Bleach: Episode 108 (FILLER END)
Rating: 8.8/10 (I’m being generous)
Impressions:
~Please nominate for the 2006 Anime Awards.~ OMG the fillers have ended! Finally, after more than fourty episodes or almost a year of fillers, they have finally come to and end. Bleach fans who dropped the show when the fillers started can start watching again, while those dedicated enough to watch through the Bounto arc will be equally pleased. Well, the equivalent to this fight would of course be Ichigo’s fight with Byakuya, which spanned across episodes 56 to 59. The Soul Society arc finished with many things unresolved, which were presented from episodes 60 to 62. And finally, the transition period, which was the one hour special of episode 63, between the Soul Society arc and the Bounto arc. Being a complete filler, the Bounto arc does not have a period in which more material is presented as a cliff hanger. However, it does have a transition episode, which I will be next episode, airing on the 4th of January. Episode 110 will be the real start of the new arc. Looks like it was planned quite well for a fresh start in winter season of the new year.
BUT, before that, I should take a look at this concluding episode of the Bounto arc. At first glance, or for the casual anime viewer, or for those who are just so deeply in love with the series they’ll watch anything that’s labelled as ‘Bleach’, it would seem to be a good ending. The entire episode is devoted to fighting, with lots of explosions and blood splattering. Hollow Ichigo almost showed up, Byakuya got involved ever so slightly while the rest just appeared for show. A lot of captains made appearances, although they didn’t do much, and we also got a nice monologue by Rukia, which is always nice during the time characters take to power up. However, if you are like me, who analyses things far too much, or if you’re just so deeply in love with Bleach that you remember every single episode, yet not so much as to watch anything labelled ‘Bleach’, you’ll know the reason behind me saying that this ending was, well…crap. Not crap compared to the rest of the fillers, but crap compared to the good ol’ manga storyline Bleach that we all love.
Ok, so why is it crap now? The BIG problem is the poorly executed story, which was apparent quite well back. The second problem is the obvious similarities between this battle and the one where Ichigo fought Byakuya with his bankai, including the same setting, which is the peak of the cliff on which Rukia was to be executed. Another thing which I don’t mention below is that the fight is highly DBZ-like. Kariya and Ichigo just flash around and make big bangs and hurl up dust. So now, let’s get into detailing what went wrong with this episode. Oh and about the rating of 8.8, even though, after analysing this episode thoroughly, I call it ’shit’, I still enjoyed it enough to give it such a score. And I was probably a little generous too, since this is sort of a last episode.
Eight things wrong with this episode:
1. Ichigo’s ‘Super Shunpo’
This was obviously copied from Ichigo’s fight with Byakuya. I wouldn’t be surprised if they used the same animation sequence for when Ichigo flashes around to save money. This is evidence that no one at the Bleach production studio is creative, or if anyone else, no one is willing to go with the ideas for whatever budget-related or non-budget-related reason. The other problem is that Ichigo is clearly flying. Shinigami can not fly. Maybe they can jump really high, but if that’s the case, how is it possible for Ichigo to move around and change direction with nothing to push off of?
2. Brief ‘Shirosaki’ appearance
If you don’t know what I mean by Shirosaki, it refers to Hollow Ichigo. Why? Because ’shiro’ means white, as Hollow Ichigo is always white, while ‘kuro’ in Kurosaki means black, which is what Ichigo wears as a Shinigami and during bankai. Well now, the problem with this is that it is an exact copy of Ichigo vs Byuakuya. During episode 59, when Byakuya had enveloped Ichigo and himself in the black shroud with a thousand swords, Ichigo suffered enough damage to completely paralyse his body. And of course that is when Shirosaki took over. The most obvious thing about this occurrence during this episode is how Ichigo screams at his own body to move.
3. Captains and squads sealing the Joukaishou
Well, here I get into the poorly executed story. Just pretend that in real life, there exists Shinigami and Bounto, as well as a place called Soul Society and the whatnot. A ’smart’ leader…no, even a ‘normal’ leader would know that the most efficient way to get rid of Kariya is to send all the captains to take him on at once. There was absolutely no need to search for the joukaishou; they could have done that earlier. Fifty episodes ago, why was Byakuya the only captain attacking Ichigo? Well because all the other captains were either injured and healing, fighting someone else, or running around completely lost (in Kenpachi’s case). Now that’s a well-executed story. In this case with Kariya, there was no reason for everyone not to be attacking Kariya at once.
4. Other captains not doing anything
This is basically the same as the one above, but let’s just say that sealing the joukaishou is important, so the captains have an excuse to not fight. Why then, is Yamamoto and Komamura not doing anything? They could have used some third seaters or lower to map the locations of the joukaishou and gone to help Ichigo. Yamamoto alone would easily be able to defeat Kariya. And if you say that Yamamoto needs to stay in control of the situation, at least Komamura can go. What the hell is the point of him staying?
5. Yoruichi and Byakuya not participating
Ok so the excuse Yoruichi illustrates is hideously lame. ‘If we get into the fight we won’t be able to seal the joukaishou’s explosion on time’? That’s a load of bullshit. It would be much faster for Byakuya to use his Senbonzakura Kageyoshi if he had kept it in its released state. Instead, Yoruichi thinks that by standing around AWAY from Kariya, they’ll be faster to stop him? Kariya’s detonation was also insanely slow. And if Yoruichi had been actively fighting with Kariya, she would be able to get to him much quicker than standing far away.
6. Ichigo’s sudden recuperation
Even though Ichigo reached a state of complete paralysis, he was able to continue fighting and display such magnificence with what? Shirosaki telling him he sucks in his head? At least with his fight against Byakuya, Shirosaki fully appeared, which was what restored Ichigo’s strength, and perhaps his resolution as well. This time though, Shirosaki obviously did not appear, and Ichigo gets what seemed to be even stronger than before? I hate these kinds of ‘inhumane’ things regarding health. Just because you’re incredibly strong doesn’t mean that a few slashes won’t leave you in severe pain and a single stab could well be fatal. The non-filler Bleach displayed this form of common sense, which is one of the reasons why I love it.
7. Kariya’s death
This was LAME. He just vanishes into dust? Talk about anti-climatic. And it happens like 30 seconds after he makes contact with Ichigo. What, he felt no pain when he got stabbed or sliced? And his body somehow held itself together. Where’s the wound? And worst of all they didn’t go back and show how it ended. The screen just focused on the explosion; no close ups, no slo-mos (slow motion) of the clash. Freaking gay. Even the traditional ‘powerful-beam-wipes-out-enemy’ ending would be cooler and more appealing to the eye than this.
8. Explosion not affecting anyone
So yeah, Kariya’s BIG POWERFUL JOUKAISHOU EXPLOSION!!! And what happened when it exploded? NOTHING! He himself obviously did not die from it, since he was alive and intact for at least 30 seconds after. And Ichigo? Didn’t he get blown away by the force of the explosion? Did he not sustain any injuries? Why is his body still in one piece? This is the JOUKAISHOU we’re talking about. Even if every joukaishou exploded, I highly doubt that the whole of Seireitei would be destroyed, if the blasts are this weak! And don’t say that Kariya already used up a lot of joukaishou’s power, since it was pretty clear that the blast was BIG!
Well then, that’s about it. There are probably more things wrong with this episode but oh well, it’s getting late. Once again rejoice for the end of the fillers! Now cry because there’s no Bleach next week! But rejoice again after you get over the fact that there’s no Bleach next week, for the fillers have ended! Now cry again after you………..
Preview:
Next episode - #109
Airs 4th of January 2007
Popularity: 68% [?]
36 Comments so far
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The story line was bad. Very bad. You’ve pointed out most of them though. Overall things were just too unbalanced and unrealisitc
I took the shirochigo appearance as “hey! fillers ending, i need to make an appearance so that there can be some reminder about the original story line”
i believe that to explain the fact that he fly , In his Bankai form , i think that the sortof cape he got acts like the items Yoruichi uses to fly . it’s either this or Ichigo kept one of those items .
you can also clearly see him fly in “The Sealed Sword Frenzy” . and Show Spoiler ▼
anyway..i congratulate everyone who followed this until the end . i just gaved up after episode 99 because episode 100 was about Soi Fon..and..an episode on Soi fon = not appealing to me . so yea..bravo .
Show Spoiler ▼
So basically , my point was..: fillers sucked…but not as much as Naruto’s
sorry about the comment up there . i tried to hide my spoilers…but.looks like you can’t put two times a spoiler tag . :S
Psht only a year..Naruto’s fillers are ongoing for 2 years! XD
TedFox: at least it HAD a storyline though *looks at those still watching naruto*
kurotsuki: dw, i edited the comment (its because you forgot to close the second spoiler), and shirosaki is not zangetsu btw
Hinano: lol all the suffering…
Show Spoiler ▼
Danny boy, this looks like something I would write. You feeling okay? Sucking back a little much on the ol’ eggnog there for christmas maybe? Tch.
Oh yeah, and I agree with Hinano. This aint got nothing on Naruto fillers. Be glad Bleach actually had a plot.
kurotsuki: Show Spoiler ▼
retsgip: yeap, I am glad
Welp, the fillers have “officially” ended, but its going to be a couple of episodes of “Clean-up” and “Reflecting” on the arc I am guessing. Then we get the real deal.
Also, I’m with Rets. Danny, seems like you really powered up the lazers on this episode. Nice work =p.
awesome the episode was pretty good end and now now fillers! but I want to watch the movie now =( rofl!
Darkshaunz: judging by the titles of the next few episodes, episode 110 is the real start. Ep109 is the only transition ep.
acegunner: lol everyone wants to see the movie…or at least i do
and where did ichinose’s sword come from to act as a lightning rod? hmm…
So is Ichinose really gone now? I hope he stays. He’s a good Shinigami
He Will never stay coz he is a filler arc.. hehehehe
Just wait for a new original arc that will change ichinose arc….. hihi
Regards…..
i didnt expect much from fillers but it wasn’t so bad,
they’ve ut some work into it, atleast it had a story.
no idea whats going on in naruto as i stoped watching 20 eps after fillers started… it was just bad. bleach fillers much better.
doesnt matter now tho am so happy it ended. and yes i agree too, it ended horribly.
i wonder if theyre gonna kill of the mod souls that urahara made for tracking bountos they dont have a place in the main storyline and theyre useless without bounto to track…not that i like them at all they actually really annoy me i just hope they dont stay. naruto has lost so many fans interests with the 2 years of crap and nothing but mediocre movies, hey can anyone tell me what the deal is with the new bleach starting theme animation is that the movie?
Yeah the start theme is the previews of the movie, though I think the old animation sequence will come back now that the movie has started airing
Personally I enjoyed the fillers. They didn’t bore me to death like a certain other series.
Fillers, indisputably, suck. There is no consistancy with plot, character development, power, or anyhting else.
yeh i have to say i am one of those “i will watch anything with bleach on the label” people, tho i have to say the ending was absolute bollocks. I found my self saying, “ok, so is he actually dead?” then i see the ashes behind Yoruichi-san, and i thought, youve got to be kidding me!!! Oh well, cant wait for the next eps to come out. When is the movie due?
you pointed out something that was incorrect. You said: “how is it possible for Ichigo to move around and change direction with nothing to push off of? ”
actually, Ichigo’s Bankai gives him the ability to do so in midair. He was able to do it in Byakuya’s fight. He is able to fly with a Bankai, and unable to fly with only a shikai. it’s this simple, and many people (ppl) miss this point of technicality.
if you watch Byakuya’s fight again, you’d see Ichigo actually flying through the streams of petals, and at one instance, teleport from the top of the sky to a position on the ground that was like 50 whatnot feet away from him. (the part before Ichigo says something about “then what’s the second miracle?” and then goes for a behind the back stab against Byakuya)
the anime makes no direct references of Ichigo’s flying teleporting ability to the shunpo technique. You can’t assume Ichigo’s bankai speed teleporting ability is actually ’shunpo’. But it is for the sake of practicality that all english viewers call it that. in japanese, shunpo translates as ‘flash step.’ naturally, if we used the words ‘flash step’ instead of ’shunpo’, we’d know that it doesn’t make sense that any shinigami perform a ’step’ in midair.
generally, shinigami can’t perform shunpo in midair, we can’t say that they can fly either. they only do those things in shikai/bankai form. (ie. hitsugaya’s (sp) wings). as for quincys, the ‘flying screen step’, or the ‘flying curtain legs’ allow quincys to move in midair.
that was a good catch, but it doesn’t apply to Ichigo’s bankai. It is really worth trying to catch this mistake in every single episode of Bleach.
for example, the animators did make a mistake in one instance when ichinose (sp) did a backflip, and then a ’shunpo’ thing in midair. (this was part of the episode where the bounto army gets teleported to the gate of the thirteen courts, and some captains try to find the army and instead find ichinose. it really isn’t worth your time going through bounto episodes again..)
a big mistake i would point out though is Kariya’s changing powers. Lol. yes his powers changed at least 3 times. At the beginning of the bounto arc, kariya was portrayed several times as having the power to ’stop’ things. he was for example, able to ‘freeze’ ichigo just by touching Ichigo’s forhead with his finger. he was illustrated to do that with a hollow to, (when trying to save ichinose [in a flashback]). his powers then became something very lame as ‘controlling the wind’. and then he was later able to generate a sword. then finally the ‘true form’ of his power is his ablity to control lightning.
olaaaa!! k way lo de bleach, esk es uja serie muy chula la verdad es la polla pero k vamos a acerle ademas er mejor es renji y hisugaya son los dos mejores despues estan lo demas sk tengo echo una lista de todos los personajes y como yo ya la e visto posssss jajajajaja bueno me engo k ir k te digo esta muy bn echo te felicito adiosssss
I personally think the filler arc was okay. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t horrible. I actually like the mod souls…I’m not quite sure why… ^^;
Anyway, waiting for episode 127! *Sniff* No Bleach this week… Dx
hm..yeah..i did not like the bounto arc..they were wasting thier time here…even though komamura was in it..i hated it…grr..i want him the los noches and arrncar arcs!!! where is he..???!!
they just dont make bleach like they use two.
if u check in the soul society arc, especially kenpatchi and ichigo’s fight you will see that in ss arc that was when they made bleach beutifully (and the animation never sucked!!).
man is the studio doing shame to the bleach manga.
haha i love you, man! you’re so right, fillers suck -__- i watched part of them and i got SOOO bored. Thanks for summing it up for me lol!
(Although I didn’t make it even half as far as I did when attempting to watch the Naruto fillers. I agree, those were just…bullshit.)
aughhh Thank Goddddd they’re over. I could’nt take much more of Ishida’s sudden pussiness. I liked Bleach the way it is!
Nice going! ^__^
xx izzy
I didn’t mind the filler arc, it was done to let the manga catch up, and I’m grateful they didn’t stop the story completely or add some COMPLETELY pointless fillers from Naruto. The Bleach ones are actually reasonable, and also, in the arrancar arc, parts of it was actually used. I don;t know why yoyu’re bothering to point out all those mistakes. Would you want to watch Kariya get owned by 13 captains? Not particularly. And also, imagine 13 captains trying to kill Kariyra WITHOUT getting in each other’s way. Its pure stupidity. Its already been shown that JUST Ichigo and Byakuya can’t even work together properly when fighting. Secondly, using the same animation for Ichigo’s Bankai seems reasonable to me. He’s not exactly using a different move you know? At least the background isn’t the same >_
his flying- maybe he’s just so fast that he could bounch off the ground back up for each appearance? iunno….
You have 8 things wrong with the episode? well i got something wrong with ur review. Kuroi is black not kuro dumbass. if ur gonna try to bash the episode, at least learn proper Japanese before u do.
Byakuya, how bout you check your dictionary. Because KURO is BLACK. you are right in saying that KUROI is black, but KURO is also black. I suggest YOU learn YOUR japanese properly before bashing mine.
*Smiles* I just have to laugh while reading some of these posts. I’m also a Bleach fan just recovered after being shocked with horrible storyline and sequences in the fillers, at the time I didn’t know they were fillers, however, so I generally stopped watching the show, as I thought it was being produced by some Disney-wannabe coorp who’d found a great Animè and totally destroyed it with the idea of money instead of great animation, story ent music, which Bleach had all in all.
Anyway, after re-downloading like 100 episodes, trying to find the end of the fillers, I came up on this topic, silly me needs to learn how to google stuff before going the hard way around, and I’m quite pleased that I now can start watching the series and sharing my views and opinions aswell with you other fans out there *cheering*.
By the way Danny, you oughta love people like Byakuya always thinking they’re correct, the Kuro and Kuroi incident^^, it also means dark, doesn’t it?
Well, Cherios, hopefully we’ll chat more later
[…] ending. I’m not going to even begin to pick out all the problems with this episode, but Danny will in a rather Retsgip-esque […]
Why can’t you just be happy with what it is and not complain about every little thing?
Soul Reapers have the ability to walk on air using spiritual power. By collecting and solidifying spiritual particles beneath their feet, Soul Reapers can gain traction on thin air to either freely move about or to stop themselves from falling. Thats how he changed directions in mid-air.
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You Suck, you know nothing. First of all it is only natural that any company try to save money. And it is not the same animation because if you were a true fan you would have noticed that afetr three seconds in the third ring rotation he did not change his directon. And no soul repaers can’t fly but they can alter the reishi or spirit particle if you don’t know dipshit, around there feet forming solid platform under the feet helping keep them up in the air, although it is not visible. Do not ever dis or disrespect BLEACH if you don’t know anything. You know nothing and you deserve to die. The people who produce Bleach do not desrve criticism from stupid asshole like you. I hope you get cancer or AIDS, whichever comes first.