[Rewatch] Jigokuraku • Hell's Paradise Episode 8 Discussion

#**Episode 8 - [Student and Master](https://i.imgur.com/LWEKfB9.png)**

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**Information:**

[MAL](https://myanimelist.net/anime/46569) | [AniList](https://anilist.co/anime/128893) | [ANN](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=23963) | [Kitsu](https://kitsu.app/anime/jigokuraku) | [AniDB](https://anidb.net/anime/16012)

**Legal Streams:**

[Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/series/GJ0H7Q5ZJ) | [Hulu](https://www.hulu.com/series/hells-paradise-ed1bbbfa-fb32-4b9a-83b8-04a42687ae59) | [Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/title/81574246)

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***And like you said, someday… will I find someone I want to protect?***

**Questions of the Day:**

1) How much potential do you think Tenza had? [](#toradorasalute)

2) Assuming Tenza isn’t the last of the main cast who dies, who do you think is most likely to kick the bucket next?

**Wallpaper of the Day:**

[Tenza Yamada Asaemon](https://i.imgur.com/MJn9R23.png)

-----

Rewatchers, please remember to be mindful of all the first-timers in this. No talking about or hinting at future events no matter how much you want to, ***unless*** you're doing it underneath spoiler tags. Don't spoil anything for the first-timers, that's rude!

/r/anime's spoiler tag format is as follows:

[Hell's Paradise]>!Gabimaru loves his wife.!<

Which becomes [Hell's Paradise]>!Gabimaru loves his wife.!< when you don't break the formatting on purpose like I just did.

Voir le contenu lié

Commentaires

Shimmering-Sky2026-01-04 23:00

**Hell’s Rewatch Host, subbed**

[Welcome back, everyone…](#torrentialdownpour)

Dunno how much Tenza’s death will affect everyone in here, but it sure does give me big emotional damage every time I watch it.

[Here were my original reactions to episode 8](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/13my136/jigokuraku_hells_paradise_episode_8_discussion/jkx2qp7/), if anyone wants to read those.

---

- [Poor Tenza…](https://i.imgur.com/LMGvc6m.png) [](#therethere)

- [So much for staying out of danger…](https://i.imgur.com/XyoCuDw.png) [](#emiliaohdear)

- [That *would* have been a smart move if the Tensen couldn’t regenerate.](https://i.imgur.com/2rtPqM4.png) [](#cantbehelped)

- [Legitimately terrifying.](https://i.imgur.com/vqe8C03.png) [](#spooked)

- [Spoken like a true master.](https://i.imgur.com/enJ2agX.png) [](#kukuku)

- [There *is* a way out.](https://i.imgur.com/ObdFGm0.png) [](#neat)

- [lol](https://i.imgur.com/TqlTLIT.png) [](#kukuku2)

- The first half of this episode really was way to lighthearted for what happens [now…](https://i.imgur.com/cmb0DZV.png) [](#sadholo)

- [Damn…](https://i.imgur.com/vuXf7df.png) [](#shatteredsaten)

- [Yeah, he found it alright.](https://i.imgur.com/9UOO9vv.png) [](#sadholo)

- [Oof.](https://i.imgur.com/mw65TdB.png)

- [Ganbare, Tenza…](https://i.imgur.com/NXRzY72.png) [](#poltears)

- [He understood…](https://i.imgur.com/bNB1h5x.png) [](#makicry)

- [I’m such a sucker](https://i.imgur.com/QIQX2Mx.png) for [“what if?” moments, damn…](https://i.imgur.com/F930Mzy.png) [](#comfortfood)

- The extra scene with the ED playing in the background is just driving the knife even deeper in… [](#elsieqq)

Vaadwaur2026-01-04 23:06

> Dunno how much Tenza’s death will affect everyone in here, but it sure does give me big emotional damage every time I watch it.

I'd heard him die more than you had, at the time.

> So much for staying out of danger…

This is the European equivalent of having Hector or Achilles just pop in on you. You can't really account for that outside of Grail Wars.

> That would have been a smart move if the Tensen couldn’t regenerate.

I believe I can remind you of at least one case where that worked against a regenerating opponent.

> I’m such a sucker for “what if?” moments, damn…

The man is volunteering for an interracial/intercultural marriage even in his dreams. Respect but that is the hard way.

Zeallfnonex2026-01-05 03:05

> This is the European equivalent of having Hector or Achilles just pop in on you. You can't really account for that outside of Grail Wars.

I'd say even worse, even Achilles may've been survivable. This is like Hercules or one of the other major demigods deciding that you're about to have a bad day. Or maybe even Zeus turned into a goose, and you're a woman that caught his eye.

donuteater1112026-01-05 03:06

> lol

Maybe it's the Avatar TLA fan in me, but I love blind characters being able to make blind jokes, lol.

BosuW2026-01-04 23:00

**Rewatcher**

I was dreading this episode from the start man that's devastating. Definitely one of the most memorable moments in the season and a grim reminder that just because the initial cast cull already happened doesn't mean the bodies are done dropping.

What we have here today is I believe a pretty standard Buddhist tale although one with a sadder ending. Hey you can't market your fancy new religion on downer endings, even if at the same time you preach the impermanence of all things. Bit ironic that one. Though there are a few, but more about that on future posts.

Anyway the reason I say this one is more in line with Buddhism is because of this religion's emphasis on virtue and good, while the other religion explored in this show, Taoism, is very amoral. Tenza was able to realize his potential by commiting all his being to doing what he knew was right regardless of the rules of the time, reaching beyond what his new status as a Yamada Asaemon could have provided. He gave his life to protect a criminal. He rose above what the ills of the world, things that were decided before he was ever born and were pushed into him, would've had him become.

The Sakura tree symbolism does foreshadow his demise though, as it famously only blooms for like one or two weeks. Tenza's moment of greatness was as brief as it was beautiful. All that he was, all that he is and all that he could be, spilling over in the blink of an eye. And thanks to it, instead of being condemned due to bad karma like Shion's previous student, he gives his life for the continuation of another.

[Jigokuraku S1]>!There could be a Taoist reading as well. Since Tenza was too much trouble to take to the wells alive to turn into Tan, his sacrifice denies the profanation of his vital energy, indeed his very life, instead letting it join the flow of the cosmos in service of those who still have a chance, achieving immortality in the more spiritual sense as Shion and Nurugai will carry his will forward.!<

Still it was heartbreaking to see him imagine what could have been, teaching future generations and married to Nurugai who found more Sanka alive.

Finally, nice detail on him going for the feet in his last stand as Shion said he should against such an opponent.

Shimmering-Sky2026-01-04 23:03

> I was dreading this episode from the start man that's devastating. Definitely one of the most memorable moments in the season and a grim reminder that just because the initial cast cull already happened doesn't mean the bodies are done dropping.

Same here... [](#holdme)

Malipit2026-01-04 23:09

> Finally, nice detail on him going for the feet in his last stand as Shion said he should against such an opponent.

[](#neat)

Vaadwaur2026-01-04 23:10

> while the other religion explored in this show, Taoism, is very amoral.

Hrmm...this feels like a moment where explaining that geometry was both a mathematical method and a religion at the same time might be relevant...

BosuW2026-01-05 00:42

That explains a lot about modern mystic rituals (which btw DO work as I can attest as an Ace Combat fan... maybe work too well)

Vaadwaur2026-01-04 23:01

Rewatcher

Dub

We get another tensen and then Tenza's story, not sure if the pun functions the same way in Japanese. Tenza and Shion are both much better at defense than Chobei was but it doesn't make the greatest of differences. We see more...energy usage. This tensen also gender changes in English because...why? It kind of floats about that most of the fight. But then the fight ends, as we somehow knew it must, in sadness. Do note that swapping to fists changed the dynamic for Tenza a lot.

So some specific dub thoughts, so far:The gender swaps are a touch exaggerated, which somewhat works but equally shows some differing cultural values. Also, Nurugai's voice in the dub is noticably deeper. Will address again later.

QotD:1 There really was such a man, at least back then...

2 Yuzu, this story has an agenda against massive racks.

BosuW2026-01-05 01:38

> Do note that swapping to fists changed the dynamic for Tenza a lot.

Good catch. Bro didn't survive in the streets with a katana after all.

> So some specific dub thoughts, so far:The gender swaps are a touch exaggerated, which somewhat works but equally shows some differing cultural values.

Wdym?

Vaadwaur2026-01-05 02:07

> Wdym?

I suspect that US dubbers, CR in this case, felt the need to make a bigger distinction between the male and female voices. Today's Tensen's actors don't quite talk at the same pace so it comes out a bit.

Malipit2026-01-04 23:05

**First timer ~~rejoicing one of his theories is confirmed~~ mourning Tenza's sacrifice, French Subs**

*On today's episode:* [A cameo of young executioners](https://imgur.com/a/k8WhFVr), a mentor blindsided by the Tensen of the week and Nurugai learns she isn't in a romance story.

A backstory that takes a lot of space in the episode, an ominous cherry blossoms imagery (often assiocated with the beautiful but ephemeral nature of life) and two related characters that could relive their traumas of loss (Nurugai's tribe and Shion's previous disciple) if Tenza get killed.

Poor lad carried way too many death flags around him to survive the Tensen assault. [](#shatteredsaten)

It just may be my own interpretation here, but given how Tenza ressembled your typical generic shonen protagonist (other have already pointed how he looks like Naruto) and his propension to disregard his wounds to protect his comrades, I think the author wanted to make fun of the shonen tropes. Where the protagonist would miraculously get up thanks to the power of friendship to defeat the bad guy. Twisting just that part so Tenza get unceremoniously killed, we don't do power-up here.

Anyway, I was surprised that Shion is such a nice guy, since the few we saw about him was his interaction with the cannibal courtesan done in a way to make you believe he killed her after having sex.

Nope, he's the type of person to [extract lost souls from the shadow by standing in the light as if to show the way](https://imgur.com/a/hWOC6dY). The same type to carefully cultivate the potential of Tenza like he would cultivate that Sakura tree ready to blossom.

In that regard, Tenza being associated with cherry blossoms did permit some nice scenes. Like the one where he convince his master to spare Nurugai. [Having cherry blossoms fill the entire screen here](https://imgur.com/a/1noyRtq) conveyed how much Tenza have grown from an insecure orphan to a confident samurai able to see the potential in other just like Shion did to him. Probably why his master trusted him so blindly* about Nurugai.

[*Pun intended](#sassyimouto)

And of course, [the same cherry blossom would be seen falling on Tenza's headband upon his passing](https://imgur.com/a/ego9x9X). To tell the audience that's it, he played his part in the story and will now rest for eternity.

Now I may root for Nurugai to have her revenge, kill all the Tensen, resurect Tenza with the Tan, realize he became a soulless monster, and become the protagonist of Hell Paradise 2 when she will have to face the man she loved.

… No, I won't add it in the theory corner.

**Questions of the Day:**

>1) How much potential do you think Tenza had?

Enough potential to be a good master.

> 2) Assuming Tenza isn’t the last of the main cast who dies, who do you think is most likely to kick the bucket next?

Good question, I bet on Yuzuhira's executioner (forgot his name), or Chobe's brother (also forgot his name).

Malipit2026-01-04 23:05

## **Theories corner**

**Theories still in progress**

*From episode one*

* Knowing the location of the Elixir of Life is nice and all, but how exactly people came on the conclusion that ''We have Greed Island at home'' is indeed the place ? Someone did came back alive. It isn't the man on the row boat we saw in the previous episode since the flowers sprouted on him when he already came back. That could hint at the fact the Shogun may know more on that Island than he let appear. **New elements with that episode** : Given the tensens need fresh blood as a fertilizer for their Tan, it's possible they let one human escape once in a while so he could tell the tale to anyone foolish enough to try their luck on the island.

* One guard tell Sagiri a rumor about ninjas at Iwagakure village drinkiong the Elixir of Life. Is that the same as the one supposed being found on the Island ? Does the village chief have intel about it ? According to Gabimaru, the chief displayed some unnatural feats in the past. Either it's one heck of a red herring, or we have a serious proof he know something about the secret of the Island.

*From episode four*

* Given the butterflies on the island seems to spray hallucinogenic spores, is there a possiblity our characters are put in a constant state of hypnosis ? Since we already got a human giant among the criminal, could it be that our characters actually face a tribe of regular-looking giants they hallucinate as demons ? If Sagiri was truly knocked-out cold from the butterflies spores, that could hint as a more anesthesic effect than a psychotropic one, likely jossing the theory.

*From episode seven*

* The androgynous tensen mopping the floor with poor Chobe and his brother is shown regenerating their body with vines. And they seemingly changed sex by altering their body with what appears to be the same vines working under their skins. With other living beings such as Hoko having a vegetal body, it would be possible that the tensens are actually born from the same plants that blossom on the bodies scattered on the island. Or they could be former human that got transformed after ingesting that Tan, possibly crafted from the plants in the Island.

**New theories**

* One for the long run : Every criminal and executioner alike in the story will eventually die during the story. With only Gabimaru and Sagiri making it to the end when they pull an heroic sacrifice to erase the Tensens from existence.

**Confirmed theories**

* The Island does have hostile locals dwelling in its luxurious jungle. ~~No sentient plants~~ or a hidden ninja clan (for now), but demons insects and giant fish things. Close enough. Correction : WE HAVE A WALKING SENTIENT TREE MAN. I was right !

* Several rewatchers confirmed it already in yesterday thread, but the Shogun is just a bloodthirsty moron that just here to watch people kill each other. To the point he basically used by the Yamada Asaemon clan. If he was a bit smart, he could have done a tournament where the criminals fight to the death with the winner being pardonned. So he could have enjoyed the whole show without losing any executionner on the Island. [](#tomato)

* Even if they're implied to not be humans, there is indeed a civilization living on the Island that have mastered the Tan needed to live a very long life.

* Even if it wasn't due to the monsters poison, Tenza did pass away. He couldn't beat the death flags allegations. [](#toradorasalute)

**Jossed theories**

* Sagiri didn't betray Gabimaru, (in fact it was the opposite) and survived past episode 3. So I

* We got an clear explanation that Sagiri is among the best sword fighters of her clans and is ranked poorly because misogynist society won't have a woman as a head of a clan. So she's not dead last among the Yamada Asaemon power ranking.

Vaadwaur2026-01-04 23:18

> and his propension to disregard his wounds to protect his comrades, I think the author wanted to make fun of the shonen tropes.

Sadly no, this is the standard now.

> Anyway, I was surprised that Shion is such a nice guy, since the few we saw about him was his interaction with the cannibal courtesan done in a way to make you believe he killed her after having sex.

I still want to know how she survived the culling...

> In that regard, Tenza being associated with cherry blossoms did permit some nice scenes.

I almost don't want to mention this but 'being in the cherry blossoms' also means you are under an illusion spell to the Japanese...

Malipit2026-01-05 00:34

> I still want to know how she survived the culling...

Just by standing still in a corner and play on the facts the criminals gathered here won't kill here outright because she's pretty and there are other, more threatening opponents in the arena ?

>I almost don't want to mention this but 'being in the cherry blossoms' also means you are under an illusion spell to the Japanese...

Interesting, but I still hold on my analyzis.

BosuW2026-01-05 01:30

> I think the author wanted to make fun of the shonen tropes. Where the protagonist would miraculously get up thanks to the power of friendship to defeat the bad guy. Twisting just that part so Tenza get unceremoniously killed, we don't do power-up here.

I don't think to make fun of, but it certainly plays with your expectations. Like, maybe you don't expect Tenza to survive to the end, but in an ambush and so soon... Not to mention, just like with Eizen's case, the story even pulls from the meta level for this because these characters feel like they are being set up for future significant scenes and moments. In Tenza's case with Nurugai and Shion.

> I bet on Yuzuhira's executioner (forgot his name), or Chobe's brother (also forgot his name).

Senta and Tōma

Malipit2026-01-05 02:49

>I don't think to make fun of, but it certainly plays with your expectations.

For sure. It wouldn't be surprising if the author wanted to have the audience believe Shion would be the one sacrificing his life.

>Senta and Tōma

[thanks](#ginapproves)

~~Watch me forget their names again the next day~~

BaytaCosmico2026-01-04 23:11

**First-timer, subbed**

Omg this was heartbreaking. I'm crying. I very rarely cry when watching things but this episode really got me.

When I was idly wondering about Nurugai and Tenza in the previous episode thread, I had no idea we'd get an entire episode dedicated to them, to my sweet Golden Retriever Asaemon, and one that ends so tragically.

Was hoping against hope that he'd somehow survive despite everything we found out last episode about how OP these perfect being monsters are. That was Junichi Suwabe, wasn't it? Felt conflicted when I heard his voice. Was hoping he'd turn out to be a good Tensen. But nope, being perfect means being evil apparently. There's an obvious metaphor in here.

I would've been gutted to see Tenza die (or at least lose) regardless but his backstory just made me feel so much worse for him. For him to turn out to be such a good person despite the desperate conditions he grew up in, his master did well to spot his potential and develop it. If Shion dies as well I'll fully lose it. Please let him and Nurugai live and get their revenge against these monsters.

That little flash of what could've been when Tenza wonders as he's dying about what potential his master saw him in - with Tenza becoming a master himself and married to Nurugai - omg that was just 😭

This was a perfect episode. But omg I'm so sad. Almost want to jump inside and strangle that Junichi monster myself. Ugh.

Shimmering-Sky2026-01-04 23:13

I'm so sorry.

[](#holdme)

> That little flash of what could've been when Tenza wonders as he's doing about what potential his master saw him in - with Tenza becoming a master himself and married to Nurugai - omg that was just 😭

Bro same, those sorts of "what if?" moments always absolutely *gut* me when they happen. [](#shatteredsaten)

BaytaCosmico2026-01-04 23:19

I just finished watching the episode a little before this thread went up and I'm still crying. Why did they have to do such a good job of this episode? So gut wrenching. :(( I don't know if I can recover from this.

Shimmering-Sky2026-01-04 23:23

If it makes you feel any better, at least you didn't cry so much it made you physically nauseated *on Thanksgiving*?

(That happened to be when I rewatched this ep during my pre-rewatch for the show.)

BaytaCosmico2026-01-04 23:36

I kind of want to rewatch this episode because I'm sure I've missed some details - like Tenza going for the feet of the tensen in his last stand that someone else has mentioned here - but I'm not sure I can handle it. And what you say about this hitting just as hard on rewatch worries me. Whoever was working on this episode really understood the assignment and gave it their all. Seriously perfect execution (ugh)

Vaadwaur2026-01-04 23:22

>
>
>
>
> Omg this was heartbreaking. I'm crying. I very rarely cry when watching things but this episode really got me.

Watch Parayste:The Maxim.

[](#mugiwait)

> But nope, being perfect means being evil apparently. There's an obvious metaphor in here.

I can't go into it yet but this entire island is meant to feel wrong or off putting. Imagine an alchemist trying to transmute gold but getting fool's gold instead.

> For him to turn out to be such a good person despite the desperate conditions he grew up in, his master did well to spot his potential and develop it.

He is an interesting comparison to Rokurata...

Shimmering-Sky2026-01-04 23:37

> Watch Parayste:The Maxim.

Meanwhile, that show *didn't* make me, the notorious "cries at everything remotely sad" girl, cry.

[](#rinkek)

BaytaCosmico2026-01-04 23:47

Now I'm curious to watch this to see what my reaction to it is.

Vaadwaur2026-01-04 23:51

We have sufficiently different tastes, recall I legitimately hate Unicorn more than SINS. At least SINS could emotionally blackmail me twice.

BosuW2026-01-05 01:35

Ah so it's to you what _Grave of the Fireflies_ was to me then.

Shimmering-Sky2026-01-05 01:39

Probably. [Parasyte]>!The "big sad" moment in episode 12 with Kana's death did absolutely nothing to me because I hated Kana. [](#nyanpasu)!<

Zeallfnonex2026-01-05 03:13

What *is* the most cries you've had in one anime been anyways? I recall you mentioning you already crying at Tomoya's home life in *episode 1* of Clannad, and I can think of like... at least 7 more possible points [Clannad and Afterstory]>!Fuuko's disappearance from memory, Kotomi's parents' letter, Nagisa's performance, the marriage proposal, Nagisa's death, the sunflower scene (the one that got me, at the very least, tearing up) and finally Ushio's death!< and I'm sure there's more...

Shimmering-Sky2026-01-05 03:26

Naruto Shippuden by virtue of 1) how long it is and 2) the mere sight of a specific character turning into an *immediate* "Welp, I'm crying now" trigger for me after a certain episode earlyish on in that part of the series. Didn't matter if they showed up for *one fucking frame* in an OP (which I of course managed to somehow pause on by accident *twice*), was involved in filler or a flashback I'd already seen before, hell I could even somehow laser-in on the character if they were included in a 100+ character group shot, it would get me all the same. It got to the point where the other participants in that rewatch would start writing in their own comments "Ah, [Shippuden]>!Asuma!< showed up, I bet Sky cried again."

tbf, while Clannad does rank somewhat high in terms of how *intensely* a specific moment was able to make me cry, it didn't make [the infamous vomit list](https://i.imgur.com/VMVh5Mz.png), which Shippuden did.

BaytaCosmico2026-01-04 23:41

> this entire island is meant to feel wrong or off putting. Imagine an alchemist trying to transmute gold but getting fool's gold instead.

There's that too but you can also read this as a parallel to how the good life of the few in our world are built on the misery of millions. The tensen need sacrifices of human lives to create their tan that fuels their perfect existence. A lot like the exploitative society we live in, no?

Vaadwaur2026-01-04 23:52

> The tensen need sacrifices of human lives to create their tan that fuels their perfect existence. A lot like the exploitative society we live in, no?

That sort of metaphor is not a common Japanese one is how I will answer that.

BaytaCosmico2026-01-05 00:12

Feel like we're teetering on the edge of major spoilers so won't ask more. But regardless of what the intention of the author is, I still like my reading and will hold on to it. It makes sense for what we've seen so far.

BosuW2026-01-05 01:33

> If Shion dies as well I'll fully lose it. Please let him and Nurugai live and get their revenge against these monsters.

Unfortunately even if we subverted the trope this time he still has the "wise master" death flag... Moreover with Tenza's death it is twice as clear that no one except maybe Gabimaru and Sagiri are safe at least until the climax.

Zeallfnonex2026-01-05 03:14

He also, y'know, has a cut through his throat soooooo unless they get backup or some power up...

BosuW2026-01-05 03:26

Just a flesh wound I'm sure 😃

Magnafeana2026-01-04 23:34

**First Timer in Hell’s Subbed Paradise**

Who is this diva

Ooooh it was our himbo!

Every time I have seen a (fictional) woman fall from the sky, it meant *nothing* good.No idea what happens if a man or NB falls from the sky.

Ooooh no, she’s

Oh ***He***

Oh bet hello 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ So they can all do this gneder fuckery, and all you have to do is go to Fantasy Australia, not die, and find a vase with some magic juju in it? You don’t have to fight your insurance, shop for specialists, prove you’re not mentally ill, and pray your state doesn’t up and illegalize your rights?

This is fantastic!!

Noooo no no don’t tell me the death flags were right, oh please no.

* Backstory? ✅
* Wanting to shove future thinking until later? ✅

**Fuck**.

Yknow, it *does* occur to me the risk of immortal gender fuckery comes with becoming a plant…

Shion is on my daddy list, don’t mind me 💅🏾

So my ship dies, just like that.

He thought of marrying her, I need canon divergent fan art of them now 😭😭😭😭😭

Huh. I chalk it up to censorship, but all this gender fuckery and you still can’t get nipple reconstructive surgery. Damn.

Makoto did a brilliant job with Nurugai’s despair.

Oh more backstory with credits, great, did the kiss the brick before they threw it at us?

***

**A Criminal’s Additional Thoughts**

So because last time I said this, there were mentions that, yes, people commented on Sagirin being a hashira, did the entirety of Hell’s Paradise get compared to Demon Slayer? The Asaemon do feel like the Demon Slayer Core…

Ahahaha I feel empty now 🙃

I need more smiley himbos and bimbos to survive shit. They also somehow end up dying, and my day is ruined. These are totally two different franchises, but I think Tenza would’ve gotten along with Shino from <Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans>.

I’m still trying to figure out if these island creatures are ***villain*** antagonists or antagonists who aren’t villains but they clearly aren’t heroes. They don’t seem to get pleasure from their actions. But they still murder people or sentence them to becoming them.

***

**QotD**

1. A lot.
2. I forget who is all alive from the criminals and asaemon—and their names—but I’m concerned that that one sword dude and his monitor, one of them will die.

Malipit2026-01-05 00:29

> Huh. I chalk it up to censorship, but all this gender fuckery and you still can’t get nipple reconstructive surgery. Damn.

Since their bodies seem to be vegetal by nature, I guess they don't need nipples or any actual reproductive organ usually found on mammals specimen such as humans. [](#hikariactually)

BosuW2026-01-05 01:42

> So they can all do this gneder fuckery, and all you have to do is go to Fantasy Australia, not die, and find a vase with some magic juju in it? You don’t have to fight your insurance, shop for specialists, prove you’re not mentally ill, and pray your state doesn’t up and illegalize your rights?

Better to face Australia than the US healthcare system

Magnafeana2026-01-05 03:37

This is true.

Though it *does* concern me that the cost is becoming an immortal plant monster where your sole objective is to turn outsiders into Tensen or just kill them.

But I mean. We all have to make a living, so why not making a living while being whatever form you want to be in? That seems like a fair deal.

donuteater1112026-01-05 02:44

**Rewatcher (Dub)**

It's very interesting how this one's the first (and I'm thinking only, though I can't remember for sure) episode without Gabimaru and Sagiri in it at all. And the extra time focused on one story wasn't even quite enough, since they had to extend the episode into the ending theme. But it certainly works well, since there's so much to cover here. To start with, the battle against the Tensen was really well done here. The actual action was cool to watch and well animated, and the stakes were pretty high. And I liked the evolution of the Tenza/Nurugai dynamic, now with Shion in the mix.

And speaking of which, the flashbacks to Tenza's time training under Shion were very nice, especially in the latter half. I liked the story of Shion's first student, and how it mirrored Tenza's potential path, adding to the weight behind Shion saving and training Tenza. And the whole deal with landing one hit on Tenza in order to be set free was a fun idea, which... I can't help thinking I've seen something similar in another anime or something, but I can't really place where. In either case, it worked well here.

But man, that ending was pretty rough. Between what we've seen of his time with Nurugai and the flashbacks here, they did a good job of building up the emotional bonds to make it as tense as it should be, despite the relatively short time they'd been on screen (another benefit of dedicating the whole episode to this story). I loved the moment when Shion realizes what Tenza wants, so he runs away with Nurugai despite her protest. Great way to end the episode on a strong note, while setting up an interesting new dynamic with Nurugai and Shion.

Zeallfnonex2026-01-05 03:03

First Timer, subbed:

Well, I can already tell I'm going to be a very unpopular minority for this episode - I was... thoroughly whelmed by Tenza's backstory, and didn't feel much of anything at his death? Maybe I'm just really, really cynical, but episodes that introduce a character's backstory just to kill them off the exact same episode almost never hit well with me.

How does his sensei know "to fight an enemy like this, aim for the legs or the head" - what do you *mean* an enemy like this, why would you have any clue what works and what doesn't against a regenerator? Sure, beheading is a good guess, Wolverine style, but he seemed so certain with nothing to back up his belief. And the X-Men comics don't exist here. Obviously Slashing damage doesn't stop the regeneration, maybe they need Fire or Acid like trolls in D&D, makes as much sense as anything else right now. And Gabimaru's the only one who can use any other elements, so...

Anyways, Tenza's backstory. Uhh. I don't really have much to say about it. Good on his master on giving him a chance at a better life, and uhhh... Yeah, that's about it. I'm reading some of the other comments and I'm a bit surprised at how much this affected people emotionally, I'll probably not remember this backstory unless it's specifically brought up again?

Also not very sold on the sudden Nurugai/Tenza romance angle. It's too sudden and too much emotional attachment for people who've known each other for like, a day + travel time where the guy didn't even realize the girl was a girl until *this day.* I've had a D&D character like this at one point in time when I was a teenager, it still haunts my memories a bit and not in a good way. Nice sacrifice at the end, at least, those generally work for me, but I feel like the emotional weight was just missing for it to really shake me.

1) A decent amount, but IMO it was still all *potential*.

2) Dragon sword guy. I don't remember his name, I don't dare search anything to find their names.

contemporare2026-01-05 06:27

Yeah I don't blame you for not feeling attached. Characters with an intro backstory and death all in one episode are either hit or miss across every anime. You either manage to find something to connect to them with, or you don't. Certain people, particularly some anime watchers, can become attached to a mossy rock with no dialogue just by projecting their own baggage or imaginary backstory and can easily get emotional from it.

But I also think in some cases you don't necessarily need to connect with them. I think in this case it was less about Tenza specifically and more a reminder of the fleeting nature of the world and lives of all the characters and the task they were given and sacrifices they're making.

One thing I like so far is the gradual progression of character deaths in terms of impact. The first few episodes no-named characters are killed. Then once they get on the island, named characters are abruptly killed off. Then named characters with a brief backstory are killed off. Now with Tenza a named character with an entire episode of backstory is killed off. This gradual progression contributes to the steady increase in stakes and weight of those who remain.

BosuW2026-01-05 18:10

> How does his sensei know "to fight an enemy like this, aim for the legs or the head" - what do you *mean* an enemy like this, why would you have any clue what works and what doesn't against a regenerator?

He doesn't know how to kill them. He simply reasoned an enemy you don't know how to defeat just stun them/impair their mobility and run.

TheDanubianCommunard2026-01-05 15:05

### Second-time watcher, subs

What should we know about Tenza: he is an orphaned young boy, who got "adopted" by Shion, and his student. Via a master-student relationship, he did became an Asaemon executioner. This means these executioners ae not just only made up of the Yamada clan, but also via adoption or via training under some of their members. Probably same situation with Toma as they accepted an outsider into their ranks.

Shion was the reason why Tenza is there right here, right now. A high-ranking executioner who fighting in this island. He will be forever indebted to him. He did avoid managed to avoid the same fate as Tesshin. Instead quitting the dojo and returning to being a nobody who turned to the path of crime, he continued to study until he managed the promised one successful hit on Shion. After that, he did not stopped, was still a student until until become an Asaemon. And also Shion actually cared about his students as well. Tesshin was one young promise who wasted his talented, became criminal, Shion beheaded him, then he didn't want another case like this to happen anymore.

~~Kunon the Sorcerer~~ Shion the Swordmaster Can See - he might be blind, but he can and sense anything which emits life energy around him. He is such a respcted dude that Nurugai called him a master, even if there is nothing else to teach to her. Question is will he honor Tenza's wish or not to recognize Nurugai's innocence? His main prisoner was the blond girl who tried to seduce him, after that was wandering the island all alone.

Tenza gave his life to let Shion, Nurugai and other could live to fight another day and find a chance to defeat the Tensen effectively someday later. At this point, the difference between convict and executioner is slowly getting blurry with time passes.

> 1) How much potential do you think Tenza had?

Really huge.

>2) Assuming Tenza isn’t the last of the main cast who dies, who do you think is most likely to kick the bucket next?

Hard to say.