Gradualism means very different things in real life vs as a trope in a show

In shows, its a pretty normal method of storytelling to where the writer tries to argue that any tiny change in a character’s demeanor is monumental to their development.

Say a character wants to be strong like Deku, enough to use 20% of his power. Not only does Deku yell out his tiny change in percent every time (3 percent is one of the biggest power spikes) but each percent change has multiple steps of its own

This way, it feels more monumental than it actually is, which would be the show simply showing him going from 5-8%

I think its an excuse for a lack of character development.

Also, if you want me to list edgy rival characters who stay dicks the entire series there’s literally more of those than actual changing characters in shonens.

Sasuke is an appropriate comparison. Vegeta? He stays a dick, he never changes.

Even Kurapika, an actual new and different take on the edgy character still put his mission and hatred before friendship and change.

It’s really not an original concept at all