My Hero Academia: Season 3- Episode 5

Hello everyone and welcome to this weeks episode of My Hero Academia! Last episode was absolutely stellar with some of the greatest moments in the anime yet! While Midoriya may have defeated Muscular, there is still A LOT of danger going on around the camp.

Speaking of danger, we actually open the episode at the HQ for the League of Villains. Shigaraki and Kurogiri are there yet again, and Shigiraki is explaining his plan of attack when it comes to the Vanguard action squad. He calls himself a “non-playable character” this time and is using his pawns of elite villains instead of an army of thugs. Quality over quantity. But they are not just pawns, they have a purpose. Whether they win or lose, just the sight of these villains making their presence known will instill fear into the heroes hearts. Also, Shigiraki explains that this society is bound by ridiculous rules, and these rules do not only hold back villains. As he says this, he stares into a Polaroid picture he has of Bakugo. What is the League of Villains obsession with Bakugo?

We now get back to Midoriya after his fight with Muscular. He is an absolute wreck, broken arm and aching muscles. Kota is genuinely worried for Midoriya but he reassured that he will be okay, and that there is still more to be done. Midoriya knows there are more villains out there just as strong as Muscular and that his classmates might not have a chance to beat them with him just barely surviving. His plan is to get to Aizawa and the Pussycats to inform them that the villains have some sort of hit list and are targeting students. To fight the fires around the treeline of the camp, Midoriya hopes to use Kota’s quirk to hopefully save anyone trapped in the flames. Kota understands and the two jump down the face of the mountain and into the forest.

All the way back at the camp grounds, Aizawa is met outside by the villain, Dabi. Dabi starts with a great burst of flames in point-blank range of Aizawa! But even that isn’t able to hit him, as he repels from the building behind him. Dabi tries to fire off another burst but finds out his quirk has been erased! Aizawa pins Dabi to the ground and tries to interrogate some info out of him. Dabi of course does not comply so Aizawa breaks his left arm, telling Dabi that it’d be a shame if they have to carry him to jail. As this happens, the group of Iida, Mineta, Koda, and Ojiro show up to witness the bout.

Dabi slips out of Aizawa’s grasp and proceeds to ooze into a giant black puddle. Aizawa is confused knowing that he erased Dabi’s quirk and that Dabi’s quirk had something to do with fire. He makes a break for it into the woods and tells the students to stay in the camp facility. We then learn there is yet another villain that helped him named Twice. Twice (think anime Deadpool) begins to give Dabi shit for getting his ass handed to by a guy with scarves. Dabi is obviously not in the mood for it and demands another clone of him to be made. Twice’s quirk seems to be that he is able to make clones of whoever he wants, but the limitations of his quirk are still unknown.

Back with Midoriya and Kota, the two meet up with Aizawa on their way to the Pussycats. Midoriya explains frantically to Aizawa the situation and what needs to be taken care of. Aizawa notices this excited behavior and calls Midorya out on it. That he wasn’t supposed to be using his quirk on villains without proper authority, but Aizawa lets it pass and lets Midoriya go on his way to the Pussycats. They are still fighting the villains Spinner and Magne and seems to not have made much progress. Before Spinner was able to connect a big slash on Mandalay, Midoriya comes and breaks the giant sword himself! He also tells Mandalay to make an announcement to Class A and B that Mr. Aizawa gives them full permission to use their quirks on the villains. Aizawa understands that he might get a lot of heat for this, but it’s necessary. So Mandalay uses her telepathy to let the student of U.A. know they have been authorized to use their training against the villains.

Mandalay relays the message and orders Midoriya to go back to the camp ground immediately. Midoriya shrugs off her order and asks her to announce one more thing. That one of the reasons for the villains being here is for Bakugo, and that Bakugo should refrain from combat. The villain Magne notices Midoriya showing up and starts to think about the big rumble in the Earth earlier. The only two people in their group can fight with such fury and that there is no way a man like Muscular could lose to Midoriya. Magne ignores Tiger and goes head on into Midoriya, but is stopped by an incoming knife thrown by the other villain, Spinner! Spinner justifies this by telling Magne that the boy was seen as a true hero by the Hero Killer Stain, and that he shall be spared. In both of there obliviousness, they are both K.O.’d by the Pussycats! Mandalay then relays the second message that Bakugo should stay wary of villains, but it was too late. Bakugo and Todoroki have their hands full already.

Bakugo is already at a full charge going towards to zombie villain in the gimp suit that they found eating human flesh earlier. The villain shoots out giant retractable blades but Todoroki is able to block these blades with an ice shield. Todoroki advises Bakugo to listen to Mandalay and not fight carelessly. But we know, Bakugo is not one to shy away from a fight. The giant blades keep chasing Bakugo and Todoroki keeps protecting Bakugo’s blind side. This villain, named Moonfish, tells the boys that he wants to taste their flesh. Todoroki’s battlefield awareness kicks in and notices that he won’t be able to use his fire side or Bakugo’s blasts from inside the forest or it may cause a wildfire and put their other classmates in more harm. And since there is poison gas all around them, retreating isn’t an option. It’s win or lose.

In the heart of the gas still remains Tetsutetsu and Kendo. Kendo notices that Mandalay did not comment on the poisonous gas, so they must be safe from it! But it is strange that a gas would remain in a controlled area and not seep into the rest of the forest, so the gas must be swirling around a source like a typhoon. So the two run head first into the gas, but they must move quickly. The gas masks they wear have a limit on how much air they can filter. Tetsutetsu also tells Kendo that whoever is behind this attack will regret attacking the U.A. students. Seeing this side of Tetsutetsu with such great bravery and drive, Kendo is actually starting to admire him.

We cut to the person causing this poisonous gas, the villain named Mustard. Mustard notices a shift in his gas and can tell two people are coming his way. Tetsutetsu emerges through the gas to land a big right hook, but is stopped by a bullet that breaks right through his mask! Mustard recognizes Tetsutetsu from the sports festival, he knows that his quirk makes it so he can turn his skin to impenetrable steel. The bullets may not penetrate his skin, but the power behind those bullets really pack a punch. Mustard notices Kendo trying to sneak up behind him so he aims the gun at her. Before the bullet can reach her, Tetsutetsu blocks it! But this shot hurt bad, his skin is starting to crack not only because of metal fatigue, but to lack of oxygen.

Mustard keeps firing at Tetsutetsu relentlessly. His skin is starting to soften and his vision is starting to distort do to the gas. As a last resort, Kendo tries to land a left hook on Mustard but he reminds her that he can detect her every move in the gas. What he cannot detect is Kendo’s quirk though! Kendo enlarges her fist, and knocks the villain on his back! This creates some space for her to enlarge her hands, and fan away the gas! Mustard tries to get a steady shot on Kendo, but realizes her never finished off Tetsutetsu! Since the gas was thinning out, he never noticed his surprise attack! Tetsutetsu lands a huge fist on Mustard, shattering his gas mask. The gas disappears, and the duo of Tetsutetsu and Kendo are victorious!

Back with Midoriya, he is still trying to find Bakugo in the woods, still sustaining heavy injuries. As he makes his way through the wooded area, he is attacked by a huge dark entity! Before he plummets into the ground though, he is caught by Shoji! Shoji makes note of Midoriya’s wicked injuries, but as he states this, he is bleeding from one of his dupliarms! Shoji explains that him and Todoroki were attacked by a villain and the attack triggered Tokoyami’s Dark Shadow to appear. But, this far into the night, Dark Shadow is way too unstable to control, and has completely taken over Todoroki! The only way to get back to camp, is through Dark Shadow. Tokoyami warns the two to stay away from him, that Dark Shadow WILL kill them, as he roars into the night.

These episodes are able to put SO MUCH into just about 20 minutes, it is insanity! Classic MHA: give you answers to the questions you have, but leave you with more questions than you had. But next week we’ll find out, can two heavily injured U.A. students defeat Dark Shadow at it’s greatest strength? See you next time!