Highlights
- Endeavor’s controversial past and questionable actions have left fans divided over his redemption arc in My Hero Academia.
- Despite his efforts at atonement, fans are hesitant to forgive Endeavor for his history of abuse and manipulation towards his family.
- Endeavor’s character, shrouded in moral ambiguity, stands out among other divisive characters in the series due to the gravity of his past offenses.
My Hero Academia’s character roster is teeming with complex characters, yet this very moral ambiguity has led to several characters becoming highly polarizing. While characters such as Dabi or Himiko Toga are naturally divisive due to their villainous origins, one hero in particular has the fandom split over his questionable past and recent redemption.
Endeavor is a character shrouded in controversy, be it his coerced quirk marriage or the accounts of domestic violence. However, season 6 of My Hero Academia witnessed a drastic change in his character, leading to somewhat of a redemption after he takes over Japan’s despair-ridden hero scene. However, a measly redemption isn’t enough to clear his name, as fans are still on the fence about this extremely divisive character.
A Past Laced With Controversy
Endeavor Has Committed Several Atrocities in the Past
To say that Endeavor’s backstory is questionable would be an understatement, as the current No.1 Hero’s past is laden with multiple accounts of violence, and that too, solely towards his own family. With an obsession to surpass All Might, Endeavor sought to create the perfect protégé that would far exceed the Symbol of Peace. To achieve this goal, his first crime was bribing Rei’s family to marry her, all to obtain her Ice quirk.
This was the first of his offenses, as he went on to instill his own obsession with power onto Toya. However, he failed miserably at convincing Toya out of training after his quirk became a health-hazard. Instead, he redirected his anger and frustration at Rei, giving way to several instances of domestic violence. He pushed Rei to the point of mentally breaking down, which led to the mother throwing boiling water on her own son’s face.
Whenever I looked at my children, it was your eyes I saw staring back at me.
However, Endeavor failed to realize his mistake, as he went on to isolate Shoto from his family to train him as his successor. Endeavor’s actions not only tore his entire family apart but ruined the lives of Toya, Rei, and Shoto, with Natsuo and Fuyumi being victims in the entire ordeal as well. Child abuse, domestic violence, and psychological torment are no trivial crimes, and these actions have led to fans being divided over his character.
A Chance At Redemption
Endeavor Walks a Path Of Atonement
All Might’s retirement was the turning point for Endeavor’s character, as he realized that his fickle dream of surpassing the Symbol of Peace was no longer possible. This realization opened his eyes to the damage he had done to his own family. However, he only truly realized the gravity of his actions after Dabi revealed himself to be Toya, Endeavor’s eldest son. The moment that broke Endeavor was the very same instant Endeavor sought redemption.
The responsibility is not yours to bear alone.
Since that moment, Endeavor has walked a righteous path, be it as a hero or as a father. Fans were finally able to witness Endeavor being a true hero, as he glued together the remaining pieces of Japan’s hero scene to form a task force to control the country’s lawlessness. As a father, Endeavor reconnected with his family and sought their forgiveness, even owning up to his mistake of imposing his own obsession on his children.
Why Is the Fandom Split Over Endeavor’s Character?
Fans Refuse to Dismiss His Crimes
The series is populated with a fair number of morally ambiguous, polarizing characters, yet none seem to compare to Endeavor’s divisive nature. Fans are able to look past actual criminals such as Toga and Dabi, characters with multiple accounts of murders and killing sprees. However, their backstories and circumstances justify their actions to an extent, yet the same cannot be said for Endeavor.
Endeavor’s actions stemmed purely from jealousy and selfish intent, and he blindly led his children down a path of treachery and hardship. To some fans, these actions make Endeavor more villain-like than the actual antagonists in the series, a sentiment that isn’t too far from the truth. The fact that such an abusive character has been let off the hook so easily seems to be another concern for fans.
Does Endeavor Deserve Redemption?
Endeavor’s Offenses Might Be Far Too Great For Redemption
While My Hero Academia might redeem Endeavor for his past crimes, fans wonder whether an abuser actually deserves to be redeemed. A vast number of fans lean heavily on his side, a fact evident from the recent popularity poll that deemed Endeavor as the sixth most popular character in the series.
You and I will work to stop Toya together.
On the flip side, many fans are against his redemption, a notion that is much more sane considering the gravity of his crimes. With fame, money, and heroism by his side, Endeavor has dodged all the ramifications of his acts, but that certainly doesn’t mean fans will let him off that easily. For now, the fandom remains heavily divided, but with new developments in full swing in season 7, these opinions could possibly change.
My Hero Academia is available to stream on Prime Video.
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