(Nitsuj): Hello and welcome to Project Nitsuj. Well guys this is it, we’re finally here, the final season of My Hero Academia. It’s been a long journey but the finish line is finally within reach.
(Shizuku): Released in the fall of last year. The final season of My Hero Academia was met with critical acclaim. It was one of the most anticipated animes of the year and was easily the most viewed season.
(Nitsuj): For a lot of people, My Hero Academia was their childhood. Chances are you might have been in school when this series first started and now you’re an adult. This series was a constant presence in your life as you grew up and now it’s ending.
(Shizuku): Let’s give this series the farewell it deserves and finish My Hero Summeria strong. This is My Hero Academia the Final Season.
Opening and Ending Theme
(Nitsuj): The final opening is “The Revo” by Porno Graffiti who you might remember did the first opening of the anime. It’s actually pretty cool that they got these guys to come back for the final opening. I don’t know if this was planned from the beginning or just worked itself out. Either way the song is good and feels like the sequel to The Day as everything has come full circle. The final line: the day has come, masterful. The day that they prophesized nearly a decade ago has finally come and we are witnessing it firsthand. The song just feels you with hope. For the last two seasons we’ve been in the dark, but the tiny flickers of light have now joined up to light the path for us and we can finally see the sun again. If I had to rank this opening it’d be my fourth favorite opening of the bunch.
(Shizuku): The final ending is “I” by BUMP OF CHICKEN who I’m not gonna lie, may just write the best endings for anime. I’m serious, these guys never miss. This is my favorite ending in the series. It’s sums up everything well, and the song just feels you with nostalgia. It perfectly encapsulates the journey we’ve been on with these characters. Just like how we’ve grown so too have the characters in the series. It’s been an amazing journey and have to hold my tears back whenever I watch the animation that goes along with the ending.
Episodes 1-5
(Nitsuj): The final season starts off with All Might taking on AFO. Because he’s still under the influence of Shigaraki’s hatred for. . .everything, and he’s seeing the man he hates the most right in front of him, AFO attacks. All Might dawns an Iron Man suit which uses powers from all the class 1A students (the students become the teachers). It’s actually a pretty good fight as All Might keeps AFO’s attention on him and outthinking him (Shizuku: AFO’s not used to fighting quirkless individuals). Despite AFO’s overwhelming power, his hatred for All Might keeps him from going directly for the kill (truly the makings of a psychopath) and All Might is enjoying this as he laughs like a maniac (truly the makings of a sociopath). All Might’s direct attacks kept forcing AFO to regenerate his body using a quirk that de-ages him. He used it so many times that he’s now a child. However, All Might’s suit runs out of power and no other heroes are coming to rescue him. However, he receives help from the most unlikely of allies, Stain (scene here: https://youtu.be/FB8tr2Gi4nM?si=9IFB4A5Aff5Hjrd6, if a hero is busy, then we’ll call a vigilante).
Picking up where episode 1 left off, All Might and Stain attack AFO only for him to expel his blood and overwrote it with a new type as he predicted something like this would happen because Stain was the only one who refused to join him at Tartarus (Shizuku: Bullshit. There is no way you could have predicted this happening. Especially in this intense battle). With this new blood, AFO regained his composure, absorbed Stain’s quirk and then killed him for good measure (there goes the best written character in the story. You took this series from good to great). The remainder of All Might’s battlesuit gets destroyed and with All Might now defenseless AFO decides to put on a show with his death by killing him in front of everyone bringing an end to the era of heroes and beginning the era of AFO (scene here: https://youtu.be/Z6tVa25jbIc?si=2VZhtcypPEjmtVUs).
At the start of episode 3 Katsuki and Izuku work together to save All Might before he gets Bane’d. Rather than go finish him off, AFO decides to focus on Izuku and Shigaraki. We actually do see how everything that’s happened so far is starting to get to him (Shizuku: He planned everything so perfectly. Set the board up for his inevitable victory and yet everything continues to go wrong). To make him even more angry, Katsuki’s quirk seems to be evolving and he’s able to keep up with AFO who reminds him of Kudo the first inheritor for OFA and the man AFO hates the most because he took his brother away from him (scene here: https://youtu.be/-nxb3VCH7Vw?si=4v6wiB1CLNuHHO6x).
Episode 4 opens up with a flashback to a time when quirks started showing up in the world. Naturally, this caused division between humans and those with meta-human abilities (it’s X-Men all over again). Fear and chaos took over as war broke out between the two and in this time of turmoil a young (Shizuku: And we mean young) AFO made his appearance killing regular humans and stealing quirks from others. Born in the body of a homeless woman, AFO’s mom died after giving birth to him and OFA. Most of their mother’s nutrients were absorbed by AFO leaving OFA with a weak and frail body (Shizuku: Even as a baby he was a selfish bastard). Despite offering him nothing and even abusing him, AFO never let go of OFA and cared for him in his own little messed up way (Shizuku: Because to him, OFA was his property. The first thing he ever owned. Nobody else was allowed to have him). As the two got older, AFO decided to use his powers to create a world that would serve him only (a dream he got from comics by the way. (Shizuku): I knew we shouldn’t have shown him Frank Miller’s work). He succeeded and took over, but his brother still wasn’t onboard with this insanity. In an act of compassion, AFO gave his brother the OFA quirk as it was the only one his body could handle. When the resistance rescued him, AFO killed his brother, but his quirk was transferred to Kudo the first inheritor of OFA (scene here: https://youtu.be/3bvuefvP-SA?si=Z-CFQe3TP7a3ePHq). AFO would spend the next years desperately trying to reclaim his brother’s quirk only to fail each time. Returning to the present, AFO’s unbridled rage has him completely focused on killing Katsuki. He morphs into this grotesque creature (almost like Envy from FMA: Brotherhood) and tries to plow through Katsuki in order to reach Shigaraki so that he can begin the transfer. It doesn’t work as Katsuki manages to hurt him and damages his body so much that he reverts back into a baby and then into nothing (scene here: https://youtu.be/VVOAWJaMfkE?si=UV7z_OHuqBtVnptr. (Shizuku): Welcome to the party, Katsuki! It took a while but he finally popped off).
We shift gears in episode 5 and focus on the fight between Izuku and Shigaraki. As the two fight Shigaraki manages to somehow enter the space of OFA predecessors and steals the danger sense quirk for himself. With danger sense gone and gearshift having expired the predecessors try to come up with a plan to defeat Shigaraki. Their plan, allow themselves to be absorbed by Shigaraki and take him out from within.
Episodes 6-11 and Special
In episode 6 Izuku manages to pass on the OFA quirk to Shigaraki in a very clever way. As the transfer begins the memories of Izuku and Shigaraki begin to intertwine with each other (Shizuku: Man that’s going to get confusing. Scenes here: https://youtu.be/gMuGWzGXhuE?si=zU83EOf0qlp_fh3f and https://youtu.be/iv1kcT_KWM8?si=RAOinBhSNSeQ6DRO). We get to see everyone still watching the fight between the two where everyone is both worried but cheering on Izuku. Izuku’s subconscious finally manages to reach Shigaraki’s core and he gets ready to face him at his most fragile. We arrive at the house he was raised in and Izuku sees the troubled childhood of Shigaraki.
(Shizuku): At the start of episode 7, Izuku manages to reach Shigaraki with his emotions breaking down his hatred (Nitsuj: Feel the love). Just when it seems like Izuku is about to pull this off and get the win AFO shows up. Shigaraki’s emotional defeat allowed AFO’s subconsciousness to gain control of the body and we see how AFO has manipulated his life up until this point. Everything that Shigaraki has done, everything he’s been through, all the pain and hatred that he culminated in his life was all done by AFO to make him the perfect vessel that would allow him to finally get OFA. He stole his original quirk when he was a baby, manipulated his dad’s emotions, and then gave him the decay quirk which led to him killing his family (all this pain and misery for one fucking quirk because he’s a fucking brocon). AFO destroys Shigaraki’s spirit and finally gets control of his body both physically and mentally. We return to reality where Izuku lost both of his arms (Nitsuj: Oh God!) and AFO feeling empty now that he’s lost his perfect vessel and little brother moves on to his third and final goal, world domination (I’m surprise he didn’t go all emo on us and say I’m going to destroy the world. (Nitsuj): Let’s not give the sociopath any ideas). As Izuku struggles to return to his feet to face a situation that seems impossible to beat, we get our Avengers Endgame moment as portals open and others arrive to fight (on your left). Eri also helps out in spirit by cutting off her horn and Aizawa uses it to restore Izuku’s arms.
Episode 8 is the best episode in the entire series. After a good bunch of heroes show up (scene here: https://youtu.be/gGUvh4EgLXU?si=jjGVS1IqnAL9Y6T6, is that everyone? (Nitsuj): What? You wanted more?) they clear a path for Izuku to hit AFO and he succeeds using the last of OFA to allow Yoichi to speak to AFO one last time before he disappears and showing him for what he really is, a warped man obsessed with controlling others (and a brocon! I’m sure deep down AFO loved Yoichi but it was overshadowed by his obsession to control him and only see him as an item instead of a person). Shigaraki also makes a return to help Izuku deliver the final blow and destroy AFO’s conscious once and for all. Shigaraki says his goodbyes to Izuku and the clouds finally depart to allow the sun to shine through (scene here: https://youtu.be/MH1JGHa3jiQ?si=vEUs0IKD2scpXsz. (Nitsuj): Looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day).
In episode 9 the war is over and restoration has begun within Japan. The US sent their heroes over to help out (well we know Trump isn’t president because he wouldn’t have done that. (Nitsuj): I envy this world). Katsuki finds out Izuku is quirkless again and actually cries at the thought of never being able to compete against Izuku again (Nitsuj: They really are the best of friends. Scene here: https://youtu.be/VIv5rsxNEDA?si=WamTM5qzULE_Ui6J). The third years at U.A have their graduation ceremony and Izuku’s class become second years (honestly, after everything they’ve been through I’d give them their hero licenses now and turn them into part-time heroes. Either way, they’re going to be so popular when they graduate). Aizawa will still be their teacher and most of their hero activities will be helping with the restoration and providing public security across the country. We then end on an emotional note as Shoto and his family go and visit Toya. Endeavor says he’s retiring (Nitsuj: Can’t imagine why) and will be visiting Toya everyday to talk to him and this actually makes him cry (scene here: https://youtu.be/nv67tyr1Xtw?si=PBenyf3DIVue0-ep, a shattered family finding closure. (Nitsuj): What Endeavor did to his family will not be forgotten, but he is ready to spend the rest of his life atoning for his crimes).
Episode 10 focuses on the villains. In the first half, Izuku goes to meet Spinner where they were able to revert him back to his original form (Nitsuj: Shame. The Bane look was actually working for him). He delivers Shigaraki’s message to him and Spinner cries for his friend. To the world he was nothing more than a villain who deserved nothing but death. But to Spinner and a lot of other villains he was their hero. A man who hated the hero society, saw how it shunned those who didn’t fit their image on what a hero should be and vowed to destroy it all (and nearly did). Spinner won’t let Shigaraki’s memory fade with time and vows to write a book about him for future generations but Izuku says that no one will forget him (he was a threat to heroes, an inspiration to villains, and a warning to society). Overhaul gets some closure as well. Thanks to support items, they were able to wake up his boss, and he’ll now be living with the guilt of what he’s done until the day he dies. We then focus on Ochaco who is still feeling guilt over Toga’s death. So many what ifs running through her mind and the pain and guilt was just too much for her to bear. Thankfully, Izuku is there to provide support, a shoulder for her to cry on, and even says that she is his hero (Nitsuj: Just kiss already!). The others show up as well to let her know she doesn’t have to face this alone (scene here: https://youtu.be/tNcD4i4hEnQ?si=vDuN0RjBjHxbTzD4).
So in the final *holding back tears* episode, we speed run to the future where everyone has become professional heroes and are changing the world. Except for Izuku, the final sparks of OFA vanished from his body and he really did become quirkless. However, he didn’t let it get him down and instead became a teacher at UA helping train the next generation of heroes. Even though crime and villains are on a decline, everyone is learning to use their powers to better life for those who were discriminated against because of their quirk and even providing counseling for those who have dangerous quirks and are afraid of themselves. While Izuku wishes he could be out there being a hero with his friends, he’s content with his life until All Might shows with a new combat suit for Izuku that was funded by all of his friends (Nitsuj: He finished the Spider-Man route, now it’s time for him to do the Iron Man route. Scenes here: https://youtu.be/CKR3eD75ksw?si=FqonfBZWXrLlKDTg and https://youtu.be/-Vli3NQBsL4?si=g1D6c_J7Ld59efnd).
(Nitsuj): After the anime ended, it was announced that there would be special episode wrapping up the series entirely. This past May, we finally got that episode. We start off with everyone as adults and Ochaco still dreaming about Toga (Shizuku: In a strange way she still lives inside of Ochaco). She’s been having the dream for over a month and wonders if Toga is trying to tell her something. Meanwhile, Izuku goes out with his friends to grab a drink and catch-up. He gets a ride from Katsuki who has dropped in the rankings and can’t find a good sidekick because of his personality while Eijiro is getting ready to go solo in the indie scene. Izuku splits his time between being a teacher and hero, following in the shoes of Aizawa who does the same thing much to Katsuki’s disappointment as he was secretly hoping to invite Izuku to his agency as his partner (Shizuku: He should have just straight up ask. He’s such a tsundere). They make it to the party where we see everyone as an adult and in civilian clothing which is cool. The gathering gets cut short when there’s a crime in process and they all head out (Shizuku: Well this will be overkill). They catch the criminals and decide to call it a night, but as they go their separate ways Izuku goes to Ochaco saying he wants to talk to her more and she wants to do the same thing which is what Toga has been encouraging her to do all this time. So while they don’t come out and say they’re a couple they let you know that: yeah, they realize their feelings for each other, they’re going to explore them more, and down the line they’re gonna get married (Shizuku: That’s all we ever wanted). In my opinion, this was a good ending to the series as a whole.
(Shizuku): We also got a short where Eri and her friends from school perform Hero Too on the streets for everyone to hear (that little girl we saved has grown into a young lady who has found her smile).
Final Thoughts
(Nitsuj): And that was the end of My Hero Academia and it was. . .
(Shizuku): ABSOLUTE CINEMA!
*Shizuku stands up applauding and crying*
(Nitsuj): Not the words I would use, but close enough. I’m not gonna sit here and pretend the anime is perfect and the greatest of all time, but it was an amazing ride to go on. The fact that the series got to tell its story from beginning to end with little to no changes is a miracle in today’s world. Everyone gets an ending that they deserve and come out better because of it. I like that Endeavor survives in the end and will spend the rest of his life living with his mistakes and trying to salvage his relationship with his family. It’s a fitting in for a character who has made mistakes and must now face the consequences of his choices but still in the end finds some peace. It’s not a happy ending but it’s an ending that has closure for the family.
Izuku’s story of becoming the hero he’s always wanted to be was great. In the end he showed that it doesn’t matter if you were born with a quirk, everyone has a chance to be a hero for someone out there. Shigaraki lives up to the role of ultimate villain for this series. His actions left a scar on the world and serves as a warning to those who refuse to reach out to help others. To the heroes he was their greatest threat, but to the villains he was their hero. The one who embodied the anger, frustrations, and discriminations everyone faced in their life and the one who was finally going to tear it down for everyone.
(Shizuku): Even though he was the villain, he and Izuku managed to find common ground with each other in the end and he left this world seeing Izuku as an enemy and friend. I do love how not just heroes but society changes because of the battle. They realize that it can’t just be heroes saving the world, everyone has to do their part wherever they can.
The animation goes all out in this final season, making the panels from the manga come to life before our lives and giving us a finale that pays respect to the series, the author, and the fans.
(Nitsuj): If we had to name the one big issue with this series is that there’s no closure on a lot of the ships they had going on throughout. While I get the romance was never the main focus of this series, the fact that you hinted at and dedicated time and scenes to it, they could have at least let us know what happened to their ships.
(Shizuku): Granted, we got a special that hints at Izuku officially dating Ochaco, but what about the other ships out there?
Final Score
(Nitsuj): The final score for My Hero Academia encompassing all the animes is an 8.5/10.
(Shizuku): I respect your opinion but BASTARD! I’m giving this anime a 10/10.
(Nitsuj): This brings the final score of the anime to a 9/10 with a must watch stamp of approval. Just like how One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach defined my generation, My Hero Academia definitely defined a generation of anime fans from the mid-2010s to today and will live on in their memories as a series that defined them. It was a long journey but a good one. Thank you My Hero Academia, you truly were a great series to read and watch. May you be forever remembered fondly by the masses.
(Shizuku): And thank you for spending time with us this summer. It’s been a blast.
(Nitsuj): Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time on Project Nitsuj.
