’My Hero Academia’ Season 7 Episode 3 review: “Villain” opens up the floodgates

Despite being set up in the early My Hero Academia (Boku no Hīrō Akademia) arcs, the school traitor plot has long slipped into the background. This element reappears in a major way in My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 3, “Villain,” which ushers in a new wave of potential terror and triumph for the young heroes. With its signature level of heart, the series delivers an emotionally volatile episode that deals with the fallout of a world that prioritizes power above all else. 

Aoyama, until now, is primarily a peripheral character. His main contribution has been humor, existing somewhere on the plane of Mineta (obnoxious but prominent) and Ojiro (inoffensive but nearly non-existent). His comedy is either based on his quirk (there will never be a time that ‘navel beam’ isn’t hilarious) or his theatrics (his ominous messages left for Midoriya through slices of cheese.) My Hero Academia, “Villain,” flips this on its head. It doesn’t erase everything Aoyama has done or replace his personality. It adds context. 

We learn that it’s Aoyama, who is the traitor who released information that made the attacks on the USJ and the training camp possible. Born quirkless to affluent parents, they quickly sought a remedy to his “problem.” Playing directly into All for One’s hands, they became his pawns after he bestowed onto Aoyama a quirk. A quirk that never entirely aligned itself with his body, that he had to grow and grapple with to make his own. 

It’s why when he learned of Midoriya’s quirkless origins, it resulted in self-loathing. He used his backstory to justify his place in life as a spy and his desire to protect his parents. But here was his classmate using his new quirk to take down the man Aoyama serves. It’s a beautiful character juxtaposition that highlights their differences and shared sensibilities. How quirklessness in this world damned them from the start and drove them to find quirks elsewhere. It’s just that one found a villain and the other a hero. 

These parallels are the feeding ground on which My Hero Academia exists. We see it often with Shigaraki and Midoriya, but giving our protagonist a mirror in his class is just as poignant. Even Bakugou realizes as much; his mature characterization is a subtle highlight in the episode. The emotional payoff of the storyline is immense, as Midoriya beats himself up over not realizing that Aoyama had tried to reach out to him in his way before while promising him that he could still become a hero. 

The rest of Class 1-A agrees though the adults in the room are slower to believe in this stance. The threat of All for One is real, and they’re already relying on the strength of teenagers to shepherd in a peaceful era. How much can their shoulders bear? It’s an attribute that adds to the severity of the storyline. Despite the sunshine that beams down on the students as they train and strengthen their quirks and resolve in equal measure, it does little to mask their youth. 

It’s why the class reactions to Aoyama work so well. Because of all they’ve been through together, they never once doubted each other. The back and forth proves their strength as ideas bounce between them. From strength training to finding a way to save their friend who believes himself to be a villain, their group mentality and ability to seek hopeful options make them such a formidable group. 

Beyond the episode’s storyline, which hits hard on the themes that make the series such a poignant experience beyond the action, it continues to look amazing. From the reveal of Hagakure’s form, after she reflects the light of Aoyama’s beam to the animation direction and framing, the series looks as good as ever. The students’ anguish is captured in tight close-ups, emphasizing the tired lines and shadows riddling their gaze while the colors pop with confident vibrancy. 

Directed and storyboarded by Tomo Ōkubo, the episode utilizes unusual compositions and framing to capture the characters’ tension. From Kaminari’s reflection in a water bottle to Deku’s face when he first confronts Aoyama, it’s a deluge of beautiful reactions and expressions. There are a lot of free-flowing tears in “Villain,” yet they never feel tired or rote. Instead, each crestfallen face moves a specific level of fatigue. 

The Star and Stripe battle exemplifies the new direction and style under series directors Kenji Nagasaki and Naomi Nakayama. However, the subtleties in “Villain” genuinely express the new, vitalized style and tone. The rich, deep blues still frame the characters and speak to the comic book origins. Now, they’re also lacing themselves with something darker. There’s more angles and depth in each frame.

It matches the storyline and our protagonist. Midoriya’s goodness isn’t without struggles. His upbringing was tough but it inspires him to help those in need. Reaching his hand out to Aoyama is on brand for Midoriya. It speaks to the series’ belief that those touched by darkness aren’t doomed to succumb to it. Aoyama deserves his second chance, as his parents’ mistakes marred his early school days. How they choose to press forward is yet to be see. The story promises significant emotional stakes as we move ever closer to the impending battle. 

My Hero Academia’s seventh season continues to impress with breathtaking character moments that live up to the action-packed ones. As Midoriya and his classmates continue to confront the realities of war and All For One’s insidious ties, they find new ways to offer support and demonstrate their heroic abilities on and off the battlefield. 

My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 3, “Villain” is out now on Crunchyroll with new episodes each Saturday.

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Images courtesy of Studio Bones/Crunchyroll.