The battle may be won, but the war is far from over.
Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.
As someone who’s thoroughly enjoyed My Hero Academia all season long, I went into the finale with incredibly high expectations. While "In Each of Our Hearts" doesn't quite reach the lofty bar the handful of prior episodes set before it, Season 1’s final episode does a solid job of wrapping up the epic confrontation at U.A. High School, serving up a satisfying ending that left me eager to find out what the next chapter in Deku's journey has in store.
The episode picks up right after All Might defeats Nomu, sending the shock-absorbing monster flying off into the sky with one final punch. At this point, the world's number one hero is at his limit, bleeding from his side and unable to move, as the League of Villains' leader Tomura Shigaraki and his gaseous sidekick Kurogiri move in to deliver the final blow. As the only one aware of All Might's peril, Deku once again makes a heroic act of self sacrifice, destroying his legs in an attempt to come to his mentor's aid.
Deku to the rescue!
This impulsive act to save All Might thrusts Deku head first into the throws of danger, but class president Tenya Iida, who's joined by reinforcements from the school, appears just in the nick of time. It's moments like these that have me so deeply invested in this show and its characters. Deku continues to serve as a shining example of what it means to be a selfless hero, even when he's not the one who ends up saving the day. Likewise, Iida's humble and diligent efforts prove that heroism comes in all forms, having made the smart decision to retreat back to the school and seek help, putting his ego aside in favor of preserving the wellbeing of his classmates.
The arrival of reinforcements force Shigaraki and Kurogiri to retreat, leaving the members of U.A. High School wounded but victorious. Deku's teacher Aizawa (aka Eraserhead) is badly injured but will survive. The same goes for "Space Hero" Thirteen, who also nearly died in the battle. While I certainly don't wish death upon any of these heroes, the fact that not a single one was killed in the stunningly animated confrontation has me questioning the viability of the League of Villains as a formidable threat. I see a lot of potential for them as antagonists, but without a substantial backstory or context for their motivations, the villainous team currently feels a bit one note.
Thanks to Healing Girl, the danger posed to My Hero Academia's cast of heroes is undermined by the fact that there's an easy fix for those who've been hurt in battle. I found myself truly in fear of the League of Villains during the attack on U.A. High School when it appeared as though not everyone would make it out alive, but when it was clear everyone survived, I initially felt shortchanged by a battle that appeared to be inconsequential. However, my fears were quickly assuaged, as Eraserhead appears to have damaged his eyes beyond the school's healing capabilities. All Might's abilities may be dwindling as well, with the hero suggesting the battle may have shortened the length at which he can stay in hero form to an hour. So long as these ramifications aren’t brushed under the rug and play a major factor in the show going forward, I won’t be left feeling though the multi-episode buildup to the final confrontation was a waste of time.
Much of this final episode served to tie up any loose ends from the battle. We're treated to a tender moment in the hospital as Deku and All Might recover, and learn that the monstrous Nomu has been captured. The ending also provided an interesting window into the relationship between the police and the academy, which portrayed a refreshingly symbiotic pairing, rather than a clichéd one in which the two are at frustrating odds with each other.
All Might and Deku in recovery
We also get a peek at what appears to be an even greater threat that looms in the distance, as the finale offered a brief tease of villains' true leader through a disembodied voice emanating from a TV, as well as a ragged looking villain perched atop a building during an ominous post-credits scene.
Unfortunately, that came at the cost of any significant character development for the rest of Deku's classmates. There's a brief montage of the students' determined faces and a quick moment of introspection from the egotistical Bakugou, but I was hoping to for a deeper look into how this horrific event affected our budding young heroes. This episode was also noticeably light on comedy. There were a few bits of humor toward the end, but they didn't have me laughing out loud like the expertly delivered comedic moments I've come to expect from the series.
The Verdict
While the final episode of My Hero Academia's first season doesn't reach the same emotional highs set by the handful of episodes prior, "In Each of Our Hearts" satisfyingly wraps up the first chapter in Deku's story and sets the stage for exciting things to come for the students of U.A. High School in Season 2.
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