As the highly anticipated My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON hurtles towards its climactic conclusion, each episode ratchets up the tension, pushing heroes and villains alike to their absolute limits. Episode 165, titled “Pry It Open! Izuku Midoriya!!”, is no exception, plunging viewers deeper into the heart of the final war and exploring the desperate measures taken by Izuku Midoriya in his ultimate confrontation with Tomura Shigaraki. This pivotal installment, which aired on Saturday, November 8, 2025, marks the sixth episode of the eighth and final season, intensifying the emotional and physical stakes of this epic superhero saga.
The Final Season: A High-Stakes Conclusion
The eighth and final season of My Hero Academia premiered on October 4, 2025, produced by Bones Film and directed by Kenji Nagasaki (chief director) and Naomi Nakayama. This season is adapting the remainder of Kohei Horikoshi’s original manga, specifically from the beginning of volume 40 through the end of volume 42 (chapters 399–431). Horikoshi himself has been heavily involved in the production, even providing new original scenes not present in the manga, ensuring a faithful yet enhanced adaptation for fans.
With an anticipated run of only 11 episodes, making it the shortest season in the series’ history, the “FINAL SEASON” is compressing the manga’s conclusion into a rapid-fire succession of critical battles and character developments. This streamlined approach ensures that every moment is packed with significance, leading directly to the ultimate showdowns that will decide the fate of hero society.
Episode 165: “Pry It Open! Izuku Midoriya!!” – A Deeper Dive
Episode 165, also known as Season 8, Episode 6, centers squarely on Izuku Midoriya’s relentless and unconventional strategy against Tomura Shigaraki. After the preceding episode saw the commencement of Deku’s direct confrontation with Shigaraki, Episode 165 dives into Midoriya’s bold plan: to forcefully transfer a portion of One For All into Shigaraki.
Deku’s Desperate Gambit: Transferring One For All
The core of “Pry It Open! Izuku Midoriya!!” revolves around Deku’s belief that by transferring One For All into Shigaraki, he can directly impact the villain’s mental wounds and psychological defenses. This isn’t a straightforward physical clash but a battle of wills and consciousness, reflecting Midoriya’s evolution as a hero. He unleashes his “Blackwhip” throughout his body, striking Shigaraki’s chest directly to initiate this risky transfer.
One of the most striking moments involves the surprising plan by Kudo, the second successor to One For All. Kudo instructs Deku to not worry about him, stating his mind and will have passed to Shigaraki, but before Shigaraki can utilize this power, Kudo intends to smash his core from within. This internal assault causes Shigaraki’s fragmented memories to bleed out, offering Deku glimpses into the villain’s traumatic past, including unadapted scenes from his origin story.
A Battle of Memories and Ideologies
The episode highlights how Deku’s unwavering resolve stems not just from his respect for heroes, but from his genuine admiration for Quirks in general. As their powers clash, the memories of both Deku and Shigaraki begin to intertwine and blend. This “resonance” between One For All and All For One creates a vivid, shared mental space, reminiscent of a “memoria” where past events are relived. Through Shigaraki’s memories, Deku witnesses his tragic childhood and the societal failures that shaped him, realizing that Shigaraki views him as a dark parallel.
Deku’s goal isn’t merely to defeat Shigaraki physically, but to understand and potentially save the “child within” him, embodying the purest form of heroism. This deeply psychological approach to the final battle sets a unique tone, prioritizing a battle of wits and empathy over raw power, even if it means a slower pace compared to other shonen spectacles.
Emotional Stakes and Character Development
Episode 165 further solidifies Midoriya’s journey, showcasing how he has grown from a reckless enthusiast to a strategic, self-sacrificing hero willing to risk everything. The internal monologues of both Midoriya and Shigaraki effectively convey their mental states and the immense risks involved, emphasizing that for Deku, survival is secondary to saving everyone. The appearance of characters like Eri in Shigaraki’s mental landscape serves as a stark contrast, highlighting the villain’s brokenness against the hope that heroes like Deku represent.
The episode also takes brief detours to show the ongoing efforts of other heroes on the ground, reminding viewers that the overarching war extends beyond this singular, intense confrontation.
Looking Ahead
With only a few episodes remaining in this final season, the stakes are higher than ever. Episode 165 has deepened the psychological warfare between Deku and Shigaraki, setting the stage for an emotionally charged and potentially heart-wrenching conclusion. As the series draws to a close, fans eagerly anticipate how Deku’s compassionate yet desperate strategy will unfold and whether he can truly “pry open” the heart of his greatest enemy.
