REVIEW: ‘My Hero Academia,’ Episode 127 – “Hellish Hell”

My Hero Academia Episode 127 marks the start of the second cour of Season 6 of My Hero Academia, as the war between the heroes and the Liberation Front seemingly comes to an end. The heroes and villains both have taken heavy losses, and Deku and his friends must deal with the aftermath.

The first half of My Hero Academia Episode 127 serves as a concise recap of the season so far, giving viewers highlights of the most important battles and their results. I don’t usually like recap episodes, but the way My Hero Academia Episode 127 handled it felt very organic. Instead of a simple “here is what happened”, we get more of a reflection on the cost of battle in this war. Through this, we learn that the heroes have taken some heavy losses, including the loss of Ms. Midnight at the end of the last episode. The villains have also lost heavily, with almost 17,000 members of the Paranormal Liberation Front captured and others killed in action.

Where My Hero Academia Episode 127 really stands out is how it shows the effect of the battles on the regular citizens. Sure, we know the heroes are devastated by their losses and I truly appreciate that we get to see the heroes mourning those losses, but rarely do we ever see or hear from the civilians involved in such drastic battles. In fact, the superhero genre at large tends to gloss over the impact on the people whose lives are most impacted. Being able to hear civilians talk about their new distrust of heroes, especially one who seems to think Endeavor has ulterior motives, gives a whole new perspective on the war. It’s a small thing that makes a world of difference when showing just how powerful the two sides are and how important it is to care about the widespread damage, both physical and mental, the war causes for those not directly involved.

My Hero Academia Episode 127 also sets the stage for what comes next in the war. While the main battle appears to be over for now, Shigaraki has different ideas. Seemingly alone and on the brink of total defeat, he declares that he is going to use the Nomu and what remains of the Paranormal Liberation Front to attack the prison holding All for One in order to free what Shigaraki calls his true self. Shigaraki was kept alive purely because of his hatred and determination to reunite with All for One and defeat the heroes once and for all, and his desperation is palpable. Even though from an outside perspective his chances of victory seem slim, I know he is going to give the heroes everything he has in order to achieve his goals.

A combination of recap and setup for the second half of the season, My Hero Academia Episode 127 manages to blend the two seamlessly in a way that kept me engaged throughout. I felt the pain of the heroes mourning their losses, and I understood the frustration and the fear the civilians feel after seeing so much death and destruction. War really is a hellish hell, and My Hero Academia Episode 127 shows that quite well. My Hero Academia has fans on the edge of their seats, and the opportunity to cement itself as one of the greatest anime of all time is right in front of Studio Bones.

My Hero Academia Episode 127 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.