# This Review is Spoiler-Free

What might look like an average Shonen anime at first glance, is more than meets the eye: Hell's Paradise sets itself apart from similar anime in multiple areas and delivers a highly enjoyable journey full of action and character development through a wondrous setting.

Engaging Narrative

First, there's the highly compelling story: While there is a clear-cut goal to keep the viewers engaged, the actual course of the narration is never clear. You never know what direction it will take you next. The mystery aspect is well done - information is revealed quite slowly, bit by bit, and the story takes some very interesting turns. Certainly nothing phenomenal, but good enough to make the show more exciting.

Compelling Cast

However, what I believe to be the strongest aspect of this show is the cast. Characters aren't shallow and are easy to root for. Backstories and continuously developing relationships shape strong bonds between the cast as well as the viewers. As a result, we care much more about what is happening in the show, we are emotionally involved. I consider this the supreme discipline of any work of fiction as it significantly influences all aspects of a story.

Stunning Fights

The fights, another main attraction, are very pleasing to watch and carry lots of suspense - partly as a result of said emotional involvement. Additionally, both the choreography and the animation are a feast for the eyes. The author certainly isn't afraid to kill characters - this results in higher stakes and more tension during fights, as the outcome is totally unpredictable.
I have to say, I genuinely don't understand any complaints about production. In my eyes the show had beautiful, uniquely colorful visuals as well as fire animation.

Gabimaru & Sagiri

Gabimaru and Sagiri, our main characters, are both beautifully written. While their backstories might seem somewhat generic, the show does add its own twist to them and executes them very well. Over the course of the show they both progress, and while they do influence each other a lot, the pace of their development is quite different.
Gabimaru changes a lot in a very short time - due both to his personality and his extreme circumstances. He does also fall back at certain times, making this much more realistic, but overall, he is a changed man.
Sagiri, on the other hand, is quite the opposite. Due to her hesitant and somewhat indecisive nature she struggles a lot. Admittedly, her predicament is different and arguably more complicated to resolve than Gabimaru's. Nevertheless, while it may be in smaller, more uncertain steps, she also grows a lot as a person. In her case, I'm very interested in the long-term changes: What will she be like at the end of the story? Will she actually turn her life around? The only way to know is to keep watching, and I gladly will :)
Overall I very much enjoyed these contrasting, yet similar main characters and their constantly evolving, fascinating relationship.

Conclusion

While I did like the show from the start due to its compelling main cast and interesting premise, it did falter at mid-point. I was tired of just watching small-fry fights and not getting much progress on the mystery. However, as the focus shifted again to the mysteries of the island and certain things were revealed, it only went uphill.
The final quarter is pure bliss - everything pays off: you root strongly for the protagonists, as you have stood through many tough fights and emotional moments with them and watched them grow. Many major mysteries are finally revealed and I absolutely love the answers. The 'new' premise and setting are phenomenal and I can't wait to see more. Fights have higher stakes and more powerful enemies than ever.
Even so, the show hasn't hit a standstill and keeps on evolving ever further, with more shocking turns and yet more powerful foes. The ending being a huge cliffhanger and leaves me extremely hyped for the sequel. Hopefully the show can retain its momentum and stay as amazing as it is at the current point. Can't wait for the next season!