yeah the Heroes think I'm cool, but the viewers like him more, grr..."

18:50>	"Excellent Sidekick" yeah, no, so far you might as well be quirkless dudeman. you were the LEAST helpful person there.

19:11>	Now they're watching what just happened on the news. gotta love that fast news cycle.

19:50>	That ego, please someone hit him, again.

20:11>	Tough but Sympathetic, I like this All-Might guy, though it makes the false veneer he shows on TV that much more unlikable.

21:11>	Here comes the establishing speech.

22:34>	And more future narration, yay.

Final Thoughts: I wonder if they'll remember to close with this being a story being told by an adult Deku to someone else..?
				"PLUS ULTRA!" that might catch on.


Episode 3: [MHAS1E3]

00:13>	Opening Exposition of things implicitly stated, again.

01:13>	"Wut?" That reaction. that's perfect. XD

07:51>	He's right, Heroism isn't just about being flashy or saving people, it's about doing the right thing when the moment comes...
		When I think about it, it kinda shines a poor light on a few Anime "Heroes" I've seen recently. =//,//=

08:46>	"Go Getter Fanboy", well gee, he only has 13 volumes of research, and in the latest ones he is still drawing and writing about
		you, and continuously shows how much he worships you like a deity, what'd you think he was writing? A running Obituary?

09:05>	"Aim to Pass: American Dream Plan" sounds like a book Obama or Trump would write... I'd read it. probably.

09:24>	I smell a training montage coming.

10:30>	"Don't engage, don't engage, do not engage, do not engage with him, he doesn't exist..."

12:06>	End training montage... well that was unexpectedly short. Most shows will pad their time by making that the entire episode.

13:08>	Oops, He overdid it.

13:30>	You are talking to yourself there All Might, kid is out cold...

13:58>	Ish? he's not that old even in Skeletor form.

14:06>	Well, that's one way to psyche yourself up...

14:22>	After already doing what you needed to psyche up for. okay.

15:22>	My gods, you could grind meat on those things. How old is Deku again? 14? that's going to cause muscular issues later...

16:19>	Here comes the mildly creepy hair eating bit that was the joke of twitter when it aired... gross.

18:48>	"I talked to a girl!" and..? You didn't actually say anything. ("He didn't say anything" popped up immediately after this
		thought passed my mind, I guess we're all on the same page with that one...)

19:34>	Hey, for once I agree with Bakugo. shut up.

20:02>	Why DO you want to crush him so bad? if he is a no good quirkless bug like you think then why do you care?

21:55>	Can you REALLY call Napoleon a hero? As a Rebel, he wasn't interested in the cause, just spreading his name. He also over-
		stretched his empire to the breaking point and collapsed the whole thing. Putting your people into poverty is not exactly
		heroic...

22:10>	Yeah, I don't think that line is going anywhere anytime soon.

Final Thoughts: I was wrong, they blew the entire episode on his training pretty much, establishing the next story mechanic before closing off the episode was a smart move, makes for a great hook for the next one.


Episode 4: [MHAS1E4]

00:43>	Sometimes your name is what you do, sometimes your name is Best Jeanist.
05:55>	Crotch laser, of course, because that couldn't be just a champion's belt, nope, his dick fires lasers. =w=
09:07>	Oh good, the motivator is trapped. time to motivate Deku Skrub.
10:24>	That looks like it hurts, wait, are his legs supposed to flap like that in the wind?
12:16>	It makes sense, If the detroit smash creates so much heat and air pressure that it'll produce a cushion of air and stop him
		dying.
12:33>	If her powers still work the way they showed earlier, that'll work too.
13:16>	Tough luck...
14:24>	I'm sure you would have, mysterious man who we don't know but has an unusual amount of screen focus.
16:42>	You'd think they would televise these entrance exams just because of the kind of money it would rake in to pay for the building
		of these gigantic cities.. of course, that would also spoil their whole purpose I'll bet.
18:15>	How did he know he wouldn't tear the letter part just going hulk on it? also, Projector Pog, cool.
20:18>	Good on her. Being a honest person like that on it's own nets points in my book.
20:55>	Head pats are best pats... =^=
21:21>	Of course, Why would they grade purely on destruction? They already established Heroism wasn't just about looking good and
		breaking things. He passed just fine. =,=

Final thoughts: I still don't get it, it's just another average Shonen Jump series, just now with a flair for Americana. instead of
				Japanese Folklore, Japanese Folklore but ninjas, or Pirate Folklore. I wonder if they've ever done a One-Piece vs
				Naruto thing? Pirates Vs. Ninjas, a age old debate brought to the TV screen. Would probably be quite profitable...


Episode 5: [MHAS1E5]

00:49>	I wonder how many times they'll poke at that detail..?
*There was a hell of a lot of dead air during this section and repeating what was already said*
05:15>	"April" Just in case you confused Spring for fall. *ding*
06:15>	"What junior high did you go to side character?" again, Bakugo, with no respect for the 4th wall and even less for his peers.
07:21>	"The plain looking one!" That sounded way more mean than I think was intended...
08:15>	I get the feeling you don't understand what a friend is, Mr. Bakugo.
08:51>	"Something", yeah, that's one way to describe a hardcore NEET...
12:00>	Expulsion on the first day? that seems kinda cruel and unusual. but at least it saves everyone some time. oh wait... that's why
		he is doing this so early I'll bet. Its that lazy powerful old man stereotype again, Shonen Jump, as lazy with their writing as
		always...
12:25>	Wait, is the implication that they're still in Japan? but there isn't enough uninhabited space on the Japanese Archipelago to
		set up even 1 fake city of that scale, for these tests. let alone 6 (or was it 7?), a;; perfectly sequestered in a forest.
12:48>	Figures that line isn't going anywhere anytime soon...
14:29>	Oh, I'm sorry, its a Naval Laser, now I'm picturing boats with laser cannons... still kinda creepy in my book.
*Lots of exposition and repeating some half baked strategem later*
15:45>	Great description there All Might, as vague as it gets.
16:09>	"Like an egg in a microwave" I don't think he was looking for describing the cracking of your bones, but the feeling of the
		energy output itself Skrub boy...
17:35>	Infinite, insofar as her focus can last that is.
*More of the same half baked strategy talk repeated again, this time without All Might's reassurance playing back this is getting old*
17:55>	Do or die! Pass or Fail, stop with the repetition already, this isn't comedy, the rule of 3 doesn't apply unless your a pwycho
		that likes watching people struggle mentally.
20:01>	Audio Leveling vs Storytelling. who wins? Audio leveling.
20:33>	Good question, Who IS that guy, what's his deal?

Final Thoughts: Well... that was 5 minutes of setup for a obvious answer. kinda took the wind out of my sails actually...


Episode 6: [MHAS1E6]

*a lot of repetition from the last episode happens*
04:02>	I get the feeling Baka-Go has a bit of a adequacy issue...
05:41>	I call shenanigans, there wasn't any functional way to be sure of that one way or another even from the audience's
		nigh-omnipotent viewpoint. He is lying because he assumed he'd be kicking Deku Scrub out, not so much anymore.
06:20>	All Might nailed it right on the nose...
07:21>	Modern American universal support vs modern Japanese utilitarianism, I get a feeling that's going to be another...
		running theme for the rest of the season.
07:51>	This is important I'm sure. probably worth remembering for later. "Recovery Girl only stimulates existing recovery
		capabilities"
09:50>	Its number 4, but that's easy for me to tell because I speak it natively so...
10:05>	"Lunch Rush" oh boy, again with the terrible hero names, then again. calling him "Dinner Dash" might've caused an uproar. :#
10:30>	"I am, coming through the door like a normal person" Nope, that's not catching on either All Might. but do keep trying.
10:37>	Literally, his art style is different. nice pun there though Mr Writer.
11:07>	Couldn't just hand them the costumes normally, or have someone bring a box full of them in. nope, they're in metal tins, in the
		wall, on a set of automatic sliding mechanism, that only each hold either 4 or 8 costumes. well, All Might is certainly a
		showman.
11:56>	Where is Deku? he's missing from the lineup...
14:26>	Too obvious... Its way too obvious. But also strangely horse like? Maybe ditch the mask... oh wait, box art, he does, nvm.
21:55>	So he was taking notes all that time.
22:05>	She noticed it too. Nice.

Final Thoughts: Yay, finally get to see Baka-go get his butt kicked, even if it's just a bit.


Episode 7 [MHAS1E7]

*More repetition for the opening, just said differently*: I'm noticing that the writer doesn't really have a story structure written ahead of time. it's so far been typical anime Arcs, this time it's the competition Arc from Dragon Ball.