Warning: Contains spoilers for My Hero Academia Season 7, Episode 16My Hero AcademiaThe latest episode of 's has just seen two villains join the fight who have previously been on the sidelines, but which side they're fighting for might be a surprise. The return of Lady Nagant and Gentle Criminal is helping to tip the scales in the heroes' favour, but their presence means more than just a few extra bodies on the battlefield – it proves the very theme of the series.
Lady Nagant is a former hero who became disgusted with the way the Heroic Public Safety Committee was run and became a “villain” after assassinating her corrupt former boss. Gentle Criminal is a man who once dreamed of becoming a hero, but his presence in the wrong place at the wrong time caused him to interfere with the rescue of a real hero, resulting in serious injury to an innocent person. He then began a life of stage crime, but ultimately never did much more than petty mischief.
The Return of Lady Nagant and Gentle Criminal Ends the Villain Redemption Debate
The decision to help the heroes at the cost of themselves proves that villains can be redeemed.
Both of these characters have origins that prove they were once good people, and simply calling them bad guys is an oversimplification. It reduces the complexity of their characters to the level of someone like All for One, which they clearly aren't. This situation proves that labeling everyone who breaks the law as bad guys automatically paints the world in a black and white way that doesn't reflect reality. And while they're helping the heroes now, they might not have done so without Deku's efforts to make them remember who they once were.
Deku's unwavering belief in the redemptive potential of villains, even ones as terrible as Shigaraki, has led him to rise up, realizing that even average villains are not fundamentally evil.. This simple act of reaching out to them, of giving them a second chance instead of condemning them as trash, inspired Gentle and Nagant to take up arms and help the heroes, doing what they could to end true evil. Villains are not born; they are created by circumstance, and they can be destroyed just as easily.
Nagant and Gentle coming to his aid proves that Deku was right to come to them. If either of them had faced another hero, especially one with such a black and white view of things like Endeavor, they might never have had a chance to redeem themselves, and the heroes would have struggled even more. Without Gentle's help, UA's flying fortress would have crashed, killing most of the people on board, and it was only Deku's kindness that kept this from happening.
How Lady Nagant and Gentle Criminal Could Make a Big Difference in My Hero Academia's Final Fight
Heroes need all the help they can get.
Gentle had a huge impact on the battle by keeping UA alive; without his help, not only would countless heroes and students have died, but Shigaraki will definitely survive and be freed from the school's confinement.. This would allow him to meet All for One much easier, capable of irrevocably shifting the balance in favor of the villains. And Gentle doesn't do this alone; he wouldn't be able to hold down something as big as UA without La Brava's Love Quirk giving him the power to do so.
Lady Nagant is in poor health, still recovering from the self-destruction of the ability All for One implanted in her, but she risks her life to help Deku, as he has inspired her so much with his relentless optimism. Nagant has found herself beyond redemption, but if someone like Deku can still see the good in her, then perhaps it's not gone. As a long-range sniper, her support could help pin Shigaraki down and prevent him from dodging Deku's attacks, leaving him powerless to do anything.
It's unclear how long she can hold out, but any support she can provide is crucial. Meanwhile, Gentle just needs to get past Toga's Twices, as their added weight is weighing down on UA. As long as Gentle can keep the school airborne until Toga is defeated, there's nothing to worry about.
Are villains like All For One and Shigaraki still worthy of salvation?
The Most Extreme Villains May Be Beyond Redemption
Of course, for every redemption, there are those who have gone too far to turn back, and that is certainly the case with All for One. But even All for One had his reasons for being the way he is; he grew up in a world that treated him like trash, so it is no surprise that he turned his back on the world when he had the power to do so. Shigaraki's abuse and manipulation at All for One makes him much more sympathetic, symbolized by the image of a young Tenko Shimura, shown deep inside Shigaraki..
Deku can see that boy inside Shigaraki, and wants to rescue him from All for One's clutches, even after everything Shigaraki has done. Whether or not that can be done remains to be seen, but He wasn't wrong when he said that Shigaraki was just another victim of All for One.. The key to redemption is that the villain in question must want to be redeemed; some part of them needs to feel shame or remorse for what they have done, and want to make amends. All for One has no such remorse, so it is impossible to redeem him.
Deku is very good at detecting even the smallest bit of regret, and recognizing those who secretly wish to be saved. With these two villains turning to the side of good, there's no doubt that Deku's willingness to forgive is a major theme in My Hero Academiaand redemption is always an option for those who seek it.
