+ | N o v a s t o r m | +

Impressions:

Episode 99, the setup episode for the episode that everyone is talking about: episode number 100 titled ‘Soi Fon dies? The Last of the Secret Mobile Corps’. It’s pretty certain that Soi Fon will not die, though I can’t help but think it will be made to seem like she lost/died or whatever (very dramatically) but then return sometime later, followed by explanations and everything. It sure would be fun that way if she ‘died’. Anyway, I don’t think it was very smart to make this episode higher quality than the last. The difference was pretty noticeable and I was surprised the money didn’t go the last episode as it was a pretty big fight. Instead, the producers probably tried to balance the episodes out; making one have some exciting clash scenes with mediocre quality, then an episode where nothing happens but with decent quality. I really hate it for that. I’d rather enjoy the interesting episodes to the fullest with good quality and consistent character designs – the shit ones I don’t really care ’cause they’re crap anyway.

This episode, Kariya ditches the Kusajishi guys as I had predicted (and I’m sure heaps of other people saw this coming too). I don’t understand why Kariya didn’t just defeat that huge gate-keeper who’s name I can’t remember, because if I remember correctly, he opens the gate for whoever defeats him. Eh, maybe Kariya just didn’t know about it or there was some extra security or something. We see a lot of focus on Soi Fon and Mabashi, which will lead up to next episode when they fight. For it to be interesting, I really want to see either Soi Fon’s bankai if she has one or her ‘Flash Release’ technique again, the one which Yoruichi invented. In the preview, Mabashi is shown taking on Soi Fon karate style, though I can’t believe a Bounto like him, who has practically no special physical skills or strengths, be able to match Soi Fon, a captain and expert user of shunpo. Maybe it’s because she was weakened by the stinger thing.

I’ve read some of the comments on this episode on Random Curiosity and it seems that quite a few people think Mayuri is ugly and some say he is a waste of a character. I personally think that Mayuri is a really interesting and cool character. He is the tech-wizard/scientist guy who is meant to use wacky performance enhancing inventions to fight, or at least something out of the ordinary. His vice-captain is one of these things, being created by him. His bankai also displays his powers as out of the ordinary, as his main techniques are not forceful offensive ones that rely on high power, but rather a more subtle yet deadly way: poison. His other techniques are cool too, such as his camouflaging skill. He looked so freaky and cunning when he was emerging from his camouflage. I’m looking forward to seeing his bankai again in episode 101, much more so than episode 100 as frankly I don’t think either Soi Fon or Mabashi will impress me, as their skills aren’t very flashy and memorable, unless Soi Fon does what the thing I said earlier.

Plot Outline:

- Kariya and Kusajishi’s men manage to open the gate to Serireitei
- Kariya gets rid of the few Shinigami in his way before telling Kusajishi’s men that they aren’t needed anymore
- As an act of outrage, they attack Kariya, but he renders them immobile in an instant
- Kariya instructs Mabashi and Yoshi to create diversions, Koga and the old Bounto to seek out and kill each captain, as he goes to find a weapon to destroy Seireitei in one blow
- Ichigo and company find Kariya inside the gate, but he closes it before they can get through
- Inoue heals the gatekeeper and he reopens the gate for the group. Inoue decides to stay behind and fully heal the gatekeeper

- Mabashi starts making his move – creating little diversions all over the place
- A captain’s meeting is called, where Mayuri tries to force some form of punishment onto Toushiro for allowing the Bounto to enter
- Shunsui rebuts telling Mayuri that everyone knows it was his giving the accessory to Ishida doing that allowed the Bounto to enter Soul Society
- Other discussion takes place as well – Komamura asks Byakuya about Kariya
- Yamamoto silences everyone and says what he has to say: the ryoka must be killed at all cost, and for the squads to work individually
- Mayuri sets out on his own and stalks the old Bounto who uses Baura
- Soi Fon rallies her troops, but is shot by some strange blue thing by a soldier under Mabashi’s hypnotism

Preview:
Next episode: #100
Soi Fong dies? The Last of the Secret Mobile Corps