Bleach 267 Review by Gigantor21

[gigantor21]

267. Legions of the Regrets

Well, to be perfectly honest…I’m not too happy with this one, for several reasons.

First off, A’Roniro’s ability. It may have been how the translation was worded, but I couldn’t tell whether A’Roniro got his ability from eating Kaien and Metastacia, or if he had the ability and got all of Kaien and Metastacia’s powers when he ate them. Reading other translations would probably clear it up, which I should’ve done beforehand…

More importantly, the fact that A’Roniro is using Kaien’s body, and Rukia’s reaction to that, went directly in the face of my bold proposition that this would be a huge turning point for Rukia. I was right, but it turned out to be regression instead of growth, which pissed me off. I hate how Kubo is constantly using Rukia as a venue for Ichigo to find his next major opponent—as if he hasn’t done that a million times (Fish-Bone D, All of his opponents in Soul Society, Grimmjow, etc.).

The way Kubo played it out only made it worse. As I’ve said before, there was no way in hell that Rukia could fight A’Roniro after he released—that was as likely as her getting Bankai during the fight. But the fact that he released after breaking her will put her back into the "damsel in distress" role we've seen her in countless times. I don’t see how she’ll possibly conjure up the will to even fight him again, let alone become strong enough to win.

The way I see it, he’ll become scraps for Byakuya, who isn’t a Vaizard and can’t fight the stronger Espada, or Ichigo, who’s already got the power to hand A’Roniro’s ass to him. In either case, it seems rather anticlimactic—and probably will until I see what happens, since both cases seem like an excuse to give an ever-popular character more face time (as if Ichigo needs anymore).

I knew Rukia was going to lose—but now it seems like she might never get over Kaien’s death because it’s more convenient for the story. It feels as though Kubo squandered A’Roniro’s potential to help Rukia develop, just to set up a fight between fan-favorites. I really hope Kubo will pull more out of this than that, and proves me wrong again.

Rating – 3/5

I can’t deny the importance of this chapter to the story as a whole, since it will probably involve several of my favorite characters. But I really don’t like this.

[sahugani]

once again we're on the same page. I don't like the direction Kubo went with the Kaien connection. I really wanted to see him use that Kaien part to help develop the characters, but instead it ended up just being a way to make Rukia helpless again. Now I don't think that we'll get to see Ichigo vs. Aaronero (I'm going by the letters on his chapter cover) cause as you said it would be anti-climactic. I think his death will be an inside job and is killed by Gin, Aizen, or a higher Espada (Gin - killing "Kaien" in front of Rukia would irk her, Aizen - something about wanting his limitless potential, higher Espada - annoyance). Ideally, Ukitake should be the one to kill him, but if there is SS intervention, he is unlikely to be a part of it.

[Quartz-pebble]

Good review!

Besides your points, I found his released form....disappointing. You'd think a hollow that's eaten thousands of hollows would be...you know...cooler. I imagine it covered in screaming faces that can't break the surface of the beast's skin (not unlike Envy's true form in FMA).

Also, am I the only one who thinks it's a little too soon for an Espada release? Yeah, I'm alway's on the bad guy's side, but really. The heroes are already screwed here. Hell, the first half of the chapter was fine. No.9 proving that he wasn't faking, and that Kaien's soul was trapped within him for what could be forever, was a nice final nail in Rukia's "mind rape" coffin. It went kinda overboard with the following "Oh yeah, I'm also a fucking blob" thing.




...And for the record, a "hollow that's eaten thousands of hollows"? That's a frigging menos grande. XD

[Silhouette]

Thanks for the review ^^

I have to disagree with you on this chapter though. This is one of the most emotion-packed chapters. Guilt and sorrow hunted back Rukia in most possible way and in the worst of times. The only way Rukian could comfort herself was by thinking that even though she killed her first love, she some how freed him from the hollow. She didn't exactly lose because she was facing an equivalent to + 30,000 hollows but because depression made her suicidal. You absolutely cannot blame her for giving up on the fight when in turns out that by killing her first love Kaien, she sent him to HM to become a part of a greater hollow and most likely forever...just remember that Kaien wasn't only her superior but her first love as well.

Rukia's reaction was natural to the shocking and sad truth of kaien's tragedic fate.

The tragedy in this chapter was awesome, it's one of he chapters that leaves a reader dying for the next one

[Luckas]

Thanks for the review ^^

I have to disagree with you on this chapter though. This is one of the most emotion-packed chapters. Guilt and sorrow hunted back Rukia in most possible way and in the worst of times. The only way Rukian could comfort herself was by thinking that even though she killed her first love, she some how freed him from the hollow. She didn't exactly lose because she was facing an equivalent to + 30,000 hollows but because depression made her suicidal. You absolutely cannot blame her for giving up on the fight when in turns out that by killing her first love Kaien, she sent him to HM to become a part of a greater hollow and most likely forever...just remember that Kaien wasn't only her superior but her first love as well.

Rukia's reaction was natural to the shocking and sad truth of kaien's tragedic fate.

The tragedy in this chapter was awesome, it's one of he chapters that leaves a reader dying for the next one

Very fascinating analysis and non-conventional point of view, I believe you got what probably Kubo wanted we readers to feel. The problem was most of them, as I was, were too pissed for what he was doing again to Rukia to notice that. Problem rereading the chap we could appreciate that, for now I hope that the showing of Kaien in the last panel is a foreshadowing of Rukia solving definitely this issue and I don't mean dieing >.>
And if you don't mind I would like to know what make you so sure that Rukia loved Kaien, instead of simply admiring him or seeing him as a friend or a "father's figure".

[gigantor21]

Thanks for the posts, everyone. I was a little worried about how people would react, but reading your responses made me feel a lot better.

Sahugani - After reading about his power, I think that Kubo is trying to imply that A'Roniro has the potential to become much stronger. So I doubt that he'd be killed off by any of Aizen's minions--especially since it looks like he'll be facing Ichigo in the future.

I'm glad that you agreed with me about how Kubo played things out, though.

Quartz-Pebble - When I saw A'Roniro's release form, I was immediately reminded of the Colony Devil Gundam--a design that was just as ridiculously imbalanced and stupid-looking. Something more along the lines of Envy would've looked much better.

Sillhouette - I'm going to have to side with Luckas on this one. Though I agree on how powerful the chapter was emotionally, I was too pissed off at what happened plot-wise for that to sway my opinion. In fact, it was that sense of hopelessness that pissed me off in the first place--I was expecting this fight to help Rukia turn things around, and they only got worse (for the reasons you stated).

I also don't think Rukia loved Kaien like that, mostly because it'd be too cliche. I thought she had the same relationship with Kaien that she does with Ichigo--a close friend and confidant, nothing more.

[juUnior]

I agreed with your review Gigantor ^^ I also didn't like that the end of that fight. But actually on the other hand I enjoyed the lest two pages. The panels with Rukia were incredible drawn

btw. and after Luppi (Espada) ealese we have queite the same thing: another octopusson in action... yeah, I overrate this, but I had that feeling seeing it the first time ^^"

[gigantor21]

I agreed with your review Gigantor ^^ I also didn't like that the end of that fight. But actually on the other hand I enjoyed the lest two pages. The panels with Rukia were incredible drawn

btw. and after Luppi (Espada) ealese we have queite the same thing: another octopusson in action... yeah, I overrate this, but I had that feeling seeing it the first time ^^"

Thanks a lot!

Yes, those last two pages were done incredibly well. I especially liked how Rukia's eyes were drawn, more than anything. And Luppi's release doesn't have SHIT on A'Roniro's--it's like the difference between those little spiders you find in your house, and a fucking Bird-Eating Spider from Brazil.

In regards to my predictions for next chapter, I don't have any--just like with 266. I've been really bad about that, haven't I?

[dfcarolinaguy]

Great review dude. I just wished that A'ronrio was a vizard or something cooler then a vaccum cleaner lol.

[Quartz-pebble]

In regards to my predictions for next chapter, I don't have any--just like with 266. I've been really bad about that, haven't I?

Nah, it's just going in really random, kinda retarded directions.

Now I'm thinking that this might begin a chain of Espada releases that will knock each of the heroes out of the game. Renji's already screwed, so Apollo releasing on him might not happen, but Rukia had already lost too. Ishida will probably put up as much of a fight as her at her best. Just a theory, of course.

[gigantor21]

Great review dude. I just wished that A'ronrio was a vizard or something cooler then a vaccum cleaner lol.

Ha ha--a VACUUM CLEANER!? You just shitted on his whole existence!

Nah, it's just going in really random, kinda retarded directions.

Now I'm thinking that this might begin a chain of Espada releases that will knock each of the heroes out of the game. Renji's already screwed, so Apollo releasing on him might not happen, but Rukia had already lost too. Ishida will probably put up as much of a fight as her at her best. Just a theory, of course.

I agree on both counts--Bleach has been going all over the place, plot-wise. I'm just pissed that THIS is where all that great progression and spontaneity led up to.

With your theory, they might not even have to release if stronger Espada like Noriitora and Grimmjow got involved. That's the main reason the entire arc was based on a short sighted (and inherently stupid) premise, which makes it rather hard to digest as anything but canon filler. It had it's moments, but Ichigo and Co. never stood a chance.

[dfcarolinaguy]

hmm, I am just curious of where this whole arc is going, and if anyone is going to die in this arc too lol (since bleach characters don't die)

[Deien]

I'm actually fully satisfied with that happened. Technically that guy IS Kaien. Rukia had already stated that she willingly die for Kaien's sake. Besides the impossible truth that she had no chance anyway. I'm interested to know what exactly you'd have had her do. At least this way we get further understanding of her character. Which is still lamenting the loss of Kaien. Its better than Chad's... Renji's screwed, Ishida's next and then Ichigo is going to get smacked around. I feel very satisfied considering that the Winter War is going to be the real thing and I doubt if Rukia will die, so you can just think of this as a teaser fight for when she goes up against him later.

[gigantor21]

I'm actually fully satisfied with that happened. Technically that guy IS Kaien. Rukia had already stated that she willingly die for Kaien's sake. Besides the impossible truth that she had no chance anyway. I'm interested to know what exactly you'd have had her do. At least this way we get further understanding of her character. Which is still lamenting the loss of Kaien. Its better than Chad's... Renji's screwed, Ishida's next and then Ichigo is going to get smacked around. I feel very satisfied considering that the Winter War is going to be the real thing and I doubt if Rukia will die, so you can just think of this as a teaser fight for when she goes up against him later.

Well, that's exactly the problem.

As you said, she's still guilty about Kaien, which was only made worse after she found out what happened next. The only thing that comforted her (even a little) was thinking she'd freed him from the Hollow. Now that she doesn't even have that, I don't see how she could possibly conjure up the will to fight him again. Plus, there's no way she could become strong enough to take him in time for the Winter War, because she doesn't even have the capacity for Bankai (i.e., captain level reiatsu or higher).

I thought it would've been much better if A'Roniro wasn't Kaien. If that were the case, then seeing A'Roniro insult his memory might have jolted her out of her guilt, and helped her get over it--an idea I alluded to in my review of 264. That's what I wanted to see more than anything else; even if she couldn't beat him, she'd still get something out of it. But now that doesn't look very likely--it seems like Rukia's guilt will be the same regardless of what happens.

[Quartz-pebble]

It's off topic, but could someone quickly remind me what this winter war is?