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Hell’s Paradise Episode 13 – Quick Summary
In Hell’s Paradise Episode 13, “Dreams and Reality,” Shion might have prevented Mu Dan from slaughtering Sagiri, Senta, and Yuzuriha, but the reprieve was only temporary. Mu Dan still seemed to be at full strength, and the humans were decidedly not. Shion did his best with his newly acquired tao skills, but it wasn’t enough. With Sagiri and Yuzuriha exhausted, and with Senta out of the fight due to being infected with the narcotic flowers, what chance do they have? And has Gabimaru regained his wits yet?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from Hell’s Paradise Episode 13
I’m pretty sure Shion didn’t want a distraction at a critical moment. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
This episode taught us a little more about tao. It’s cool how it has multiple interactions depending on the circumstance and type of tao a person has. In some cases, it might even have healing properties.
I suspect Nurugai should have explained herself before she up and hugged Yuzuriha. I mean, the shinobi might have interpreted it as an attack, and, well, that would not have ended well! As it was, she just regarded Nurugai as if the young woman had lost her mind.
Undaunted, Nurugai went over and hugged Sagiri. She asked Sagiri if she felt better, and Sagiri was astonished to find that she did. Nurugai explained she used to do that for her grandfather all the time. She even tried it on Shion, with good effect.
Nurugai remembered the encounter. She recalled how Shion seemed surprised to find that her hug had regenerated some of his stamina.
Holding up his index finger to emphasize the point, he told her (06:46), “But I’d prefer you not suddenly latch onto me.”
One must be conscious of propriety, after all!
Favorite Moment from Hell’s Paradise Episode 13
I think Senta’s sacrifice touched Yuzuriha. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: Senta’s Last Stand
Seeing Senta at the end of the previous episode hurt. I sympathized with his backstory. He seemed like a kindred spirit in many ways. Without any illusion that Yuzuriha could see him in a romantic way, he still threw himself in front of Mu Dan’s attack.
You know what? I think that touched her.
She used some of her medicine to stabilize his condition. Good thing, too, because his insight about the center of Mu Dan’s power gave Shion a target. Without that knowledge, Shion would have struck the wrong location, and it would have been curtains for them.
Was it freaky seeing the little Mu Dan heads in that ovule, or what?
Mu Dan learned the hard way – don’t keep all your heads in one basket. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
But back to Senta and Yuzuriha. After Shion’s victory, she said she only had one more dose of her healing medicine. Well, two doses: she reserved one for herself. Selfish? Sure. But really, is it realistic to expect someone to cough up their last dose of medicine – medicine they might need to keep themselves alive – on a dying man?
Honestly: would you? And it’s okay to answer, “I don’t know” or “It depends,” because I’m kinda feeling both answers.
Delivery: Yuzuriha’s Unnecessary — but Heartfelt — Kindness
That didn’t mean, though, that she was without compassion. She did something for Senta that showed just how much he had touched her. She did something the likes of which she hasn’t done for anyone else – at least as far as we know.
I want to recount most of what she said, because I think it’s both beautiful and perfectly in context of who Yuzuriha is.
Kneeling beside him as he was about to die, she said (13:50), “I’m sure you know this, but you’re not going to make it. So you can let go. You don’t need to hold onto your job or pride anymore. You can relax now. You always lied to yourself, right? At the very end, think about whatever you want to think about… Picture them in your heart as you die beholding a beautiful sight. I can at least let you lean on me.”
Senta appreciated Yuzuriha’s words and touch. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Not everyone would have done that. Not everyone could have. Senta was about to die; he would be out of her life in moments. She did not have to do that. But Yuzuriha did it. She eased Senta into his death, and his last thoughts were of her.
That’s a more peaceful death than most of the cast experienced!
What did you think of Gabimaru losing his memory? What were your favorite moments in this episode? Feel free to let me know in the comments!
Hell’s Paradise Episode 13: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- Hell’s Paradise Episode 1: Criminal and Executioner
- Hell’s Paradise Episode 2: Screening and Choosing
- Hell’s Paradise Episode 3: Weakness and Strength
- Hell’s Paradise Episode 4: Hell and Paradise
- Hell’s Paradise Episode 5: The Samurai and the Woman
- Hell’s Paradise Episode 6: Heart and Reason
- Hell’s Paradise Episode 7: Flowers and Offerings
- Hell’s Paradise Episode 8: Student and Master
- Hell’s Paradise Episode 9: Gods and People
- Hell’s Paradise Episode 10: Yin and Yang
- Hell’s Paradise Episode 11: Weak and Strong
- Hell’s Paradise Episode 12: Umbrella and Ink
- Hell’s Paradise Episode 13: Dreams and Reality
For all her selfishness, Yuzuriha has great insight into giving people what they want and what they need. She gave Senta a measure of peace and comfort, and coming from her, especially, that means a great deal.
As for Gabimaru, honestly, it felt a bit cheap to undo all of his progress, but the stakes certainly just got raised even higher. They have one weapon which they can use to defeat the Tensen, but if they use it, they risk destroying their own bodies, minds, and souls. Talk about damned if you do and damned if you don’t!
I find it interesting that Mu Dan’s final words were, “thank you.” What were they thankful for? What did they wait a thousand years for? We already know that the people on the island were fodder for an experiment. Could the Tensen also be something like that, fodder for some venture that includes making warriors master tao to the point that they can kill them?
I think I see what the writer is doing with Gabimaru, but my reaction was similar to yours.
I thought at first that Mu Dan was thankful his “ordeal” had ended — and I thought it was because he was trapped on the island. But I might be wrong. I like how the show has kept that up in the air.
I like your idea about what might be going on, too!