In this penultimate dub episode of the final season, lots of crying by both the characters and audience ensue. Without further ado, let’s recap all the sadness.

Okay, the episode begins with a happy note of Gentle and La Brava embracing as they are granted a pardon for helping with the final battle. We find out that Lady Nagant has also been granted a pardon, but she chooses not to take advantage of it. We see a now armless Overhaul weep furiously after all the trauma he received from this final battle as he gets a massive beratement for how horrible of a person he is.

A crowd is interviewed about their thoughts on Shigaraki after his final defeat. Most people seem to think of him as the creep that almost destroyed Japan. Midoriya comes to visit Spinner and give him his message. The prison guards announce that Spinner has been in the process of transforming into a Nomu, but they are trying to treat his condition. Spinner is furious and thinks of Midoriya as a murderer because Shigaraki died in the final battle. Midoriya spread Shigaraki’s message and said that it was intended for Spinner and Spinner alone, indicating that the two characters had a special bond. Spinner breaks down into tears and explains how Shigaraki accepted him even though he was a heteromorph. Midoriya says that he still remembers what the League of Villains did in a firm tone.

We cut back to Class 1-A as Bakugo avoids all the unwanted attention he has gotten as the one who helped defeat All for One. Bakugo talks to Edgeshot, who turns out to perfectly fine despite the toll of battle. The class volunteers to help with reconstruction work of a ruined city. One member of class 1-A seemed particularly reclusive and hard to find. Asui notices that Ochako has been unresponsive to text messages and has been hard to find.

It turns out that Ochako is absolutely devastated by Toga’s death and that she gave her life to donate enough blood to save Ochako. Ochako is in shambles because of all the suffering that occurred during the final battle and losing her enemy turned friend. Midoriya comes to hold her hand and comfort her. Asui comes to hug Ochako and the girls all gather wishing to join in on the hug. Ochako is the obvious “Girl Who Loves Smiles” and wishes the world were a happier place.

We have one final dub episode in the season entitled “My Hero Academia,” but a major Jump Festa announcement has revealed that we will also get an episode 171 in May to serve as an epilogue. There is still the big question of Midoriya’s major dream of becoming a hero after losing his quirk that has yet to be fully answered.

This was a very emotional episode as so many sympathetic characters suffered, from the tragic villain Spinner to the adorable and heroic Ochako.  Okay, nobody really feels sorry for Overhaul, so that’s that.It was a little unfortunate that we still don’t know if Midoriya and Ochako are going to be a couple or not, but their comforting each other moment was sweet.  The strong emotional core of this series is what makes it so beloved, even if some call the series sappy. Fans who saw the subtitled version of the season finale have been very positive about it. It will be sad to see the series go, but at least one final episode in May will give fans the ability to say hi to Midoriya and friends one last time. Don’t forget the spinoff Vigilantes comes out in January to tide us over until that special episode comes out in May.

The post My Hero Academia: “The Girl Who Loves Smiles” Episode 169 Recap appeared first on Anime Superhero News.