Okay, I Admit: The Joint Training Arc Is Awesome

My Hero Academia Season 5, Episode 7 Review

Okay, I admit it. When the Joint Training Arc first started, I thought that it was a snooze fest. But then we saw got to see what the Hero Course is really capable of, and now I’m hooked on it. Last time we were here, the score was tied with one win for Class 1-A, and another for Class 1-B. And the Joint Training Arc continues to heat up! Or in this case, freeze up.

Class A Team Three Moves Out

Thanks to the fight between the hero classes wrecking half the sight, there’s a quick break before the next match. Deku, Bakugo, and All Might discuss what’s happening to Deku, but then it’s back to the action. This time, the team for Class A has heavy hitter Shoto on it. Given how he can use both ice and fire, one would think that that give them a certain win.

Spoiler alert: it doesn’t. Class B has an ace in the form of the hero Mudman, whose Quirk lets him soften anything he touches! As a result, he’s able to trap Class like they’re in quicksand, making Shoto useless.

Personally, I liked seeing how Mudman was able to take out the likes of Shoto with his Quirk. On paper, Shoto has the clear advantage due to the overwhelming power of his Quirk. However, as heroes like Spider-Man have shown time and again, brute strength isn’t a guarantee for victory. More often, it’s how a hero uses their powers that determines if they win or not. And unless Shoto can narrow the focus of his Quirk, then he’s going to have problems with finesse in the future.

But creativity isn’t all that makes a hero. Another part of it is willpower and willingness to let themselves go through pain. This time, it’s Ida who shows off this trait. Having gone through painful training with his Quirk, Ida’s able to upgrade his Engine Quirk to make his legs stronger and faster. Pretty soon, he’s able to bust free!

The Joint Training Arc Goes Plus Ultra

Will Ida’s newfound power boost lead to a counterattack from Class 1-A? I don’t remember from the manga, but I do think that the Joint Training Arc is becoming more and more interesting with each match. Getting to see how the main heroes have improved is already interesting enough. But to see how the seldom-seen Class B has grown? That’s a treat to enjoy! I never even knew how many interesting Quirks the other Heroes had. For example, there’s one kid in Class B who has the power to turn his limbs into drills. It reminds me a lot of Gurren Lagann.

There are only three matches left in the Joint Training Arc, and the last one is going to be the big game-changer. I can’t wait to see how the anime adapts “that” moment. GO BEYOND, PLUS ULTRA!

I Give “Match 3” a 4.5/5

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