|
Title |
My Hero Academia Season 7 |
|
Director |
Naomi Nakayama, Kenji Nagasaki (Chief Director) |
|
Studio |
Bones |
|
Episode Air Date |
10/12/2024 |
The following contains MAJOR spoilers for My Hero Academia, Episode 159, "Battle Without a Quirk", now streaming on Crunchyroll.
This has been a big year for My Hero Academia, but this weekend, in particular, has been huge, between the Season 7 finale and the North American release of the new movie, You're Next. It might just be the greatest time to be a fan of this series and Studio Bones made sure to end on a high note, not just in terms of production quality, but unexpectedly, in tone as well.
It's not all smiles, however, as this cathartic cliffhanger of a finale comes on the heels of several weeks of heartwrenching character drama, which itself is the culmination of years of storytelling. From the last sparks of the Todoroki family storyline burning out to Himiko Toga's heartbreaking confrontation with Ochaco Uraraka, the tension has never been higher.
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One Villain's Final Act of Love
By now, the case has been made as clear as ever that Himiko Toga is one of the series' best characters. Whether it's her origin, Misato Fukuen's vocal performance, or the sapphic drama through which she and Uraraka punctuate this story's themes so beautifully, Toga embodies the best of what My Hero Academia has to say. As perfectly as those messages were articulated last week, there is still more to say and do. And that is where the finale begins.
As discussed more thoroughly in the last review, the root of Toga's tragedy lies in how society labeled her a monster without first understanding why she acted the way she did. Because while a child drinking blood is unsettling, her fixation on blood was simply how she perceived and expressed intimacy as a result of her quirk. Her resulting ostracization destroyed any chance of her being "normal", and thus she understandably harbored resentment against the world.
Toga Pays Back The Hero Who Saved Her Smile
She gives Uraraka her blood; the most meaningful gesture of love she could ever give to anyone - the same gift that Jin Bubbaigawara gave her. It's the final note in the love song called "The Life of Himiko Toga."
The thesis of her arc - and Uraraka's efforts to save her - is the question of how different things might have been if she had been raised with love and taught about the world, free of judgment. In the aftermath of the battle, with the clones gone, and the heroes safe, she finally learns those nuances. Her understanding of love is tied to blood, and true love isn't just about taking but giving as well.
Uraraka saved everyone, yet she's at death's door. Toga, who could easily escape and live in the chaotic world her friends in the League worked so hard to build, can't accept that. She gives Uraraka her blood; the most meaningful gesture of love she could ever give to anyone - the same gift that Jin Bubbaigawara gave her. It's the final note in the love song called "The Life of Himiko Toga." Like the best sad love songs, it hurts, but it's also undeniably beautiful.
All Might vs All for One, Redux
[This fight] is to My Hero Academia what the fight between Batman and Superman was to The Dark Knight Returns.
Back when All Might and All for One fought each other in Season 3, it felt like one of the most hyped showdowns in shōnen anime in years. Now, at the tail end of Season 7, a quirkless All Might fighting All for One at the height of his power somehow makes their previous fight look like child's play. It is to My Hero Academia what the fight between Batman and Superman was to The Dark Knight Returns.
A not-insignificant portion of the reason why it rocks so much boils down to All Might's high-tech suit, which exceeds all possible expectations of how cool it would be in motion. While the hair and his signature grin carry over traces of the All Might we know, the aesthetic is closer to Iron Man and Batman than the Superman-esque look he traditionally wore. How appropriate, seeing as how he has to fight in a completely different way to stand a chance.
Because the odds are stacked so steeply against him, every second that he isn't being demolished by All For One feels that much more triumphant, especially because it's never easy. His suit is at risk of destruction as quickly as he enters the fight, but he has the advantage in mind games. His smile, his laugh, his indomitable spirit - they all taunt All For One. It's like he never retired.
A Bombastic Tribute to Class 1-A
It is said that one learns by teaching others. When All Might stood tall, ready to face his greatest foe without a quirk, it seemed as though he was taking a page out of Deku's book, ready to put his money where his mouth was and prove one could be a hero without a quirk. Now that the fight is finally in full swing, the single most powerful twist is that All Might didn't just borrow from Deku but every student in Class 1-A.
The reason that characters calling out their special moves will never go out of style is precisely because of how the meaning of those words can change. All Might has watched these young heroes pick up where he and his peers left off for seven seasons, and in that time, wrestling with his dwindling power, he has let himself be inspired. Hearing the class' myriad hero names and seeing their quirks replicated is like a serotonin shot straight to the heart.
Closing the Book on Season 7
There was so much to talk about on a narrative level that there was barely time to praise the visuals, which were sublime from start to finish. It's kind of ridiculous that after such an action-packed season that has prompted many bold statements about the "best fights" or "best episodes", Season 7 continued to raise the bar until the very end.
My Hero Academia will end in 2025 with its eighth season. The cliffhanger was awesome and, though some might have wished for more of the fight between Deku and Shigaraki, it's clear they're saving every second of that battle for the end. Normally, that might be a cause for disappointment, but after seeing what this season accomplished, I have no reason to doubt their vision for the end of what will be Studio Bones' latest masterpiece.
My Hero Academia
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2016 - 2025-00-00
- Seasons
- 8
- Studio
- Bones
- Creator
- Kōhei Horikoshi
- Number of Episodes
- 159
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu, Crunchyroll
- MyAnimeList Score
- 7.85 (Season 1)
