Thousand-Year Blood War Arc - Review part 1 and 2 (contains spoilers from part 1)
Prologue
I can't be the only one who have shed tears though out all of these early episodes.. It only took about ten minutes when I first heard Orihime and Chad, then saw them to ACTUALLY FIGHT.. Of course ICHIGO came in with a Bankai. I can't even imagine what fans of the series must have felt after they’ve waited 10 years to finally see and hear them again. It's crazy emotional, even for me who only knows them for like a year now. I have to tell you, I fell in love. Im in LOVE with the cast and the vibe of this series. As a Naruto fan myself, I'm thankful that there is a Shounen out there like Bleach. However ..
Bleach is an epic shounen with ultimately legendary goated cast of characters. Namely one of my favorite Rukia, but she is "just" one out of the countless amazing characters created by Tite Kubo.
Bleach has a unique storyline as well, in which we follows the adventures of a teenager, Ichigo Kurosaki who at one night became a Shinigami. The Shinigami's, also know as (Soul Reaper's) are the guardians of souls and they're fighting to protect the (Soul Society) and by doing that they're also maintain the circle of transmigration in order to prevent the collapse of the worlds.
Now, as we are in the Thousand Year Blood War Arc, which includes the Quincy's, the polar opposite of Shinigami. Whose motives are to kill all souls (Hollow's). They are also incredibly powerful individuals, thus our task in TYBW are much more bloodier then ever before.
Story 5/10
In reality, what happens is that one side stirs up the other side by name calling them < the other side answers with a Bankai = fight. In short. This is a Battle Shounen. They fight, because... they have to fight. (That's basically sums up all characters reason to fight and the story core motives as well.) The weak character uses his bankai 24/7 while the strong character refuse to use anything and instead of fighting start a chat with their enemy, but they can't get along in the end.
The problem here is it is as repetitive as it gets. There is no high points in any action or unexpected turn of events in the majority of times. Therefore the overall enjoyment comes of flat and the excitement is really nothing, but illusion. Illusion, because the feels is there. What I mean by this is we have the most epic characters ever, we have a scene, but most of the times it fails to pull of guard the viewer.
Ichigo vs Renji = what we gained and what the characters gained? where the story moved as a result of that fight? No where.
Ichigo vs Ulquiorra = Same thing. Also, the reveal of Ulquiorra number should have done in a much more epic way.
So the fights in Bleach the main thing of what this show does, is a lackluster. (Atleast for me)
“One’s reality, might be another’s Illusion”
- Itachi Uchiha
Although, as I said there are some memorable moments that with your great skills of "illusion" or imagination skills makes it even more perfect. Like the first Bankai, or Ulquiorra.. or Aizen.., but in reality the execution of these moments are not slightly above filler qualities.
Writing 2/10
My main concern with the series was the writing and the execution of the events. Especially the fights.
Each fight outcome was predictable and there were no layers of them at all. They just hitting each other brainlessly.
The level of convenience in the script is also pathetic. Especially in this new season. Not to mention, or lets put this way, it’s needles to mention the level of plot armour this show possesses towards their main cast. Ichigo died like four times, Rukia and Byakuya at least one times.. It’s comical, but just as all of the training Ichigo had to do to gain powers and to be able to defeat his enemies.
In the first season his training wasn’t that laughable, but still stupid because he just fought non-stop with swords and childrens, however since this arc his training sessions is dumbed down even more so than this:
- You need 10 years to learn, but we only have 3 days so you can actually do it in 3 days.
- Ichigo dies - You have to train, we are in the middle of the fight, but that’s alright, you only need 2 years, what is actually hours in our lifetime.
- How convenient.
- Ichigo dies - you have to.. stop
In general his training sessions looks like this now in TYBW:
First, He takes a bath.
Second, He eats food.
Third, he watches blacksmith making swords.
Fourth, walks and stare “strong” people.
Fifth, jumps down of stairs.
Now, lets talk about how the fights in Bleach looks like:
Good character looks weak against the “bad” character. - The bad character kills the good character. - After a few seconds the good character levels up and defeats the bad character that is now weak as hell.
Repeat over and over again.
Every single time, they introduce themselves to each other. For example, it was the cherry on top in this arc when Shunsui Kyōraku introduced himself to Jugram Haschwalth. As they introduced their names, titles, their favourite food and drinks, there was no time left to their fight to even begin…postponed to a tea party after.
But when they do begin to fight, it goes like the bad side is super strong, but stupid or arrogant so they don’t kill their opponents. When the good side is super strong they also fail to kill their opponents..
Or good side is stronger than the bad side then the bad side levels up. They playing with the now weakened good side like they are the strongest for five literally seconds, then a super strong good side character defeats the bad side with one move..
Also, the reasons behind things like how they so conveniently recovered their bankais by just eating some beens.. every time.. big brain rocks.
I would preferred to see more of Ururu, Ririn and Nel over these predictable and over convenient fights.
What I absolutely hated in this show was how poorly some of these goated characters were written. Tōshirō Hitsugaya character for an example. Poor guy was beaten up by literally everyone.. still alive and act like he is the coolest.
The waste of Unohana is baffeling me to the ground. In reality she is still the Kenpachi, but she literally threw away her life and title just to make Zaraki stronger.. (?) but even with that he still got triumph over by ywatch one episode later.
The other thing is the abilities and power system. Some Bankais are actually cool and meaningful, but since everyone using it 24/7 it losed its weight of exclusivity. They are also way too unbalanced and most of them can’t lived up to the hype at all.
Or what about Bambietta characteristics? She takes a guy to her room and slices him up just because she is bored? what the hell is going on? Some parts of this series is funny and cute, but there are things that not just disturbing, but disturbingly idiotic and dumb. Just as the entirety of Aizen character and his super intelligence slash manipulation is a complete joke made up by the fans. He didn’t planned shit. He let out that hollow to do “things”, but he never imagined the outcome of the events, he just went with the flow and fans calls it as “his plan”.
Also, I don’t understand how his sword work because he clearly not used ~ Kyokai Suigetsu ~ on Ichigo at the final of season one. Or Aizen should have won, but clearly it was “his plan” to lose. Otherwise the show would have been ended.
How convenient.
Madness, madness going on in the story.. completely uninspired, bland, random stuff happening without any real induction.
Ichigo family for example or Zaraki’s zanpakuto’s was interesting and quite well written for the most part. As of the few things that comes to my mind at the moment as applause-worthy in the whole story.
Although there are some “memorable” moments and a few really good “vibe” moments that you can feel what Bleach is supposed to be, is not justify how badly they were written and how bland and boring the rest of the story were executed.
Characters 8/10
The concept of Bleach is surely amazing, the Shinigamis and Quincy’s were an interesting concept. Top notch character design and overall aesthetic of the narrative. Also it holds one of the most unique and goated characters in all of anime. For me Rukia character is easily one of the best character ever created in anime. But we can also mention Yoruichi and Urahara as well.
Ost 9/10
Bleach ost's are beautiful. They are truly amazing scores and they made me love every single episodes, because of the vibe they've created. The voice actors… I just can't find the right words to fully describe how incredibly goated all voice actors are, but I have to say thank you for Rukia's VA, Orikasa Fumiko. Thank you so much!
Art 8/10
Compered to the previous seasons I gave the same rating for this entry as well as by how the adaptation goes. Pierrot is a great studio, they made an amazing work on Bleach. The characters, the fighting effects and some landscapes were made close to perfection. This season were a little shy at using colors, but overall I can't say any bad word to the animation.
Enjoyment 3/10
I honestly like Bleach and its atmospheric hype it creates, but I can count on my one hand how many memorable, well-thought-out moments were there that I’ve been able to actually enjoy.
It is all about fighting and it’s nothing groundbreaking even in that category, there are better and more interesting battle anime out there.
Conclusion,
Overall, although of its flawed writing and luck of suspense, it makes up for it in atmosphere where it creates the feels in music, themes and in its characters aesthetic. Which in some cases are enough for someone to cherish, experience and to behold.
I am genuinely happy for the Bleach fans, but if you are looking for an anime that has more to offer than bunch of epic characters non-stop fighting each other for the sake of fighting, Bleach is not your anime.
⭐️ 4/10
Thank you for taking the time to read my review!
