REVIEW: ‘To Your Eternity,’ Episode 17 – “The Defeated”

Content Warning: To Your Eternity Episode 17 deals with sexual assault 

To Your Eternity is a shonen fantasy anime produced by Brian’s Base. Having defeated Fushi in the final battle of the competition, Hayase declares her plans for the island prison. But why has she come all this way for Fushi? And how will Tonari and the others respond to Hayase’s power plays on To Your Eternity Episode 17?

The reappearance of Hayase in Fushi’s story substantially changes the feel of To Your Eternity as a series. The presentation up until her return gave the viewer the feeling that the series was more of an anthology of stories largely unconnected, save for Fushi and Pioran’s presence throughout the stories, than a continuous narrative. With Hayase’s return, the narrative feels more knit together than it did. Though the more interconnected story isn’t the only way To Your Eternity Episode 17 alters the story’s tone.

Having defeated Fushi through the use of a paralyzing agent, Hayase takes the immortal to a fortified building on the island. There, as Fushi struggles internally with his defeat, we see Hayase climb on top of Fushi and strip naked as she repeatedly licks his face. Before anything further can happen, Hayase is interrupted by Tonari and company, who have come to rescue Fushi.

This sequence is a disturbing turn for the series to take. While I have my guesses as to what Hayase may hope to gain from Fushi, the depiction of her intentions for her prey are an unexpected development from the show. While death, struggle, and trauma have certainly been plentiful throughout the series, To Your Eternity Episode 17 is the first time anything of a sexual nature has been dealt with in the series.

While Hayase certainly has the upper hand throughout this episode, Tonari is not allowing the woman’s plans to go unchallenged. Her group’s spirit and determination to help their new friend escape from Hayase’s clutches is a wonderful counterpoint to the self-interest that governs their opponent’s actions. Just how far Tonari is willing to go for Fushi also helps cement some feelings I’ve struggled with toward the character since she first arrived on the show.

The visuals in To Your Eternity Episode 17 deliver the tension and conflict in this episode extremely well. However the viewer may feel about Hayase’s scene with Fushi, the visual portrayal of it delivers feelings that are equal part disgust and terror. How unhinged Hayase has become since her first meeting with Fushi is plainly evident. The disturbing nature of the sequence is heightened by the contrast of a dream Fushi has just before the moment depicting several individuals from Fushi’s past. This moment’s ethereal nature is presented beautifully by the show’s animation design. The way this peaceful moment transforms into a nightmare is hard to watch.

When all is said and done, To Your Eternity Episode 17 delivers a well-crafted, though surprisingly disturbing, story. Despite having faced the threat of the Nokkers several times now, the danger to Fushi has never felt greater.

To Your Eternity Episode 17 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.