The My Hero Academia ending is perfect, and it's thanks to Deku

The My Hero Academia ending has received a lot of criticism since it was published but Deku's conclusion is a lot better than what is given credit for. That is because it fits with the overarching themes of the series and how his different struggles reached a satisfying conclusion, especially considering what he had to give, in order to save the day.

It is fairly certain that the ending that My Hero Academia delivered is always bound to be divisive but this doesn't mean that there isn't value in it. His arc shows the value of being selfless, reaching out to others, and representing the true nature of heroism, which is being willing to sacrifice what you have so others can have a chance to live.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the series. Any opinion expressed here belongs to the author and not Sportskeeda as a whole.

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Why the My Hero Academia ending fits perfectly with Deku's arc in the series?

The final spread page of the manga (Image via Shueisha)

There are several reasons why the ending works, with the first one being Deku sacrificing One For All to save Tomura Shigaraki. It shows the true meaning of heroism, a running theme of the story, which is sacrificing what you have to save others. Thus, proving that Deku fights for that instead of glory, displaying his power, or simply defeating the villain.

Another reason is proving that people are not born equal, as Deku says at the beginning of the series, but there is true power in unity. Class 1-A are all different in terms of personalities, status, powers, and achievements.

But they all contributed, along with people such as All Might and Mei Hatsume, to build a mecha suit for Deku to continue being a hero, which shows there is strength in being different.

Moreover, as shown with Tomura Shigaraki, Himiko Toga, Spinner, and other characters, the series explains that true heroism is trying to save others and give them a chance to redeem themselves.

Shigaraki reached a point where he trusted Deku enough to deliver his final words to Spinner and even told him to do his best as a hero. Thus, showing how he managed to reach out to a person even if he had to make the sacrifice.

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The nuances of the ending

Deku as seen in the anime (Image via Bones)

Moreover, it is also worth taking into account that the My Hero Academia ending clearly shows how Deku managed to inspire others instead of being a beacon of hope like All Might was. The protagonist is there to help others through teaching, which is an element that is quite divisive but adds to his character and also shows that heroism can be displayed in different ways.

In many ways, it can be argued that the ending celebrates all of Deku's struggles and victories, becoming a much more capable individual. He also managed to become someone who can help others grow as individuals, as evidenced during his final moments against Shigaraki or even his growing friendship with Katsuki Bakugo, even if it is a less extreme example.

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Final thoughts

It makes a lot of sense that fans have strong and divisive opinions regarding My Hero Academia and its conclusion but there is a thematic richness involving Deku's arc. There are several scenes and moments that show how much Deku has grown and become the hero people need.

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