Hell’s Paradise – Episode 11

Episode Synopsis:

Gabimaru’s group and the brothers’ group each fight the Soshin, learn about tao, and defeat the Soshin.  Before their defeat, the Soshin reveal that the Tensen power up their tao by having sex.

Episode Review:

How do I somehow only get the worst episodes of this show to review? Much like episode 6, this is an episode that is mostly about a fight, and much like episode 6, there is somehow so, so much more talking than fighting.  I guess the show’s creators got tired of having the characters learn things by exploration and deduction, because this episode is just a giant exposition bomb.  Right in the middle of the fight, the Soshin stop to carefully instruct Gabimaru and company on exactly how tao works.

This goes on for so long I almost expected them to wheel out a chalkboard and some chairs.  Then the fight gets going again, but we need some time for Gabimaru to learn how to use tao from Mei.  So he puts up a wall of fire.

Despite them being in a huge open area and one of their opponents being able to fly, neither of the baddies think to go around or over the fire for a truly excessive amount of time.  Even the characters comment on the absurdity of the situation.

After powering up, Gabimaru easily pushes back the Soshin, but after a minute of fight, he asks them some more questions and, no joke, the baddie goes “Yeah, all right.  Sit down while I read you part 3 of my novel on tao usage.”

After the exposition dessert of this three-course meal of boredom, they finally kill the Soshin just in time for the credits.  In case you can’t tell by my mockery, the episode is tiring and poorly paced. 

But at least it’s also badly animated!  My favorite examples are the wiggly arms that everyone seems to have.  The Brother Blond has both of his arms broken, and just wiggles them back into place using his newfound tao powers (at least he learns his by doing stuff rather than listening to a lecture):

Later, Gabimaru is fighting off a bunch of bugs, and he stands stock still while his arms wiggle around him, punching and fending off his attackers.  I think it’s supposed to look like he’s cool and unfazed, but it just looks ridiculous instead, like they forgot to animate his body.

Lastly, there are the revelations that the Soshin and Tensen power up through sex.  Considering that Gabimaru is immediately super strong and blond brother seems to be endlessly increasing his tao by existing, this doesn’t seem like it’s going to affect the protagonists at all.  So its inclusion as a concept seems to be just for its shock value – to titillate viewers seeing the Tensen have sex, and to make the Soshin more villainous because their goal is to rape Mei so they can get stronger.  I suppose it’s just another way for the show to try and make an edgy name for itself, but to me it feels random and offputting in the middle of this low-tier shonen punchfest.  

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