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Bleach

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Mysterious Transfer Student

20:15 / 11.09.07

Because the mood of the thread seems to call for it... Now it's time for some of Rukia Kuchiki's best moments, in the Gallery.

And probably my favourite sublime-to-ridiculous-in-point-five-seconds Bleach gag ever...

Shiny: Well Over Thirty

08:02 / 12.09.07

Quick question - I'm not quite into the rhythm of watching episodes as they come out yet, is the next one expected to be arriving on the internet some time in the small hours (UK Time) tonight/tomorrow morning?

10:45 / 12.09.07

I think so. I've not heard anything to the contrary, but then I haven't looked. I'm wondering whether they haven't given us a preview because anything they could show is spoiler filled.

Shiny: Well Over Thirty

14:03 / 12.09.07

I've checked wiki's list of episodes - it looks like we're weekly until at least episode 143. Most of the episode title's were too cryptic to be terribly spoiltastic, but I think I'd recommend trying not to see the title of 143.

I like that I'll end up watching Bleach on a Thursday evening - my brain is still wired to demand good TV on a Thursday night, on account of that's when Buffy used to be on back in the day.

11:57 / 13.09.07

Yeah, it seems appropriate that we get Bleach on the same day when Buffy used to air. The only thing that Buffy has that Bleach hasn't is the pop culture referencing... Bleach just has much more of an X-Men vibe to it.

Well it looks like my speculation was completely wrong. Ichigo gets saved by Rukia, Rukia gets saved by Shinji. Matsumoto, Ikkaku and Yumichika get saved by Hitsugaya... this Arrancar Arc seems mainly distinguished by a number of smash and grab raids of varying degrees of success.

I'm wondering how far they'll be abandoning the one on one fighting, as they did in the last couple of episodes. The Arrancar have no compunctions about fighting several opponents at once... it would seem that the Shinigami's strength is in numbers and that success would demand adapting away from the old codes of swordmanship honour and fighting as a team.

Damn, Ikkaku is stubborn. He'd rather die than reveal his bankai in public, which rather seems to match what we've already seen with him throwing the fight with Ichigo.

It's good to be wrong-footed by a series. I'd previously bet quite a lot on Bleach continuining to fit a pattern that had already been established by the Soul Society arc. But it may be that all bets are off from now on. I still think that Grimmjow won't stand for being kept on a leash for too long, but how that plays out remains to be seen. I have no idea what's going to happen.

No next episode preview again. I wonder why. Is it a choice made by Dattebayo?

Mysterious Transfer Student

12:21 / 13.09.07

Possibly... on the basis that if you check, you'll find that the last two episodes have a run time fifteen seconds shorter than the standard 24:04. Later I'm going to DL one of the raws and see what I find.

Yes, the Arrancar's little visits do seem to be characterised by a clutch of wildly disparate fights going on all across Karakura town. If there's a fourth round of this kind I'd quite like to see them switch it up some, have Renji or Hitsugaya take a crack at Grimmjow while Ichigo and the home team tag-team the other interlopers. All of the skirmishes in this episode were a blast, from Hitsugaya's sub-zero comeback against creepy Luppi, through Urahara's cheeky inventiveness running rings around Yammy, to Rukia's brand-new move and (best of all from my perspective) our first ever opportunity to watch a full-blown Vaizard cut loose.

(And this episode also displayed in spades one element of the show that I think deserves more credit: the stellar sound design and mixing, that makes effects like Yammy's bassy Bara punches, the sickly thrumming sound of the Arrancar's 'Echoing Movement' speed technique and the shockwave of Shinji's final Cero so thrilling.)

Damn, I keep forgetting that little point about Ikkaku. Pretty soon, if things continue to escalate as they have done, he'll need to come clean with everybody. After all Soul Society is on a virtual war footing now.

17:24 / 13.09.07

Just a quick note, and I'm working from memory entitely. This episode saw a fairly large deviation from the manga, where no one "saved" Rukia, and she was wounded extremely badly (and there was no Vaizard appearance). Also (and I may be wrong) I thought that Luppi was in fact killed by Hitsugaya in this encounter in the manga.

Although I'm still enjoying the manga more stylistically, I think I'm coming to see the anime as the canonical storyline....

Shiny: Well Over Thirty

19:25 / 13.09.07

Wow! That one was pure adrenaline from start to finish, wasn't it? It's interesting to see that even faced with multiple Arrancar Urahara still didn't seem to use his Bankai, and given he seems to have the ability to counter anything after seeing it a couple of times I wonder how bad things will need to get before he does, and how absurdly potent it's going to be. Unless of course he secretly went Bankai, and the countering everything business is his Bankai. I'm now leaning slightly against his being a Vaizard - I think his use of a Cero-like abilities are part of his now revealed counter anything powers. That said I doubt he's strictly speaking a Shinigami either; I suspect whatever he is he might be the only one. Or only one except Ichigo depending on how things pan out.

Beyond that I'm loving how much the show is ratching up the tension right now - another all out battle, which our main characters barely survive, and only survive at all due to the intervention of the insanely powerful Shinji and Urahara. Leaves me with no idea how the hell our heroes are even going to manage to be relevent in the struggle to come, let alone actually turn the tide. Between the physical power of the Espada, and Aizen and Ulquiorra's seemingly flawless strategic abilties, I don't see how things could look any worse for our Ichigo and Co. Which is of course exactly how it should look for the good guys at this point in the series.

20:44 / 13.09.07

There's further evidence of Urahara being a Vaizard. He draws a circle of crackling energy with his sword to,presumably,counter Yami's Bara with one of his own.
Liking the glimpse of steel we saw in Matsumoto.
Hitsugya is a badass,but we knew that anyway.

20:52 / 13.09.07

Corresponding chapter is 236 — looks like it follows the manga pretty much scene-for-scene.

Mysterious Transfer Student

20:57 / 13.09.07

Well that sorts that one out. Either way I can live without yet another Rukia-pummelling that takes her out of any meaningful action for whatever length of time Kubo decides is appropriate to piss us off. And Shinji has ramped up to become my favourite new character of this season, combining as he does a plethora of stone combat moves with his completely ridiculous appearance, laughable attitude to girls, craven relationship with Sarugaki and weird tongue piercing.

The next episode preview, meanwhile? It's not there on the raw either. We're transpacifically in the dark.

21:15 / 13.09.07

If you read on...well,let's just say that no matter how far you've sunk,there's always a lower place. Hard decisions and surprising revelations are in store.

Argh,I really want to talk about later events,but the potential for spoilers is too great. Sometimes I envy the non-spoiled ;-).

22:56 / 13.09.07

Either way I can live without yet another Rukia-pummelling that takes her out of any meaningful action for whatever length of time Kubo decides is appropriate to piss us off.

I wouldn't blame Kubo for that. Remember, we've seen a hell of a lot of filler material in both the filler and the movie that treats several of the characters rather poorly. Rukia being underpowered and in jeopardy seems to be rather accentuated through the filler but that's not an issue with the canon material. It takes a bit of work to separate them in your head, I know...

That site that Razor Wind links to is a fantastic resource. It begs two questions... can I avoid spoling myself for the series (I hope the answer to that is 'YES!') and how many more episodes can we have without another filler arc? If we go by the approximate three issues to every episode then we're looking at eighteen before we've caught up to 290. Eighteen weeks is another eighteen issues, so that gives us another six episodes to play with... it's not looking great.

On that note, I've been wondering whether Kubo has anticipated this and is actually writing the capacity for filler into the main arc. Both Tatsuki and Keigo are exhibiting the early stages of powerful reiatsu as both Orihime and Chad were around a hundred and thirty episodes ago. Both characters could easily sustain good stories by themselves, and all Kubo would have to set up for them is a point of departure and return, a place for them to learn exactly how the Bleach universe really operates and then a place for the canon arc to meet up with them again, fully powered with kick-ass, with everything that happens in between up for grabs by the writers of the filler. I can see this being extremely good if done well, I just don't know whether that's what's happening.

I honestly don't know what's happening in the slightest... but some of the manga chapters make great song titles.

00:25 / 14.09.07

Looks like my poor faculties are in even worse state than I suspect... I must have been thinking of a different manga.

01:11 / 14.09.07

I honestly don't know what's happening in the slightest... but some of the manga chapters make great song titles.

If I ever started a band,I'd name it "Jugulators". Tite makes the best made-up names.

Both Tatsuki and Keigo... ...fully powered with kick-ass...

My God. It's full of win. We could even have Keigo doing the 'cowardly hero' act a la Avon or Rincewind — he would still be the comic relief,but as he learned to use his powers we'd occasionally see a bit of backbone.

I have an image of Tatsuki in a superpowered karate gi that's summoned from her belt (black belt? Has to be;we won't settle for anything less) punching holes right through Hollows. Or maybe something stranger. Ideas?

Favourite bankai would be Matsumoto's,if they ever get around to showing it. She's bound to have one,right? Not to mention Yachiru's...anything.

06:07 / 14.09.07

Does anyone even know what Haineko does at shikai? It turns to dust or ash or something... and appears deadly, there are just very few scenes of Matsumoto doing anything with it after releasing it.

Good to see that Rukia's Sode no Shirayuki has more tricks up it's sleeve (if you'll excuse the pun). I was initially quite disappointed that she had another ice type zanpakuto, but if there's significant variance in its abilities at shikai then it feels much more appropriate to her.

Shiny: Well Over Thirty

07:01 / 14.09.07

Favourite bankai would be Matsumoto's,if they ever get around to showing it. She's bound to have one,right? Not to mention Yachiru's...anything.

I seem to recall a scene which I figured was Matsumoto appearing to be working on her Bankai along with Yumichika a few episodes ago, so I guess she hasn't achieved it yet - but I wouldn't be surprised if one or both of them did in the not too distant future.

Mysterious Transfer Student

07:03 / 14.09.07

Haineko dissolves into ash, each particle of which has cutting properties much like Senbonzakura. There were some bits in the Bount arc with her using it for neat tricks such as cutting the floor out from under an adversary, circular-saw style. In one of the video games she can gather the ash into a burning cat-like creature, which I guess is a clue as to her potential bankai.

Shiny: Well Over Thirty

19:11 / 14.09.07

Hmmmm. I wonder if Kubo had any input in that. A cat like Bankai does seem kind of perfect for Matsumoto.

Essential Dazzler

19:17 / 14.09.07

Haineko does translate as "Ash-Cat"

20:23 / 15.09.07

Absolutely hysterical fanmade Bleach composite. Stand up and Bleach clips.

13:28 / 16.09.07

That was priceless! I didn't dare take a drink of tea while watching that. And so well-made.

...and I'm now pondering the pairings brought up by it — especially Ichigo x (psycho) Soi Fong. That would be a car crash worth watching :-P.

13:42 / 16.09.07

Going by the slightly metallic noise it makes and the fact that I've seen something similar in another series,I'd say Haineko's shikai is actually iron sand.

Mysterious Transfer Student

17:05 / 16.09.07

That was terrific... I'm not going to be able to keep a straight face next time Kaname Tousen turns up in the show. 'Fii-iii-iinne!!'

Also kinda scared by the thought of the Soul Society male exotic dancers' troupe and their body care routines.

Mysterious Transfer Student

17:06 / 16.09.07

Hey, Razor, your link is going nowhere... maybe time to put in for an edit request.

19:39 / 16.09.07

Then they get to the movie trailer. Ichinose is...Keanu Reeves. Ichigo is...Schwarzenegger (bit close for comfort,this one). Gotei 13 as the Mob. *doubles up laughing*

Hey, Razor, your link is going nowhere... maybe time to put in for an edit request.
Fix submitted. You miss one equals sign...

00:51 / 20.09.07

141.

I don't know where to start. Part of me feels like I should be crying.

Turns out the name of the series is pronounced 'Bleak.'

And once again it's the best program on telly.

Mysterious Transfer Student

12:02 / 20.09.07

Goodbye Halcyon Days.

Okay, from now on I am giving up taking my media player to the coffee shop on a Thurday.

It's just not seemly for an adult male to start tearing up at a cartoon in public.

That was incredible. When the show opened with Orihime quietly, earnestly writing out the list of chores for her inattentive houseguests, I could tell this week's was going to be a gut-punch; and it was a slow, soft, beautiful sock to the plexus. Not a false note; even Mizuiro and Keigo's double act in the classroom turned out to have some unexpected emotional bite, and Isshin managed to act like a real surrogate father to Rukia rather than a comedy pervert.

And the lack of previews has the continued effect of making us feel entirely at sea.

13:03 / 20.09.07

What's especially remarkable is that much of the episode was filler. I haven't allowed myself to read any further than Bleach 237, but I can't see any way that there was content from issues other than this 237. So it was drawn from a single issue, with the Rukia/Isshin and Orhime/Keigo/Mizuiro/Tatsuki material (as well as Orihime's wanderings) being additions. If the bulking up of the series continues to be this amazing then I'm all for it.

A quick side note further to my lengthy post on the movie: the film ignored something that has been very subtle in the series, which is that no Shinigami past a certain age has so far had any material with Urahara (besides Isshin and Yoruichi). Renji and Rukia seem too young to know anything much about him. The movie bulldozered this preparatory work by having Hitsugaya and Matsumoto drop by for a friendly coffee and a briefing, here it's made foreground material in Hitsugaya's musings. This is the first time we've seen them in Urahara's training area, the first canon occasion in which they've interacted with him at all, and crucially it comes after he fought to save them and has already shown them that he's on their side. I doubt they'd have gone anywhere near him otherwise.

Shiny: Well Over Thirty

18:58 / 20.09.07

My, that is surprising. An episode made far stronger by the additional material. In fact I think I’d have thought a bit less of Orihime had the fact she was unable to say goodbye to Tatsuki not been shown as absolutely heartbreaking for her, and dammit I don’t want to think less of Orihime so I’m bloody glad it was there. I also felt the slower paced, entirely action free structure of the episode worked well after the crazy adrenaline ride of the last few episodes, so points were scored in that area as well. In addition I’m so glad the lovely human moment with Ichigo’s sisters eating with Rukia was there – that moment was so wonderfully nice that it went a long way towards providing an antidote to the beautifully done but soul draining awful bleakness of the main Orihime story for the episode.

With regards to Hitsugaya – I probably need to watch some episodes again here, as I might be confused, but I was sort of under the impression that despite his apparently meteoric rise to the rank of captain, that he isn’t a very senior shinigami in terms of length of service. I’m basing this on my recollection of Hinamori being a student at the same time as Renji – and Hitsugaya seeming to still be a child psychologically as well as physically when she became a shinigami. I think this is perhaps particularly relevant as he might be the only captain that could be sent to earth who is young enough not to know all sorts of things about Urahara and perhaps even Isshin that would make things play out considerably differently.

19:08 / 20.09.07

A predict another princess will need rescuing from another castle.

That makes it sound like I'm disliking Bleach. On the contrary, I have become a regular. Thursday is fanday!

Mysterious Transfer Student

19:46 / 20.09.07

Calmed down a bit now.

another princess will need rescuing from another castle.

So glad it's understood that this is *not* a cue for traditional or sexist storytelling. On the contrary, I hope and predict that Inoue's relationship with her gaolers will be a highly active and resisting one, and that her presence and agency will cause all sorts of headaches for Aizen as he tries to compel her to carry out whatever his mysterious requirements are. The first clue that Aizen (or perhaps Ulquiorra, who seems to be shaping up as more of a lieutenant and strategic counsel than either Gin or Tousen) anticipates having to dominate Inoue's will is the strange gambit of the bracelet, which seems designed to crush her hopes more effectively than a simple spiriting away could have done. I'm looking forward to lots of intrigue here.

no Shinigami past a certain age has so far had any material with Urahara (besides Isshin and Yoruichi). Renji and Rukia seem too young to know anything much about him.

There certainly seems to be a lot still to be told about the Shinigami generation before this one and exactly what they've been up to, working either for or against Aizen. I still love the fact that *all* of the surrogate and actual parent figures in this show are capricious, secretive, untrustworthy and manipulative in varying degrees - it really keeps us from getting comfortable. From the reaction Ikkaku showed when Ichigo told him who his tutor in swordsmanship was on their first encounter, Urahara certainly seems like a semi-legendary if not shady figure to the current generation of Shinigami - definitely not someone meant to be in the loop. I guess the extra material has muddied the waters on this subject.

MattShepherd: I WEDDED KALI!

19:53 / 20.09.07

NOT LOOKING AT REST OF THREAD because I want to ask: I'm up to Episode 90 and I want to know how much of this thread I can read without spoiling. Is it pretty much linear from 1-whatever, or are people talking about #100+ in like post #3 onwards?

PM me as I am afraid to look.

21:14 / 20.09.07

Page 2: 105
Page 3: End of filler/resynchronization with canon in 110
Page 5: 114-120
Page 6: 121-123

So,yeah,spoilers everywhere.

23:05 / 20.09.07

...

*sniff*

She couldn't do it. She couldn't steal a kiss. I knew this was coming,and it was still heartbreaking — you could tell how much she wanted to. If she had done it,it would have crossed a line that,I'm sure,she didn't want to cross. Also,it would have been a betrayal of Ichigo,not least because she might have woken him,breaking the 'contract' and endangering everyone,but also because a first kiss is something special.

I concur with Seth on the extra added content,except it doesn't feel right to call it "filler". You wait and hope for these moments in any adaptation — fleshing out like this is the reason you watch.

This cleared up some of the things I'd read in the manga.
E.g.,when Ulquiorra tells Orihime to "finish whatever business you have",the word he uses is 'subite' (su-bi-te - phonetic,not sure of actual romanji spelling) which means 'all' or 'everything'. In essence,she's being told,"Have all your business in order,because you're not coming back.",which makes her regret and her preparations much more understandable...and U. that much more pitiless.

Now the ginger wonder's got two women who were/are prepared to pay the price to keep him safe...and he's completely friggin' oblivious to the feelings behind it. I despair,I really do :-/.

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