As our heroes raid the Shie Hassaikai stronghold, the spotlight shines brightly on Suneater
What They Say:
Not every hero is born with confidence. Tamaki Amajiki rose to become one of U.A.’s Big Three, but not without struggle. Lacking any sense of positive self-image, Tamaki thought he was no good for the hero course. That was until Mirio approaches him, with an aura as bright as the sun.
Now, these two face their toughest challenge yet. With LeMillion in hot pursuit of Overhaul and Eri, Suneater will strip away his fears and prove his worth as one of U.A.’s brightest heroes.
The Review
Content (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
There’s no letting off the gas this week, as the explosive Overhaul arc continues to gain speed. Our team of heroes come barreling through the Hassaikai stronghold. Thanks to Nighteye’s Foresight, they waste no time navigating the labyrinth toward Eri’s location. But the Hassai Group is thoroughly prepared, using their home turf to deter the heroes’ advance. The Hassai Group’s Mimic injects a quirk-boosting drug and sinks into the labyrinth walls. Suddenly, the floor and walls start to give way, as the heroes are thrown off by the shape-shifting corridors. I expected this to be a pain-in-the-ass scene to translate from the manga, but BONES captured that dizzying effect with grace. Overhaul is well-aware that he can’t win a numbers game against the heroes, so dividing their numbers within the elaborate fortress is their best chance at escaping with Eri.
We get a quick glimpse into the pessimistic mind of Tamaki, realizing the villains have perfectly cut off their chance at rescuing Eri. Just as he’s about to succumb to his doubts, Mirio firmly places his hand on Tamaki’s shoulder.
“You’re the Suneater!” he shouts.
Mirio recognized that Chisaki is stalling for time, so all he can do is push forward. He uses his permeation quirk to its fullest, rushing straight through the labyrinth walls toward Eri. Before the rest of the heroes can follow him, Mimic drops them into another room of the stronghold, where three Hassai Group members are waiting for them. As the Sun shone brightly, sprinting toward their goal, the Suneater consumed his tenacity and also moved forward. With no time to spare, Tamaki vowed to take on these villains alone. Fat Gum leads the rest of the heroes back on track while Tamaki holds off the villains. While the other heroes are worried, Fat Gum declared that Tamaki is the strongest one here – his weak heart being the only thing holding him back.
Despite the strength of Tamaki’s constricting octopus arms, the combined strength of these outcasts proves to be overwhelming and they quickly back Tamaki into a corner. The Hassai trio share a bond as villainous “trash”, cast aside and reformed under Overhaul’s wing. Once again, as Tamaki begins to lose his confidence, he’s reminded of the shining star that helped bring him so far.
We flashback to Tamaki’s early school days, a nervous transfer student who lacks the confidence to insert himself into any of these long-formed friend groups. But one student did approach him. Someone with a smile so bright was reaching their hand out to Tamaki. Mirio and Tamaki would continue their schooling side-by-side. Now a little older, we see the two heading home from school. Tamaki praises Mirio for his energy and positivity, things he seems to be lacking completely. But Mirio reassures Tamaki that he’s got it all wrong. To Mirio, he wouldn’t have come so far without someone like Tamaki by his side. He recognized the strength and compassion he holds deep beneath his frailty. With his final words, Mirio tells Tamaki to value himself more. If he thinks Mirio is like the sun, then Tamaki, you are the Suneater. And with that, a hero was born.
Using the synergy of the Hassai against them, Suneater quickly turns the tables. Not only did he overcome this intense battle, but he overcame the weakness within himself. As our heroes rush onward to confront the next foe, Tamaki can bask in the sunlight for his triumphant moment.
In Summary:
My Hero Academia grants us another spectacular character-focused episode. Tamaki has one of the most unique quirks in the show, so seeing it in action is a real treat. The first hurdle has been cleared, and it seems Red Riot and Fat Gum are the stars of our next battle. The momentum continues to escalate as we come closer to the confrontation with Overhaul.
Grade: A-
Streamed By: Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu
