Another Bleach chapter is out, so let's talk about it.
Spoilers after the cut.
On the one hand, chapter 620 is disappointing.
On the other, it's even more disappointing.
Let's start with the bulk of it, revolving around the conflict between Ishida and Ichigo. There isn't much to say, despite the fact that most of the chapter is devoted to their little spat. All they really do is throw a bunch of words out there and there isn't much action.
The only thing that is really notable is that Ishida "saves" Ichigo and co. by not killing them before sending them falling to their "deaths". We all know that they're not going to be bumped off so easily. And that Ishida probably still has some lingering affection for them (well, Chad, Orihime, and Yoruichi, at least) which manifested in going easy on 'em.
He then defends his decision to the elite Stern Ritter, and instead of them executing him as a traitor, they let it go. It's good to be the heir, I guess.
So our dream battle of Ichigo vs. Ishida has been deferred to some nebulous point in the future.
Elsewhere in Reioukyuu, Bach has ripped Mimihagi-sama off of the remains of the Soul King. As can be expected, even though it appears to not go well for Bach, he somehow makes it go his way. He absorbs the power of Mimihagi-sama after "deciding" it's what he wants.
Uh huh. So the guy who was so intent on destroying Seireitei and referred to Reioukyuu as a floating tomb now wants to become the master?
Bach becoming the new Soul King is not only predictable, but it is also uninteresting. Sure, it may set up the Ichigo vs. Haschwald and Ichigo vs. Ishida fights (much later), but there was an opportunity here for Kubo to do something bold and he whiffed. He went with the tried-and-true and another boring chapter was the result.
Indeed, the rest of the manga may just resolve itself in a boring fashion. Until Aizen comes back to ruin it.
