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My Hero Academia Season 5 Episode 98 Review – Best In Show

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My Hero Academia Season 5 Episode 98 Review – Quick Summary

In My Hero Academia Season 5 episode 98, “That Which Is Inherited,” it was time for the final Class 1-A versus 1-B match. Izuku Midoriya/Deku led Ochako Uraraka/Uravity, Mina Ashido/Alien Queen, and Minoru Mineta/Grape Juice against the team from 1-B. After Katsuki Bakugou/Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight and team’s victory in the previous episode (yes, and team), Deku’s had to be feeling the pressure to perform. So, Deku planned extensively with his team. The problem was, when they plunged into action, Deku’s Quirk One for All, had ideas of its own. As Deku closed in on Neito Monoma/Phantom Thief, Monoma said something that so infuriated Deku that One for All seemed to go out of control. Can Deku get it under control? Or will it indiscriminately attack friend and foe?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.

Favorite Quote from My Hero Academia Season 5 Episode 98

My Hero Academia Season 5 Episode 98: Incarceration is hard on the jailer and the prisoner

Even jailers aren’t immune to the effectives of depriving someone of freedom — even if it’s necessary. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

After 98 episodes, I think the writer Kōhei Horikoshi has finished setting up the real story. It looks like he’s given us the concepts and vocabulary we’ll need to understand what he’s about to tell us. And I hate to say it, but it looks like he’s going to tackle a concept that is both near to my heart, and is a cause for my existential despair.

It’s near and dear to my heart because he’s talking about the use and perception of human power. We can distill almost all of human history into a single concept: How the hell do we stop those in power from harming those without power? Clans, states, principalities — all represent our attempts to channel human power. To change it from a bludgeon to enforce one will over others into something different. Put another way, all are attempts to establish a society where every individual can enjoy freedom and safety.

What does that have to do with this episode? Just this: Horikoshi knows the truth. I think he knows the heart of humanity. As proof, I offer my favorite quote of the episode. It represents the most succinct articulation of our history that I’ve seen. And to do so, it borrowed from Charlie Chaplin’s film Monsieur Verdoux. One of the authorities in the facility managing All for One quoted that film.

“One murder makes a villain. Millions a hero,” he said (02:30).

There it is, right there. The entire history of humanity, in two sentences. It’s this series’ thematic foundation, and I’m really curious to see where it goes from here!

Best in Show Moment for My Hero Academia Season 5 Episode 98

Uraraka acted because she saw Deku was hurting. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Setup: Uraraka Has Honed Her Skills

Do you remember the scene where Class 1-B (except Monoma) located and attacked Uraraka, Ashido, and Mineta? There’s a quick shot where 1-A scrambled to avoid the debris that 1-B sent raining down on them. At first, Ashido tried using her Acid Veil to vaporize the incoming projectiles. That worked for a while, until Yui Kodai/Rule unleashed her power. She had reduced the size of the projectiles before hurling them. Now, she reverted them to their normal size. That overwhelmed Ashido’s defense.

Uraraka didn’t hesitate. She leapt into the air and touched as many of the projectiles as possible. As soon as she touched them, they became weightless. In effect, she had neutralized them. As soon as she leapt into action, it occurred to me. The series has focused on Deku and Bakugou as they struggle to become more effective in the use of their Quirks. But other characters like Uraraka haven’t been idle. As Deku engaged in one of the most power-intensive battles in series history, even characters like Uraraka continued to strive forward.

My Hero Academia Season 5 Episode 98: Uraraka worked hard to refine her skills

Uraraka might not have the sheer offensive power of Bakugou or Midoriya, but she’s strong in her own right. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

In this episode, Uraraka has turned her attention inward. She wondered what it was to be a hero. She wondered why she’d decided to be a hero. In previous seasons, she had told Deku she wanted to earn money. In this episode, though, we learned her motivation included other factors. One of those other factors set up my favorite moment in this episode.

Delivery: Uraraka Really Likes Midoriya

Uraraka has had a crush on Midoriya since the series started. That feeling’s still there, but it’s evolving into something more mature and permanent. She genuinely likes Midoriya. That’s not a surprise, but consider for a moment what that means. Let’s think about how events look from her perspective.

Back in that intense battle in episode 76, Uraraka could only watch as Deku unleashed the full power of One for All, when only the direct intervention of Eri kept Deku from eradicating himself. The power expenditures dwarfed anything the heroes or villains present could generate. Uraraka couldn’t help Midoriya. In fact, she had to stay away from him to stay alive. How must that have felt to her? She likes the guy, and she wants him safe. Yet, she could only watch as he unleashed unfathomable powers.

In this episode, One for All went out of Deku’s control. Telling people to run to a safe distance was all he could manage. That’s when Uraraka saw her chance. Maybe Uraraka had had enough of waiting. Or maybe she felt her own strength now prepared her to meet this challenge. She launched herself towards Deku. As she desperately clung to him, she recalled her childhood. She remembered the strain hero work had placed on her parents.

My Hero Academia Season 5 Episode 98: Uraraka maintained the presence of mind to ask for help

In spite of One for All raging all around her, Uraraka maintained the presence of mind to ask Shinsou for help. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

“Who protects the heroes when they are hurting?” she thought, One for All’s energy writhing all around her (14:58).

Against the weighty matters of theme, her purely emotional attempt to help Deku gave the series a human touchpoint. Against a human race bent on the abuse of power, at least one hero simply wanted to help another. If there’s a way out of this mess we’re in, that’s it.

What did you think of Deku’s meeting with the hero with the Blackwhip Quick? What was your Best in Show moment? Let me know in the comments!

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5 thoughts on “My Hero Academia Season 5 Episode 98 Review – Best In Show”

    1. Thanks! Much appreciated!

      “Heroes and villains are just viewpoints.” I remember coming out of high school thinking I had it all figured out. Then I got to college and learned some stuff; then I got out of college and learned a lot more stuff.

      They really are just viewpoints. Snapshots of a particular perspective at a particular time.

      I love his this series works with that idea.

      Reply

  2. Dude…….I love the quote you pick. And I like the way you talked about it; I wish I could talk about quotes like that in such detail. UNFORTUNATELY; I’m a moron and don’t fully understand what it means. Who would be the “Hero” in that situation, and who the “Villain” in this context?
    I remember first reading this scene in the manga for the first time, and…….BOY OH BOY, was that incredibly cool!! And the anime did that scene really well, I think. I can’t WAIT to see the NEXT arc…

    Reply

    1. Thanks — I appreciate that!

      The quote blew me away. As in who’s the villain, and who’s the hero? That’s part of the beauty. Once you start thinking in those terms, the world looks a lot different.

      It particularly casts political leaders in a less than flattering light. Justifiably so, if history’s any indication.

      Glad to hear the anime did a good job with the scene. I’ve heard a lot of positives about the anime version. Is that your experience? Is the anime faithfully a good adaptation?

      Reply

      1. For the most part, yes. They add in some scenes like when Mirio was fighting Overhaul, and the only scene I’ve ever heard them omitting was that scene where Izuku passed Shinso in the hallway of UA before the Forest Traing Camp.
        Oh; there was also the change in Mandalae’s relationship to Kota. In the manga; she’s just his aunt. But in the anime; she’s his 3rd cousin twice removed. Which was……kinda of weird. But oh well.
        And yeah; it does make me question Political leaders. And putting it that way; I feel like All For One would still be the Villain.

        Reply

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