My Hero Academia – Episode 56 (Review)

By: AlanVThe first phase of the provisional licensing exam is coming to a close, and it’ll be a photo finish for some of the kids from Class 1-A. The sanctimonious Shishikura continues to berate Bakugo, allowing Kaminari to step up to the plate and shine for a bit. Meanwhile, Aoyama gets his own moment to sparkle as he and his remaining classmates make a mad dash to qualify for the next stage.Shishikura is quite the trash talker and his quirk is something else. He’s able to manipulate his flesh and the flesh of others. It’s honestly a bit disgusting to watch. To see the tables get turn on him after having the upper hand is gratifying. It definitely feels like a pattern for the students from Shiketsu High School to be creepy in one way or another.Kaminari is mostly used for comedic effect, with his memorable moments revolving around his escapades with Mineta. His moments in battle have not been anything to write home about. However, this narrative changes in this episode. He plays a key role in the fight against Shishikura, and a big part of this success comes from his preparation prior to the exam. Kaminari finally feels like he’s getting closer to competence, and it’s thoroughly rewarding to watch this.Bakugo also displays some progression, as he’s able to work together with Kaminari. It’s not surprising seeing him work well with Kirishima, but it’s definitely unexpected to see him cooperate with Kaminari. He also gives a begrudging nod to Deku when they meet one another at the waiting room for the next stage. This is a cool moment.It didn’t end there, though! It immediately moved on to an Aoyama redemption story. This is another character that has been nothing more than a punch line, especially when he has been challenged physically. He’s able to take his frustration regarding his ineptitude and turn it into an advantage for his classmates. It’s inadvertent, but it still such a satisfying moment that will give viewers all of the feels. Friendship and cooperation, it’s awesome.Episode 56 of My Hero Academia wraps up nicely with the end of the first stage. A few characters that typically fly under the radar got chances to re-affirm that they belong in Class 1-A, each with their own enjoyable moments.