My Hero Academia is no stranger to removing fan favourites from the show, but this particular death is so devastating that it calls into question Horikoshi’s whole writing style.
Fans of My Hero Academia are beginning to assume that the show’s creator, Kohei Horikoshi, has a strong dislike for female characters. In light of what has happened to characters such as Ochako, Mirko, and Midnight, it appears that women in the series are bound to play substantially smaller roles than they were promised. Star and Stripe, the latest in a long line of unlucky failures, has fallen in battle against Shigaraki and had her Quirk, New Order, stolen from her as a result of her defeat.
It’s strange that someone as iconic as Star and Stripe could pass away so quickly. What ever Horikoshi’s feelings about women are, one would hope that America’s No. 1 Pro Hero would find a way to survive this fight and come out on the other side victorious. To make matters worse, it’s only been six chapters since she was first introduced in a formal capacity. It’s tough to comprehend how a character who has been portrayed as being so essential in the universe of MHA can be eliminated so swiftly after being introduced.
One of the first things to consider is the combination of circumstances that led to Star and Stripe’s humiliation. The Star and Stripe’s New Order grants her the ability to apply “laws” to anything she comes into contact with or chants the name of. This enables her to perform insane feats such as turning the atmosphere into a huge version of herself or transforming laser fire into a usable weapon. Star and Stripe are still not strong enough to defeat Shigaraki, despite the fact that their Quirk enhances their strength. Even though the Hero throws everything she can at him, the villain is able to catch her off guard, allowing him to steal her Quirk. Furthermore, taking a Quirk and causing a target to decay can both be accomplished simultaneously through physical touch, resulting in Star and Stripe disintegrating as Shigaraki claims his prize for the first time.
When looking at things from a narrative standpoint, it makes sense for Star and Stripe to be defeated. Her role in the plot is not to defeat or prevent Shigaraki from accomplishing his goals. That is most likely a luxury reserved for Deku and his companions. Her more sad duty is to serve as a yardstick by which to measure how hazardous Shigaraki has become in the eyes of the public. Even while it’s difficult to admit, it’s also the fact that her tremendously powerful Quirk has been taken away from her.
Of course, even if Star and Stripe are no longer alive, her efforts are not completely in vain. New Order is rigged to “revolt against other Quirks” before it is stolen, and she is credited with this achievement. Shigaraki’s Quirk, as a result, begins to consume him from the inside out when he acquires it. To survive, he’ll have to either figure out how to bring it under control or find a method to transfer it to someone else. At the very least, Shigaraki will be unable to deploy New Order in the manner in which he desires.
In the long run, it’s perhaps best that New Order has been ejected from the playing field. Although it enables for incredible feats of reality-bending, it would be far too strong for either the heroes or villains to be in possession of. Regardless of whose side holds the Quirk, it should be impossible for them to lose logically. This is one of the reasons why Star and Stripe fans are so displeased with the team’s loss. Shigaraki’s ability to withstand a combat with a user of the New Order gives the impression that he is overpowered in comparison.
It doesn’t seem like Star and Stripe should have left in the manner that she did, to my mind. Apart from demonstrating that Shigaraki’s regenerating skills are far too powerful, it also makes what should be a very powerful guy appear to be a complete and utter jerk. Although she is clearly one in terms of narrative, she is intended to be much more in terms of character development in-universe. The best Pro Hero in her country, she owns one of the most powerful Quirks in the series to date, and she is a member of the Elite Four. Despite being a member of All For One, she is someone to be cautious of. As though her decline is just a product of plot-related factors, it is almost comical. Either that, or Horikoshi has a deep-seated dislike for women and enjoys watching them crumble and burn.
