MHA Season 8 Redeems the Franchise’s Most Disappointing Character

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The latest season of My Hero Academia has surprised fans with the return of two characters: Katsuki Bakugo and, unexpectedly, the hero Star and Stripe. Star and Stripe made a powerful entrance earlier in the anime’s seventh season as America’s top hero, seeking revenge on Tomura Shigaraki for what happened to All Might. Though she seemingly died in that battle, recent episodes have shown she’s still alive, much to the surprise of viewers.

While Star and Stripe’s attack on Tomura’s Quirk was significant, it won’t be enough for Deku to win on its own. Her true contribution is the emotional and mental weakness she created within Tomura, giving Deku a crucial chance to use One For All and defeat him. The final season of My Hero Academia is working to show Star and Stripe as a meaningful character, rather than just someone who briefly inconvenienced the villain.

Star and Stripe Was MHA Season 7’s Biggest Failure

Seasons 6 and 7 of My Hero Academia really challenged the idea of how strong and safe pro heroes are. The anime started showing us that even the most powerful heroes can be defeated and even killed in battle, breaking the illusion that they were untouchable. We used to see them as a strong defense against villains, but that image changed. All Might, the former symbol of peace, was an early example of this, weakening after using his powerful attack. However, the show kept him involved as Toshinori Yagi, and he was able to contribute to the story even after winning a significant fight against All For One.

Fans weren’t upset when All Might lost his powers and retired, because he still achieved a satisfying conclusion to his hero career and found new ways to contribute, like mentoring students. However, the hero who took his place, Star and Stripe, didn’t live up to expectations. She made a grand entrance, clearly intending to follow in All Might’s footsteps and become a hero of equal strength. Fans anticipated an amazing battle and possibly a win for Star and Stripe, but the story unfolded differently than expected.

It was frustrating to see Star and Stripe lose and die so quickly, even if the story required Tomura to survive. She felt more like a tool to emphasize how powerful and threatening Tomura was, rather than a fully developed character. While My Hero Academia has used characters who quickly lose to villains before (like X-Less), Star and Stripe had a much bigger introduction and promised a greater impact. Ultimately, she didn’t live up to the hype of being a hero on the level of All Might.

To make matters worse, many fans felt betrayed by Star and Stripe’s quick defeat, especially since a prominent American hero died so easily. This also meant My Hero Academia lost a powerful female character. Star and Stripe was built up to be an exceptionally strong hero – one who would far surpass existing popular figures like Mt. Lady and Mirko. Given that the USA is so strongly associated with superheroes, fans expected the top American hero to be truly amazing, on par with legendary teams like the Avengers or Justice League.

Fans were disappointed with how Star and Stripe were used in My Hero Academia. Instead of a powerful, central hero, she felt like a supporting character, and her death served mainly to motivate the main character later on. Despite expectations and a desire to see more of this incredibly strong hero, her role was limited. While her final fight was exciting and she went down fighting, taking some of the villain’s power with her, her sacrifice didn’t feel worth the impact it should have had, and hasn’t really changed things much yet. Now, the series seems to be exploring a new direction with her story.

The True Story of Star and Stripe is Finally Playing Out

Long-running anime like My Hero Academia often develop characters over many episodes. It can take multiple story arcs, battles, or even flashbacks to fully reveal a character’s personality, motivations, and potential for growth, sometimes with unexpected twists. My Hero Academia does this effectively with characters like All Might, Endeavor (who evolves into a complex hero), and Tomura Shigaraki. Usually, these characters remain alive throughout their development, but there are exceptions. Star and Stripe is a prime example; her story continued to unfold even after her death, defying expectations.

Even though Star and Stripe is no longer alive, her story is still having an impact. While many fans were upset by the sudden death of such a promising character – both as a top American hero and a strong female fighter – they’re appreciating any continued relevance. In a way, this might actually make her story more powerful. If she had to die, at least her death can be seen as a brave sacrifice, demonstrating that a hero’s influence extends beyond their lifetime. Star and Stripe represented courage and justice, and that legacy will continue to inspire.

Watching My Hero Academia, I think many would agree that Star and Stripe was the ultimate hero. She truly risked everything, facing down Tomura without hesitation. While it’s painful to see such sacrifices, they’re incredibly inspiring, and Star’s impact was huge. Her attack on Tomura created the crucial weakness that allowed Deku to attempt his risky plan – sacrificing One For All to defeat Tomura from within. Deku, All Might, and now Star all paid a heavy price to overcome this immense evil. Considering she gave her life and created that opening for Deku, it’s hard to argue she wasn’t the ultimate hero.

MHA’s Final Season is Righting the Franchise’s Biggest Wrongs

While My Hero Academia took some unexpected turns that surprised viewers, most weren’t major mistakes. However, two choices really didn’t land well. One was a near-fatal injury that Edgeshot quickly healed with his Quirk, feeling too convenient. The other was killing off the new hero Star and Stripe so soon after she was introduced. These deaths felt mishandled in Season 7, but thankfully, Season 8 seems poised to address these issues. Though those moments felt forced, My Hero Academia still has a chance to redeem them, which is enough to satisfy most fans.

Bakugo’s unexpected return to the battle proved crucial, as he finally defeated All For One using his Explosion Quirk. It wasn’t just an impressive fight; it demonstrated Bakugo’s dedication to fighting for the greater good, showing him as a courageous but now more grounded hero focused on others, not himself. His victory also proved All Might’s initial judgment – favoring Deku over him – was incorrect.

Even though My Hero Academia couldn’t save Star and Stripe, her fight still had a huge impact. The damage she inflicted on Tomura was crucial, and without it, Deku’s risky plan to use One For All might have failed. Star and Stripe’s sacrifice created an opening for Deku, giving him a chance in the final battle. Her contribution at that critical moment feels especially meaningful, offering a glimmer of hope in a desperate situation.

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2025-11-04 20:41