There’s an undeniable, infectiously cyclical nature to the story at the heart of My Hero Academia. From specific visual callbacks to the way the final fight has chased the vestiges of All Might and Midoriya’s initial meeting, to bringing back the band Porno Graffiti to croon on the latest and last OP, the series understands the thrill of watching the culmination of eight seasons, 431 chapters coming together for something that shows a distinctive passage of time while honoring the remnants of what made it special in the first place.
But the magic of My Hero Academia Season 8 Episode 8 lies in how it also pivots away from that cycle. Yes, Midoriya’s final blow to Shigaraki is so formidable that it drives away the rain, welcoming sunshine just like All Might did back in Episode 1. But he also did it with a herculean push of support rather than standing isolated as a figurehead rather than a person.
And that really is the crux of the series as a whole. So much of the story observes as these teenage characters idolize the heroes who’ve been made icons or, instead, shoulder the legacy of those entrenched in the need to be number one. And while there’s remaining charm to how Midoriya and co fanboy over All Might, the real growth of the narrative comes when we realize his way wasn’t the best. Midoriya, Bakugo, Todoroki, and even Iida all grow as heroes the moment they let down their walls and allow the help of others.
“Deku” inspires the others to do their best.
It’s that courage in the face of vulnerability that makes them interesting. Because they’re not indestructible, emotionless icons but teenagers doing their best and knowing when their best isn’t enough on its own.
“Izuku Midoriya: Rising” was always going to be an emotional highlight of the entire series. Not just for its climactic battle against All for One, but due to how it sharpens the point that the writing has endeavored to convey. He gave up his gift to save the day and to reach a lost, crying soul. And yet, despite being lonely and quirkless, here he’s his most powerful, and surrounded by those willing to do anything and everything in their might to get him across the finish line.
The chapter in the manga felt, in comparison, a little brief. My Hero Academia Season 8 Episode 8 wonderfully expands the entire face-off so that it feels more all-encompassing and epic. From original scenes such as Present Mic teaming up with Jiro/Earphone Jack, to the tangible, physical strength of Kirishima, Mina, and Fat Gum blocking a devastating force heading Midoriya’s way, there’s weight behind each counterattack. It both shines the light (again) on the formidable strength of the lineup while highlighting how they’ve all been changed by their time together or Midoriya himself.
The ensemble shines in My Hero Academia Season 8 Episode 8.
And none of it feels forced or stomach-churningly sanguine. It’s not a cheap way to elicit or manipulate emotions. It’s all earned. From the final moments between Aizawa, Present Mic, and Oboro/Kurogiri, which suggest greater melancholy, to Aoyama being the first to offer Midoriya a hand, each moment reminds us of what these characters have undergone together. Of course, some work better, such as Iida once again being a background MVP as he hurtles himself forward to once again take hold of Midoriya’s hand and gift him his speed, recalling their first meeting and Uraraka’s repositioning of what “Deku” could really mean – a rallying cry to do your best.
There are so many moments like this that create a visceral, cathartic sequence, and it’s hard not to mention them all. Small, detailed shifts of characters to the defining ones, such as Todoroki and Endeavor working together, and Bakugo, in another Hail Mary moment, careening in out of nowhere, breathing fire to support Midoriya one last time, bellowing that his former rival better not fall behind him. And of course, All Might’s own declaration that ever since the day he saw Midoriya run powerless to save Bakugo, he’s forever been his greatest hero.
Because Midoriya subverts what a hero is meant to be. Through the efforts of his classmates and peers, and those on the sidelines who his kindness and determination have influenced, he reaches All for One, calling him a lonely man and using “demon lord” as a title to hide the truth. In doing so, it allows Shigaraki to regain control, letting the two part on a somber yet amicable note, as the once-villain dies smiling, happy in his destruction and in his end.
An unexpected yet emotional end for Shigaraki.
It’s a genuinely shocking end for a series that seeks hopefulness. But the series has never shied away from darker elements. And the characters have all borne the markings of the battle they’ve fought. An easy ending would be for Midoriya to save Shigaraki and have him reform, or for Midoriya to defeat him without killing him. This ending, in turn, offers something more complex, yet another scar to add to the increasing amount already adorning him.
The animation throughout the fight offers dynamic direction that highlights each character’s strengths, from tracking Yaoyorozu’s missile launch with a cinematic long shot to Hagakure’s resilience in deflecting the first blow. And, as the star of the episode, the animation takes care with Midoriya.
It’s evident both in the throes of battle, such as when he runs up the columns of All for One’s sprawling attacks, and in his initial, desperate run, an echo of his first attempt at saving someone. His humanity, his clumsy emotions, and his tireless attempts to better himself all come together in that single image of him sprinting, bandaged, bleeding, and in borrowed clothing, as the last embers of his gift light him up.
“Izuku Midoriya: Rising” doubles down on how much we care for these characters.
My Hero Academia Season Episode 8 refuses to hold back. The direction is flawless, the animation top-tier, and the needle drop of the iconic “You Say Run” strikes at just the right moment, making those who have long followed the journey of these characters emotional. Daiki Yamashita is enormously effective, too, both in his moments of resolute defiance and the emotional beats as he accepts the help around him.
More than anything and more than the spectacle of such an episode, “Izuku Midoriya: Rising” makes us realize how much we care. The ability to root for fictional characters is a testament to the writing that brings them to life. And while there will forever be nitpicks about the ending of the series and the undeniable rushed quality of it, what smooths out those flaws are the characters themselves. Characters who are so well adorned, so personality-driven and beloved that it makes the creeping sense of finality to the story all the more potent. Because we’re about to say goodbye.
Midoriya is such a superb protagonist, and while there’s more story to go before final farewells, My Hero Academia Season 8 Episode 8 is the perfect encapsulation of what makes him so watchable. Because, as his friends, peers, and classmates reach out to help him, there’s no question why. The writing earns this triumph and his innate heroism.
My Hero Academia Season 8 Episode 8 is available now on Crunchyroll with new episodes each Saturday.
Images courtesy of Studio Bones/Crunchyroll.
REVIEW RATING
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My Hero Academia Season 8 Episode 8 - 10/10
10/10
Based in New England, Allyson is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of InBetweenDrafts. Former Editor-in-Chief at TheYoungFolks, she is a member of the Boston Society of Film Critics and the Boston Online Film Critics Association. Her writing has also appeared at CambridgeDay, ThePlaylist, Pajiba, VagueVisages, RogerEbert, TheBostonGlobe, Inverse, Bustle, her Substack, and every scrap of paper within her reach.
