Bleach New Bleach Filler Arc
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Bleach 263. Alright, I admit it. This episode was good. The idea that Zabimaru is more intelligent and cautious than Senbonzakura is just good. Combine that with Mayuri's expression at the end of the ep and you have a good episode.
Bleach 264. Better than 262 in my opinion, not better than 263. It was somewhat obvious what the plot would be five minutes in, but it was alright.
However there are a few problems, which is typical of this arc. The Sword Fiend. No explanation is ever given for his behavior. No reason is ever given for his decision to attack Nanao and quiet-Katen no Kyoukotsu, especially after she easily beat him the first time.
On quiet-Knk* we have another problem. No explanation is given for why quiet-KnK doesn't simply flashstep to her sword, which she has done several times already in this episode! Additionally, the slash from the Sword Fiend that's supposed to knock her out of the fight? We just some white light and then she's on the ground. No damage to her clothing, no blood, no nothing. Made more egregious by the fact that they were fully willing to show the Sword Fiend's injuries in the first fight.
On Nanao, we are never told why a slash on the arm should do anything to slow her down. We have no reason to think that this injury should lower her ability to use kido, nor do we have any reason to think that it prevents her from retreating. Seriously, the scratch that the Sword Fiend got back in Zabimaru's first episode looked more debilitating than this. Is it that the animators are physically incapable of drawing injuries anywhere except for arms?
Last part, I'll admit that Kyoraku's response to the hostage-taking was good (although I suspect that was more because they were near the end than any cleverness on the part of the writers) but the Sword Fiend's death was...uninspiring. He gets slashed, he says 'why' in a pathetic and unemotional fashion ('why' not 'naze'), and he falls down dead.
All in all, the interactions were good (though lacking in any exploration of mature-KnK) but the fight was as poor as usual.
*It'll be troublesome if we have to keep referring to the two of them like this. It strays into Nasuverse. Hmmm.
Bleach 264. Better than 262 in my opinion, not better than 263. It was somewhat obvious what the plot would be five minutes in, but it was alright.
However there are a few problems, which is typical of this arc. The Sword Fiend. No explanation is ever given for his behavior. No reason is ever given for his decision to attack Nanao and quiet-Katen no Kyoukotsu, especially after she easily beat him the first time.
On quiet-Knk* we have another problem. No explanation is given for why quiet-KnK doesn't simply flashstep to her sword, which she has done several times already in this episode! Additionally, the slash from the Sword Fiend that's supposed to knock her out of the fight? We just some white light and then she's on the ground. No damage to her clothing, no blood, no nothing. Made more egregious by the fact that they were fully willing to show the Sword Fiend's injuries in the first fight.
On Nanao, we are never told why a slash on the arm should do anything to slow her down. We have no reason to think that this injury should lower her ability to use kido, nor do we have any reason to think that it prevents her from retreating. Seriously, the scratch that the Sword Fiend got back in Zabimaru's first episode looked more debilitating than this. Is it that the animators are physically incapable of drawing injuries anywhere except for arms?
Last part, I'll admit that Kyoraku's response to the hostage-taking was good (although I suspect that was more because they were near the end than any cleverness on the part of the writers) but the Sword Fiend's death was...uninspiring. He gets slashed, he says 'why' in a pathetic and unemotional fashion ('why' not 'naze'), and he falls down dead.
All in all, the interactions were good (though lacking in any exploration of mature-KnK) but the fight was as poor as usual.
*It'll be troublesome if we have to keep referring to the two of them like this. It strays into Nasuverse. Hmmm.
Yes. Apparently next week we finally get back to the Ulquiorra fight and Aizen. All praise the Flying Spaghetti Monster and his noodly grace.
265.
We see many Zanpakuto's fighting a single Sword Fiend. Among them are Senbonzakura, Zabimaru, Hyourinmaru etc. Obviously this isn't going to take long, I mean if lieutenants can take down these things it isn't going to take three bankai-level zanpakutos that lon...and it cuts to a day earlier, suggesting that indeed this enemy is actually a threat. What?
Prior day, we see what's obviously a generic Sword Fiend running in the inner section of Seireitei. Why would a Sword Fiend go there? I really don't know. His means of attack is to throw short cleaver/sword/whatever's at people, which is countered by...ducking slowly. If it's a projectile weapon, shouldn't it be a fast one? Anyway Kazeshini arrives to help the Shinigami mooks who really shouldn't need any help, only for the Sword Fiend to run a corner, grab at his throat, suffer spontaneous combustion, and return to being a sword. For some reason, despite it being only a single corner away Hisagi saw none of this. He evens goes on to complement Kazeshini on getting good at this despite supposedly disliking Kazeshini's blood lust. Kazeshini for some reason doesn't tell Hisagi (without ANY explanation why he wouldn't) and no one seems to remark on the fact that sword didn't snap in half like every other one has. They go off commenting on how there aren't many Sword Fiends left, confirming in my opinion that there wasn't really an overarching plot and the writers just decided to end it here. Then for some reason Kazeshini tells team Zabimaru that Sword Fiend reverted despite not telling his own Shinigami or telling them when everyone was together. Right.
Night time, someone (presumably a Sword Fiend) gets chased down and killed by a giant (presumably another Sword Fiend). Once again, after death the sword does not shatter. I'm not sure if it's laziness or foreshadowing on the part of the animators. Then we see the lieutenant level Zanpakuto (with Houzukimaru but none of the female Zanpakuto's of course*) drinking. They explain that the Sword Fiends have a limited amount of energy and so are going extinct, but apparently there's one who can drain others. Presumably this is what happened to the earlier one. It isn't explained how they know any of this. Also apparently this one has exceeded his former Shinigami master in strength because the Shinigami is dead. Admittedly, given that his master was never a named character that probably isn't difficult.
Next, named female Shinigami, Haineko, Tobiume, and quiet KnK at a bar. After drinking the humans go off, and the we cut to various Zanpakuto's looking resigned to something. I'm guessing ready to hunt down the Sword Fiend (who also isn't especially interestingly designed) but I still don't get why they don't tell their Shinigami.
Next, Big Generic Sword Fiend hunting Little Generic Sword Fiends. Pretty much every named Zanpakuto shows up to kill him. At least the Big one gets a name. Kirikaze. Apparently this means Mist Wind. Well, he does turn to a mist part of the time so alright. During the fighting the Zanpakuto's actually do rather poorly. I wonder if we're seeing Conservation of Ninja in action? One scene I do like, Wabisuke appears behind him, says "your back's open" and gets beat up for it. I'm fairly sure that it was shown more to make Kirikaze more dangerous, but at least once someone gets taught why you don't talk in a fight. Even though apparently Haineko and Tobiume get hit, they don't show it. Even though we should from the view point, we never see the hits connect. It's about as irritating as the Power Rangers fight scenes. Peacock Zanpakuto uses his draining ability, boasts (a clear sign he's going to get hurt), and gets drained instead. After the Zanpakuto's launch attacks that Kirikaze dodges by turning into mist (and they somehow are surprised every time) one at a time and with no AOE attacks Renji has to save his Zanpakuto. For some reason lieutenants show up, but no captains. In a situation where the sensible thing would be to call up the strongest Shinigami they get the lieutenants. The Zanpakuto's argue that Kirikaze is the worst opponent for them (which I REALLY don't get) but the Shinigami ignore it. Ironically the Zanpakuto actually do slightly better know, but apparently they have so little reiatsu that they can't go on. Alright, at least there's some reason for why they can't do anything useful but that just makes it more confusing for why they went off on their own. If they're weak, unable to use kido, and up against someone who absorbs Zanpakuto reiatsu wouldn't that make Kirikaze the worst opponent for a Zanpakuto? I'll admit the end was alright, it had decent music, Momo actually did something useful, and it wasn't anticlimactic.
At the end the Zanpakuto all go back to being swords, apparently it was Muramasa's powers that kept them materialized. For some reason this is supposed to be sad, but can't they talk to their Zanpakuto's anytime they want? Admittedly they can't go out drinking again, but it isn't like they died.
Final ranking on the episode: Not as bad as some of the other episodes but this really was just a filler episode.
Final ranking on the arc: I even liked the Amagai arc more than this and I only watched the Amagai arc well after it was over because I was very bored.
*Unless I'm forgetting something, we have never seen Nanao's Zanpakuto. I don't see why, if she's a lieutenant she should have one shouldn't she?
265.
We see many Zanpakuto's fighting a single Sword Fiend. Among them are Senbonzakura, Zabimaru, Hyourinmaru etc. Obviously this isn't going to take long, I mean if lieutenants can take down these things it isn't going to take three bankai-level zanpakutos that lon...and it cuts to a day earlier, suggesting that indeed this enemy is actually a threat. What?
Prior day, we see what's obviously a generic Sword Fiend running in the inner section of Seireitei. Why would a Sword Fiend go there? I really don't know. His means of attack is to throw short cleaver/sword/whatever's at people, which is countered by...ducking slowly. If it's a projectile weapon, shouldn't it be a fast one? Anyway Kazeshini arrives to help the Shinigami mooks who really shouldn't need any help, only for the Sword Fiend to run a corner, grab at his throat, suffer spontaneous combustion, and return to being a sword. For some reason, despite it being only a single corner away Hisagi saw none of this. He evens goes on to complement Kazeshini on getting good at this despite supposedly disliking Kazeshini's blood lust. Kazeshini for some reason doesn't tell Hisagi (without ANY explanation why he wouldn't) and no one seems to remark on the fact that sword didn't snap in half like every other one has. They go off commenting on how there aren't many Sword Fiends left, confirming in my opinion that there wasn't really an overarching plot and the writers just decided to end it here. Then for some reason Kazeshini tells team Zabimaru that Sword Fiend reverted despite not telling his own Shinigami or telling them when everyone was together. Right.
Night time, someone (presumably a Sword Fiend) gets chased down and killed by a giant (presumably another Sword Fiend). Once again, after death the sword does not shatter. I'm not sure if it's laziness or foreshadowing on the part of the animators. Then we see the lieutenant level Zanpakuto (with Houzukimaru but none of the female Zanpakuto's of course*) drinking. They explain that the Sword Fiends have a limited amount of energy and so are going extinct, but apparently there's one who can drain others. Presumably this is what happened to the earlier one. It isn't explained how they know any of this. Also apparently this one has exceeded his former Shinigami master in strength because the Shinigami is dead. Admittedly, given that his master was never a named character that probably isn't difficult.
Next, named female Shinigami, Haineko, Tobiume, and quiet KnK at a bar. After drinking the humans go off, and the we cut to various Zanpakuto's looking resigned to something. I'm guessing ready to hunt down the Sword Fiend (who also isn't especially interestingly designed) but I still don't get why they don't tell their Shinigami.
Next, Big Generic Sword Fiend hunting Little Generic Sword Fiends. Pretty much every named Zanpakuto shows up to kill him. At least the Big one gets a name. Kirikaze. Apparently this means Mist Wind. Well, he does turn to a mist part of the time so alright. During the fighting the Zanpakuto's actually do rather poorly. I wonder if we're seeing Conservation of Ninja in action? One scene I do like, Wabisuke appears behind him, says "your back's open" and gets beat up for it. I'm fairly sure that it was shown more to make Kirikaze more dangerous, but at least once someone gets taught why you don't talk in a fight. Even though apparently Haineko and Tobiume get hit, they don't show it. Even though we should from the view point, we never see the hits connect. It's about as irritating as the Power Rangers fight scenes. Peacock Zanpakuto uses his draining ability, boasts (a clear sign he's going to get hurt), and gets drained instead. After the Zanpakuto's launch attacks that Kirikaze dodges by turning into mist (and they somehow are surprised every time) one at a time and with no AOE attacks Renji has to save his Zanpakuto. For some reason lieutenants show up, but no captains. In a situation where the sensible thing would be to call up the strongest Shinigami they get the lieutenants. The Zanpakuto's argue that Kirikaze is the worst opponent for them (which I REALLY don't get) but the Shinigami ignore it. Ironically the Zanpakuto actually do slightly better know, but apparently they have so little reiatsu that they can't go on. Alright, at least there's some reason for why they can't do anything useful but that just makes it more confusing for why they went off on their own. If they're weak, unable to use kido, and up against someone who absorbs Zanpakuto reiatsu wouldn't that make Kirikaze the worst opponent for a Zanpakuto? I'll admit the end was alright, it had decent music, Momo actually did something useful, and it wasn't anticlimactic.
At the end the Zanpakuto all go back to being swords, apparently it was Muramasa's powers that kept them materialized. For some reason this is supposed to be sad, but can't they talk to their Zanpakuto's anytime they want? Admittedly they can't go out drinking again, but it isn't like they died.
Final ranking on the episode: Not as bad as some of the other episodes but this really was just a filler episode.
Final ranking on the arc: I even liked the Amagai arc more than this and I only watched the Amagai arc well after it was over because I was very bored.
*Unless I'm forgetting something, we have never seen Nanao's Zanpakuto. I don't see why, if she's a lieutenant she should have one shouldn't she?
Oh ho, new opening. My reactions: FFFFFF YEAH STARRK! HITSUGAYA, THE HELL DID YOU DO?! LOL Censored even her ressurection. FFF Yeah Chad! FFFFFFFFFFFFF Yeah Kensei bankai! LOL Ichigo managing to keep up with Ulquiorra's Second release at all in bankai. Just LOL. Like that's even remotely possible, what with him getting his ass kicked while masked even to the first one.
And overall, SPOILERS MUCH? I mean granted these chapters have been out for a while and it'll take like 15 episodes to get to most of them if you don't add filler to it, but Damn. You even showed ALL the ressurections of the remaining espada, and more of Kensei's bankai than Kubo showed. As well as Soifon's bankai.
AND HITSUGAYA! The hell did you do to Harribel to get her in a position like that!? The Hell man?!
Edit: New ending as well. Everyone, arrancar included, in some kinda gigai or something. I only have one reaction to this sadly.
MFING CHAD. BOXING ZOMARI. FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Wait, two more: Maid!Hanatarou and Yoruichi with a fro. Didn't notice the first time.
And overall, SPOILERS MUCH? I mean granted these chapters have been out for a while and it'll take like 15 episodes to get to most of them if you don't add filler to it, but Damn. You even showed ALL the ressurections of the remaining espada, and more of Kensei's bankai than Kubo showed. As well as Soifon's bankai.
AND HITSUGAYA! The hell did you do to Harribel to get her in a position like that!? The Hell man?!
Edit: New ending as well. Everyone, arrancar included, in some kinda gigai or something. I only have one reaction to this sadly.
MFING CHAD. BOXING ZOMARI. FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Wait, two more: Maid!Hanatarou and Yoruichi with a fro. Didn't notice the first time.
