AV MOD MATERIAL: BLEACH Ch. 527 Review

So long, Unohana. For we hardly knew you...... Literally.

Unohana has fallen to the blade of Zaraki Kenpachi, and Ichigo has failed his test. Seems he's being sent back for remedial classes on his life.

The Good

Is this ending really appropriate?

I love some deep drama that I can really bite into and let the flavor wash over me. That's what I've been enjoying about the previous few weeks. There hasn't been any concerned that the main protagonist has been missing in action. The story between Unohana and Kenpachi has been a bizarre dance of Beauty and the Beast -- except they're both monsters. Kenpachi's reaction to this loss is completely appropriate. For as large and powerful as he may be. He still has an inner child who doesn't want to let go the things he cares about.

Unohana has been a background player since her appearance back in 2002. Since then, she has done or said little, played the role of comedian in the BLEACH anime Shinigami Cup, and only in these past handful of weeks has she been allowed the spotlight. You raise my interest in her only to strip her away so suddenly?

There is a part of me that would be offended if this is actually the finale for Retsu Unohana, but I'm not sure how I'd feel if she was revived just to stand in the background. The only thing that makes me think she wont be left for dead is the complete lack of explanation of herbankai. That would be the most aggravating thing I've seen in the SHONEN JUMP in a long time.

The Bad

Ichigo is no longer king of the hill.

An odd pattern stood out among all the Shonen Trilogy as I was reading my issue of SHONEN JUMP. The theme of this week seems to have been sentence fragments, and none of those were as frustrating or unnecessary as what I read in BLEACH. Just as Unohana falls, Kenpachi finally hears the voice of his neglected zanpakuto. However, we are completely cut off from hearing the name. This is obviously for dramatic effect when Kenpachi reveals his shikai in battle, but being plot-blocked at what would have been a dramatic conclusion is frustrating. The topic of Kenpachi even having a shikai is something that we'll have to put aside for at a later date.

It appears Ichigo failed at something while the dueling Kenpachi held their title match. Though what he failed at was never explained. At this point, the idea that the main protagonist will be cast away is ridiculous. He's had to prove that repeatedly, and the Soul Society has put their dependance in him for their security. Oh-etsu Nimaiya implies that Ichigo will have to go back to his roots. This will make the second origin story in what is to be the final arc of the series. What took Kubo so long?

Verdict 3/5

I should be moved by the death of this fascinating woman, but I'm left more confused. It's been twice within as many weeks that I struggled between a 2 or a 3 in rating BLEACH. The emotion Kubo builds is just often undercut by the inability to let a scene have conclusion or finish a sentence. Not something you want in your final arc, but I can't let what's to come effect the rating for 'this' chapter. So, after a couple weeks of some interesting action with a confusing finale. I hope you're all ready for Ichigo's back story. We all knew it was coming. It's just the idea of jumping backward just as things are moving makes for a stuttering pace.

-Kristoffer Remmell ( FoxxFireArt) is a freelance graphic artist, writer, and over all mystery geek.- Follow for news updates: @AnimeVicers/ @ FoxxFireArt