Byakuya Kuchiki vs Zommari Rureaux: True Love

Chapter 299

In a somewhat curious manner, Byakuya Kuchiki has two fights with opponents whose power revolves around love. Captain Kuchiki’s first love-related fight is his fight in the Arrancar Arc against the 7th Espada, Zommari Rureaux. His second love-related fight is one in the Thousand Year Blood War Arc against the quincy PePe Waccabrada who has the schrift “L”. In this post, I will discuss Byakuya’s fight with Zommari. The fight with PePe will be discussed in a different post.

I see Byakuya vs Zommari as a fight that showcases Byakuya’s growth after the Soul Society arc. Through this fight, we see that Byakuya (1) has changed what he takes pride in, and (2) has learned to some degree that love is not controlling.

Fun with Titles: The Speed Phantom 2 (Denial by Pride, Contradiction by Power)

Chapter 163 of the Bleach manga has one of my favorite chapter titles ever out of all the titles in the whole Bleach series. Said title is “The Speed Phantom 2 (Denial by Pride, Contradiction by Power)”. It is a chapter in the climax of Soul Society arc in which Byakuya and Ichigo fights with their respective bankais. Let’s break down the title and see how it relates to the contents of chapter 163.

When Killing is not the Goal: A Parallel between Sui-Feng and Ichigo Kurosaki

Sui-Feng is indeed an odd name to put next to Ichigo Kurosaki. Rukia Kuchiki or any member of the Karakura team would be a much better pick. Nevertheless, there is an interesting parallel between Sui-Feng’s and Ichigo Kurosaki’s actions in their respective fights with Yoruichi Shihoin and Byakuya Kuchiki. Said parallel is their action of not killing the enemy when they obviously had the chance to. This choice not to kill reveals that Sui-Feng and Ichigo’s primary goal is not murder, but something else.

Bleach: Understanding Byakuya Kuchiki’s Motivations in His Fight with Ichigo Kurosaki

Chapter 152

Ichigo Kurosaki vs Byakuya Kuchiki is arguably the climax of Bleach’s Soul Society Arc. I’ve written here that I’d like to do a post on Ichigo vs Byakuya sometime in the future, and (finally) this is that post. I’ve mentioned that I see Sui-Feng vs Yoruichi Shihoin as a fight mostly fueled by personal reasons. The fight’s main driving force is not so much Sui-Feng’s zealous passion for the law as Sui-Feng’s pain due to Yoruichi’s abrupt departure a hundred years earlier. On the other hand, I see Jushiro Ukitake, Shunsui Kyoraku vs Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto as a fight mainly fueled by impersonal reasons (that is, legal reasons). Yamamoto fights his protégés simply because he thinks lawbreakers must be punished. His fondness of them cannot cancel the necessity for punishment. These two concurrent fights can help us understand the Ichigo vs Byakuya fight. I argue that his fight with Ichigo, Byakuya is driven by both impersonal and personal reasons.

Bleach TYBW Anime Episode 20: Kenpachi and Yachiru

Episode 20 of the Bleach Thousand Year Blood War anime has just aired, and it sure is phenomenal. We received quite the visual feast, the exploration of an interesting theme, and even a telling moment as to what Yachiru actually is. Now, there is a shot in that episode that I’d like to briefly mention here, so let’s get to it!

Sui-Feng and Yoruichi's Spinning Move

Bleach TYBW Season 2 is here already! There is a fun easter egg (if it really is an easter egg) that I just noticed thanks to the animation. In Sui-Feng's fight with BG9, Sui-Feng does this move where she grabs one of BG9's tentacles and swings it around. The manga renders it this way:

Bleach: When Students Oppose Their Mentors

I noticed something new while rereading the Sui-Feng vs Yoruichi Shihoin fight. So, interspersed between said fight is another fight: Jushiro Ukitake, Shunsui Kyoraku vs Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto. I just noticed that the way the story switches back and forth between these two fights strongly highlights the student vs mentor theme. In fact, there are some interesting parallels between them.

Bleach: Analyzing Sui-Feng through her fight with Yoruichi Shihoin

To me, Sui-Feng (or Soi Fon) vs Yoruichi Shihoin remains one of the best fights in Bleach's Soul Society arc. Young me was so fascinated by the fight's cool characters, cool choreography, and heartbreaking "Why didn't you take me with you?" line at the end. Now, older me has one more thing to add to the list: How the fight reveals Sui-Feng's complex character. I know that Sui-Feng is one of the most hated characters in the series, and though I don't hate her that much, I understand why. Sui-Feng is harsh, arrogant, and unhealthily obsessed with Yoruichi. I'd like to show you that there is a reason why she developed these traits (particularly arrogance) through analyzing Sui-Feng and Yoruichi's battle. I argue that these negative traits are related to Sui-Feng's poor sense of self-worth, resulting in a need to always prove herself.