Recap on Recent Episodes

*A filler is an episode which tends to move away from the central plot to give the writers some time  to further in the "Manga" version of story. Sometimes seen as a comic relief. Episodes 298-299 were unrelated to the main plot but somewhat entertaining.

     In episode 296 we learned for the first time that everything Ichigo did was part of Aizen plan and Ichigo was merely a research experiment. This episode is important because it links Aizen to Ichigos personal history.

Aizens breakdown of how he had interfered with Ichigos life.

• First time he met Rukia, Ichigo happened to get attacked by a Hollow (malevolent soul)
• A Menos Grande (mass/power of hundreds of normal Hollows) appeared when Quincy (type Hollow hunter race) bait was left to attract and exterminate minor Hollows.
• As Ichigo became used to being a Shinigami (Soul Reaper), Rukia’s previously undetected Spiritual Pressure was suddenly detected and reported to the Soul Society.
• Individuals fought and matched subsequently: Renji Abarai, Kenpachi Zaraki and Byakuya Kuchiki

Quote: “Did you think your victories were the result of hard work?...This world was never about truth or lies. There are only hard facts. Despite that, everyone who exists in this world mistakenly believes that only fact are favorable to them are the truths…but for the powerless who make up most of the world, facts that act against them are the only truths. Do you know all the facts?”

Rhetorical questions rationalized through episode 296

• Who stationed Rukia Kuchiki in the world of the living?
• Who gave Abarai Renji the ability to detect Spiritual Pressure?
• Who added Ichigo’s whereabouts in the reports sent to the lieutenants?
• Was Aizen really unable to figure out where the Hogyoku was for over 100 years?

     Since the beginning of Ichigos birth, Aizen decided that Ichigo would make a “great research project” and that he was special from the moment he was born on the bases that he is a human and…

     Aizen is interrupted by an attack from Isshin Kurosaki (Ichigos father) before he could continue. This is also the first time Ichigo realizes that his father too is a Shinigami which answered Ichigos many personal questions. After a father-son moment, Isshin continues his battle with Sosuke Aizen as Ichigo starts his battle with Ichimaru Gin.

    In episode 297 Aizen explains detailed information on the orb which he has infused with himself called “Hogyoku”.

• This orb lets him fulfill his desires of those around it; which is to become godlike.
• The orb has a will of its own.
• Rukia was able to pass on her powers to Ichigo because she was suffering from the pain of killing Kaien Shiba (someone she held dear who resembles Ichigo.)
• Urahara Kisuke -  the founder of the orb – believed Hogyoku’s power was the power to control the boundary between the Hollows and the Shinigami power, so his desire became an incomplete reality. Ie Hollofication created Shinigami into Vizards (Shinigami with Hollow powers)
• It was Aizens experiment to see if the orbs power to manifest reality was a reality.
• Yasutora Sado and Orichime Inoue (Ichigos school friends) were able to develop special powers because deep in their hearts hated being considered helpless.
• There are limits to Hogyoku orb’s powers, if the target does not have the power to achieve it, nothing will happen.
• Humans somehow happen to be able to achieve their “petty wishes”



Picture of the Hogyoku Orb

Bleach The Summary

Bleach The First Opening

Video From: YouTube

Visualization for future blogs, it however is not the exact media focus but an part of the Bleach summary. 

Status: Ongoing Airing (Tuesday) Viral Subtitle (Thursday) 
Type: Fictional
Other: Anime adaptation of the Bleach manga.
Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy and Art 

Directed by	Noriyuki Abe
Written by	Masashi Sogo
Music by	Shirō Sagisu
Studio	Studio Pierrot
Licensed by	Dentsu   Madman Entertainment   Viz Media  Manga Entertainment World: Sony Pictures Television
Network	TV Tokyo
English network	YTV AnimeCentral Cartoon Network (Adult Swim) Southeast Asia: Animax Asia
Original run	October 5, 2004 – ongoing
Episodes	300

Chart By: Wikipedia

Series Summary: 

     Bleach series is set in present day Japan showcasing an average a 15+ year old boy named Ichigo Kurosaki with an ability to see ghosts. One day Ichigo encounters a Shinigami (Soul Reaper) named Rukia, accidentally steals her powers and gets the mission of fighting evil souls named “Hollows.” Later however, Rukia is caught and sentenced her to death because the Soul Society discovered she had given her powers away (an illegal act). Ichigo blames himself for her capture and through the process of saving her gains many friends and enemies.  

    The plot later reveals that Rukia's exile and Ichigo's rescue attempts were both under the influence of Sōsuke Aizen, a high ranking Shinigami who faked his murder as part of an evil master plan to take control over the Soul Society. Aizen thirsts for power, so he deserts the Soul Society and betrays his fellow Shinigami to ally himself with the Hollows and becomes the main antagonist of the Bleach series. Ichigo ultimately teams up with the Soul Society (his former foe) after hearing Aizen’s plan to sacrifice his hometown to open a dimension in search of Soul Society's King. The Soul Society prepares for war against Aizen. No one is about to let Aizen seize more power.

General Facts:

     Shinigami ("death gods"; Viz "Soul Reaper(s)") are a race of spiritual beings that act as balance enforcers who all share similar supernatural powers. They cannot be detected by normal humans.

     Kido: Shinigami focus their Spiritual Energy into magic spells of various powers.
     
     Hoho: A variety of techniques associated with movement, including jumping and shunpo (flash step).

     Zanpakuto: The most common supernatural power possessed by a Shinigami is their Zanpakuto, a supernatural sword (Japanese Katana) generated from the Shinigami's soul. A Zanpakuto is spiritual force concentrated into a blade. All Shinigami have a Zanpakuto, but not all of them carry one with them.

Hollow  are a race of creatures which are born from Human Souls who, for various reasons, do not cross over to the Soul Society after their death and stay in the Human Wolrd feeding on dead souls who have not yet been made into Hollows. They reside in a place called Hueco Mundo a universe between Earth and the Soul Society.

     Soul Society: The Human World and Soul Society are parallel to each other and are two sides of the same coin. Families separated by death are rarely reunited in the Soul Society unless they arrive in Soul Society together. Soul Society is the afterlife (also called the spirit world). It is meant to correspond to Heaven or Nirvana in Human belief systems. It is the place where most departed souls' and the Shinigami live.

Bleach 300 - "Urahara Appears! Stop Aizen!"

Screen Shots of  Bleach Episode 300

Bleach Episode #300 release day was Tuesday with a duration of 25 minutes

            This week’s episode focuses on the fight between Urahara Kisuke and Sosuke Aizen and Aizens power transformation. In this episode we see Ichigo Kurosaki, Urahara Kisuke, Isshin Kurosaki and Yoruichi Shihoin fighting against Ichimaru Gin and Sosuke Aizen. Many Shinigami’s are injured are left unable to move from the vicious attack by Aizen and his rogue party members. 

Enter Urahara Kisuke

Facts about Urahara Kisuke

• He became the captain of the 12th Division of the Gotei 13. 
• Created the Hogyoku Orb
• Known for making Soul Societys first research dorm/squad
• Was betrayed by Aizen 100 years ago
• Tried to reverse the effects of Hogyoku
• After being framed for Vizard experimenting crimes he escaped to hide within the living world (secret underground area) thanks to Yoruichi Shihoin.
• Urahara continues doing research but as a substitute to create inventions in a small shop.
• Aided Rukia and Ichigo in their journeys by training them, opening portals, guiding characters and giving protection.
• Could not completely control the hogyoku.

Other Facts

• Ichimaru Gin was the former Captain of the 3rd Division.
• Sosuke Aizen was the former Captain of the 5th Division.

Summary

Aizen begins to fuse or as he prefers to say “subjugate” with the orb called “Hogyoku” that he placed in his chest. This orb lets him fulfill his desires; which is to become godlike. The battle begins with Aizen swiftly running his sword into Urahara’s body only to realize it is a fake as seen from previous battles.  At first Urahara pretends trying to bind Aizen staring with one Bakudo (seals) and escalating into many. In reality Urahara places greater seals on both of Aizens in order to seal the outlets for the spiritual pressure of a Shinigami. Urahara’s new seal, is then supposed overcome and kill an opponent because of the weight of their own spiritual pressure. Aizen unfortunately is too strong and the seals are removed from his wrists like wrist bands. The time bought actually managed to give Aizen time to transform into a different physical stage because of the Hogyoku. This may be the final stage of his appearance/power but perhaps this is just another stage to an even greater form. His appearance morphed from a human impression into single skin clothing alien; submerged in white with purple beady eyes with the orb resting in the middle of his chest. Once Aizen goes into this form he seems 20x faster/ stronger, indestructible and fighting seems futile. No one however show a lack in hope. Urahara, Yuruichi and Isshin team up to fight Aizen all at once. Gin provokes a fight with Ichigo who then has no choice but to go into Hollification mode. Between scenes there is a cut into Rangiku Matsumoto running towards Gin saying “I’ll be the one… Who’ll stop you!" 

Character Summary: 

 Sosuke Aizen: In the episodes before we learned what happened to Aizen and his goal which is to become a god and rule above everyone else. He has destroyed and killed the 13 court guard of the soul society and the last people left are trying to stop him. In this episode Aizen is starting to transform but Urahara appears and delays the process by attacking him with bakudos and seals. After all the seals aizen transforms because of an orb called hogyoku. Aizen becomes very strong that one person can not fight him alone, so Urahara, Yoruichi amd Isshin start fighting him at once. Yoruichi shows up to the fight in min 14:04, when Urahara and Isshin start fighting Aizen. Aizen wants to become a godlike that he wants to kill everyone that stands in his way. The only character Aizen is interested in is Ichigo because Ichigo has something special about him that we do not know yet. This episode is the start to Aizens true fight to the death with the characters left in this episode.

Kisuke Urahara: Urahara was once part of the soul society 13 court guard; He was the captain of the research squad.  While he was in the soul society he was the one that created the hogyoku orb. In this episode Urahara plays an important role, he does many seals to trick Aizen to believe he is going to seal him to stop him but in reality ha was putting seal on his wrist to block the outlets of his spiritual pressures. Aizen is too strong and the tricks do not work on him. Urahara is the only one that can estimate how strong Aizen has become. He even knows that the seal would not have finished him off “It would be child’s play if that were all it took to finish him.” He is the one that can fight Aizen with Isshin and Yoruichi because he knows Aizens power and the danger that lies ahead.   

Ichigo Kurosaki: Ichigo the protagonist of the show watches  the fight between Aizen and his friends and does not say much up until 18:38. Once Urahara, Yurichi and his father are pushed back Ichogo’s eyes meet Aizen’s and assumes he is next.  Ichogo’s fear is furthered when Ichimaru Gin (one of Aizens followers/ puppets) attempts to panic Ichigo by saying “Pay attention, your back is wide open.” followed by “Psych! I’m just messing with you.” Ichigo has learned from previous battles to not trust Ichimau Gin’s for a moment. Gin has one of the fastest and longest swords from all the Shinigami’s which is what makes him so lethal. Even with all of Gin smooth remarks “It’s all over, he’s going to kill them all.” Ichigo counters with “I’m not going to let that happen…  and there’s no telling what he will do to you in that state.” There was truth to what Ichigo said. Aizen had been known for getting rid of subordinates who are weak or betray him. The tone of Ichigos voice made Gin irritated and made him assumed that Ichigo was not worthy to fight Aizen. Forced through Ichimaru Gins attacks, Ichigo used Hollowfication to gain extra strength.

 Ichimaru Gin: Gin is one of Aizens corrupt officers made as a decoy in the fight and escape from Soul Society, in the takeover of Hueco Mundo and other conspiracies laid out by Aizen. Gin seems to be fully aware of the effect he has on others and more than once has been seen playing with people's emotional states for his own enjoyment. Gin attempts to panic Ichigo by saying “Pay attention, your back is wide open.” followed by “Psych! I’m just messing with you.” He also enjoys people watching or eves dropping as seen in past episodes.  It is relevant when he says “Oh common let’s watch the show.” He is confident that his master Sosuke Aizen will have no problem wiping out Ichigo’s team remembers. He claims “Ive been with Captain Aizen for a long time now but I’ve never seen anything like this. He fused with the Hogyoku without my knowing, so maybe that to be expected.” Gin shows some jealously towards Ichigo because of Aizen great hopes for him. Gin tends to think very highly of Aizen because of their past and when Ichigo said “…there’s no telling what he will do to you in that state.” There is a slight camera close up to Gin’s face with a slight music pause becuase it was uncalled for as Gin mentions and see’s Ichigo’s remarks as disrespectful to AIzen and himself. Ichimaru Gin has what is called a fox-face, meaning his eyes are usually in slits and has a wide thin smile which rarely changes only when he is surprised, saddened, confused or even annoyed.  Gin claims that Ichigo has already given up on the fight, thus lost the battle and shouldn’t waste Aizen time or energy. “My, my I thought you would have been better than that, but I guess you really are just a kid… I couldn’t possibly let Captain Aizen fight a coward like you.”

    Isshin Kurosaki: Isshin is Ichigo’s dad, he has been around in other episodes but we didn’t not find out, until recently that he use to be part of the soul society.  He shows up in the last episode knocking some sense into Ichigo because Aizen was messing with his mind. Isshin had never told Ichigo that he was a soul reaper or part of the soul society. In the last episode Ichigo does not ask why he said he knew that his dad has his reasons for not telling him. After ichigo and Isshin go back to the fight and it continues to the next episode. Urahara and Yoruichi show up and all 3 of them fight Aizen at the same time. In the end of this episode they are still fighting but it is to be continued for the next episode. 

Comments on episode:

            This episode was very interesting to us because we see what is happening to Aizen and that he has fused him self with the hogyoku orb.  Urahar comes in and actually starts fighting which is really captivating because we never really see Urahara fight in the past. After Urahara tries some seals to try to injure Aizen, they don’t work.  Aizen has become too strong and transformed into this white alien / ghost looking character. With the new transformation Aizen makes it seem as if he was indestructible and will not be killed by anything, just making him seem cockier and freaky. When Urahara starts to fight Aizen Isshin helps. Which is very interesting because he is Ichigo’s dad and we have never ever seen him in a full out fight. Isshin fighting leaves us in suspense for the next episode because we want to know his story and his style of fighting. As Urahara and Isshin begin to fight Yoruichi appears with these strange looking things on her arms and feet that are supposed to be made out of a special iron that is really strong. But the one on Yoruichi left foot breaks breaks with Aizens strong spiritual pressure. They all start fighting and we are left curious because the fight just started. Ichigo and Gin start fighting again but we don’t know what is going to happen with them 2 because we see Matsumoto running towards their fight. This makes us believe her and Gin had something in the past. Since Gin is so cold and appears to have no feelings this will be interesting to see how it will develop. Ichigo seems so shocked by the turns of events but he still has to be on guard because he is fighting Gin. This looks like it is going to be an all out fight to the end for them but our prediction is that Ichigo, because of a major twist will win the fights. The only thing we are not sure about is how it is going to happen or what will happen to rest of the characters. 

Fun fact: 

Did you know Elemental Hero Neos from Yugi-oh looks like Aizen’s new transformation?  

Pop Culture Reference:

To Lady Gaga's music video dancers in "Bad Romance"