The following contains spoilers for “Together with Shoji,” season 7, episode 14 of My Hero Academia, now streaming on Crunchyroll.

While My Hero Academia shines brightest when the anime series focuses on the climactic battles against villains like All For One and Tomura Shigaraki, but the anime should spend episodes exploring other, more unique fights – which is why Season 7 Episode 14, “Along with Shoji,” is so entertaining and refreshing. It’s true that this is just a sideshow plot-wise, but My Hero Academia has always had more to offer than Quirk battles. It also deals with strong themes such as societal inequality and discrimination related to Quirks.

Thematically, Episode 14 is My Hero Academia The strongest part of season 7 so far. There are plenty of characters and dialogue with a few action sequences to back it all up. It is a compelling example of the Why a battle between heroes and villains that will Howand in the process, some notable characters get some long-overdue shine. While the episode’s clash of heteromorphic heroes and villains ends inconclusively, that’s the icing on the cake, because with issues this deep-rooted, solutions are never easy to find.

My Hero Academia Season 7, Episode 14 tackles complex social issues with finesse

It is never easy to be born with a mutation-like trait

Season 7, Episode 14 is not the first time that My Hero Academia has dealt with issues of societal inequality due to the prevalence of Quirks, but here the anime specifically highlights the topic of heteromorphs. This makes this episode stand out much more and have a much stronger resonance. The battle pits a huge mob of heteromorph villains, criminals, and other rioters led by Spinner against a much smaller force of pro heroes and police officers. While a police platoon may do most of the work, it’s the heteromorphic heroes Mezo Shoji and Koji Koda who lead the defense – both with their quirks and their actions. Mezo and Koji are the perfect heroes to contrast the bitter, desperate message that Spinner’s side has to convey.

As Mezo and Koji battle the quirk-enhanced Spinner and his allies, both sides make their arguments, which all heteromorphs have been through, and it’s heartbreaking to hear it all. It’s rare for heroes and villains to understand each other on such a fundamental level, but here it works, as society is generally unkind to heteromorphs – especially in rural areas. This is a complex, emotionally weighty societal issue that simmers beneath the surface. My Hero Academia for some time, and the final battle is a good place to explore it in that level of detail. It’s also a good way to show fans the full scope of all the Quirk categories and make Heteromorphs more than “animal-like people.” Thematically, Season 7, Episode 14 covers the Heteromorphs’ struggles well.

Mezo Shoji: Idiot, this will set society back 30 years.

The episode does an excellent job of maintaining the balance in which this theme both unites and divides the professional heroes and villains. Quirks may unite all of humanity to some extent, but with these people it’s different – it’s much more personal and often painful. Episode 14 features the pre-league spinner facing harsh abuse and retreating into a lonely life of playing nothing but no-name video games. League of Legends to find solace, while Mezo Shoji remembers being beaten regularly in his hometown just for looking the way he did. It’s fascinating and meaningful to see how these shared, grim experiences of heteromorphs allow the heroes and villains to understand each other just enough to have that conversation, while still having enough differences to keep fighting each other.

All of this makes for an immersive and fascinating experience, and there’s another notable aspect: how shared experiences led to different reactions and attitudes. Almost all heteromorphs have had similar experiences, but while villains like Spinner react with vengeance and violence, heroes like Mezo Shoji and Koji Koda respond with compassion and diplomacy. It’s a good way to expand on Mezo and Koji’s character arcs – both of which have received very little attention throughout the story. My Hero Academia Anime. Words probably won’t stop Spinner’s rampage, but they can still give viewers something to think about.

Episode 14: Mezo Shoji finds acceptance in Class 1-A

This little thing has a big impact for MHA fans

A short Shonen-style flashback in My Hero Academia Season 7, Episode 14 helps to further reinforce the theme of heteromorphism, and in a purely positive way. The flashback shows Mezo discussing this sensitive topic with his classmates in the UA dorm, and his classmates not only understand and accept his words – they quickly comfort him as true friends. It’s a heartwarming and flattering scene of unconditional tolerance and friendship among student heroes. Deku and the others see Mezo Shoji, Koji Koda, and Fumikage Tokoyami for who they are on the inside.

It is not exactly new that Class 1-A has kind-hearted teenagers, but this is still a wonderful and fresh way for MHA to show the kindness of his characters. Some students – including the normally rude Minoru Mineta – are suddenly self-conscious about their expressions in the presence of heteromorphs like Mezo Shoji. This allows the anime to show that every little thing matters when it comes to sensitive topics, and it’s nice to see Minoru apologize for calling Mezo an “octopus.” Tellingly, Mezo handles all of this graciously and doesn’t take offense at the ambiguous comments of his classmates. The scene ends with some of them humorously hugging him. This may not be an important part of the episode, but it is one of the most important.

Episode 14 refreshes MHA’s narratives with much-needed refreshers

Spinner is finally a real threat on the battlefield

The action in season 7, episode 14 is no less impressive. My Hero Academia The combat is both verbal and physical, and the physical side provides some long-overdue showstoppers for three heteromorphic characters in the series. It’s always fun to see both heroes and villains improve their skills with awakened quirks, new techniques, and different strategies. And to create tension and excitement, it’s doubly important that the villains do so. Spinner should have been stronger – he’s been a borderline gag character for some time now. In episode 14, he steals the show.

That Spinner can’t match his bosses All For One and Tomura Shigaraki in terms of power isn’t a problem. This isn’t about increasing power with yet another superboss villain; it’s about what this new power means to the vengeful Spinner, what he’ll do with it, and why. He’s literally being gifted with new Quirks by All For One that allow him to do serious damage to the society that rejected his heteromorphic self the first time. It’s exciting to watch the supersized Spinner fight both Mezo and Koji, and it’s also meaningful to see the heroes use all of their power to fight the same opponent in different ways. The balance between fighting with words and fighting with Quirks is handled well, neither overshadowing the other as Spinner gets bigger, stronger, and more terrifying.

My Hero Academia ends with a meaningful cliffhanger

Season 7, Episode 14 doesn’t resolve things cleanly

The ending of My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 14 is quite sudden and completely inconclusive. The battle rages on as the giant spinner breaks into a nearby building and growls like an animal. This ending doesn’t resolve anything and thus initially seems like a forgettable “to be continued”. However, it would be too easy to resolve this battle in one episode.

Episode 14 is wise to roll the credits before anything is resolved, because major societal problems are never solved quickly or easily. It puts the pain of heteromorphic generations on display, and while My Hero Academia Fans can reasonably assume the heroes will win, it would feel cheap if Spinner fell immediately. His message would be meaningless if he was trampled just when he finally gets the chance to say something. Through the ending with a cliffhanger, MHA Season 7, Episode 14 once again underlines the general message that pain does not go away quickly. Instead, it simmers beneath the surface until it explodes.

Season 7 of My Hero Academia streams on Crunchyroll on Saturdays.