Jigoku Shoujo (Hell Girl) Season 1 Episode 23 The Light of the Hospital Ward

The episode titled "The Light of the Hospital Ward" is the twenty-third episode of the season one of Hell Girl anime. The show depicts a world where people can send their enemies to hell by accessing a website known as Hell Link. The story revolves around Ai Enma, who serves as the Hell Girl and her companions as she grants revenge to those who seek it.

In this episode, viewers get to witness a story of a tragic incident that occurred inside a hospital. A young girl named Akie who had been hospitalized for a long time felt lonely and began to lose hope when no one came to visit her. She then became acquainted with a young boy, Tomohiro, who was also confined in the same hospital. Tomohiro constantly comforted Akie in their loneliness, and together, they developed a strong friendship.

Everything was good between Akie and Tomohiro until another girl named Misa was admitted to the hospital. Misa wanted Akie's room, and in order to get it, she plotted an evil scheme to get Akie out. As soon as Tomohiro unwittingly figured out Misa's plan, they slipped and fell off the rooftop of the hospital.

The episode picks up with Tomohiro still hospitalized, but in critical condition. Akie, who was deeply affected by her friend's accident, became blind. She couldn't believe that all this happened because of Misa's wicked plan. Akie sought the help of Ai Enma to send Misa straight to hell.

The episode then takes viewers through Akie's journey, as she befriends a boy named Toshi, who also needs open-heart surgery. She starts to see life and reason to live, and the two become good friends. Everything seems to be okay until the hospital faces another tragedy - Toshi's death - which takes a massive toll on Akie.

Akie tries to deal with the loss of Toshi but finds it impossible to continue living with the inescapable memory of her friend's death. She then recalls the way Tomohiro spoke to her, how he would comfort her and give her the will to continue living. Akie decides that she has to meet Tomohiro, and so she leaves the hospital to visit him.

As soon as Akie reaches the rooftop, she encounters Misa, the girl who made Tomohiro fall off the rooftop. As expected, Akie is filled with rage and directly confronts Misa, who is now working at the hospital. Misa then explains that she had to take Akie's room because it was the only one available at the time, and she didn't mean for her plan to go as far as causing Tomohiro to slip and fall. However, Akie refuses her explanation and insists on taking revenge.

It is in this scene that viewers get to see why the episode is titled "The Light of the Hospital Ward". The scene is shot in such a way that everything is shrouded in a dark ambience, with the only source of light being a nearby lamp. As Akie struggles with her animosity towards Misa, the light from the lamp resonates with Akie's understanding of Tomohiro's words. Tomohiro believed that people who are living with their dreams turn into stars even after they pass away.

The light brings an end to the darkness in Akie's heart, and she understands that Tomohiro's death was not caused entirely by Misa. With a renewed will to live, Akie decides against sending Misa to hell and instead forgives her.

In the end, Akie tells Tomohiro that she has made peace with his death and that she will continue living in the light of his dreams. The episode concludes with Ai Enma and her companions observing the hospital from a distance, with Ai reminding her companions that her contract expires next year, hinting at the continuation of the show in the next season.

Overall, the episode presents a heart-wrenching tale of loss and hope. It is a beautiful commentary on how, sometimes, we can forget the light in our lives amidst all the darkness. Hell Girl season one episode 23 is sure to leave viewers with an indelible impact and the hope that even in our darkest times, there is a light that can lead us to goodness and forgiveness.