REVIEW: ‘My Hero Academia’ Episode 161 — “The End Of An Era, And The Beginning”

All Might’s battle against All For One continues as My Hero Academia Episode 161, “The End of an Era, and the Beginning,” brings in unexpected allies. All Might will need to be at his best to win this battle, but he is willing to put his life on the line if it gives the heroes a chance to win the war.

With All Might on the ropes, it starts to feel like he has no chance of surviving this battle. All For One has him dead to rights, and Hercules is not enough to overcome the challenge. The pulsating music effectively drives home the sense of fear and dread that All Might must feel when everything seems hopeless.

That dread is what makes the arrival of Stain so surprising for All Might. Why would a cold-blooded killer join the battle? It is even more surprising, then, when Stain ends up helping All Might. It doesn’t make any sense on the surface, but once My Hero Academia Episode 161 flashes back to Stain’s decision, it all becomes clear.

One For One reaches a new peak as a frightening villain in My Hero Academia Episode 161.

Like so many in the series, Stain is acutely aware of what makes All Might such an effective hero. He is a symbol of hope—a beacon for others to fix their eyes on when all feels lost. Stain, knowing that he has committed too many crimes to truly redeem himself, realizes that he would make an excellent sacrifice to keep that beacon alight. 

The underlying idea of heroes inspiring others has been present since the very first episode, so it is great to see it continue to play out as the series nears its end. All Might is not this unstoppable fighting force that he once was, but that was never what made him special.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a final battle if one surprise ally quickly brought it to an end. All For One is completely prepared for this, as always, and the dread only increases with the added player in the mix. All For One has always been a frightening villain, but he reaches his peak here in My Hero Academia Episode 161. He seems genuinely unstoppable, no matter what the heroes throw at him.

Maybe the world is going to be okay with the new generation of heroes, after all.

The continuing battle is as epic as it is vital to the survival of humankind. The animation from studio bones makes All For One’s moves more impressive with their visually striking appearance. Watching him zip around the screen is scary, allowing viewers to feel the same intense fear that All Might and the others surely do.

My Hero Academia Episode 161 also gives a glimpse at the rest of the ongoing fights. Izuku Midoriya is holding off Shigaraki, knowing that if he and All For One meet, it will mean the end of everything. It is nice to get a glimpse of the main protagonist, especially because his rise coincides perfectly with All Might’s feeling that the world is going to be ok with the new generation of heroes.

All Might and Midoriya have always shared a similar story, so it is fitting that they are here fighting the two main foes at the end of all things. The two of them continue to inspire each other, which in turn inspires everyone around them. Their continued push in the face of overwhelming terror allows their allies to feel hope and contribute to the battle as well.

It still remains to be seen who will win the war in My Hero Academia Episode 161.

We hear the thoughts of civilians watching the fight online, and they comment on how hopeless everything seems. All Might appears to be about to die, and My Hero Academia Episode 161 ends by focusing on Bakugo and Midoriya and their past and present. They are set to be the ones to carry on All Might’s legacy, regardless of whether or not they can get to him in time and help save him.

My Hero Academia Episode 161 continues to raise the stakes, but it remains to be seen who will win the war. All Might, Midoriya, and the rest of the heroes have a massive mountain to climb if they want to stop All For One in his tracks.

My Hero Academia Episode 161 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.

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