Anime Best in Show

My Hero Academia Season 5 Episode 106 Review – Best In Show

Quick SummaryBest MomentSetupDeliveryOther Posts

My Hero Academia Season 5 Episode 106 Review – Quick Summary

In My Hero Academia Season 5 episode 106, “The Unforgiven,” a villain that Enji Todoroki/Endeavor had jailed years ago, Ending, got out of prison. Before enjoying his first meal as a newly free man, Ending studied all about Endeavor’s personal life — including where he lived with his family. As Natsuo Todoroki headed out after a disastrous dinner with his father, Ending attacked, then literally dangled Natsuo in front of Endeavor’s car. Can Endeavor put his complicated feelings aside to act as the number one hero instead of a terrified father? Is there anything that Izuku Midoriya/Deku, Katsuki Bakugou/Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight, and Shouto Todoroki/Shouto can do to help? And just what is Ending after, anyway?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.

Favorite Quote from My Hero Academia Season 5 Episode 106

My Hero Academia Season 5 Episode 106: Bakugou wanted the recipe for Sichuan mapo tofu.

To be fair, Bakugou shouted and didn’t scream his request. So I guess that was Bakugou’s polite outside voice! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

I have to say, even though Endeavor’s Quirk might be Hellflame, it was Bakugou who was really on fire this episode! In terms of quotes, anyway. The angry young man made it really hard for me to choose my favorite! But I think I finally settled on one.

If you remember the previous episode, you might remember Bakugou’s reaction to overhearing the details about the Todoroki family’s inner conflicts. He was quite angry about it! He even said it partially ruined the taste of the Sichuan mapo tofu, which he had apparently liked very much up until that point.

Bakugou confirmed how much he had liked it in this episode. As the guests said goodbye to Fuyumi, Bakugou paused and shouted (06:25), “Teach me the Sichuan mapo tofu recipe!”

Looking at the recipe in the link above, I think I see why he liked it so much! And of course he had to shout. Otherwise, how would Fuyumi have known he was sincere?

Best in Show Moment for My Hero Academia Season 5 Episode 106

My Hero Academia Season 5 Episode 106: Endeavor saw only one way for his family to be together and happy.

Endeavor knew of only one way to give his family moments of peace and happiness like this. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Setup: Of Demeanor and Dreams

Looks like the next episode will be delayed to August 14, 2021. Bummer — things were really starting to pick up!

This season snuck something past me. It snuck it past me in plain sight. That “something” was Endeavor’s demeanor. I think part of the reason for flashing back to Ending’s capture was not only to acquaint us with Ending’s story. It was also to remind us of just how haughty Endeavor had been. And based on this screen capture, he was seriously arrogant!

My Hero Academia Season 5 Episode 106: The Endeavor of old project severe arrogance

It wasn’t long ago that this was Endeavor’s default expression. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

But over the course of this season, the artists softened his expression. He’s no less confident. In fact, he might be more confident in himself and his place in the hero world. He’s well known as the number 1 hero, and as he’s been teaching Midoriya, Bakugou, and Shouto, we’ve seen Endeavor’s focus on performance and skills and not on standing. That’s a huge difference from the Endeavor of years past.

Starting (I think) in episode 105, Endeavor began having a dream. In that dream, his family had been re-united. Fuyumi, Shouto, Natsuo, and even Rei ate together and laughed and enjoyed each other’s company. In his own dream, Endeavor wasn’t there.

Delivery: Atonement Like a Hero

I have to hand it to MHA. When I saw they intended to give us what looked like an Endeavor redemption arc, I felt worried. Endeavor had treated his family terribly. Criminally, I think. If he had been a villain caught treating his family like that, he’d be in jail. Absolutely the last thing I wanted to see was him to get all humble, say sorry, and enjoy a fade out with everyone hugging and crying.

There’s way too too much psychological, emotional, and physical damage for that.

That’s not how it played out, though. After the scene where everyone rescued Natsuo (I chuckled at Bakugou asking Midoriya, “Damn Deku! What about the mob?!” at 14:24), Endeavor told Natsuo “I don’t want your forgiveness, I want to atone.” I thought, okay, that’s commendable. But what did he mean?

My Hero Academia Season 5 Episode 106: The newer Endeavor projected confidence and resolve

This is Endeavor’s at rest expression now. It reflects a more mature, less combative attitude. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Simply this. Endeavor took Natsuo home to a worried Fuyumi. That’s when he told her that he knew what to do to begin his atonement. He would build a new house for Fuyumi, Natsuo, Shouto, and Rei to live in. There, they could be a family again. They could have dinner, laugh together, and be at peace. His atonement would begin with his absence. That’s something the Endeavor of years ago would never have tolerated. It’s also something the Endeavor of today understood needed to be done, if he was serious about putting his family back together. 

That’s the kind of decision I expect from the number 1 hero.

What’d you think of the fight against Ending? What were your favorite moments from this episode? Feel free to let me know in the comments!

My Hero Academia Season 5 Episode 106: Other Posts

Other Anime Sites

This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)

tcrow
Copyright 2022 Terrance A. Crow. All rights reserved.
https://www.crowsworldofanime.com

Please let me know what you think!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.