My Hero Academia 0319: “Rescue Exercises”
Season 3 of My Hero Academia is in full swing, and we’re following every move. Just be careful: spoilers and speculation below.
The next stage of the provisional license exam is a massive rescue test, which is obviously based on the incident at Camino Ward. The exam grounds have just been blown up, and now professional victims wait among the rubble. Still, these hopeful heroes are teenagers, and internal distress is bound to cloud their judgment.
“Rescue Exercises” starts off with a little drama in the anteroom! A group from Shiketsu, led by Namagasa, approaches Bakugo and apologizes for Shishikura’s attitude. Todoroki gets the feeling that Yoarashi doesn’t like him, so he goes up to Yoarashi to find out why: Yoarashi hates Endeavor’s guts, and Todoroki has his eyes. There’s nothing Todoroki can really do about that, but it is the beginning of a tense new era: Endeavor’s in the top spot now, which means he’s susceptible to more criticism. Todoroki’s obviously very sensitive about Endeavor, so it’ll be interesting to see how he reacts.
Sero lets slip that Deku saw Camie naked, which enrages a few other boys and hurts Uraraka. The pain followers her into the exam and blocks her concentration. She ultimately decides to “put these feelings away.” She’s not denying her crush — rather, she’s realized it’s getting in the way of her goal. Uraraka’s character is often criticized, but realizing she can’t be a hero and in love at the same time gives her more depth. She has her own will, and that’s what’ll keep her from getting cornered into someone who just feels for the protagonist.
As for the exam itself, Class 1-A initially stumbles. They’re being graded by the HUCs (Help Us Committee), who deduct points for any offense — it shows how they still have so much left to learn. But most of the class catches on pretty quickly and works to prioritize teamwork and efficiency. That naturally means another challenge is approaching: enter Gang Orca, who’s acting as a villain launching a terroristic attack while victims still need help. Time for some more quick thinking, kids.
The Verdict:
“Rescue Exercises” displays some great character development, and reminds us that there’s more to being a hero than fighting. But now that Gang Orca’s out to play, there’s gonna be some violence.
Rating: 8.9
“Rescue Exercises” is available to stream in Japanese on Crunchyroll and Hulu. All dubs going forward will stream two weeks after the Japanese release.
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