REVIEW: ‘My Hero Academia’ Episode 165 — “Wrench It Open, Izuku Midoriya!!”

With the battle between Izuku Midoriya and Shigaraki raging on, the eyes of the world are on this epic showdown. My Hero Academia Episode 165, “Wrench It Open, Izuku Midoriya!!” takes things up a notch. Midoriya knows he will have to take risks to take down his enemy, but will he be able to stop him?

The last episode revealed that Midoriya is going to allow Shigaraki to take his One for All quirks, leaving himself completely exposed. Shigaraki senses that something is up with Midoriya, even if he doesn’t know what exactly. My Hero Academia Episode 165 does a great job of utilizing internal monologues from both Shigaraki and Midoriya to establish their mental states before the engagement begins.

Both fighters have their own goals, and neither is entirely sure what the other is up to. Going into their minds before they unleash their attacks allows viewers to understand this, making it more evident that this is a serious risk for Midoriya. He doesn’t know if this will work, and he certainly doesn’t know if he will survive. However, surviving is no longer his main goal. He is willing to serve as a sacrifice if it means saving everyone else, demonstrating how he has come to fully embody the idea of ‘One for All.’

Midoriya has come a long way as a character over his years of adventures.

My Hero Academia Episode 165 demonstrates how Midoriya has learned valuable lessons from his adventures over the years. He does not rush in without a plan; instead, he takes the time to carefully think through what he is going to do. This is a far cry from his earlier years, where he threw caution to the wind to do what was right; now, he knows he has to be smart about his approach. 

The way this is presented is somewhat disappointing, though. Yes, it is really cool to see Midoriya outthink Shigaraki and pop up unexpectedly to foil the villain’s plans, but the actual combat is lacking. It doesn’t help that every big moment cuts away to either a flashback or an internal monologue that describes what is being shown. My Hero Academia Episode 165 could have used way more of a “show, don’t tell” approach in this one.

That doesn’t mean that there isn’t any exciting action. Studio Bones knows what it is doing when it comes to big set pieces, and there are several of them here. The high-energy moments are still flashy and exciting, but their pacing detracts from the impact they would otherwise have. The slowing down is quite distracting, and one moment, in particular, featuring some of Midoriya’s classmates, is jarring in the midst of what is supposed to be the final battle.

My Hero Academia Episode 165 takes time away from the fight to show what is happening on the ground.

These moments in My Hero Academia Episode 165 do serve a purpose, though. They continue to add to the emotional weight of what Midoriya is fighting for, reminding viewers of everything he has endured to reach this point and the lessons he has learned along the way. While these moments could have been paced more effectively, they do not lack emotional impact. 

My Hero Academia Episode 165 also takes some time away from the fight to show what is happening on the ground. This isn’t just about people cheering on Midoriya; it also highlights what the other heroes are doing to save innocent civilians caught in the middle of the war. It was really great to see how the battle is affecting the rest of the people not directly involved, since they are the ones Midoriya and his friends are fighting for in the first place. 

My Hero Academia Episode 165 is a solid episode that struggles a bit with pacing.

All of these moments work on their own, but they don’t quite flow as well as similar ones have in other episodes this season. Better pacing would have gone a long way towards still incorporating the different focal points without pulling viewers out of the more impactful moments just as they become interesting.

My Hero Academia Episode 165 is a solid episode, but pacing struggles keep it from being as powerful as it could have been. The stakes are still high, but it’s about time we see Midoriya finish this thing once and for all.

My Hero Academia Episode 165 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.

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