“If this isn’t love, I don’t know what is”: ‘Hell’s Paradise’ Told One of the Best Love Stories of Shonen without an Ounce of Romance
- Amid intense action, Hell’s Paradise delivers an epic love story that resonates deeply with fans.
- Gabimaru and Yui’s bond adds rare emotional depth, making their love story unforgettable.
- Unlike many shojo anime, Hell’s Paradise beautifully portrays selfless love and devotion.
Debuting in 2023, Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku offers a fresh exploration of death, immortality, and attachment, set against a captivating Japanese period backdrop. The anime quickly gained a massive following after its 13-episode first season.
Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku has turned out to be one of the top anime adaptations from Studio MAPPA, with its season finale perfectly setting the stage for what’s to come. The anime was an unparalleled mix of deep storytelling and compelling characters.
Beneath the electrifying action and the stunning battles between gods and mortals, Hell’s Paradise was a refreshing respite from most of what else aired at that time. While many have placed it within the top rankings for 2023 shonen anime, Hell’s Paradise also gives the epic love story that all too many shojo series fall short of.
Hell’s Paradise: Gabimaru’s heartfelt love story
As the name and overall aesthetic more than suggest, Hell’s Paradise stands apart from Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man, thanks to its rich color palette and historical influences.
Adapted from Yuji Kaku’s web manga, Hell’s Paradise follows Gabimaru, an immortal protagonist whose deep emotional attachments allow him to survive any physical harm, including brutal torture.
The series gives a gripping start with the very first episode, Criminal and Executioner, where Gabimaru’s indestructibility is vividly portrayed in his execution scene. Hell’s Paradise is more about the themes of confession of one’s feelings and acceptance of weakness.
Gabimaru, raised as a ruthless assassin in the Shinobi village of Iwakagure, was trained to be a cold, unstoppable force in battle. However, his bond with his wife, Yui, softened his heart and led him to refuse to kill.
This weakness that his peers saw became his greatest strength, as this emotional shift of his allowed him to reach the balance required of Tao and withstand the immense power of Lord Tensen.
Throughout the season, Gabimaru’s mission to reunite with his wife has been a driving force. Yet, in the final moments, Yuzuriha questions the very existence of his wife, casting doubt on Gabimaru’s motivations. Despite this, his love and devotion to her remain unchanged.
In the last battle with Lord Tensen, Gabimaru was almost brought to death; at that point, all that he could think of was the last wish in his heart, which was reuniting with his wife, Yui, whom he loved so much.
His love for Yui provided him with the strength to return the attack from Lord Tensen, a god who was dumbfounded by the great might of a mortal. Gabimaru’s deep, selfless devotion to Yui shattered expectations left several fans moved by his human side.
Initially seen as a cold, emotionless assassin, Gabimaru’s love for Yui gave him warmth and depth that really made the final episodes all that more poignant.
Gabimaru’s love for Yui has been widely praised by fans throughout the series, with one Instagram user, heavnly_demon7, expressing their admiration: “Man fought against gods just to see his wife again—if this isn’t love, I don’t know what is 🙌. Gabimaru is probably one of the best-written characters, if not the best.”
This comment resonated with many Hell’s Paradise fans, as it depicted Gabimaru’s unrelenting love for his wife. Selfless love is evident here, and it is shown that even as a ruthless assassin, Gabimaru’s actions show how much he cares for his loved one.
Unveiling Yui: The heart behind Gabimaru’s strength
Yui is the daughter of the chief of Iwagakure village. Her father had mercilessly killed Gabimaru’s parents and trained him to be a bayeroso, an assassin.
Through being punished by her father to marry Gabimaru, an outcast fellow, their relationship started awkwardly but bloomed to become a deep love for each other, motivating both to strive for a will to live.
Yui, the eighth daughter of Iwagakure’s chief, was born into a life with no freedom or choice. From a young age, she was seen only as a tool for producing heirs, with her own will and desires completely ignored.
And while her great scar was repulsive to most people, nothing could deter Gabimaru from getting close to her; neither did she deter from his frozen heart.
Yui offered Gabimaru a glimpse of what a peaceful life actually means. Her warmth awakened a softer side in him, making him hold on to life, driven by the hope of reuniting with her after fulfilling the Shogun’s demand.
The love and relationships portrayed in the anime, although coming from a shonen depiction, greatly resonated with audience hearts and left an unforgettable mark, hence garnering widespread admiration.
Hell’s Paradise is available to stream on Netflix, Crunchyroll, Prime Video or Apple TV
