My Hero Academia: Season 3- Episode 4

Everyone, welcome back to another exciting installment of My Hero Academia! Last time, we left off with the U.A. students getting together for some harmless fun in the woods near the training facility, but things start to get bad when the League of Villains takes this opportunity to attack! And as this episode starts, we get to right where we left off…

We see Kota sitting in his hiding place deep into the hillside. Remembering Mandalay’s words, telling him that one day he will meet a hero that will change his mindset on quirks in society. But during contemplation, he notices the woods engulfed in flames beneath him, but he does not notice the mysterious character behind him. Down in the woods, two villains have pro hero Pixie-Bob pinned down and the other students in awe. Midoriya realizes Kota might be in danger as well!

5 minutes earlier, we see the group of Sato, Kirashima, Mina, Sero, and Kaminari in the bindings of Aizawa, being dragged into the facility for overnight class they owe for failing last semesters practical exam. They get to the class room and who else but Monoma is there to rub in that a whopping five students from class A failed the practical compared to class B’s one. As they discuss amongst themselves, Mandalay’s quirk kicks in, and is talking to everyone in the camp through one way telepathy. She tells them that two villains have attacked them, and that there is probably more to come. Everyone should group up at the facility and DO NOT engage anyone. Aizawa leaves immediately to protect the other students and leaves the six with Vlad King. Aizawa leaves the building, and looks in disbelief at the forest being engulfed in flames. Out of no where, Dabi aims his hand right near Aizawa, telling him that his concern has let down his guard, before he blasts him with a giant flame! Adding that the pro heroes should stay out of it, they aren’t being targeted by the League of Villains.

Back in the woods, one of the two villains starts to explain his motivation of Hero Killer Stain’s actions, and that he recognizes Iida as one of the students who got Stain locked up. Tiger dismisses his monologue and tells them that Pixie-Bob has saved countless lives as a pro hero and that she is giving her all to train these heroes in training. That they have no right to take her life. Before the fighting commences though, Mandalay orders the students to return to camp, and that Iida is in charge. Midoriya refuses to leave. Kota is still on his mind, and makes it known that he knows where Kota is hiding.

Deep in the forest, we see students from Class B all having their mouths covered by Kendo’s giant hands to protect them from the gas seeping in from everywhere. As they try to get out, they are met by Tetsutetsu and an unconscious Ibara equipped with gas masks. They explain that they just met up with Momo and she created some gas masks and made extra for whoever they might find. The gas masks are handed out and Kendo explains that they need to meet up with the others at the camp, but Tetsutetsu disagrees. He says to take the others to safety and that he will be staying to fight. Kendo is worried and tells Tetsutetsu that Mandalay made it known to everyone that they need to regroup. Tetsutetsu starts to explain the differences between Class 1-A and Class 1-B. They have the same exams and same curriculum, but Class 1-A has crisis experience. He thinks it’s his time to show that he can be a hero.

Back on the hillside, we hear Mandalay trying to get a hold of Kota using her telepathy, but Kota has bigger problems. The mysterious character in mask and robe starts walking towards Kota, saying that he came up here to look for a vantage point, and ends up finding someone “not on their list”. The man starts to reveal himself, and as soon as Kota sees a fraction of his face, he became so familiar. Kota starts to remember watching a news report when he was younger depicting a story on his parents being murdered, and to look out for this villain. Back in reality, the man starts to swing a lethal right hook aimed right at Kota, but the punch is taken but who else than Midoriya, who jumps in and grabs Kota! Midoriya hits the ground hard, and ends up breaking his phone in the process. The man looks at Midoriya and states that he was one of the people on the list. Midoriya didn’t think he’d be facing a villain up by the cliff side, and he has no way to tell anyone that he might need back up or where he was. As the man approaches, Midoriya starts to power up, consoling Kota that everything will be okay.

Back with the Pussycats, the villain Spinner starts to call them fake heroes, and reiterating Stain’s ideals. Mandalay is dodging most of Spinner’s attacks and toying with his mind with her telepathy. But she is caught by surprise by being force held and thrown by the other villain, Magne. As Mandalay is approaching Magne dangerously, Tiger swoops in and fights him in hand to hand combat. Tiger begins to describe Magne’s criminal history and previous charges. While in combat, Mandalay begins to worry where the fourth member of the Pussycat’s, Ragdoll, might be. She has not been responding in the comms. Magne gives an evil smile and we are shown a table with blood spilled across it…

We get back to Midoriya’s struggle to save Kota. The villain states that he is sick of the false heroes, who lie to the masses about being protected by justice. And that they’ve also been given permission to kill him personally. The villain lands a devastating hook on Midoriya that sends him flying into the mountain. He asks Midoriya if he might know where Bakugo would be. Why in the world would he ask that? This catches Midoriya by surprise, almost enough to distract him from the current crisis he is in the middle of. The man named Muscular stands over Midoriya, taunting him on his broken promise he will make to Kota of protecting him. Muscular also explains that his quirk increases his speed and strength, so much so, that his muscle fibers cannot be held beneath his skin. Midoriya lies on the ground, already exhausted and bleeding. Before Muscular can land another blow, he is hit in the head by a small pebble thrown by Kota.

Kota confronts him, and tells Muscular that the Water Hose heroes were his parents. Muscular is almost pleased to hear this, telling Kota that they were the reason why his eye socket is damaged. But he did not kill Kota’s parents because of vengeance, he only killed them because he was on a killing spree and they tried to stop him. Muscular starts to swing right at Kota again but Midoriya takes the opportunity to pounce, but he was ready. One of Muscular’s muscle fibers catches Midoriya’s hand and Muscular asks what might his plan be now? Midoriya states that he is willing to risk his life to fulfill his promise to Kota, and starts to charge up a 100% smash! Muscular can sense the power coming from the hit he is about to endure. A huge part of the cliff side is blown out, leaving Kota to fly over the edge! But he is caught at just the last second by Midoriya’s teeth.

Midoriya’s arm is busted and body is aching. All is calm and he tell Kota that they need to get back to camp. But Muscular begins to get up again after taking that huge smash. Midoriya looks in disbelief that someone was able to endure a hit that has the same amount of power as a punch from All Might himself. Muscular commends Midoriya, that he really is pretty strong. He reaches in his pocket and grabs a red patch and puts it over his damaged socket. For some reason, this multiplied Muscular’sability and made him even faster and stronger! Midoriya grabs Kota and dodges his fury of attacks. He lands and prioritizes getting back to the camp so Aizawa might be able to erase this villains quirk. But do to exhaustion and pure muscle fatigue, Midoriya will have to settle this right here and now.

Midoriya fires at Muscular with another 100% smash, but is met with a huge muscular meat shield. The muscle shield begins to become bigger and heavier, and starts to crush Midoriya into the ground. Midoriya orders Kota to run away quickly, Muscular impressed that he is still trying to save Kota while being in impending doom. All Might’s words echo in Midoriya’s mind, “A real hero ALWAYS finds a way for justice to be served.” The muscle shield gets bigger, heavier, and closer to crushing him completely. Midoriya apologizes to his mother, that he tried his best. His body begins to give in to the massive power being thrown at him. Only moments before Midoriya meets death, Muscular gets doused with a stream of water.

Kota demands Muscular to stop this instant. Kota has manifested his quirk from the sheer commitment Midoriya had to save him. Muscular gives a little slack on his muscle fibers, telling Kota that he will kill him next, but that slack gave Midoriya another window of opportunity. The flashing stars of One for All’s predecessors start to flash, and Midoriya’s strength becomes unimaginable. He lands a mighty one million percent smash on Muscular, tearing apart his muscle fibers, and sends him into the cliff side, down and out! Kota lays in disbelief, with Mandalay’s words echoing in his head. “You’ll meet someone, and then you will understand why we do this. Someone who will risk their life. Someone who will be a hero.” Midoriya stands, beat to all hell; blood, bruises and broken bones, and lets out a mighty roar of victory.

This episode, this fight, going into the history books. The will of Midoriya, the natural tension it gave the audience is remarkable. I can say undoubtably that I didn’t expect this kind of emotion and stakes to be coming out by only the fourth episode. We are in for a miraculous ride folks, I’ll see you next week and see what might be going on with the others in this villainous attack. See you then!