The 23rd episode of My Hero Academia Season 4, titled (originally aired March 21, 2020), is widely celebrated as the emotional peak of the season, delivering a rare but vital moment of pure joy after the darkness of the Overhaul arc. The Climax of the School Festival Arc

: Reviewers highlight the mutual respect between Deku and Gentle, noting how Deku sees a reflection of what he could have become in Gentle's failed hero path.

: The narrative focus remains on Eri . Her genuine smile during the performance represents her finally breaking free from the lingering shadow of Overhaul’s trauma, a moment that many reviewers found deeply moving. Resolution of the Gentle Criminal Arc

Considered "Anime Moment of the Year" by some for Eri’s smile.