My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 8 Review: Dabi’s Tragic Past

My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 8 was absolutely heartbreaking and sad, with some great fight sequences. Let’s talk about what happened in My Hero Academia Season 7, Episode 8.

My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 7 Recap

This episode was intense and chaotic, with events spiraling out of control despite the heroes’ careful planning. The heroes devised various strategies to separate and defeat the villains individually. However, Deku finds himself stranded on Okuto Island, while Shigaraki launches a surprise attack. His body sprouts thousands of arms that strike anything nearby like whips, posing a significant threat if he activates his Quirk, which could destroy everything in its path, including his enemies.

The heroes must closely monitor Shigaraki’s movements, keeping Monoma and Aizawa’s attention fixed on him. This focus prevents Monoma from creating a warp gate to bring Deku back, forcing Deku to find his own way to the battle.

However, Deku cannot simply leave Okuto Island, as the situation there is also dire. He encounters Toga, and they finally have an open conversation. Toga confesses her feelings to Deku, which he politely rejects, leading to unhealthy consequences.

Deku isn’t alone, though, as Ochako and Froppy are with him, reaffirming their ability to handle Toga without assistance. Meanwhile, a significant subplot unfolds with the Todoroki brothers facing off in a much-needed family confrontation.

My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 8 Review and Recap

Here, we finally see what actually happened to Dabi in the past and how he survived all these years. Apparently, when we could not control his flames and got burned, there was one single person at the scene. It was not his father but All For One.

He proceeded to save Dabi and took him to his lair, where Dabi was supposed to grow up as a spare for Tomura. When Dabi woke up after three years, even he was astonished to find himself grown and alive. Soon after, Dabi became anxious to head home ASAP but was told not to do that as his treatment had not been successful and All For One failed to mend him. However, nothing could stop him, and he burned the entire place down and rushed to his house, only to be disappointed again.

He realized how nothing had changed, and he was still a failure to his father and someone who could not compete with his little brother. This incident triggered a deep-rooted hatred within him for his family, and he started to blame his father for his situation. He also became obsessed with Endeavor and studied his every move to become the strongest of all, even at the risk of his own life.

Dabi’s lack of a grander ambition also makes him one of the most tragic yet dangerous characters in MHA. Everything that he is doing is for hatred and hatred alone, which is why there is no self-control in him that makes him worried about his own well-being. So, one can say that this is a suicide mission where he wants to die by taking everyone else with him to hell.

This episode finally sheds some light on the very twisted but depressed mind of Dabi. He clearly became a victim of his father’s ambition, and this made him a threat to himself and others. One cannot defend or support his heinous deeds, but it does not change the fact that Dabi is indeed, a tragic character who did not deserve any of this.

Verdict

I absolutely loved this episode and appreciated the backstory. The way we are shown everything, we could feel the despair in Dabi. Hopefully, he will be liberated from his misery and will finally be able to rest. However, I do not believe things can peacefully end between the Todoroki family, and there is more to what was shown in this episode.

Must Read: My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 7 Review: Deku Gets His Love Confession