23 : Let: It Flow! School Festival!

Critics often highlight this episode for its shift in tone from the series' typical high-stakes combat to a "slice-of-life" celebration of heroism through art and community.

The episode captures the culmination of Class 1-A’s hard work as they perform for the rest of the U.A. High students. Following Izuku Midoriya's exhausting battle with Gentle Criminal, he makes it back just in time for the show. The performance is designed as a multi-sensory experience featuring: 23 : Let It Flow! School Festival!

Using their Quirks to create professional-grade lighting and effects. Critics often highlight this episode for its shift

Keeping the energy high throughout the auditorium. The Goal: Eri’s Smile The Goal: Eri’s Smile The emotional core of

The emotional core of the episode is the mission to help —a young girl traumatized by Overhaul—experience joy for the first time. As the music peaks during the song "Hero too," the visual representation of Eri’s "darkness" shattering remains one of the series' most celebrated moments. The performance successfully breaks her psychological barriers, ending the episode with her first genuine smile. Critical Reception

described it as a powerful testament to why these students want to be heroes—not just to fight, but to provide hope and happiness to others. You can read their full analysis in the Episode 23 Review .

The title refers to the 23rd episode of My Hero Academia Season 4 (the 86th episode overall), which originally aired on March 21, 2020. This episode serves as the climax of the School Festival arc, focusing on Class 1-A's highly anticipated musical performance. Episode Summary