(L) Bleach - Thousand-Year Blood War Arc - anime episode discussion

[alex_drian]

Good to know that Hitsugaya and Soi Fon training to fight without Bankai was useless.

[B214]

Originally Posted by alex_drian

Good to know that Hitsugaya and Soi Fon training to fight without Bankai was useless.

At least they tried.
This also shows how most captains are useless without their bankai.
They need more Zaraki.

[Mad Pierrot]

Originally Posted by B214

At least they tried.
This also shows how most captains are useless without their bankai.
They need more Zaraki.

Sad. Yoruichi and Urahara were awesome even without their zanpakutos. Guess they are built different but it got dumb when Hitsugaya started explaining every move he made

[Strahan]

Originally Posted by Mad Pierrot

but it got dumb when Hitsugaya started explaining every move he made

Yea, that's the one gripe I was going to make about this episode. It's an annoying shounen battle trope that's old as dirt. I get it... they're running their mouths so that we, the audience will understand, but it's still stupid. They could've just shown him training with Matsumoto to perfect it, which would then explain it to us in a more natural manner. Because in a battle, why tell your enemy the nature of your special attack? Just gives them help with thinking up a counter.

Kurotschi never fails to amuse with his oddball appearance, lol. I like how Nemu also got a shiny outfit complete with hat

Also holy crap; Omaeda actually gets an opportunity to be cool?? You can tell the end is nigh lol

[Frontier]

Tetsuzaemon! Momo! Ikaku! Yumichika! Isane! Shuhei! RANGIKU!!! Things aren't looking good for the lieutenants...or the captains for that matter .

Well, yeah, stands to reason Mayuri wouldn't care that Urahara had found a way to save their Bankai, all he'd care about is Urahara managed to get a communicator on his person...good thing Urahara showed up just in time and Mayuri isn't in a position where they can refuse the use of the private lab he just showed off. Classic Kisuke .

At least Cang Du is respectable enough to want Hitsugaya and Rangiku to die together, even if it's with Hyoinmaru helping do the killing .

I like how Mayuri's drones look like his Zanpakuto in Bankai form .

So it all comes back to Hollows and Arrancars, huh? We even get an eyecatch of Ulquiorra. Turns out the Quincies bodies naturally reject Hollows which is why they were so opposed to them compared to the Soul Reapers, and Hollowfying Bankai's is the perfect solution to throw off the Sternritter and return everybody's Bankai !

Cang Du really out there denying Zanpakuto's sentience? Well, then perfect opportunity for Hyoinmaru to chime in and go back to Hitsugaya so their ice dragon can kill his spirit dragon .

If there's anything Soi Fon hates more than her Bankai it's Kisuke Urahara...but she's not going to waste another opportunity to have Omaeda prop her up so she can launch a missile straight at BG9 and blow that robot up good .

Shinji's Bankai! This is not a drill! Shinji just used Bankai! And it's very effective at getting mooks to turn on each other and kill each other but it's why he can't use it that much, especially around other Soul Reapers. But it is very effective .

Oh no! It's the wrestler! And he's got a little hype-man! And he knows Ikaku and Yumichika are holding back! Luckily it's time for Shuhei to show off his training !

Poor Bambietta doesn't have her "doggy" to fight, her girl posse bail on her, and all she can do is throw a fit and destroy stuff like a little brat throwing a temper tantrum. Even when Komamura shows up, he doesn't have time for her, he wants Yhwach, which lets Shinji take over and mess with her with his reality bending and cool OST .

So...the Sternritter apparently never needed Bankai because they have their own equivalent of Bankai/Resureccion? And all of them are activating it? Just when things seemed like they were improving .

Meanwhile on our period post-credit scene Ichigo update, it seems like he's getting some kind of flashback to something involving water, a sword, arrows...and the Soul King? And something's happening to his eyes !?

Next week: Komamura !

[Gerard07]

Having seen the chapter, Uruhara as a real CAPO by returning the Bankai to the Shinigami and annoying Mayuri, Hitsugaya defeated his enemy (although it seems that he will reappear), Hirako used his bankai, Komamura reappeared, you show that the Quincy will use their Az up his sleeve and Ichigo... are you seeing the life of the Spirit King or something?, wait for the next chapter!.

Spoiler:

I would like the anime to modify some things that happened in the manga like; that Hirako (and the Vizand in general) are not defeated so easily and that Komamura has more fights than the one she will have against Bambi (her character of hers gives for more), well, it has been said to wait.

[Huh...?]

So, they are finally giving us the History of Soul King, which the Manga had skipped completely.

[Kanon]

This episode is when the writing started showing real cracks. Not only was the Shinigamis training to fight without bankai completely useless, they regain them without any actual effort on their part (Urahara did all the job). Not only that, but it turns out this whole bankai stealing thing was pointless since the Quincies expected the Shinigamis to get them back and owning bankais actually prevented them from using their super forms.

The anime even made it more confusing since it added a scene showing Shinji taking a pill. He's a Vizard, he's immune just like Ichigo.

Originally Posted by Frontier

Well, yeah, stands to reason Mayuri wouldn't care that Urahara had found a way to save their Bankai, all he'd care about is Urahara managed to get a communicator on his person...good thing Urahara showed up just in time and Mayuri isn't in a position where they can refuse the use of the private lab he just showed off. Classic Kisuke .

Urahara was actually waiting right outside the door to make his entrance at the perfect time to troll Mayuri. Not joking, it's an omake.

Originally Posted by Huh...?

So, they are finally giving us the History of Soul King, which the Manga had skipped completely.

Glimpses for now, but they'll probably elaborate in the third cour.

Ichigo getting those eyes is very intriguing and makes me hope the final fight will be completely overhauled. I get what this training is all about now.

[Wandering Soul]

This was definitely the weakest episode. The whole "stealing bankai" turned out to be pointless. The counter measures the Soul Reapers turned out to be pointless and they got them back so easily too. That's not even mentioning the order to kill the Soul Reapers with their own bankais. Seriously, the Quncies turned into Bond villains.

[Frontier]

Originally Posted by Kanon

This episode is when the writing started showing real cracks. Not only was the Shinigamis training to fight without bankai completely useless, they regain them without any actual effort on their part (Urahara did all the job). Not only that, but it turns out this whole bankai stealing thing was pointless since the Quincies expected the Shinigamis to get them back and owning bankais actually prevented them from using their super forms.

The anime even made it more confusing since it added a scene showing Shinji taking a pill. He's a Vizard, he's immune just like Ichigo.

The story has basically just forgotten about the Vizard being part Hollow .

Urahara was actually waiting right outside the door to make his entrance at the perfect time to troll Mayuri. Not joking, it's an omake.

Makes it even better !

[FlareKnight]

Is it an absolute rule that Hitsugaya is just never allowed to win? I swear he should put some time into ensuring his enemies either freeze their internal organs when he encases them in ice or suffocate. It's becoming a serious pattern for people to just pop out perfectly ok .

While Yhwach may act calm, I'd say the bankai stealing and recovery was anything but pointless. After all...I'm pretty sure Yhwach can hang onto Yamamoto's Bankai if he wants since he vaporized the body and there's no realistic way to hollow it. And I'd say that Bankai is way too flexible and useful to give up.

Plus the situation while not good, is absolutely better than before. There was simply no way the Soul Reapers could compensate for losing their Bankai or having to fight while actively refraining from using it. In the latter case it would be absolutely hopeless. Quincy that didn't steal a Bankai could still use Quincy Voll Stern Dich and beyond curb their opponent. Wouldn't be much of a strategy either to let their Bankai be stolen and just get killed by it. Now they can fight at their best while using the abilities they've honed all this time. Instead of trying to defeat their own Bankai using abilities they've honed over a couple days/hours.

The problem is timing. Hitsugaya and Soi Fon were badly injured before they got their Bankai back. It was enough to put up a good fight before the Stern Ritter pulled out their Quincy Voll Stern Dich. But not afterwards.

For others the situation isn't all that hopeless. Ichigo already showed that Bankai could match up against the Quincy's ultimate technique. Shinji, Ikaku, Kommamura, Shunsui, etc are good to go still. Of course there are questions of good matchups though. Shinji's Bankai is great against groups of enemies, but this is a 1v1 situation.

The big thing is if information about busting those halos before they can start absorbing energy was passed along or not. And it also matters if Urahara has been sitting around for the last few minutes or helping ferry people inside. If they can get the rest of the Captains and Yoruichi in there then the odds should improve.

Good episode and nice progress. Untying the hands of the Soul Reapers is huge.

Originally Posted by Frontier

The story has basically just forgotten about the Vizard being part Hollow .

It's kind of funny since they definitely remembered last season for training. I wonder if they had to promise Yamamoto never to use it in public or something. It's a solid power-up so no reason to leave it alone.

[Frontier]

Originally Posted by FlareKnight

Is it an absolute rule that Hitsugaya is just never allowed to win? I swear he should put some time into ensuring his enemies either freeze their internal organs when he encases them in ice or suffocate. It's becoming a serious pattern for people to just pop out perfectly ok .

It's kind of funny seeing things repeat...Hitsugaya freezing someone who ends up freeing themselves or Omaeda helping Soi Fon shoot her Bankai .

[Endscape]

Originally Posted by Kanon

Not only that, but it turns out this whole bankai stealing thing was pointless since the Quincies expected the Shinigamis to get them back and owning bankais actually prevented them from using their super forms.

Bankai theft was more about humiliating and demoralizing the Shinigami. That's why he even told the Sternritter with stolen Bankais to use them to kill their owners.

That's also why he didn't care about them getting them back. He wanted them to have hope and then despair when they busted out Voll Stern Dich

The anime even made it more confusing since it added a scene showing Shinji taking a pill. He's a Vizard, he's immune just like Ichigo.

Ichigo is immune because his Zanpakuto was mixed with his Hollow from the beginning. Shinji and the other Visored are a totally different case, they aren't immune.

Originally Posted by Frontier

It's kind of funny seeing things repeat...Hitsugaya freezing someone who ends up freeing themselves or Omaeda helping Soi Fon shoot her Bankai .

There's also the captain willing to compromise the war effort out of sheer dislike for Urahara.

[Strahan]

I know it's a shounen staple, but God I'm tired of the battle progress yo-yo. Can they just die already? lol

[Mad Pierrot]

"Hey, I know we are about to kill our enemies and we go back to defeat our first preys.... but wouldn't it be stupid if they somehow recovered the bankai we are about to use? ...That would make us so stupid! Haha!"

Also way to waste Shinji's bankai on nameless Sten Ritters we can't take that seriously. Normally all weapons need to show off

[Kanon]

I forgot to mention how hilarious it is that Shinji learned how to speak in reverse for the purpose of explaining his ability to his opponent

There wasn't even any need to explain it since it's not the first time he's used his shikai.

[Frontier]

Originally Posted by Mad Pierrot

"Hey, I know we are about to kill our enemies and we go back to defeat our first preys.... but wouldn't it be stupid if they somehow recovered the bankai we are about to use? ...That would make us so stupid! Haha!"

Also way to waste Shinji's bankai on nameless Sten Ritters we can't take that seriously. Normally all weapons need to show off

To be fair it seems like his Bankai works best with a bunch of mobs, unless he was able to have a collection of the main Sternritters attacking him with none of his allies around.

[alex_drian]

Originally Posted by Frontier

To be fair it seems like his Bankai works best with a bunch of mobs, unless he was able to have a collection of the main Sternritters attacking him with none of his allies around.

This

Originally Posted by Mad Pierrot

Also way to waste Shinji's bankai on nameless Sten Ritters we can't take that seriously. Normally all weapons need to show off

Shinji Shikai and Bankai are the type that have two different roles instead of a direct power-up. Sakanade is best in 1v1. Bankai is useless in 1v1, can't be used with allies around and is better spend in mobs that still kill shinigami mobs so better kill them as much as possible.

[Frontier]

As if the Soul Society wasn't screwed enough, the Sternritter have unleashed their release dates. Heck, things are going so well for them at this point that Bambietta's Girl Posse don't even think they need them and just undo their transformations. Bambietta is more than happy to cut loose and just explode the @#$% out of everything. I mean, she is "The Explode" after all .

Momo! Points for trying to defend her Captain and trying out explode Bambietta but she's way out of her depth here. At least she didn't get stabbed .

Komamura has returned! He may be determined to kill Yhwach, but he can't ignore a comrade in danger! And he'll tank any hit to protect them as he gets his long-awaited rematch with Bambietta .

Holy crud! Komamura's human! Or human-er! And he's hot! Turns out his people used to be more human but were cursed into their animal form, but there's a Jinka technique that lets them regain their old form and power at the cost of ripping their heart out. So hardcore !

The way Bambietta kept bringing "doggy" up I'm half-tempted to think she has a fetish .

Even Tengen Myo-Oh has a release state now, taking off it's armor and unleashing all it has against Bambietta who cannot fathom the strength of Komamura's conviction as her Reishi bombs are basically useless and she ends up getting smashed in the face by Tengen Myo-Oh's blade and her own explosions. Fitting end to this psychotic explosive lady !

Poor Komamura though...he gave his heart to revenge against Yhwach for killing Yamamoto, like Tosen did for his lady friend, and returned to his baser animal instincts...which ends up transforming him back into a wolf, without any of his old humanity intact. Which is what the elder was planning for so he could eat Komamura's heart and gain longer life. That sucks .

But at least he's still got Tetsuzaemon! And he'll carry dog Komamura all the way to Yhwach if he has too !

What's Uryu doing with the surviving/wounded Sternritter? Though he doesn't have time to get to Bambietta as her girls greet her...and it doesn't seem like they have something nice in mind for their old gal pal .

I was kind of excited to see Shunsui put Haschwalth in his place, but luckily Nanao put up enough barriers to delay him until the next stage of the Sternritter's plans .

Mask de Masculine is back! I guess his hype-man is very effective in getting him back up. Poor Shuhei, Ikaku, and Yumichika...Shuhei really wanted to get to Captain Komamura too. He still wouldn't give up, even! But at least now Rose and Kensei are here to pick things up. Can Mask defeat two Captains? Can said Captains redeem themselves after the Battle of Karakura Town ?

Meanwhile Ichigo is still being tested...for being a possible vessel for the Soul King? It seems like he passed, at least far enough to get to the Squad Zero bone arm lady .

[Gerard07]

Having seen the chapter, Bambi brought out his full power, Shinji was defeated relatively easily (hopefully the character shines later), Komamura in the human version and defeating Bambi was very good, although it's a shame that his transformation lasted so little (hopefully he will return in some form in the future) and the fighter-like Quincy will face 2 Vizard... well, wait for the next chapter!.