Uraraka and Himiko Toga’s Rivalry, Explained

Uraraka and Himiko Toga's Rivalry, Explained
Views: 0

Summary

  • Uraraka and Toga’s rivalry is based on parallel ideologies, not just emotions.
  • Their emotionally-charged confrontations revolved around conflicting definitions of love.
  • The conclusion to their intense rivalry showed acceptance and sacrifice, transcending mere love interests.

My Hero Academia is laced with fierce rivalries and heated tussles, with most primary characters possessing a parallel on the villain’s side. While viewers tend to focus on the more obvious rivalries, such as Bakugou vs. Deku, or Endeavor vs. All Might, there’s another intriguing rivalry of sorts that often gets glossed over. Uraraka and Himiko Toga have been on the opposing side of battle multiple times, with three clear head-on confrontations.

Each confrontation only created an even bigger rift than before, with their ideals, beliefs, and values differing to a considerable extent. Despite their differences, the two shared a somewhat novel connection which brought them together time and again throughout My Hero Academia’s run. With a clash of perspectives, beliefs, and even the concept of love, the two characters form an underrated rivalry that has several hidden nuances.

Related


My Hero Academia: Accumulation Quirks, Explained

Accumulation type quirks are some of the most rare powers in My Hero Academia. Here’s a look at the intricacies of these quirks.

A Rivalry Based On Parallel Ideologies

Uraraka and Toga Fought For Their Inherent Beliefs

Unlike the many rivalries witnessed in My Hero Academia, Uraraka and Toga’s tussle has been confined more to emotions than anything else. However, the fuel behind their earnest sentiments is their ideals. Standing on the opposite side of the spectrum, Toga and Uraraka came from two entirely different backgrounds, leading to a unique worldview that differed from each other. Uraraka believed in the goodness of heroism, as she viewed hero society as the ideal utopia that would give her and her family happiness.

On the other hand, Himiko Toga’s descent to villainy was directly caused by the current hero system, a world where anyone with an obscure quirk is considered an outcast. This very system forced her into villainy, as none would accept her and her primal instincts. This opposing view of hero society created a clear rift between them, one that became more evident with every fight between them. During the Paranormal Liberation War, however, their differing viewpoints became a clear source of contention. Though it was this very interaction between them that led to the nuanced conclusion of their rivalry.

That’s why I’m asking for your full cooperation… so that we can all smile together.

Himiko also envied Uraraka’s life, as she was jealous of the fact that Uraraka could live a regular life as a teenager. She was free to do what she wanted without being judged by society, and she could live the life of a regular teenage girl, whether it’s having crushes on boys or emotional conversations with other girls. This envy also fueled her to chase after Uraraka, eventually making her Toga’s object of affection. While her jealousy was never exactly the sole driver behind her goal of pursuing Uraraka, it still served as a significant aspect of their rivalry.

The Emotional Aspect Of Their Rivalry

The Two Characters Had Several Emotionally-Charged Confrontations

Uraraka and Himiko’s relationship is rarely described as a rivalry, since they never exactly held any disdain for each other, nor were they in a competition to be superior. However, the two characters bear many parallels, whether it’s their sentiments towards Deku, or about their views on the world. This stark contrast pins the two characters against each other, leading to several emotional confrontations. The most intense of these was their tussle over the meaning of love itself.

Related


My Hero Academia: The True Strength of Ryuko Tatsuma, Explained

My Hero Academia’s Dragoon Hero has one of the most unique quirks in the series. But how strong is she compared to everyone else?

Uraraka’s definition of love was more traditional, largely in the sense that she cherished her loved ones and protected those close to her, such as Deku or her own family. Her sentiments were marked by loyalty, unconditional love, and self-sacrifice, similar to any other person’s perspective of love. Toga, on the other hand, bore a rather obscure and unconventional definition of love. For her, anything that she found cute and pretty became the object of her affection. While a “normal” person would try to protect the person or thing that they love, Toga would instead wish to suck their blood and become that person herself — an odd way to display her sentiments of affection.

I wanted to become other people so badly. I was jealous, but I loved them.

This difference further fueled their confrontations, with their very last conversation being based on this very emotion. The conclusion to Toga’s life was also befitting of their emotionally-charged confrontation. It showed that the two polar opposites eventually accepted each other’s viewpoint of love, and Toga’s sacrifice is clear evidence of this acceptance. Their bittersweet yet wholesome conclusion was a result of their intense emotions, making Toga’s ending even more in line with the themes of their rivalry.

A Rivalry Between Love Interests Or More?

Uraraka and Himiko Toga’s Rivalry Is More Than Being Mere Love Interests

my-hero-academia-159-toga-uraraka

While Toga and Uraraka already had several points of contention, one particular aspect of their rivalry was their sentiments towards Deku. Both characters loved Deku, albeit in an extremely different way. This pinned the two characters as romantic rivals, although this notion was never exactly explored in the series. My Hero Academia never presented the two characters as competitors for Deku’s affection, as the two already had their own ideals and nuances.

Related


My Hero Academia: How Strong Is Nejire Hado?

How strong is Nejire compared to the rest of UA’s Big 3?

While it is a common misconception that their rivalry potentially stemmed from liking the same person, the reality couldn’t be farther from the truth, as both Uraraka and Toga fought each other for their own beliefs. Toga’s affection for Deku might have been a point of contention for Uraraka in some way or another, yet it was never the focal point of their tussle. Instead, the two characters fought for their own ideologies, making their rivalry much more nuanced than a mere love-interest debacle.

The Conclusion To Their Emotionally-Charged Rivalry

Both Sides Eventually Accepted Each Other’s Perspective

Uraraka and Himiko Toga’s rivalry met its conclusion in the climax of the Final War Arc. After Toga realized that Uraraka viewed heroes as nothing more than a nuisance and believed that they should be stopped regardless of their intentions, she took on a fiercer persona and tried to take Uraraka’s life. With Jin’s demise fueling her rage, Toga took center stage with Sad Man’s Death Parade and Sad Man’s Legion, an ability that would have overrun Japan and the heroes.

However, Uraraka’s persistence and resilience eventually led to Toga seeing the light, as she finally found someone who accepted her for who she was. Refusing to fight her altogether, Uraraka put on a brave front as she proved to Toga that there was someone in this world who loved her and accepted her, despite her unnatural instincts. Their final moments were also proof of this fact, as Uraraka reciprocated Toga’s sentiments, even stating that she had the prettiest smile.

I know I said this is a battle for survival, but the only thing I really don’t want to lose is you.

However, their reconciliation was too late, as Uraraka had already been dealt a lethal blow. Still, this wasn’t the conclusion of their intense rivalry, as Himiko Toga sacrificed her own life by injecting her blood into Uraraka to keep her alive. This moment was also a crucial turning point for her character, as she finally accepted Uraraka’s perspective on love, one that involved self-sacrifice and protecting those that she held dear. While this moment may have ended their rivalry and emotional relationship, it’s clear that Uraraka held on to Toga’s sentiments and kept her close to her heart, which is evident from the hair clip that she wore later on.

My Hero Academia is available to stream on Prime Video.

Source link