REVIEW: ‘My Hero Academia’ Episode 153 — “Butterfly Effect”

With Spinner (Ryô Iwasaki) leading an angry mob into Central Hospital, it looks like the goal of freeing Kurogiri (Takahiro Fujiwara) is within reach. The battle will enter a dangerous new stage if the villain is released. My Hero Academia Episode 153, “Butterfly Effect,” presents one last chance for threat to pass as a final line is drawn in defense of the hospital and those it shelters.

Opening this episode, we see Spinner leading the crowd into the hospital. As the villain blindly charges into the depths of the structure looking for Kurogiri, the crowd of followers he initially leads quickly stops. Not by any hero or physical threat but by the sight of doctors making a human chain to prevent the mob from threatening their patients. The quiet determination of those who devote their time to preserving life quickly stalls the advance. While they are still angry at the wrongs that have been done to them, Shoji’s earlier words return, questioning what the violence they are doing today will change.

The imagery of the doctors’ peaceful chain stopping what the battle couldn’t is a lovely moment that brings all the positivity this series has always leaned into. That compassion and resistance will stand against the onslaught of anger and violence.

But even as his followers retreat, My Hero Academia Episode 153 sees Spinner continue to charge ahead blindly. Believing he is leading a swarm of people to victory, we get a glimpse of Spinner’s internal thoughts as he rushes ahead. The young man is overjoyed at making a difference in his friend’s cause. While Spinner remains as misguided as ever, this moment reminds us that Spinner is a disenfranchised young man who, seeing no other options for himself, fell in with a bad crowd. While this doesn’t excuse his actions, it brings color to them, allowing the character to garner some sympathy from the audience.

This sympathy is reinforced through the visual design of Spinner’s self-image. We see him as he was. No extra quirks deforming his body, just a young man hoping to help a friend change the world. The anger and resentment are gone as he runs gleefully towards a light, cheerfully calling out to Shigaraki.

As he approaches Kurogiri, however, Present Mic (Hiroyuki Yoshino) arrives to intercept his attempt to liberate his comrade. Unleashing the full force of his voice, Mic knocks the villain to the ground, peeling all of the recently gained armor plating from his body. Rather than rush to apprehend Spinner, Mic loses himself once again in the painful memories of his lost friend. This distraction allows Spinner to make one last lunge toward Kurogiri. He places one of Shigaraki’s ornamental hands on Kurogiri, awakening the powerful teleporter.

Before My Hero Academia Episode 153 explores the ramifications of Kurogiri’s awakening, we get a brief interlude to America. Here, we see a random weather forecaster giving her nightly weather report. We learn that the battles raging in Japan are beginning to adversely affect the weather, threatening problematic changes in the forecast for the States.

While this would be an interesting tidbit of information by itself, the moment expands into something more. Using the correlation at hand to depict the Butterfly Effect, the weather forecaster declares that nothing happens in a vacuum and that everything is connected. She then holds up a clearly homemade sign that says “NO AFO.” It’s a clear protest of the neutrality many nations are taking towards the unfolding conflict in Japan.

This small moment is as a nice showing of individuals using their platforms, however small, to speak up and support a larger cause. It once more speaks to the hope and optimism of the series. The calm professionalism that the individual delivers her message with brings a thoughtfulness to its delivery. This is not a momentary act, fueled by emotion that will soon fade. This was deliberately planned and done. The calm clip of her voice echoes with a powerful resolve.

Once this moment passes, My Hero Academia Episode 153 showcases the immediate shift in the battle brought by Kurogiri. Snatching Dabi and Toga from their locations, he deposits them where All For One is battling Hawks and Endeavor. This is particularly bad, as Toga, acting in desperation, had just consumed the vial of Twice’s blood given to her by Dabi. The heroes are overwhelmed by sheer numbers with the Sad Man Parade pouring out of the teleportation ring.

Toga’s presence on the battlefield is even more dangerous, thanks to her recent change in focus. Driven by the death of Twice, Toga is now far more concentrated on the tactics of the battle and securing victory. Her days of being a wild card focused on doing what she wants have ended. Now, as she prepares to assault Twice’s killer, she displays a determination that is new for the character.

My Hero Academia Episode 153 brings a new phase to the unfolding battle with a mix of drama, action, and hope. Even as the situation worsens, the series sprinkles in moments of positivity, never willing to let the light truly vanish from its narrative.

My Hero Academia Episode 153 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.