Bleach episode 296 review

Aizen reveals that absolutely everything that has happened in Bleach history has been designed to happen by him. Sorry, but I’m not buying it. If he really was controlling everything like a Doflamingo puppet, he did a terrible job, because Ichigo came close to dying so many times that all it really took was a couple things to happen here and there and his whole empire would have come crashing down. Seriously, what happens if Byakuya decides just to finish off Ichigo the first time they meet? Then Aizen’s plan is completely ruined and none of this ever happens. Oh, Aizen was controlling Byakuya too?

No, this is just a retcon, plain and simple. We needed an excuse for why Aizen’s plan has had so many mistakes, so we turn it into a story of how Aizen had everything planned out the whole time. It’s so ridiculous that it’s maddening. Does he take us for idiots?

Also, Ichigo’s response is very similar to when Darth Vader told Luke, “No. I am your father.” Which is ironic because who comes out to save Ichigo but… his father! Unfortunately, we already knew he was a Soul Reaper, which completely ruins this moment because Ichigo’s the only one who didn’t know, and then it’s made even worse by the fact that Ichigo just goes along with it as if he figured that was the case from the beginning.

Despite all my complaints, this was still a good episode, though I’ve got to wonder, what parts of Bleach actually happened and what parts were retconned away? Because I’m not buying the Doflamingo puppetry excuse from Aizen. And even if Aizen planned absolutely everything from episode 1…

… he’s an absolute idiot.

Best girl of the episode: Rukia (55) (getting some cheap wins to pad her lead, if only because she’s the only girl I remember appearing in this episode)

Episode rating: 7/10

Bleach episode 295 review

Aizen reveals that all of Ichigo’s adventures up to this point were all part of his master plan. Okay, sounds good. But what if I told you that this was just an excuse to turn this episode into a clip show? Seriously, all this was was a clip show of Ichigo’s past fights, with Aizen looking on. Since the show didn’t expend any energy making this episode (save for some fourth wall goodness after the credits), I’m not wasting my energy reviewing it.

Best girl of the episode: Rukia (54) (for appearing the most in the clips… actually, she was probably the only female to appear!)

Episode rating: 2/10

Bleach episode 294 review

Old Man Yama finally joins the battle! He waited until everyone else was incapacitated, of course. And now he’s going to take on Aizen… but wait a minute, that’s Wanderweiss’s music! Wanderweiss shows up for the sole purpose of taking on Yamamoto. And he succeeds, at least in the sense of beating Yamamoto, but not in the sense of taking out everybody else, like Aizen literally applauds Yamamoto from avoiding. Then Aizen walks over to kill Old Man Yama, but he reaches out and grabs Aizen. His power increases, and then here comes Ichigo to save the day.

Despite what I’ve written here, this was actually a pretty boring episode that I checked out of halfway through. I wanted to see an all-out Aizen vs. Yamamoto battle. That would have been entertaining, but instead we get Wanderweiss showing up for the sole purpose of making sure we don’t get an Aizen vs. Yamamoto battle. And thus it’s Ichigo’s time again to go at Aizen. News flash: it’s going to take a little longer until Ichigo has a legitimate shot.

Best girl of the episode: Soi Fon (30) (not really for much, but she appeared in the recrap of the previous episode, so I had to pick some female)

Episode rating: 6/10

Bleach episode 293 review

I wish I knew what to tell them. Soi Fon goes Shadow Clone Jutsu on Aizen, while Toshiro and Shunsui record direct hits on him. Yet when Aizen reveals the truth, Toshiro actually stabbed Momo instead. So now Toshiro’s furious. Not a good idea to attack Aizen in a moment of rage. Basically, all the Soul Reapers are getting owned by Aizen, and the Visoreds too. Ichigo isn’t allowed to participate as of yet, which is for the plot and for the plot only. And where the hell is Old Man Yama? Surely the strongest (if also the stupidest) Captain could be useful right now. Oh, he’s coming next episode? Okay then.

Watching Aizen own everyone is amusing in some ways, and frustrating in others. We know by now that not a single one of these Soul Reapers or Visoreds stands a remote chance against him. Yet it’s entertaining to watch how Aizen beats every one of them. So, it’s a mixed bag which I’m perfectly happy with.

Best girl of the episode: Soi Fon (29)

Episode rating: 7/10