The Todoroki Family’s Relatable Plotline in My Hero Academia

The seventh episode of My Hero Academia season 7 features an anticipated fight between Shoto and Toya Todoroki, bringing back the Todoroki family plotline and sparking memories for fans. While this plotline may have made some fans uncomfortable, it was also well-received by many as it was the most relatable arc in the series.

In episode 7 of My Hero Academia season 7, Burnin made a comment about Endeavor. She acknowledged that despite his personal family issues, he remained truthful in his professional work, both in the past and present. While Burnin’s intention was to shift the focus onto the ongoing fight, some fans disagreed and voiced their opinions on social media. As a result, the Todoroki family storyline was once again brought to the forefront of the minds of My Hero Academia fans.

Please note: The article contains spoilers.

My Hero Academia: Why Fans are Captivated by the Todoroki Family Plotline

Toya and Enji as seen in My Hero Academia (Image via BONES)

The storyline of the Todoroki family centers around Enji Todoroki, also known as Endeavor. Endeavor’s desire to raise a child who could become the top hero led him to marry Rei through a quirk marriage, and they had a son named Toya. However, Toya’s quirk and body were incompatible, causing Enji to ultimately abandon his plans to train him.

Despite being the fourth child of Enji, Toya was unlike his brother Shoto in the sense that he was highly motivated to train under his father and longed for his guidance. However, due to his physical limitations, Enji had to turn a blind eye to Toya’s desire and could not provide him with the necessary attention. Nonetheless, Toya remained determined to impress his father and trained in secret. When Enji found out, he became furious and even resorted to physically abusing his wife Rei for not preventing Toya from sneaking away to train.

Toya Todoroki as seen in My Hero Academia (Image via BONES)

Rei was deeply affected by these events, which ultimately caused her to harm Shoto by pouring boiling water on his face. Meanwhile, Enji continued to neglect Toya, exemplified by his refusal to oversee Toya’s progress at Sekoto Peak. Little did Enji know, this neglectful act would ultimately result in Toya losing control of his flames, causing severe burns to his own body and the surrounding forest. As a result, the entire Todoroki family fell apart.

Fans were drawn to this story arc due to its relatable elements, such as parents neglecting their children, sibling rivalry, and family conflicts. These sensitive plot points resonated with viewers as they could see these situations reflected in their own lives. As a result, the Todoroki storyline became a significant topic of discussion for fans.

Reactions to the Todoroki Family’s Plotline

Natsuo and Enji as seen in the My Hero Academia manga (Image via Shueisha)

Overall, the entire plotline was well-received by many fans as it resonated with them and provided them with a sense of comfort. In fact, one fan even shared how they could relate to similar experiences from their own upbringing. Therefore, hearing Enji Todoroki express his desire to atone for his wrongdoings was a source of positivity for them.

Despite being a fan of the series, another viewer shared that the most compelling aspect of the plotline was the lack of pressure for fans to support Enji in his situation. In fact, Enji himself stated that he did not seek forgiveness from his family and instead wanted to make amends for his wrongdoings. This revealed that the anime did not justify his actions, but rather showed a transformation in Endeavor’s character.

“As someone who experienced similarities growing up, it was almost like a sense of relief hearing him say he just wanted to atone. I needed to hear that as a kid. And it also set a new appreciation for the character. I liked that moment,”a fan shared.

“People who hate endeavor have very valid reasons for doing so. The Todoroki plotline is one that hits close to home for many and just like how Natsuo isn’t expected to forgive Enji, the audience who have been in his position shouldn’t have to either,”one fan said.

Enji Todoroki as seen in My Hero Academia (Image via BONES)

“exactly and the entire point is that you’re not supposed to forgive him. What’s done is done but the point of his character is his DEVELOPMENT and GROWTH. he’s not automatically a good person but he’s striving for atonement and some ppl fail to see that part,”another said.

“At first, I hated Endeavor because of what he did to his family, but as time went on, he became one of my favorite characters. He knows he can’t fix his mistakes, but his family is willing to move forward with him in the picture as he atones for his sins,”shared one fan.

“My problem is when people still use it as a excuse for Dabi. He has genuine reasons to hate endeavor but his way to get revenge killed innocent people and helped in AFO’s plan,”other fan said.

One other fan expressed their acceptance towards individuals who chose to either forgive or not forgive Enji Todoroki. However, their issue was with those who defended Dabi’s behavior.

Despite Enji’s responsibility for Toya’s troubled past and the creation of Dabi, this does not excuse Dabi’s actions as a villain. Enji’s actions should not be used as justification for the countless lives that Dabi took.