#yeah mha has flaws what story doesn't it same old same old

[epickiya722]

You know what, despite however others may feel, MHA will always be one of those animes and mangas for me that I can say I genuinely did enjoy and one of the few I can see I did see it through to the end.

Regardless of the flaws or whatever else, MHA was another story that entertained me and made me feel emotions, you know?

When I got into it, I was looking forward for a story. Just a story.

I didn't have high expectations. I didn't have low ones either. I didn't have any at all.

As I said, I was looking for entertainment and did I get it! Happy to say I have another group of characters I have came to adore! (Concrete, Izuku Midoriya and Rumi Usagiyama will always be my top favorites at #1 tied and will keep saying that.)

Getting into MHA, I also never thought about the realizations I would go through myself.

Didn't think I would be the type to write meta posts on a character or theory. But a couple of times I have. Writing fics, I also noticed how my style has changed, gotten better for sure.

Overall, MHA may have ended but my enjoyment haven't.

[nothoughtsjustmhaandotherthings]

"The Archer" - Katherine's Playlist

Guess who's back on her bullshit

I got like mega busy towards the end of July/literally all of August BUT since we are getting closer and closer to the end of the Katherine Ride Saga I wanted to do some more song analysis posts with a focus on Katherine's playlist. SO! As a reminder, these posts are basically me rambling about why certain songs are on my OC playlists. This song especially is like the Katherine anthem so I'm gonna say a lot.

Combat, I'm ready for combat I say I don't want that, but what if I do?

Starting off strong with the opening lyrics. Katherine (the "I" throughout this song) has to be "ready for combat" at all times as a hero student, especially with the LOV and AFO around. She's very contradictory (which is one of the flaws I love about her), constantly saying she hates being hunted and yet at the same time putting herself in danger, despite others telling her not to.

'Cause cruelty wins in the movies

"Cruelty wins in the movies" goes hand-in-hand with the idolization of Pro Heroes in MHA.

I've got a hundred thrown-out speeches I almost said to you

The "yous" in this song can be applied to many other characters--Shoto, Mic and Aizawa, Class 1-A, etc. Here, I definitely see the subjects being Class 1-A.

Easy they come, easy they go I jump from the train, I ride off alone

Katherine reflecting on how many people have come and gone throughout her life (big focus here is Tenko) and recognizing her unhealthy tendency to handle things alone when they get tough.

I never grew up, it's getting so old

Katherine's development was certainly impacted by her whole experience in the lab and I absolutely see her getting frustrated by it sometimes.

Help me hold onto you

The "you" in this lyric specifically (in all parts of the song) feels more like a plea to Shoto. More than anything else, Katherine doesn't want to lose him.

I've been the archer I've been the prey

I feel like this one is pretty simple. Katherine shows both brutal and vulnerable parts of herself throughout the story.

Who could ever leave me, darling? But who could stay?

And here's the abandonment issues. Katherine is beloved by her classmates, friends, and mentors--but she still wonders if anyone would stay.

Dark side, I search for your dark side But what if I'm alright, right, right, right here?

The internal conflict here is very fun. Katherine used to be someone who was always looking for a reason to leave, but now she wants to stay despite the fear of being abandoned.

And I cut off my nose just to spite my face Then I hate my reflection for years and years

This one just gives me the feels. Especially given Katherine's relationship with her scars.

I wake in the night, I pace like a ghost The room is on fire, invisible smoke And all of my heroes die all alone Help me hold onto you

Here, the "help me hold onto you" feels a little more desperate, exacerbated by Katherine's anxiety. Now the forces that could take Shoto away are out of her control.

I've been the archer I've been the prey Screaming, who could ever leave me, darling? But who could stay?

I just...yeah.

'Cause they see right through me They see right through me

The "they" in this lyric is Tenko/AFO, who constantly goads Katherine over what a "bad" person she is.

They see right through Can you see right through me?

The spectrum of who the "you" Katherine would be referring to is broader here than in the other lyrics. I can't make a hard decision, so I leave it up to your interpretation!

They see right through They see right through me I see right through me I see right through me

The transition to "I" is Katherine realizing she can't hide who she is, good parts or bad.

All the king's horses, all the king's men Couldn't put me together again 'Cause all of my enemies started out friends Help me hold onto you

All of my enemies started out friends...Tenko and Aoyama. Katherine holds onto everything despite the feelings of betrayal.

I've been the archer I've been the prey Who could ever leave me, darling? But who could stay?

When I say this song changed my life, I mean it.

Who could stay? Who could stay? Who could stay? You could stay You could stay You

Again, the subject of the "you" here can be left up to interpretation. I like to think the first is to Mic and Aizawa, the second is to Shoto, and the last Katherine trails off 'cause she's shocked Class 1-A would stay for her.

Combat, I'm ready for combat

And our opening lyrics somehow become all the more resilient. Anyways. I'm gonna go sob to this song for like an hour.