’My Hero Academia’ Season 7 Episode 9 review: Consequences are felt in “Extras”

On the heels of Shoto’s seeming defeat of Dabi, My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 9 allows itself a beat of celebration. Momentarily, the heroes bask in a singular win as a means to embolden their resolve as they face other villains, as All Might shares the news with all fighting. As Class 1-A and heroes rally, Shoto sits worn and emotional as Iida offers small comforts in the face of the devastation ahead of them. Yes, Shoto won, but does it feel like a win? 

As Season 7 digs into the emotional gravitas of what these characters are facing, the more profound sadness of some of its leading players comes to the forefront. From the unreasonable expectations set on Shoto’s shoulders as Endeavor’s “prize” to face off against his “failure” to the overarching tragedy of Spinner’s reality, “Extras” leans into melancholy amidst the celebration. Bakugou, Mina, Kirishima, and co. can continue fighting, strengthened by knowing that Todoroki won, especially after Midoriya’s disappearance. But when we see the tears that gather in Todoroki’s eyes, that jubilant atmosphere is immediately dampened. These are kids fighting in a war not of their making. 

The primary battle of “Extras” takes place with Endeavor and Hawks fighting against All for One. All for One, whose greatest strength might as well be his ability to land devastating, emotional low blows. Hawks tries to remind Endeavor of this, recalling how it was at Kamino Ward where All for One revealed to All Might that Shigaraki was his mentor’s grandson. But Endeavor fails to heed Hawks’ warning. When Endeavor finds out that it was All for One who found Dabi’s decimated body the day of his disappearance, he loses his control. 

The animation is stunning in this sequence, amplified by continued excellent sound design as we hear the pounding of Endeavor’s blows over Hawks’s rapid internal thinking. The blows emulate a pounding heartbeat, which fits the panic that Hawks is beginning to feel as he tries to formulate any means by which they make it out of there unscathed. Endeavor, finally distracted, gets a piece bitten out of him from one of All for One’s many stolen quirks and falls just as the unlikely duo of Dark Shadow and Jiro appear to help. 

Dark Shadow and Hawks have worked together before, but Jiro is a fantastic addition. Her sonic output helps deflect one of All for One’s attacks, a reminder that the entire class has been working to strengthen their bodies and mental fortitude. Despite the moment of heroism, though, we’re also reminded of how green some of these characters are. All for One himself notes as much, taunting Jiro and Dark Shadow by suggesting that they must’ve believed this war was simply an extension of classroom antics. He’s essentially suggesting they didn’t realize the real-life consequences that could befall them should they lose. 

Jiro feels this, realizing that she’s never truly been the focus of such deliberate and targeted evil intent. As she thinks back on her classmates, such as Midoriya and Aoyama, who’ve faced All for One, she gathers her strength. All the while Hawks continues to panic about how to save himself and Endeavor now but, mostly, protect the two teens on the front lines. Hawks is often calm and collected as a character, and this is one of the first times we’ve seen that facade crack. Because he does realize the significance of Dark Shadow and Jiro being there and the weighty consequences on the line. They could die. Yuichi Nakamura delivers a versatile and dynamic voice performances in “Extras,” perfectly capturing his mounting stress.

These heightened stakes add to the operatic feeling of the All for One showdown. The score continues to add depth to these moments, from the euphoric opening moments and the signature cues to the tense standoff. Every aspect of My Hero Academia Season 7 continues to soar, from the animation, direction, and score to the pacing. Like the students caught in battle, the series refuses the viewers a moment of peace. Bakugou might demonstrate keen character growth by acknowledging Todoroki’s achievement, but he’s still standing up against the monstrous hands growing from Shigaraki. 

The episode ends on another bombastic cliffhanger as one of Hawks’ fears come true. He isn’t quick enough as Dark Shadow and Jiro both recieve devastating blows. Heroes are bleeding out on the ground and in the sky, and All for One takes joy in their pain. The episode might’ve started on a high, but it’s relentlessly reminding us that this is still only the start of the battle, and the threats are real. 

My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 9, “Extras” is out now on Crunchyroll with new episodes each Saturday.

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Images courtesy of Studio Bones/Crunchyroll.