Darknives Anime & Manga Blog

Sortie Orders!
Suppress The House Of Kasumiōji

The orders to subdue the Kasumi-Ooji family are given. Komui gives his best Bakkoutou to all of the assassins. It seems this Bakkoutou take over the user’s soul and completely control them, they even stop feeling pain.

It seems Captain-Commander already knew that the Kasumi-Ooji family were doing not so good stuff. But, because of their status, he couldn’t have interfered until solid proof was shown.

Komui has nowhere left to run and uses Lurichiyo as an hostage.

Ichigo and Rukia find him. Komui’s ambitions were just to be the head of all nobility. I don’t know how he pretended to do it just with Bakkoutou, because his assassins are nowhere near the level of most strong shinigami. But, the conspiracy goes deeper than that.

Amagai interrupts and kills Komui to silence him. He then takes Lurichiyo and goes to meet the Captain-Commander.

Well, Amagai could really be a villain. Maybe Lurichiyo holds some kind of power that will allow him to kill Captain-Commander or blackmail him. But, I doubt that’s his ambition. He can’t possibly take all of Soul Society. This is probably some hold plan made by the Captain-Commander, he probably chose Amagai as a new Captain on purpose for this mission. But, it’s hard to really tell why. We just know that there must have been a good reason to make Komui do all that and create the Bakkoutou.

The animation and detail were low in this episode but, it managed to move the plot forward without much delay. I just hope the filler doesn’t prolong for much longer.

There was no preview for the next episode, I hope it’s better than this one.

Ice & Flame!
Fierce Fight Of Amagai VS Hitsugaya

Kira fights Kifune. He wins in a rather strange way. He’s supposed to be weaker than Kifune in power but, because of his conviction, he defeats him while he’s using the Bakkoutou.

The fight wasn’t very impressive but, things change. Ichigo and Amagai keep running after Lurichiyo. The fight both assassins easly but, that Lurichiyo was a fake decoy. The animation was better and drawings seem to have a different style than usual but, a cool style.

They return to Kira’s location. He’s taken care of by his companions and Renji finally finds them. After telling them that he’s on their side, Amagai asks him to show the Bakkoutou to Captain-Commander. I think it’s going to turn out to be some kind of secret mission for creating strong weapons, given by Captain-Commander.

Yoruichi also appear, she has some kind of plan. I think a lot more than we know is going on.

They meet Hitsugaya on their way to the Kasumi-Oogi family’s house. Amagai ends up fighting him while Rukia fights Matsumoto. The short fight was cool enough. I like the way Amagai just goes directly into fight.

The Captain-Commander understands the Kasumi-Oogi’s situation after inspecting the Bakkoutou. Orders are given for everyone to break into the Kasumi-Ooji.

This means no more fight between Amagai and Hitsugaya lol I wonder who’s gonna be Ichigo’s opponent now. I mean.. Komui is the main villain but, he’s not one to fight directly, even if wanted, he probably couldn’t use a Bakkoutou because he probably doesn’t have any reiatsu.

In the preview. Gin gives confirmation that the fillers are about to end. I have no idea how they will just get back there and explain how this happened. Maybe someone was dreaming..

Kira & Kibune
Offense & Defense Of 3rd Division

The quality of the direction of this episode can be felt right from the beginning. The drawings are better, the colors and shadows are also more attractive than the previous episodes.

Kira fights Kifune. When it seems like his Wabisuke’s powers have won, Kifune shows his true strength and overpowers Kira. It seems his ambition is to become the strongest shinigami ever. He’s using the Kasumi-Ooji family, because they can give him more power, probably through the Bakkoutou. Still, it’s a pretty cliché and kind of stupid ambition.

Kira is able to almost win by using some strategy but, Kifune resorts to the Bakkoutou to defend. I don’t think Kira has a chance now.

There’s a flashback explaining his past. I now think he’s a really stupid character. He was one of the strongest but, he was not recognized because of his methods. So, in order to be accepted, he doesn’t change his methods and just concentrates on getting stronger. This doesn’t make sense..

He’s now on his way to killing Kira. Either Amagai or someone else will save him in the next episode. Amagai will probably fight him one way or another, because that’s what they show in the OP but, knowing that he was going after Lurichiyo makes me believe that maybe someone else will come to rescue Kira.

There’s a new Bleach movie on it’s way to theaters but, it’s probably still a long time before previews and trailers appear. I hope the second movie gets to dvd quickly.

The Darkness Which Moves!
Kibune’s True Colors

Amagai goes alone with Ichigo and Rukia so that his man won’t be involved. Some one spots them and gives word to the Protection Squads Commander. Now, all of Seireitei is searching for them. Probably, only Renji trying to help them. Some quads start invading other squad’s territories and some fights start.

This seems to me like a lame imitation of Soul’s Society arc. I just hope the fights have better animation than this episode.

The Commander continues to forbid the Kasumi-Ooji family from being investigated. Madarame seems to also have noticed that Ichigo is doing this for a good cause. Still, Madarame and Renji are too few allies against all of Soul Society.

Kira finds out where Kifune could be hidding and goes to find Lurichiyo instead. After he defeats the assassins, Kifune appears.

Well, I guess Kifune and Kira are probably going to be at the same level but, Kifune is for now a pretty week villain. If he meets Amagai or Ichigo, he’ll surely be defeated.

More people in Soul Society seem to trust Ichigo but, they got to apprehend him anyway. Let’s see how thing turn out.

Amagai’s True Strength
Zanpakutō Is Released!

Suifon believes that there must be some reason for Ichigo and Rukia’s acts but, for now, she has to capture them. Only after is she going to try to find out what’s happening.

A flashback shows how Komui fooled everyone and secretly put Lurichiyo in a prison. Kifune is the taking care of her. He seems pretty week psychologically, almost breaking down because of Lurichiyo’s tauting.

Kifune kills one of his friends who saw him in a strange place. I think this is really stupid. He only attracts more attention to himself. Any kind of excuse to be there would be better and it didn’t even seem like the guy was going to tell. Also, there was nothing telling us that he was in place close to Kasumi-Ooji family grounds.

Byakugan is also entering the search. He leaves things in the hands of Renji. I think he did this, because he believes Renji will do good and believe Ichigo. It’s good to see that fillers are not turning his past development into something that didn’t happen.

Ichigo ends up being confronted with Amagai. They fight but, Kannogi interrupts, telling him the truth. After hearing it from Kannogi, Amagai decides to listen to their story now.

I didn’t really like Amagai’s shikai. The look isn’t very cool and the only power he showed for now is just a burst of energy, just like Ichigo and Urahara’s, not very original. The art and animation were good. I hope the story improves to some exciting situations.

The 2nd Division Sorties!
Ichigo is Surrounded

Ichigo gets in a trap. Suifon and her squad were waiting for them. Lurichiyo acts like she doesn’t know Ichigo and they have to fight and run. Enryuu releases his zanpakutou for the first time.

Ichigo finds that Lurichiyo was a fake assassin. He and Rukia run away with Lurichiyo’s fiance, after Ichigo takes a beating from Suifon. He’s trying to help them, because he also saw that it was a fake and that Komui is up to something. Enryuu and Kenryuu are taken prisoners by the 2nd squad.

Ichigo pretends to have taken Kannogi hostage in order to get out of the manor.

Suifon asks for others squads to help. I though Zaraki was going to offer himself right away, since it would be another chance for him to fight Ichigo. Amagai is the one who accepts it, knowing that it may be hard for the others, because they are Ichigo’s friends.

Kiba, being apprehensive with Kifune’s connection to the Kasumi-Ooji family, tells Amagai what he knows. Amagai can’t believe it but, he trusts Kiba.

So, the searches begin. This episode was not bad but, not very good too. I hope the next episodes are more interesting and exciting.

The Princess’ Decision
The Sorrowful Bride

Komui is thinking of using a fake Lurichiyo. They are also taking advantage of the wedding being in public to avoid having Ichigo and the others interfere.

Lurichiyo blames herself for Sado and Ishida’s injuries and tries to help in taking care of them. Ichigo helps her understanding things. The scene was well done, taking aside the fact that Lurichiyo was able to kick Ichigo out of the roof and run away.

Lurichiyo decides to solve things herself and goes back to Soul Society alone.

Ichigo follows her and plans to get her back after her wedding, where she will have authority over the family. But, when they get there, Lurichiyo doesn’t answer them and hidden shinigami appear. It was really a trap.

The episode wasn’t anything special but, at least move the story forward. The ending created an interesting situation. I wonder what Ichigo and the others will do now.

The new ED’s art is cool.

Confrontation?!
Amagai vs. Gotei 13

This episode was just about developing the 3rd Squad. Amagai suggests that all the squads should do joint training to better cooperate in certain situations.

Ukitake helps him by stating that Aizen and the others took advantage of this situation. This really makes sense, it’s good to see the fillers dwelling on something meaningful for a change.

Kifune is using some psychology to slowly turn the squad against Kira. Is having success in doing it.

Somo hollows appear and all the squads race to kill them first. They end up getting all stuck in a really stupid way. It servers only for Amagai to interfere and coordinate the squads so that they efficiently deal with the hollows.

The 3rd squad is now respected again. During the fights Kifune can be seen receiving or analyzing soe kind of information. At first I though he was the one behind the hollow invasion but, I’ve no idea now about what it was.

The Commander now approves of Amagai’s idea.

The episode ends with Kira catching Kifune doing some suspicious thing with an Hell Butterfly. Is he receiving secret orders from Komui?

From the upcoming titles of the episodes. I’m guessing the fillers may end at episode 187. I hope it doesn’t take long.

The Nightmare Which is Shown
Ichigo’s Inside the Mirror

Ichigo has been caught again. This time the technique is more powerful and we see it’s true ability. To put the opponent under an illusion and slowly destroy his soul.

Ichigo’s strong reiatsu gains the advantage again and he frees himself. This little incident helped progress a very hold sub-plot so to speak. Ichigo always had some problems because he felt guilty about what happened to his mother. This episode allowed him to kind of make peace with her.

Hanza talks about his past, serving the Kasumiooji family. He then lets the Bakkoutou consume him more and more to fight Ichigo physically. Ichigo gets in Vaizard mode wins. Hanza, unable to match Ichigo, ends up pushing himself to far and letting the Bakkoutou consume him.

The more emotional scenes weren’t that badly done and the episode was enjoyable, although I think I was happier, because of  knowing that the Hanza arc would be ending in this episode.

I was happy to see that the animators didn’t slack off and actually tried to animate this episode consistently with the series universe. I’m talking about the little details like Ichigo trying to hold himself by "grabbing" the air using his reiatsu, instead of just appearing to "fly" like some episodes make us believe.

Yuu is the only survivor and goes back to report to Komui. Komui dismisses him and as Yuu refuses, he’s killed by Kifune.

So, Kifune’s really going to be the bad guy. Has he been hired by Komui or does he have some relation to the Kasumiooji family?

Mystery! The Sword-Consuming Assassin
The Reversal of Rukia, the Rampaging Blade

Rukia is the first to fight. The quality was average, some quick parts had really smooth high-frame animation. The fight wasn’t that interesting but, I was expecting less for a filler. Rukia’s normal shikai powers aren’t enough to take Jinnai down. Every time he suffers an attack, he lets his bakkoutou consume him more, giving him more power.

Rukia ends up using her most recent techniques, the ones she used for the first time in Hueco Mundo but, a bakkoutou’s ability to give his user power is immense. Jinnai pushes himself to far in the end and the sword completely consumes and kills him.

Ryuu’s a more difficult opponent, since his sword allows him to become mist. Luckily, Ishida is the right opponent, because of his Seele Schneider’s powers. Ishida hurts himself to take down Ryuu.

Sado is probably the one who had a better fight. Some parts of the battle had that "filler-stupidty", like how he couldn’t just jump away from the walls that Genga created. Anyway, Sado uses his left arm’s power La Muerte and defeats Genga.

Ichigo and Hanza’s fight is just starting. Ichigo tries to break Hanza’s sword’s mirror right in the beginning but, it doesn’t make a diference. Since Hanza has fused with the bakkoutou, his power has really rised and he can use his ability better than before. Ichigo will probably have to use his mask now.

The preview shows Ichigo’s past and his mother’s death, I have no idea how this relates to his fight with Hanza. Episode 199 is going to be about Amagai having a problem with the Gotei 13 so, Lurichiyo’s arc is probably going to finish in the next episode, I hope the last fight is more interesting and better animated.

Also, next week’s episode is going to have a new ED.