For those looking to read:
Hell's Paradise, if I had to summarize it in a few words, is emotional, uplifting, and unhinged. The story is an experience that sticks with you and packs a strong punch. It's one of the very few new-gen Shounen that taps into an emotionally compelling narrative effectively. Not only is the narrative rich, but the cast of characters take the spotlight and shine brightly.
Now, spoilers ahead...
Spoiler, click to view
+ Gabimaru is a different sort of Shounen protagonist. Instead of being some underdog with big aspirations, he's a criminal on the verge of being executed. He's committed murder and thieved people. He's mercilessly killed people for the sake of his mission. Although it's fairly obvious he's not that great of a human being, we sympathize with him tremendously. Whether it be his undying love for his former wife, Yui, or the compassion he has for those suffering, we CAN sympathize with him. This idea of sympathy runs deep in the narrative of the story as well. This bleeds into the part of the review regarding the entirety of the cast.- The cast outside of Gabimaru doesn't lack whatsoever. Sagiri, the deuteragonist, is an example of how to execute a female protagonist well. She's not only likable as hell, but she has actual development and adds a lot of depth to the story. The entirety of the Yamada Asaemon, in fact, is nuanced and interesting. Senta, Shion, Fuchi, Tenza, Shugen, and many more are unique and all serve the plot well. They not only add to the narrative but their involvements in sub plots aren't a waste of time. We can sympathize with nearly all of them in some way. I also like that they are diverse in terms of personality, moral code, and etc. Their development was also very much appreciated. Now, for the criminals on death-row, such as Tamiya and Yuzuriha, they are great additions too. They have super funky personalities and they are likable. For Lord Tensen, I'd say they or him were executed well. They represented evolution humanity could not fathom but their endings came with them realizing humanity would never dissipate, with Rien even showing this side as he/she died.
- In terms of themes, fighting-system, and art, this story does not falter either. The themes of love, self-realization, ideals, morals, justice, self-doubt, and more have rich profundity. The Buddhist ties also show up a lot in the story. The ideas of Taoism and more also help wrap this story in a beautiful bow. The art is great too, as the personifications & imagery add depth. The fighting art isn't amazing but it's still good and gave me some enjoyable action.
- I have a few criticisms, though. The finale was slightly rushed. Mei's presence in the finale was great but given the amount of time we had with her, she deserved more insight and a more fleshed out conclusion. I also think some fights were somewhat unrealistic within the parameters of the Tao system itself, but those luckily didn't take away from the point of the story; overall, I can let it slide. I also wish certain characters who got fitting deaths weren't revived for the sake of emotional attachment. The actual ending and conclusion of the narrative, though? I liked it a lot. It was damn good. I'm just saying some characters weren't fleshed out as well as they could have been.
- That's all I got regarding my review. It was a great story with some lovable characters that'll stick with me for a long time. For a new-gen, this story is how to execute a Shounen story that strays between being standard and gritty.
FINAL SCORE: 80/100
