The final episode of the 2023 Spring season adaptation of Yūji Kaku’sHell’s Paradise: Jigokurakuaired over the past weekend, and it served as a dazzling conclusion to the first season, with a brief set-up for season 2. Sagiri, Yuzuriha, Shion and Nurugai had their work cut out for them while facingthe Kishikai State Mu Dan, whose countless vines can cause flowers to bloom all over the body.
With MAPPA pulling out all the stops with the visuals in this episode, and Shion putting his life on the line spurred by his regrets about Tenza’s death, the battle between Mu Dan and the members of the Vanguard Party has very easily shot to the top as theHell’s Paradise: Jigokurakuanime’s best fight thus far.
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Nick of Time
It turns out that Mu Dan’s fatal blow on Senta in the previous episode was not the instant-kill it appeared to be, as he just barely clung to life when Shion and Nurugai arrived. Shion orders Nurugai to remove the blooming flowers from Senta’s body, and take the others to safety. Despite arresting the growing vines and flowers, Senta’s internal organs had already been ripped apart for the most part, and he was teetering between life and death. Shion engages Mu Dan, who is certain that their opponents have no chance against them. Interestingly, Mu Dan’s curiosity trumped any fear or negativity about the situation, even when it turned out that Shion is yet another person withTao of a quality that is oppressiveto their own.
Shion had taken time to develop his understanding of Tao’s uses and properties through training with Nurugai, who now sports the same hairstyle as Tenza. Shion’s arrival saved the exhausted Yuzuriha and Sagiri from certain death, and the way he cut the enemy was like a knife through butter. Beyond understanding Tao and developing techniques for it in combat like enveloping himself in Tao to grant a supernatural boost to his general abilities and his senses (much likethe use of Nen inHunter x Hunter). Despite the Tensen’s aggression, Shion could keep calm in battle, having solidified his resolve to not only put everything on the line in this fight. Shion understands that the type of damage he needs to inflict is upon the opponent’s life-force, something he describes as “cutting the soul itself”.
The Heat of Battle
Nurugai assures the others that Shion can handle the Tensen on his own, and the proof was clear. The battle is very quickly sent back to level-pegging as Shion’s body bloomed flowers in various places – even the smallest scratch could be fatal. However, the determined Asaemon ripped the flowers out of his own body, which the Tensen noted would cause grievous damage, but Shion was prepared to accept death if that was what it took. As Sagiri and the others regroup, Nurugai tells them about how physical contact with her has helped her master replenish his Tao. This does not work when she hugs Yuzuriha, but it is effective with Sagiri, and she considers the possibility of positive interactions between Tao users. Yuzuriha decides to sit out the battle, but provides auxiliary support using her Ninpo.
Sagiri provides Shion with information about the Tensen’s source of power, and with help from her and a very effective Nurugai, he is able to fight vines and dodge energy beams on his way to the main body. As he prepares to strike, Shion hesitates as he can’t feel any significant flow of “Waves”, indicating that his target couldn’t be the source of power. Almost as if he’d sensed the situation, Senta provides one last crucial piece of knowledge: ifthe enemy is a flowering plant-like life-form, then the equivalent of the Tanden would be the ovule – at the centre of the flower’s petals. Mu Dan’s vines come swiftly from all directions at close range, but Shion is able to sense their direction, flipping and dodging each incoming attack before using that momentum to inflict a hefty crescent moon slash on the target in what was one of the most gorgeous and fluid combat momentsHell’s Paradise: Jigokurakuhas delivered all season. Nurugai’s movement and Sagiri’s clinical precision with the blade were also gorgeous moments in the battle.
Farewell
Mu Dan’s ovule opens up at the point of injury, and countless smiling faces emerge. The last thing they see is the sight of Shion standing over them, ready to die but desiring the alternative; which they describe as beautiful, a “perfect balance of Yin-Yang”. Wishing that they could have shown their leader this sight, Mu Dan’s form slowly disintegrates, and they thank Shion, telling him that they’ve waited 1000 years for this. Mu Dan’s blissful acceptance of death comes as a strange development; however, a common trope involved instories that depict immortal charactersis that many of them live in agonizing pursuit of death, to no avail. With the threat defeated, the group can finally attend to the dying Senta, who Yuzuriha predicts won’t last more than half an hour.
Senta’s last contribution, the knowledge that led to Mu Dan’s defeat, took a great toll on his mangled body, and despite being on death’s door before, the act simply brought him closer. Yuzuriha possesses salves of ointment that quickly stops bleeding; however, with only one to spare, she tells a tearful Sagiri that it is better used on Shion. She kneels down before Senta and cradles him in her arms, telling him that he can finally abandon his responsibilities to the Yamada Clan, guiding his final thoughts to pleasant things. Senta dies thinking about his favourite snacks, his favourite artist’s work, and of course, Yuzuriha, his favourite person in whom’s arms he can now rest.
What Now?
After burying Senta, the remaining members discuss the way forward while Sagiri tries to deal with her grief. Through teary eyes she steels her resolve to let no one else die, whether Asaemon or criminal. They head deeper into Hо̄rai and even find a nice set of rooms and a change of clothes. There, they recount their experiences with Tao, and what they know about it; however, the most chilling aspect of their conversation is Yuzuriha’s contribution. She reminds them that even if they got off the island, the shogunate would still demand Elixir of Life, the existence of which she thinks is dubious; however, Sagiri tells her that Gabimaru said it exists, having seenthe Iwagakure village chief’s immortalityfirst-hand. Yuzuriha recalls several instances in which entire villages were essentially victims of elaborate illusions and manipulations, adding that Gabimaru might just be one more brainwashed ninja being fed various pieces of manipulation to keep him motivated – pieces like the existence of a wife, or an elixir of life.
Elsewhere, Gabimaru’s overuse of Tao and battle injuries have rendered him amnesiac. Despite him waking up skittish and acting strangely, only Mei is able to see that there’s something wrong with the ninja, whose memories have always been questionable since the revelation that he even has a wife. The episode ends with a conversation between Shion and Sagiri, who is worried about Gabimaru after what Yuzuriha said. After the ending theme, a post-credits scene depicts a moment in Edo when the shogunate has just given the order for another expedition to the island led by Yamada Asaemon Shugen. This sets up the second season while driving up the hype forfans who have read the mangaand know what to expect. Overall,Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku’s last episode was a huge treat with stunning, fluid visuals; emotional moments; mystery and a cliffhanger to build anticipation for the second season.
