Forum - View topicHell's Paradise (TV) (w/ index).
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Harleyquin
Posts: 3443 |
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#13
It would have been a shock if the show was going to stop at this episode and not get another quarter. So much more to say and cutting it off at this point would have meant the reception over the quarter was so negative the studio had to cut its losses. That's not been the case (most if not all viewers barring a hardcore minority who never forgave this studio for its output with Chainsaw Man are very satisfied with what has aired to date) and there's more to come in the near future. As for the episode itself, a good stopping point for the tale for now. They've come a long way too; from not being able to lay a finger on regenerating monsters to figuring out their secret and striking back with blows of their own shows how far the survivors have come and how much more they have to work towards if they want to survive. Even if the deal with the authorities back at home is off the table since what was promised can't be delivered with what they now know about the Tensen immortality, they aren't going to just lie down and let the Tensen claim them for their elixir. Shion has some idea of what they can do to appease the authorities back home if they all survive, but they need to get back home first. The final showdown with Mudan is the last chance for the animators to use up their budget before their well-earned break, and I think they succeeded. Very stylish, and watching Shion apply Tao in his own unique way to the same devastating effect as Sagiri is entertainment in its own right. Mudan's final words are interesting: he's waited a thousand years for someone to end his immortality and he wanted to show their leader Rien what the humans he had so recently derided were capable of (using he for convenience, Tensen being gender fluid as they are). Senta's final contribution with the years of knowledge he has carefully cultivated proves to be decisive, and he goes off with a smile thanks to Yuzuriha's surprisingly kind final gesture. Shion's final comments on Tao and their relationship with what the Japanese already know about the traditional Five Elements and their interaction with each other is the final piece of the puzzle to the concept which has taken several weeks to elaborate. Just as some elements are opposed to each other (fire extinguishing water for example), some elements will actually support another (water cultivating the growth of trees and woods). The phenomenon shown by Nurugai with Shion (and later Sagiri) indicates this is the case, so some pairs are highly compatible as at least one member can support the other with a minimum of physical contact. We are not told what elements our survivors embody, but Shion is the only one who can "see" the waves and their peculiar nature so he's probably best for identifying the elements, assuming his group and Gabimaru's can reassemble. Yuzuriha bombshell about Gabimaru throws a lot about his motivation on the island into serious doubt, and it appears Gabimaru himself has regressed to his previous mindset as the Hollow prior to his arrival on the island. However, Mei's sight reveals Gabimaru's Tao is impaired where his brain is, which leads me to suspect he's overused it in all of the fighting done to date and amnesia is something he'll have to bear with until they figure out a way to regenerate his Tao to "normal" proportions. They'll need it as well: Gabimaru figured out a lot in his previous fight and if amnesia prevents him from sharing his knowledge with the others it will endanger them all in future conflict with the Tensen. The post-credits scene realises the prediction made by Kisho earlier in the season: the authorities are sending in reinforcements and Shugen is the man in charge. We are not told who his compatriot is, but the next season should answer that eventually. If the authorities are sending in more Asaemon, it's highly likely more of Gabimaru's former clansmen are going to be sent to the island as well. Another reason for Gabimaru to recover quickly, or his clansmen will extinguish what faint hopes he had about returning. If his clansmen do arrive and they fight Gabimaru, it would also answer the question of Gabimarus wife definitively as a deception described by Yuzuriha wouldn't work on objective third parties if they know about her existence. I've enjoyed every episode of this adaptation to date (even the slower episodes) and am very pleased there's more to come (even if no release date has been given unlike sequels announced in this quarter's crop). This story isn't anywhere near done, and seeing it to its conclusion is something I'm very much looking forward to. |
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Edjwald
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Lots of thoughts here
- I suspected from the start that something was up with Gabimaru's memories. For one thing, they were too idealized and fragmented and had a fever dream quality. For another, the opening segment made it look like Gabimaru and Sagiri's relationship was going to be a focal point. But I just thought his wife was dead and he'd gone a little nuts from denial. I didn't suspect that there might be some kind of ninja brainwashing in effect. - I also never suspected they'd pull out that old amnesia plot device, but at least it has a better rationale than being hit on the head. - It's gotten a bit harder to hate Yazurahozebag,after the last two episodes, but it's also hard to love her. I will says that she's interesting to have around. - Shion kicked some serious butt, and he wasn't the only one. With so many people developing talents for Tao, Sword Moustache is going to have an even harder time holding on to his conviction that he's the protagonist. And of all the surviving Yamada guards, that little piece of work with the blonde bowl cut seems like the last bad apple in the bunch. All in all, I loved this show. It started out strong and ended even stronger IMHO, which is a joyous thing when it happens. Hope next season comes around soon.. |
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ACｘS
 Posts: 1226 |
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Final:
I actually gave this show a pass because at face value, it didn't interest me enough to watch the first episode. Although produced by MAPPA, the synopsis didn't capture my attention enough to be curious. But a friend of mine gushed about it, and so I picked it up. And glad I did, marathoning it until the final episode. It's a 7/10 for me. If I can describe this show in one way, it's deceptively good. When I watched the first episode, I thought "hmm, interesting". For a series by MAPPA, which is perhaps the hottest anime production studio right now, it seems... unpolished. Production values are a bit iffy. For a show by a studio that is doing Attack on Titan, Vinland Saga, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Chainsaw Man, it feels even a bit inferior. I guess it's one of the studio's lesser-budgeted shows, with its other high-profiled shows its, in video game lingo, AAA lineup. But story-wise? It's surprisingly addictive. My friend said he couldn't stop watching episode after episode. I can see why: every episode makes me very curious on each character's story and the nature of Shinsenkyo. The story is also very pacey, and the pacing never lets up; couple that with revelations of Shisenkyo's bizarrely eclectic Eastern Asian philosophical origins that raise more questions than answers, and we get a show that's bewilderingly fascinating. Every character has their own story and, more importantly, motivation for their "crimes" (for the criminals) and choosing to becoming part of the Asaemon (for the monitors). In an odd way, the characters are reminiscent of Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai; it almost feels as though they pay a loose homage to his famous work. Shinsenkyo is a remarkable example of world-building where an environment may seem completely senseless, but as the show progresses, you begin to see patterns that make the world a little more sensible. I know that a second season is in the works, but there are some things that still leave me hanging; for example, why is Gabimaru seemingly invulnerable during his execution, but more vulnerable only after arriving the island? Surely it's not just to prove that he wasn't ready to die (as much as he originally wanted to believe); seems exaggerated to me. Also, I felt like a few characters that were dead from the onset felt like a waste. I was hoping for some story for Akaginu (the cannibalistic criminal), Moro (the cult leader criminal; his influence did play a part indirectly), and Eizen (Rokurouta's Asaemon monitor). I actually like how the season ended with the gang finally defeating one Tensen. That just goes to show how difficult it is to defeat one. And now, they have to deal with the consequences of utilizing the tao, with Gabimaru experiencing one of its worst side effects: memory loss. Now we have a bigger spanner in the works when the Shogun is going to send more reinforcements to Shisenkyo... and this after Sagiri declares to abolish the monitor-criminal divide. What a mess this is going to be! I will definitely look forward to the second season. For sure! |
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Blood-
 Bargain Hunter Posts: 25599 |
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I rated this Very Good. To be honest, it lost a bit of steam for me towards the end what with battles against immortals and lots of tao-talk but the finale did pick up my interest with the various reveals that have already been pointed out. Definitely looking forward to the next chunk.
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Edjwald
Posts: 3510 |
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That’s usually my line, so I get where you’re coming from. When I get multiple episode combat fatigue, it’s usually because of two main reasons: A feeling that the anime isn’t making any real progress story wise, and a ton of exposition that doesn’t feel necessary. I didn’t really have that problem here. For me, the action was laced with bits and pieces of the character’s backstories and tidbits of info that either changed the way I perceived the plot thus far, or advanced it a little further. So I dealt. As to the Tao stuff, Senta said earlier in the series – I forget the episode – that the island’s myth was based on an artificial religion because it was just a hodgepodge of different belief systems. And ever since then, I’ve enjoyed all the Tao rambling even though It might just be the Eastern philosophical equivalent of science fiction techno babble. “Quick, fire a positronic beam on an ionic feedback loop…” It’s like a game where I can identify different bits and pieces from the hodge podge of trivia at my command. Oh, that’s like the Qi in Xianxia novels. Oh, that’s like a yoga chakra. That’s the yin and yang concept from Taoism…etc. It keeps me from getting bored. |
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InfiniteJest
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Heck if a cliffhanger at Ep 13. Seems like they really shifted from Gabimaru to everyone else. I am liking the series a lot but it seems to be experiencing a tonal change and season 2 May feel a lot different.
I am enjoying the fight scenes though some of them have too many long pauses with monologues explaining the tai and chi focusing etc. The false memories is an almost M.Night level switch and parts of it make sense. One thing I am not understanding. In the initial episode Gabimaru was immortal. They tried to kill him like 10 times in different ways and he just shrugged it off. It now seems like that angle just disappeared and now he’s fighting for his life. Did I miss an explanation somewhere. I get why he has to fight to live now. But did they just over sell his invulnerability earlier? Anyway looking forward to season 2 |
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Blood-
Bargain Hunter Posts: 25599 |
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@ InfiniteJest - I'm not the best person to answer your question given my crap memory and the fact there were chunks of this show that I didn't understand, but I'll give it the old college try. I think the answer is that Gabimaru is not immortal but, thanks to his training, experience and mindset (including potential brainwashing), subconsciously manipulated tao (without even being aware of its existence at the time) in a way that makes him very hard to kill.
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Edjwald
Posts: 3510 |
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I seem to recall Gabimaru snapping out of his funk and breaking the cycle because he sensed that Sagiri could actually kill him. And then later, when she started using Tao against that giant nutjob, he called back to that moment, saying this was why she could kill him.
So yeah, it wasn't that he was immortal so much as he was pulling some kind of Tao trick whether he called it that or not. Now as to whether he was creating some kind of barrier around his skin, enhancing his body's toughness or what, I dunno. |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 3443 |
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Attempted executions of Gabimaru in episode one: 1. Decapitation. 2. Burning at the stake. 3. Ripped apart by bulls. 4. Death by boiling oil. 5. Decapitation by Sagiri. How he gets away with it: 1. His skin hardens sufficiently to stop the blade from cutting his flesh (he admits it in episode one). The sword used by this executioner is poor quality compared to the Sagiri's, and the executioner doesn't have the beheading techniques the Sagiri clan employs. 2. He avoids death by carbon monoxide poisoning by holding enough oxygen in his lungs until the stake collapses and he can walk out. As for the flames, most of his Ninjutsu revolves around using fire so being set on fire by regular means is less of an issue for him. Watch the end of episode one when he agrees to Sagiri's request to show off Ninjutsu and episode four when he takes on the giants, his signature move literally immolates him. 3. He's physically strong enough to exert a pulling force with his bound legs that exceeds the pulling force from the bulls. 4. Same deal as the stake. 5. THIS would have killed him, but he evaded Sagiri's initial strike and then fought back. Only when she presented the offer did they stop fighting. No one else appears to have plausible alternatives, so take or leave the above as you see fit. He's definitely not immortal, and the injuries he sustains on the island are of a completely different category to the attempted executions which his training to date allows him to survive with relative ease. Post should be an easy reference for myself if I forget later on and ask the same question. |
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Tony K.
 SubscriberModerator  Posts: 12058 Location: Frisco, TX |
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Original discussion started here.
Episode 12: Umbrella and Ink Summary: Pending Comments: Pending Screen Caps:  
 
 
 
 
Last edited by Tony K. on Sat Aug 12, 2023 12:52 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Tony K.
Subscriber Moderator Posts: 12058 Location: Frisco, TX |
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Original discussion started here.
[Episode 13 - Pending] |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 3443 |
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#14
They say the competition for eyeballs gets harder with each season as overseas viewers from a greater proportion of the audience as time progresses, but for the second part to air this quarter at the same time as Frieren and Jujutsu Kaisen is great for viewers and terrible for the production schedule. Especially as the latter show effectively means internal competition since Twin Engine is a Mappa subsidiary. For a pilot episode to continue where the first quarter left off, it doesn't look like quality has been compromised since there's a faceoff between the amnesiac Gabimaru and Aza Choubei who's in no mood to let the competition off. So one of the minders somehow made it back to the Japanese mainland despite the premise from the first quarter that the island tidal patterns supposedly make it impossible to sail back. Infuriatingly Jikka doesn't give more details on how he did it but we can infer what he did. Like the others who tried to fight their way through the monsters guarding the way out, it appears Jikka not only managed to slaughter his way out but even managed to find a spare anchor from one of the wrecked ships to hook onto the decapitated head and use it as a makeshift raft to row his way back. He might be lazy and unmotivated, but he's number three in the executioner hierarchy because he's that skilled. Which means the one above him is either a godly administrator in addition to his swordsmanship or is even more of a monster than number three is to claim the number two position. And he's bringing two more of his compatriots and four of Gabimaru's village ninjas as reinforcements as Gabimaru predicted way back in episode three and this week. The Aza brothers have now been revealed as a cooperative pair, since Fuchi and his comrades never suspected the younger one joined as an infiltrator. If they don't stop fighting and somehow disengage the younger one will be up for execution having betrayed the executioner clan. That's a problem for later on assuming they cannot kill Gabimaru and company. Ganryuusai is comfortably holding his own against the younger sibling while Choubei is winning against a reset Gabimaru fighting like he did in episode two without the motivation of returning to his wife tempering his training. Mr adaptability is at present the furthest ahead in the Tao crash course training than everyone else, and without the regeneration and reflexes it bestows Gabimaru would have killed him outright with the first neck break. Now, it remains to be seen if Gabimaru will even survive since Choubei thinks he can kill him. So what plot armour will come to Gabimaru's rescue before that happens? The first season OP is arguably catchier, while the visuals between both seasons is roughly on par. The second season ED is completely different in tone with the first, and like its predecessor has less flashy visuals to better allocate resources to more important aspects. There are YouTube mini videos featuring super deformed versions of the character ensemble. Worth a watch if you can understand Japanese since this week has one piece of trivia which is confirmed during the skit and it's an insight into the characters of the immortal opposition Gabimaru and company have to overcome in order to leave the island |
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minamikaze
Posts: 382 |
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Twin Engine is not a Mappa subsidiary. It is an independent production company that is working with Mappa on Hell's Paradise, They have worked with other studios on other productions like Geno (which is actually a subsidiary of Twin Engine) (e.g. the first three seasons of Golden Kamui). At the beginning of all of the shows that Twin Engine produces, the contracted anime studio's name appears on the back of the jacket of the rider of the twin engine motorcycle. ANN Company Page Twin Engine - Wikipedia |
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minamikaze
Posts: 382 |
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AnimeGOHeaven
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Finally! I honestly wasn't sure if we were ever going to get back to the island, considering the radio silence for the last couple of years.
Just finished the S2 premiere. Does anyone else feel like the art style shifted slightly? It looks a bit sharper, specifically the way they are animating the "Tao" effects now that the characters are starting to understand it. I was worried the production quality might dip after such a long break, but MAPPA seems to have kept the intensity up. It feels like the genre has shifted from a Battle Royale to a straight-up Survival Horror raid boss rush. Seeing the Tensen in action again reminded me just how outclassed everyone is right now. Glad to be back! |
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