REVIEW: ‘My Hero Academia’ Episode 171 – “More”

Operating as both a final, flourishing act of closure as well as an impossible tease of what’s to come for the characters, My Hero Academia Episode 171, “More,” might not be necessary, but it proves its worth. Bursting at the seams with charm and greater character resolution now that we see the once heroes in training as successful adults, “More” is just that. More time with these beloved characters to witness how they’ve grown together, how they’re changed since their first introduction, and the excuse to exist in this world that Kōhei Horikoshi created. 

Season 8 of the series did a phenomenal job of wrapping up the bigger issues facing our protagonist, Izuku Midoriya/Deku (Daiki Yamashita), and the many, many, other heroes, villains, friends, and foes who surrounded him. All for One was defeated. Shigaraki (Koki Uchiyama) and Toga (Misato Fukuen) both met their ends, but with a greater sense of bittersweet triumph, both lost despite Midoriya and Uraraka(Ayane Sakura). Bakugo (Nobuhiko Okamoto) demonstrated his full potential and reached the necessary emotional peak as he grieved Midoriya’s loss of One for All. Todoroki found closure in his familial drama, and very few characters died. 

But one of the more interesting elements of the final episodes, once the war itself was won, was the way the scars of battle lingered. And, it’s one of the few moments where the series easily could’ve expanded upon itself. Horikoshi, from the start, emphasized the consequences of impulsive action – of self-destructive heroics. Midoriya begins to scar early in the series, outfitted with reminders of the enormous responsibility and repercussions of his inherited power. And he’s not the only one to wear them by the end of the series. 

My Hero Academia Episode 171 emphasizes Uraraka. 

But My Hero Academia clearly had an interest in showing the mental scars, too. The trauma of having endured such tragedy and violence at such young ages. It’s what makes Uraraka’s survivor’s guilt all the more powerful in “The Girl Who Loves Smiles.” It’s what makes the fact that both she and Midoriya live with the ghosts of Toga and Shigaraki all the more potent. They might not have saved the lives they intended to, but they live with the proof of their existence. 

All of which paves the way to making Uraraka a good jumping-off point for My Hero Academia Episode 171. We learn that, as a pro-hero, she’s working tirelessly as both a hero and a Quirk Counselor across schools in Japan, clearly influenced by her experiences as a student. She’s also been plagued by dreams in which Toga is trying to tell her something, but she can’t hear what. 

Despite always being a well-written character, Uraraka never got the same attention that characters such as Midoriya, Bakugo, and Todoroki did, despite being just as crucial to the plot. So it’s nice to see “More” emphasize her journey and where she ends up. She’s still working with Tsuyu (Aoi Yūki), and, in this extended epilogue, with Mirio (Tarusuke Shingaki), Suneater (Yūto Uemura), and Nejire (Kiyono Yasuno). Mirio is currently listed as the Number 1 hero, his popularity evident with the kids they visit. 

From Tsuyu and Uraraka to Midoriya and Bakugo, the dynamics continue to shine. 

That said, for a special episode that is still just 23 minutes, the extended sequences with Mirio showing off a bizarre trick for the sake of an overused gag were a bit of a shame. But only because the brief moments we get with all of the other characters are more enticing. 

Because the moment the story in My Hero Academia Episode 171 shifts to Midoriya, awkwardly and hilariously squished into the backseat of Bakugo’s luxury car, Kirishima (Toshiki Masuda) riding shotgun, we want more. More of this story, this grown-up dynamic, where Bakugo and Midoriya aren’t just rivals but close friends.

So much so that Bakugo even asks Midoriya to join his agency, even if it takes Kirishima to point it out. There’s such rich potential for the story, even if adult heroics is a well-trodden narrative that has been overwhelmed by the media. But with these characters, what they’ve gone through, and the seasons we’ve spent watching them develop and grow, it’s hard not to want to see how it evolves further. 

My Hero Academia Episode 171 lives up to its title. We want “More” of these characters. 

It’s why watching the entirety of Class 1-A gather to celebrate Todoroki making it to the Top 5 hero ranking is all the more special and, weirdly, nostalgic. Because the writing for the series and its characters has always been so well done, simply getting to watch them be in one another’s company is entertaining. The shock of colors and personalities drives the momentum, and the flashes of how they’ve changed and stayed the same are wholesome. 

The animation from Studio Bones, based on Horikoshi’s work, does a nice job of emphasizing the changes that show how they’ve transformed from teenagers into adults. Some are subtle, such as more angular features and choppier bangs for Uraraka, and the greater height difference between her and Midoriya.

Others are more apparent, such as new piercings, facial hair, and the entirety of Todoroki. It’s enough to show how the proof of time without making them caricatures, or forgetting that, yes, eight years is a long time, but not so much that people look completely different.

The extended epilogue delivers strong designs and fluid action.

On the whole, My Hero Academia Episode 171 looks fantastic—the shot of Uraraka in her office with the city lights behind her paints a portrait of fatigue. Meanwhile, the shot of her and Midoriya talking together in the middle of the bustling streets grants their real reunion a sense of magic. “More” even slips in some action, as the entire class takes off to take down a villain, their powers all having evolved and taken new shapes, while also working together to help with what the others can’t physically do. 

It’s a smooth, balanced sequence – brief but effective. It’s fun. So much so that it’s tough to accept that this is it, the end of the line for this story and these characters. Because there’s so much potential, so much charm, and strong relationships to build further stories off of, on the other hand, it’s such a rarity to see a story end with such cumulative grace, and to know when it’s done, that it’s also refreshing.

We want more only because the characters are so lovable, not because the story itself needs it. And isn’t that the marker of a tale well told? 

Kōhei Horikoshi’s world is so rich and lovable, it’s hard to part with it, even if it’s time.

My Hero Academia Episode 171 ends with Uraraka putting the pieces of her dream together. As Midoriya rushes to speak with her, she realizes that Toga, ever since Midoriya received his suit and was told he could still be a hero, has been appearing to tell her she can move on. The spirit of Toga gives her a push forward, and she reaches ahead rather than succumb to the past.

The two clasp hands (a forever fixture in this work by Horikoshi), and the story unravels, watching as the rest of the class makes their way home. It’s a sweet interaction that shows the promise of their future without being overtly romantic about it – that’s never been what the show is about. Suggested without being explicit, another reminder of the significance of relationships in a series defined by them. 

Yes, it’s sad that the series is over, and it, along with the end of other mainstream shonen manga such as Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Chainsaw Man, and more, is beckoning in a new era of stories and their storytellers. With heartfelt interactions, unexpected humor, and dynamic action, My Hero Academia Episode 171 further proves the story’s timeless, lasting power and endearing qualities. Despite a few ups and downs, it achieves greatness both through its cohesiveness and the lingering feeling that, even after the closure, “More” offers and the evidence of Midoriya, Bakugo, Todoroki, and co., living happy and successful lives, we still hope for brief reunions, to check in, to see how they’re all doing. 

My Hero Academia Episode 171 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.

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