In our modern culture, where creative entities by and large are satisfied with mediocrity, it's Boku no Hero Academia 2 that ceaselessly strives for more. This show's scorching, all-consuming ambition forged a path for itself that stretches far beyond the insulated bubble of the shonen genre; naturally, a monstrous whirlwind of hype quickly trailed behind. For most seasonals, hype is dangerous. It not only generates an insurmountable amount of expectations for said seasonal to meet but it also influences casual viewers to approach what they watch with a harsher perspective than usual. However, BnHA2 is not the average seasonal. This is a show that ascents to higher and higher mountaintops with confidence galore, that spirals further and further into untrodden territories, that manipulates and modifies its various elements without end. Boku no Hero Academia 2 never ceases; it never rests, relaxes, stalls, or tires. As a result, BnHA2 continuously exceeds expectations at every turn, its grandiose dreams soaring far beyond the standards it had established in the previous season.

On a surface level, the quality gap between Boku no Hero Academia 2 and its prequel is apparent; the visuals are more illuminating, the music more versatile and emotionally moving than before. There are cinematic tricks (for example, the camera circling around Bakugo as the audience's boos erupt) and glimpses of shading brilliance that were not present in the first go-around. A deeper examination of differences leads to a more expansive storyline and a stronger supporting cast. BnHA accomplished quite a bit, from its embrace of the American comic book style to its insertion of a youthful exuberance into the shonen genre and especially its impact on the medium at large. However, BnHA2 amplified the virtues of the first while attaching a couple of inventive features to the series' framework, albeit not without pitfalls and shortcomings along the way. Yes, BnHA2 is bigger and flashier than ever but it's the societal impact of Quirks (for the uninitiated, this is known as "superpowers"), the intricate moral conflicts, and the hidden depths of its supporting cast that really sets it apart from the rest.

Among the additions and alterations that have transitioned from the first season to the second, none is greater than the increase in character involvement. It is no secret that BnHA largely excluded its supporting cast from the proceedings of the plot in favor of Bakugo, Midoriya, and especially All Might (voiced by the booming Christopher Sabat). There is not a single soul in season one that received as much attention, importance, and (arguably) screen time as All Might. While I do understand why BnHA's brain trust decided to operate in this fashion (back then, it was a brand-new show with a small following so a charismatic force of personality like All Might was a godsend for Studio Bones and, much like Gurren Lagann's earliest episodes did with Kamina, BnHA relied heavily on All Might's neverending confidence to keep the show afloat), I simply cannot condone the disrespect shown to the rest of the cast. Sure, characters like Todoroki, Iida, and Asui were fairly interesting but their contributions in season one were absolutely pathetic. BnHA2, however, grants screen time, importance, and depth to a supporting cast (especially Todoroki) that is in desperate need of them. It is quite difficult to observe the changes made to the supporting cast and not relate them to All Might's involvement. As Todoroki, Iida, and Asui claim grand moments in the spotlight and increase their interactions with other cast members, All Might recedes further and further into the background. Where Japanese Superman used to demolish every obstacle and devour plate after plate of ham, now he is relegated to refining his mentor/advisor role, stealing the show only in the most crucial moments. It required a full thirteen episodes for the Boku no Hero Academia franchise to find its footing and establish a balance in its character involvement but believe me when I say that the wait was worthwhile.

BnHA2 resolved its issues with characterization as early as possible but there are more significant problems that this show has to contend with. Most of the first season's glaring imperfections were carried over to the second and unfortunately BnHA2 couldn't rectify all of them. Some are relatively minor, like its mediocre sense of humor and its affinity for dimming the brightness when Quirks are displayed, while the others are downright detrimental. For one, the series could've benefitted from drastically reducing Midoriya's overanalytical inclinations as they were wholly unnecessary. This is a grievance I hold with shonens in general; instead of having the fight scenes stand out on their own, shonens insist on bombarding the audience with excessive in-battle dialogue, pontificating on the intricacies of a powerful punch as if this will somehow enhance the viewing experience. Midoriya is hardly the only one in BnHA2 that's milking this trope but he's by far the biggest culprit. That this show tends to neglect a few of its supporting cast (Yuuga Aoyama, in particular) really doesn't help matter much.

While this show's faults are considerable, they don't prevent BnHA2 from maintaining relevance. As a pop culture entity, it's virtually invincible. The Spring 2017 lineup introduced an Attack on Titan sequel, a Naruto spinoff, and the controversial duo that is Re:Creators and Eromanga-sensei. Yet, Boku no Hero Academia 2 and its overwhelming ambition outclassed them all in the popularity department. Even as the Summer season rolled around, BnHA2 was still the talk of the town. That, more than anything else, is BnHA2's most outstanding achievement. The anime community is, by and large, a divisive and argumentative bunch, each member loudly proclaiming their preferences as superior to everyone else's, yet it collectively agreed that BnHA2 is worth discussing. This show's mere presence managed to transcend the medium, with its promo trailers appearing in movie theaters and its pop culture relevance finding its way into casual conversations. The BnHA 2 hype inhabits its own space in the YouTube stratosphere, where vloggers endlessly debate over the best girl (Momo) \, the effect it has on the shonen genre as a whole, and even the best OP (Kenshi Yonezu's "Peace Sign"). Through it all, you can't help but beam with pride at what BnHA has accomplished.

Imagine a bald eagle patrolling the skies, its steely gaze lightly scanning the area as it glides from one location to the next. This is Boku no Hero Academia. Now imagine that same bald eagle on steroids, its steely gaze laser-focused on what's in front of it, bulldozing everything in its path like a bull in a china shop. This bald eagle isn't merely patrolling the skies; it's visibly overpowering its surroundings and whatever is within said surroundings. This bald eagle is obliterating any bird, any delivery drone, any stray kite, any floating balloon, any aircraft that's near it. This bald eagle is almost twenty times as nimble, as vigorous, as durable, and as resourceful as before. It is not only in possession of unnatural abilities but its confidence is easily noticeable by the other birds. This, my friends, is Boku no Hero Academia 2.