Warning: Spoilers for My Hero Academia Season 7, Episode 17
InMy Hero Academiaepisodes 154 and 155,the heroes receive unexpected assistance from the former antagonistsLa Brava, Gentle Criminal, and Lady Nagant. While many shōnen animes redeem their villains, which later grow to become an endearing part of the story, like Piccolo and Vegeta fromDragon Ball, it has also turned into a point of criticism in several series, as many viewers believe it’s becoming a tiresome trope that is not always handled realistically.But this isn’t the case forMy Hero Academia, as its story has fixed this issue with how it develops its villains.
Gentle Criminal was a victim of the narrow-minded hero society inMy Hero Academia, just like Lady Nagant was a tool for the Safety Commission. Still, they had a change of heart, and their helpturned the tables in the battle against Shigarakiin the U.A. Both characters show how, instead of just continuing a trope,My Hero Academianaturally incorporates the villains’ redemption into the story by making it one of its biggest themes, featuring it exponentially better than any other anime.
My Hero Academia’s Anime Just Made One Of The Series' Most Heartbreaking Fights Even More Tragic With One Line
One simple line delivery change in the My Hero Academia anime series made one of the show’s most tragic stories even more painful.
Redeeming Villains Is Part of My Hero Academia’s Central Theme
Gentle and Lady Nagant’s Return Proves That Redemption Is Only for Those Who Want to Change
The series' central theme of helping others was born out ofMHA’s creator’s unique definition of hero, which shaped Deku’s character to be driven by his desire to reach out to understand others and offer them a second chance, even villains. Therefore,inMy Hero Academia, villains’ redemption doesn’t happen just becauseor are rushed for the sake of returning a popular character like in other series, but rather comes naturally and realistically as a result of Deku’s actions, since the story’s main message is about how helping someone, even when they didn’t ask for it, can impact them positively.
Deku didn’t reject Gentle or Nagant but tried to understand their reasoning, offering them another path that inspired them to change. However, what makes their shift a realistic portrayal of redemption is that it wasn’t simply because of Deku’s words, but because deep inside they had regrets for their wrongdoings and were yearning for a change. Which is something that other characters like Chisaki and Muscular weren’t capable of showing. This is perfectly exemplified in a quote said to Gentle inMHAepisode 84.
The only people who say they can’t turn their lives around are the ones with no real desire to change—Gori from the Police Force.
Gentle’s crimes weren’t serious, and he was looking for the recognition he couldn’t have when young. Additionally, Nagant never wanted to harm anyone and wanted someone to tell her it’s ok to accept even the mudded gray side of society. Both, by being influenced by Midoriya, were able to look at themselves and seek to turn their lives around. With Gentle and Nagant’s return inMHA’s episode 155, the series shows uplifting, inspirational villains who can also become the greatest heroes, giving the message that the quote doesn’t apply to the pro-heroes and students alone.
My Hero AcademiaIsn’t Trying to Redeem Every Villain But Humanizing Them
The Series Fleshed out the League of Villains’ Motives, Giving Them More Humanity
While Gentle Criminal, La Brava, and Lady Nagant have shown a latent capacity for kindness and repentance, and attempt to make up for their past actions by supporting the heroes in the Final War,My Hero Academiadoesn’t say that every crime should be forgotten but rather tries to shine a light on the reasons behind people’s actions, exploring the nature of good and evil. However,no matter how questionable and reprehensible the villains are, they are still humans, as stated by Tsukauchi inMHAepisode 154.
No matter how far they’ve fallen, each villain is still a human being. It’s on us to recognize that about them. We absolutely have to. To borrow a phrase from a friend… deep within their hearts, we’ll find their starting points—their origin. - Naomasa Tsukauchi
The League of Villains exists because their members were oppressed and ostracized their whole lives, and their behavior is a consequence of that, but that doesn’t mean that they should be forgiven. What Midoriya, Uraraka, and Shoto are trying to do with Shigaraki, Toga, and Dabi is understand them so that they can help them reconcile with their humanity, but they will still have to face the consequences of their actions.
My Hero AcademiaGeniusly Differences Between Redemption and Atonement
Contrary to What Some Might Think, Two Popular Heroes Don’t Seek Redemption.
MHAshows that guilt and regrets aren’t exclusively for villains. However, Endeavor’s character arc isn’t about redemption but atonement, as he seeks to fix his mistakes caused by his greed and selfishness, but he deeply hurt his family and knows they don’t owe him to forgive him, nor is he looking that; he is just trying to be better. Likewise, Bakugo throughout the series recognizes the way he treated Izuku, and even though he apologizes, he is trying to make it up to him by supporting him and even sacrificing for him.
Also, the series shows that although not everyone deserves redemption, by having heroes connected with the same purpose who help others, inspire, and work together to fight the darkness, society inMHAwill continue to improve to avoid creating more villains.This unique perspective of making redemption such an important part of the story and not a meaningless event proves it is a well-executed theme inMy Hero Academia,contrary to other shōnen anime.
My Hero Academia
Cast
Anime series My Hero Academia follows Izuku Midoriya, a boy born without superpowers in a world where most have them. Despite his lack of abilities, he enrolls in a prestigious hero academy, striving to learn the true essence of heroism and fulfill his dream of becoming a hero.
