I Think We All Like Black Muzan, Tbh

Katsuki Bakugo: A Semi-Comprehensive Character Analysis (and Why I Will Never Consider Him a Hero)

I’ve written on Bakugo before, hurriedly (within about 24 hours) and messily, but he’s a character that I feel so strongly about that I need to give this another go. Before we begin I have a few disclaimers that I’d like everyone to keep in mind:

1. You’re always allowed to like fictional characters, for any reason. Deconstructing why a character’s behavior is problematic is in no way a personal attack on those who like them in spite of (or even because of) those actions. Is Bakugo your fave? Awesome! I’m glad you’re enjoying him in the series. Feel free to read this if you’re interested in differing opinions, but to be honest this is probably more geared towards those who already don’t like him. “Don’t like, don’t read” remains a staple of fandom for a reason, so please stick to it. 

2. I’ll be writing this up through Chapter 190, hence “semi” comprehensive. Maybe I’ll do a part two once the series is finished. I’m not sure yet. Also, keep in mind that every translation is slightly different. The one I used can be found here. 

3. I’ve already decided that I won’t be responding to any comments on this post. Not because I don’t enjoy a good debate (boy do I ever), but I’ve got a lot of important Real Life writing to do and really can’t afford to get distracted. That is, any more distracted than I’ve already been with this meta and to be frank, charged conversations about this character is not what I’m looking for right now. I wanted to say my piece and now I have. But feel free to chat among yourselves—respectfully!

4. This meta is long. I mean it’s really long. You think you know how long it is? You’re wrong. It’s longer. This is my magnum opus of metas and honestly I have no regrets. Just keep length in mind if you think, “Oh, I’ll give this a quick read through!” You won’t. That’s not possible. And I’m so very sorry.  

Okay, that’s the boring stuff out of the way. Let’s dive in.

There’s something to be said for the argument that the most important part of a story is its beginning. The start of a tale either grabs us or leaves us cold. It sets up all our expectations and, whether the author is consciously aware of it or not, has a strong impact on the ending. Stories don’t exist without their beginnings (for obvious reasons) and it’s worth giving them some extra attention. Boku No Hero Academia starts with this:

We don’t know these people yet, but it’s easy enough to figure out their role in this tale; who’s the hero and who’s the villain. We learn a lot in just five panels. Bakugo has been beating up on another, weaker kid and he’s “already made him cry.” This is significant because it sets up Bakugo’s empathy—or lack thereof. His first victim is not Izuku, the “friend” who we later learn infuriates and at times even intimidates Bakugo. As horrible as it is, we can explain some of his violence towards Izuku, though we certainly can’t justify it. But this is different. Bakugo appears to be beating on a random kid simply because he can. Because he enjoys it. Though we’re only in the first panel, the crux of Bakugo’s characterization is laid out for us to see. It emphasizes my primary argument and the reason why I don’t think he can ever be a hero, no matter how much Horikoshi wants us to root for him.

Bakugo lacks empathy for other people. 

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Goodness gracious

Black ace culture is liking dances that have been made by us but are deemed as sexual (twerking, swiggling, body rolling, whining) but you are really just doing it for fun. ♠️

Exactly! We shouldn't be put off from taking part in our own cultures just because of the stereotypes that get placed on us (obviously if you're not comfortable to do these dances that's fine too). Our bodies will always be ours to do, move, travel and shake as we please 💜

Tbh Endeavor’s entire conflict in the final act would have been a lot better if anyone actually gave a fuck about the fact that he was revealed to be a child abuser. Like, the entire point of the Dabi reveal was supposed to be about Endeavour’s past actions and guilt all coming back to bite him in the ass but we only get half of that in the form of Dabi’s mere existence.

Like, seriously, why does no one care about this??? Jeanist never comments on it, All Might never says anything about Endeavor abusing his children to surpass him, hell, not even fucking HAWKS says anything about this either, ya know, the dude that admired Endeavor and knows EXACTLY what it’s like to live in an abusive house hold? Doesn’t say anything either.

Oh ya and the war arc just makes this worse by having some of Endeavor’s side kicks go “well he may be a child abuser but he’s a good hero tho!”. So ya. Nobody gives a fuck about the no. 1 pro hero being a child abuser.

I prefer not to sound harsh, but Miraculous has become a fandom where I find more enjoyment in reading fanfics than watching the show. It feels like there's a lack of effort or an attempt to justify and rearrange elements, often ignoring past seasons and assuming the audience won't notice. The handling of Derision is a notable example, with more astute critics than me delving into their dissatisfaction and the evident retcons.

I didn't anticipate the show going to such lengths as portraying Gabriel as someone deserving of a statue, and it left a sour taste in my mouth to see the hero endorsing it. Adrien/ChatNoir's portrayal has become quite pitiful, with a peculiar shift where Ladybug takes on a significant role in the Agreste Saga despite her absence from that narrative. Ladybug, who isn't even part of the Agreste Saga, is the one delivering heartfelt moments. The decision to sideline Adrien and put him out of commission is disappointing. It's his story yet she the one who has to make it about her. She gets to shine along with a cool costume to boot.

There's a palpable bias from Astruc against Chloe, evident in the show's treatment of her character. Despite her being manipulated by Gabriel Agreste, the narrative blames her for becoming mayor, and the absurdity of the situation is magnified when everyone in the story goes along with it. The inclusion of a scene in Revolution where Chloe is crying is perplexing and frustrating, as it seems to perpetuate the negative and irredeemable image the show consistently paints of her. The added layer of her mother being horrid to her intensifies my annoyance, especially when sympathetic scenes are presented in a seemingly contradictory manner.

I mean you want her to be the worst but yet she has scenes like this? Why not go all the way wtf. Why give her depth only to take it away and then make her be so demonized in s5 and act like she was like this from the start. When she's been a joke

I hate to be critical, but seriously, it's hard to ignore how the Miraculous universe is just dripping with untapped potential. Five seasons in, and the movie outshines the show effortlessly. It makes you wonder about the writers' team and their approach—seems like they're just coasting on low effort for profit, and somehow, it's working, thanks to Miraculous inexplicable popularity.

The show's been beating the monster-of-the-week horse for five long seasons, lacking any creativity in crafting interesting villains. Gabriel, honestly, feels like a starter villain, and if they're going to make him the big bad, can we at least get some villains with a bit more pizzazz? You know craft creative interesting villains? KNDS, Original PPG, Totally Spies they got it so why not Miraculous. It's so damn tiring seeing the same old song and dance with Gabriel 24/7 monologuing to his wife and releasing the akuma I thought Mayura would be important but she's barely there.

It's not even an excuse kids do deserve better entertainment so why should Miraculous lower its standards. Marinette is very weird to me as the protagonist because her lovelife is more focused over everything I gauged her well enough to know about her that the rest of the secondary needs more of a spotlight to be cast on them. I like her but am I the only one who just skips when she starts the whining about Adrien and her plan to again get together it was cute at first now I fast forward to the more interesting part of the episode because it irks me i'm tired okay... what other facet of her character do the writers focus on besides her love life? I hope I don't appear to salt on her but Imma tag it just in case. I think she's in neutral treading to dislike because how can I come back from her gaslighting her boyfriends I'm sorry I can't.

You know what I'm afraid of that if Lila gonna be the next big bad they'll just recycle everything from Gabriel onto her. We'll have the same akumatizations same monster of the week formula only this time it's Lila.

I trust more in the fanfic community to come up with a better substantial plot than Miraculous could ever be. I know romance is a big part but the lore is so damn little it's season 5 are they ever going to expand more in the later seasons lol.

I'm tired from writing this long. Imma go to bed now.

why lolicon is bad

1. Ethical Concerns

The most pressing ethical issue with lolis and lolicons is the portrayal of underage characters in a sexualized manner. Even though these characters are fictional, their representation often mirrors and perpetuates harmful sexual fantasies about minors. This normalization can desensitize individuals to the exploitation of real children. Sexualizing young characters in any form, whether fictional or real, raises significant moral questions about consent, exploitation, and the integrity of childhood.

2. Psychological Impact

Engaging with lolicon content can have detrimental psychological effects on individuals. For some, the attraction to lolis might reflect or exacerbate unhealthy fantasies and desires. This can be problematic in two ways: it may reinforce and normalize inappropriate desires, and it may lead to a desensitization towards the exploitation of real children. Even if such content is consumed privately, the mental and emotional impact on individuals who engage with it can be profound, potentially leading to issues of mental health or social isolation.

3. Societal Implications

On a societal level, the existence and proliferation of lolicon content can contribute to the broader acceptance of child sexualization. This is dangerous because it undermines societal norms designed to protect children and can inadvertently support a culture where the sexual exploitation of minors is trivialized. Additionally, the existence of such content complicates legal and ethical discussions about freedom of expression and protection of minors. Societies must navigate these issues carefully to ensure that freedoms are exercised responsibly and do not come at the expense of vulnerable populations.

He just wants to be trained guys let him spar

Stopping the rain

I’m gonna pretend he’s alive and they eventually get along and become mates, Ok? Ok