October 1, 2015

Bleach 645 - Don't Chase a Shadow

A new chapter of Bleach is out, so let's talk about it.

Spoilers and other mysteries after the cut.




That was a confusing introduction, to say the least.

Fairly new Captain-Commander Kyouraku is fighting Lille Barro, but I'd be lying if I said I knew exactly what was going on.

While I don't really get the rules of the game Kyouraku is playing, I can say with certainty that this fight should be much more interesting and satisfying than the one we just witnessed for the last 10+ weeks.

Of course, it'll also come with a side of the mysterious and confusing.

But if we're lucky we'll finally get to see Kyouraku's bankai!

Just kidding, I don't think there's a chance of that happening.  Not unless Kyouraku ends up fighting Haschwald or Bach...and I don't see that happening anytime soon, if at all.

So to recap where we are at the moment: Pernida has been defeated, Valkyrie doesn't have an opponent, Nakk le Varr is evading/fighting Ichigo or Grimmjow or someone else, and Barro has his hands full with Kyouraku.

As for Ishida, Haschwald, and Bach...well, I think it'll be a while yet before either of them make a move.  The pattern we're witnessing is nothing new; the small fries go first (although in this case, the "small fries" are elites) while the real enemies wait on the sideline.  Much like the so-called "Winter War" where Aizen and his two most powerful subordinates waited out the weaker arrancar, Ishida, Haschwald, and Bach are merely biding time.

Meanwhile, the manga itself stretches to greater length as the story becomes elongated.