Episode 22 begins with a serviceable flashback that summarises almost the entirety of the previous episode: Deku vs Gentle Criminal. It’s not necessary but, since the last episode ended on a cliffhanger, it makes some sense. The rest of the episode’s first act, however, is a deep dive into the mind of La Brava and a reminder of the high stakes for Deku as he attempts to halt the disruptive plans of Gentle Criminal and his sidekick.
Until this point, Gentle Criminal and La Brava have represented the more fun, silly, and campy end of the villain roster. If Hero Killer Stain is the Joker, then Gentle Criminal is Kite Man or the Mad Hatter. Until now, that is. This arc has, from a storytelling perspective, done such a masterful job of taking a c-list villain, poking fun at him, then building him up to be charming and goofy, before revealing his quirk and marking him as a tangible threat. And now, at last, his appearance and his aura match that threat level.
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While we’ve been enjoying the quirky behavior and showy bravado of Gentle Criminal, with his clothes and voice that so match his eccentric and foppish allure, La Brava has remained a mystery. And the longer she has stayed a mystery, the more tantalizing that situation becomes. Here, at last, we get to see an explanation for her throwing in her lot with this strange villain, and even an awkwardly funny reason for her distinct black-lined eyes (it’s not makeup).
Getting to know La Brava is an unexpectedly touching and enjoyable bit of storytelling. My Hero Academia is very, very good at devising backstories and telling them through flashbacks. It may rely on them a little too often, but they always work well. And, in the case of La Brava, this effectiveness is no different.
The villains aside, episode 22’s first half also has fun lining up the dominoes that are all about to fall if Gentle Criminal gets his way and Deku fails to stop him. These dominoes take the form of the other classes, who all get a little stage time as we get to see them bantering and preparing for the School Festival to begin. It’s nice to see the show dedicate a little time to the supporting cast and remind us of what’s at stake here. It’s quite easy to get distracted by the pomp and silliness of Gentle Criminal but he is a real threat to not just the safety of UA’s students but also to all the work, dedication, and enthusiasm they’ve poured into this festival.
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That’s what really impresses as the episode barrels on ahead: the tension rises like a ringing in the background. While it’s fun getting to know La Brava and listen to the bluster of Gentle Criminal, there’s a real tension to this episode as everything is in danger of collapsing at this villain’s hands. The rising tension also has an effect on Gentle Criminal: attempting to shift the audience from laughing at him to taking him seriously to, now, actively hating him for what he is about to do.
That is, until the episode’s second half takes some time to dig into Gentle Criminal’s own backstory and motivations, which won’t be spoiled here. The relationship between audience and villain is quite a whirlwind. Suddenly, this villain has become a sympathetic character, and it only took a few scenes to get us there.
This backstory is inserted deftly into the second brawl between Deku and Gentle Criminal, which itself is a fantastic fight. Carefully used sakuga ramps up the energy and excitement of the fight and the direction provides plenty of flair and drama. The fight itself is a fairly primal scrap, with little strategy involved, betraying the intensity and desperation which both the hero and villain are drawing on as they dart and kick and grunt. It’s honestly one of the best fights we’ve seen this season.
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