’My Hero Academia’ Season 7 Episode 16 review: “The Chain Thus Far” brings back a familiar face

Two crucial reminders take place in My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 16. While “The Chain Thus Far” is largely setting the stage for the last six episodes of Season 7, a few pivotal moments speak to the spirit of the series and what makes it a lasting, captivating story. Plenty of dissenters argue that the cast is too large at this point. At least in the sense of fairly accommodating everyone’s stories. For instance, supporting players such as Kirishima, who played a significant role in prior seasons, is mainly sitting this out. But that large cast is so varied and so well-written that, when they do get moments to shine, they land with enormous impact. That is the case here with Gentle Criminal. 

In full transparency, Gentle Criminal is the main antagonist in one of the weaker arcs of My Hero Academia. Coming on the heels of one of the series’ best with Midoriya’s showdown with Overhaul, the festival arc was thin in comparison. It’s delicate and sweet and is a good cool-down after one of the darkest arcs in the series, but it goes on too long and leans heavily into cheesier sequences. The most notable thing about Gentle Criminal is that it’s the first time Midoriya can defeat a villain alone. Aside from that, it’s yet another reminder that the “villains” are often people let down by society or their ambitions. 

However, the fundamental truth about My Hero Academia is that the strength of its lead character and the theme it builds itself around is the idea of how an act of kindness or generosity inspires others. How one small gesture can change the trajectory of someone else’s life, for good and bad. In their fight, Midoriyia said he wanted to be a hero who could ensure someone was able to smile. It clearly left an impact because now, after a flashback demonstrates his own heroism, Gentle Criminal returns the favor. 

It bears repeating how wonderful Midoriya is as a protagonist because of this moment. His kindness inspires would-be villains — both Gentle Criminal and Lady Nagant — to shed their past to do good and become heroes in their own right. It’s why All Might chose him in the first place. His body moving on its own and his natural heroism in seeing the good in people motivates him to help those in need. It’s partially why his fight with Shigaraki is so melancholy; the latter provokes him to think he is not someone he can save. After all, he doesn’t want to be. 

It’s why his taunting Midoriyia works so well in “The Chain Thus Far” because it is a solid contrast to how his heroism affects Gentle and Lady Nagant. The animation doubles down on visually depicting Shigaraki’s proper form. The Akira-inspired body horror continues, and his body melts, his skin falling from in during an explosive sequence once his power is unleashed after Aizawa and Monoma are attacked by the Sad Man Death Parade. He stands in all his glory, no longer a monstrous figure consumed by a body he can’t control but all the more imposing.

And while it’s one of the major sequences in the episode, Gentle’s scene is particularly effective. With the classic instrumental serving as the backdrop, the direction is superb in capturing the epic scale of the moment as he rushes to keep the Coffin in the Sky from crashing. Directed by Hyūga Yamamura, the framing ensures that we witness the character’s full power, the pink light of his quirk creating a stark contrast against the stormy waves and skies. It’s a bombastic, show-stopping moment that doesn’t forget the details as we watch the force of the wind peel away the sleeves of his jacket, his silhouette small but formidable against the aircraft he tries to keep afloat. 

The moment, not even two minutes, is sweeping and grandiose in the way that My Hero Academia so often likes to lean into. The “plus ultra” mantra is visualized as we watch this character transform before us from the once petty villain to the hero. His declaration of “I just wanted to help,” along with Midoriyia’s shock and gratitude, is a beautiful way to wrap the moment up before Lady Nagant’s closing blow for the episode. 

Plenty transpires elsewhere, but again, it mainly sets the stage. Urakaka and Froppy manage to follow Toga through the portal while Endeavor sets himself up to face Dabi head-on. Hawks, too, is forced into combat with All For One despite the original plan to divide and conquer. They all add to the mounting thrills of the big battles, but there’s no climatic moment; they merely step into the larger war. 

It’s why the moments with Gentle are so profound in an episode that is sometimes a little listless in energy, especially with the comedy that comes with La Brava. Because they deliver both energized animation and a reminder of why the series and its protagonist are heartwarming. It’s a reminder that no matter your background, you can improve yourself if you’re willing to do the work. It almost makes me sorry for disliking his original arc so much. Because the payoff, in retrospect, is monumental.

My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 16, “The Chain Thus Far” is out now on Crunchyroll with new episodes each Saturday.

---

Images courtesy of Studio Bones/Crunchyroll.