Quick Summary • Best Moment • Setup • Delivery • Other Posts
Hell’s Paradise Episode 7 – Quick Summary
In Hell’s Paradise Episode 7, “Flowers and Offerings,” Choubei Aza and Touma Yamada came upon an astonishing sight: two nearly naked women engaged in foreplay. What was even more surprising was their reaction to the two men. Will they survive the encounter? Meanwhile, Gabimaru, Sagiri, Yuzuriha, and Senta experienced their own astonishing encounter: an apparently abandoned village. That’s when Gabimaru spotted what looked like a human child observing them. He gave chase – which might not have been the smartest thing to do. Who was the girl? More importantly, who was her friend? And where is the Elixir in all of this?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from Hell’s Paradise Episode 7
I have no idea if Yuzuriha was serious or just giving Gabimaru a hard time. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Gabimaru is a machine when it comes to combat. He is well-versed in technique and lore. There’s not a situation calling for violence that is outside of his experience.
That experience doesn’t extend to interacting with children.
Gabimaru and team had been questioning Hoko about the Elixir. When Hoko casually mentioned they were likely about to die, both Gabimaru and Yuzuriha pointed their blades at what would have been his throat, if he had such a thing. Which he probably does. It’s hard to say.
Hoko had explained that he wasn’t threatening them. He even demonstrated how he regenerated. When Hoko further explained that he was over a thousand years old, Gabimaru shifted his blade to point at Mei to question her. She looked terrified. She even started to cry.
“Hey, don’t point blades at people,” Sagiri said, putting herself between Gabimaru and Mei (15:20).
“Yikes. Seriously, guy,” Yuzuriha said in disapproval.
Gabimaru looked shocked. He even apologized. Between the hellish island and the norms for interacting with children, I’m not sure which had Gabimaru more on the defensive!
Favorite Moment from Hell’s Paradise Episode 6
Gabimaru’s words were a revelation to Mei – and a shock to Sagiri. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: Gabimaru’s Mixed Strengths and Weaknesses
I like how my favorite quote formed part of the context for my favorite moment. The previous six episodes drove home the idea that Gabimaru can handle himself in a fight. There’s no lack of clarity about his abilities – in that regard.
This episode also reminded us of something else it showed us, but didn’t emphasize to the same extent. Namely, that when it comes to anything to do with human emotions, especially familial affection, the dude is worse off than I am.
I know, I know. I should have told you to sit down to avoid falling over from shock. But you’re resilient. I have faith in you. So, take that not as an oversight on my part, but as a vote of confidence!
Anyway.
Two things to note about Gabimaru’s lack of ability in this arena. First, he’s dimly aware of that lack, which made my favorite moment feel so poignant. Second, he’s on guard against it – which sets up the next episode.
Gabimaru remembered when his words drew this reaction from Yui. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Remember when he realized that Mei felt self-conscious about her scar? Gabimaru recalled realiziung that that Yui had felt the same way. Now, before you say, “Yeah, but she’s become less of a character and more of a plot device,” I say: yes. I agree. And it doesn’t matter to me. I know how I would react if I were in Gabimaru’s shoes. If I had to get through this island and everyone on it to get back to my wife, well, sorry folks. Move it or lose it.
Every one of those scenes resonate with me. Now that I say that out loud, I realize it’s a big part of why I like Gabimaru so much. He’s doing what I would – only, he has more skill. And he’s slightly more emotionless and brutal. But I digress.
Delivery: Gabimaru Giveth, Until He Taketh Away
Gabimaru remembered the moment he realized Yui felt self-conscious about the scar her mind-numbingly evil father had given her. At the time, Gabimaru had not thought much about it; it was not relevant to him. But he realized it was relevant to her. So he told her she didn’t need to hide it. That she was beautiful with or without the scar. He remembered her reaction.
He wanted to share that with Mei.
“If you’re embarrassed about your scars, then… don’t be,” he said in his typical Gabimaru-blunt style (21:48). “… I know a woman with a large scar, but there’s no one more beautiful than her.”
Mei’s eyes shone.
Sagiri, on the other hand, was pretty freaked out. “It was just such a respectable thing to say. I’m dumbfounded,” she said (22:10). But the key here is that Gabimaru reached out, as clumsy as he is, and tried to help Mei see herself in a more honest light.
This is Sagiri’s dumbfounded expression. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
And the icing on the cake? Remembering that moment with his wife – remembering how he felt like those moments dulled his edge – put him back on guard against everything on the island. Including Sagiri. I felt sick about that – seriously, I love their working relationship – but that’s what drama does, isn’t it? Puts characters in situations that push them, and us, and then resolve them. And there’s no doubt in my mind that Hell’s Paradise is dramatic in the best sense of the word.
What did you think of the revelations about the Elixir? What were your favorite moments in this episode? Feel free to let me know in the comments!
Hell’s Paradise Episode 7: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: Jigokuraku • Hell’s Paradise – Episode 7 discussion
- AngryAnimeBitches Anime Blog: Hell’s Paradise Episode 6 & 7
- Lost in Anime: Patron Pick Spring 2023: Jigokuraku – 07
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
So we meet two “gods,” who clearly possess power and can do things which mortals cannot. But they apparently need to drink the elixir, which comes from the plants, which they feed people to. So their power is rooted in feeding on human lives. There are some mythologies which paint a picture of human sacrifice which is necessary to sustain the gods as they do things like, say, keep the sun rising and setting despite the onslaught of the powers of darkness. But if this lot need it just to sustain themselves even as they live idyllic, pleasurable existences, I’d say their more like parasitic posers than gods.
It was interesting to me that they had Yuzuriha actually fight with her ninjutsu, something that looks water-based with her sweat, but they didn’t actually show it to us. That would suggest that they’re holding off on showing it until a more dramatic, dangerous moment, perhaps the moment she betrays the others and they have to deal with her without anyone – either in the story or in the audience – knowing a thing about her capabilities.
“parasitic posers” LOL — what a great description!
I’ll bet you’re right about Yuzuriha’s ninjutsu — and I have to say, it looks pretty distracting. But then, I’ve found her pretty distracting since we first laid eyes on her.
Which is an effect she cultivates.
I’ll bet she does end up betraying them. I mean, in the middle of battle, in front of everyone, she asserted that her role was gathering information and, apparently, cheerleading. I doubt she’d hesitate to do even more if the situation suited her.
What I’m wondering is where Mei learned to be self-conscious about her scar. How long has she been with Hoko? Who was she with before that?
And the revelations about the elixir? I’d sort of guessed (I think I might have made an off-hand remark on this somewhere here? not sure.). What I’m curious about is if the Shogun knows or not; if they do know sending criminals occasionally to increase the supply and then send in the specialists to retrieve it would make sense.
That is a diabolical, conniving scheme which could not only that explain the current situation here, it could also explain why the head ninja seems to have had the elixir some time ago.
That’s a good question about Mei! The writers have impressed me with their attention to character detail, so I’m hopeful they’ll address that.
Are you thinking that the Shogun is gathering a supply of elixir over time? I wonder what they do to the surviving criminals? I doubt they’d let them go free, having learned about the island and the elixir.