REVIEW: ‘Hell’s Paradise,’ Episode 13 — “Dreams And Reality”

So much of season one of Hell’s Paradise has grappled with the idea of the give and take of the universe and what it means to strike balance in a world that methodically steals in brutal, violent, swarths of action. In the season finale, Hell’s Paradise Episode 13, “Dreams and Reality” further contends with this notion as our protagonists both manage to master their control over Tao, for the time being, while they’re also dealt devastating hands that make them question both their realities and the beliefs they’ve been fighting for. Based on the manga written and illustrated by Yuji Kaku, we end on a natural closing note as Gabimaru, Sagiri, and company are forced to question their existence once more.

Episode 12 ended with Shion arriving just in time to save the day, even if Senta had already been claimed by Mu Dan’s poison. In Hell’s Paradise Episode 13, Shion’s extraordinary skills are put on greater display as he at first single-handedly takes on the Tensen. In part driven by the shame and regret he feels at having run away the last time, he faced a Tensen, his abilities are formidable due to his ability to sense the waves the Tensen gives off — the Tao, as the rest call it.

The battle, while contained to the courtyard it was begun in, is massive in scope regardless due to the impeccable direction by Kaori Makita and Yasuhiro Geshi. Swapping perspectives, the episode nails some of its finest frames by running parallel with our heroes on the ground, with the Tensen’s monstrous transformation taking up the background. That lingering, visual threat keeps the stakes escalating, especially when combined with the increasingly bloodied clothing of Shion. The action is captured with seamless fluidity. It’s momentum is unrelenting, especially in the climatic moments as all left standing come together, be it in combat or wit, to face down and finally kill Mu Dan. While there’s plenty to admire about the sequence, the standout is how the artists capture the waves of Tao that crest and swallow Shion with white light that highlights the edges of his design. It’s a deceptively simple yet stunning effect to showcase the power he’s wielding.

The vibrancy of the island and Horai has been one of the more unsettling aspects of the series and it’s a key attribute in “Dreams and Reality.” The Tensen and the creatures they morph into when pushed to their limits are grotesque and visually appalling and that disgust is forced to marry beauty through the flower imagery. These seemingly immortal beings are pictures of both life and decay. Their venomous signs of death sprout flowers from the dying victim’s body. It’s only natural, or unnatural, that when one of them dies, they explode into a flume of pedals.

This, in part, is the message of the entire show, and it’s not just shown through the artistry but the character development as well. We saw it last week with Senta’s admiration of Yuzuriha’s freedom and she repays it by giving him comfort in his final moments — the give and take of two opposing figures bonded by respect. We see it too when Sagiri tries to explain to Shion her conflicted feelings about Gabimaru. She believes he’s a killer, but she doesn’t believe he’s inherently bad. After Yuzuriha suggests that there’s a chance that Gabimaru’s wife could be nothing more than an illusion created by his village leader to keep him in order, Sagiri still has to believe that his love for her, real or not, will ensure he’s able to stay alive.

If there’s any shortcoming of the episode it’s that we’re given so little time with Gabimaru; although, it makes sense considering the space needed for the main battle. His being compared to a cat as he wakes up frenzied is amusing enough on its own but we realize that due to his use of Tao, he’s lost his memories. As we leave him, he’s been reset as Gabimaru the Hollow, with no recollection of those he’s surrounded by, how he got to this island, or why he was sent in the first place. It’s a frustrating plot convenience, so hopefully, it will either quickly be resolved in season two or developed in a way that doesn’t force unnecessary character regression.

Hell’s Paradise Episode 13 closes out the first season on a satisfying note while opening up new threads that will keep fans eagerly anticipating season two. Despite their accomplishment in battle, there’s no end to the questions ahead of them. Action-packed and pulsating with vibrant animation, “Dreams and Reality” sets the stage for the madness yet to ensue as our characters are given a brief and necessary moment to breathe.

Hell’s Paradise Season 1 is available now on Crunchyroll.