With expectations at an all-time high, anime and manga fans unite to witness Ichigo's reintroduction into society after sitting on the bench for a decade. A lot has changed in the shonen category since Bleach last aired, and some feared the Big Three powerhouse wouldn't hold a flame against the thrilling contemporary anime that dominates the genre today.
Opinions are divided as manga enthusiasts and anime fans alike nit-pick the details, while certain plot holes and oversights are too obvious to ignore, leaving some of the Bleach fanbase dissatisfied with the results. The biggest grumbles seem to come from the manga fan base, who have placed high expectations on this adaptation, whereas most anime supporters are simply happy to have more Bleach content to work with.
The following content will focus on the first cours of the Thousand Year Blood War anime. It will also include spoilers from the rest of the arc.
9 Lieutenant Sasakibe's Sudden Significance
If Kubo wanted to stir up emotions and wound fans with a heartbreaking death scene, choosing Sasakibe was probably not the best utilization of the vast selection of beloved characters available. The audience could sympathize with the Shinigamis' sorrow following the Lieutenant's demise. However, considering he has barely uttered a word in nearly twenty years, they struggle to share that same feeling of loss.
Even though Sasakibe has been around since the beginning, viewers hardly know the man (who is evidently just a poorly placed plot device). Killing off a more cherished character like Ayasegawa, Shinji, or Hitsugaya would have better solidified the feeling of impending doom.
8 Weakling Shinigami
Hardcore fans may be fully aware of the Soul Reapers' vast capabilities (and glaring flaws). However, those who have only recently jumped on board have received a rather unflattering first impression of these "mighty" warriors. Even the few seconds of fighting that some Captains manage to pull off hardly scratches the surface of their awesome potential before the Shinigami are eliminated en mass with ease.
True, the severely imbalanced power dynamic aims to represent how dangerous the Quincy forces are, compared to the rest. Besides Yamamoto (who inevitably failed, too), the Gotei 13 appear to be utterly useless without their unwarranted Substitute Shinigami. Nerfing epic heroes just to make Ichigo look good is a cheap shot, and some characters deserve more justice.
7 Yamamoto's Unceremoniously Abrupt Death
Yamamoto's big Bankai reveal certainly did its job of knocking the enemy off his game. However, thanks to some underhanded deception, Yhwach walked away from the whole ordeal with barely a bruise. The Captain Commander has given off a fierce aura of invincibility since the moment Ichigo first laid eyes on him and, although his final battle is certainly a memorable one, it ended rather abruptly and tactlessly.
It would have been much more satisfying if the great Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto went down fighting with blades of fiery fury, dying a noble death while protecting his people. Instead, one of the greatest Shinigami in history is simply sliced in two like a stick of butter after falling for an underhanded scheme. Yamamoto's honor is sacrificed for the sake of shock value.
6 Underutilising The Visored (Yet Again)
Aizen's experimental creations got many fans excited after their introduction at the backend of the Soul Society Arc, as a new source of Shinigami superpowers embued with some serious Hollow influences. However, once Ichigo's training was complete, this group of "rejects" was left to fade into the background, with only Shinji Hirako holding much authority while Mashiro Kuna and Hiyori Sarugaki have essentially become tools for the Shinigami's benefit.
Most fans are dissatisfied with the plot-device treatment that the Visored have received over the years and call for their well-deserved redemption in the Thousand Year Blood War Arc. While a few of these Hollow-hybrids take up arms against the Quincy, their input has more of a manic pixie dream girl effect to boost the Shinigami's standing. More wasted potential, down the drain.
5 Disjointed Storytelling
The general formula for the Thousand Year Blood War anime seems to be: first make a big reveal and then clue in viewers about its importance with an ill-timed flashback, which often comes across as an afterthought. While not all viewers have an issue with this system of storytelling, others find it to be confusing, disjointed, and poorly paced.
Manga followers are also not given the opportunity to witness the several significant fight scenes to their full extent (such as with Jugrama vs. Uryu or Gerard's sudden conflict conclusion) as most of the action is glossed over in the source material. However, Kubo has already added never-before-seen content to the anime's first cours, so maybe redemption is still in the cards!
4 Yoruichi's Extended "Hiatus"
Watching Urahara pop in and out of episodes throughout the first cours of the Thousand Year Blood War is quite frustrating for some, as they find themselves searching the scenery for his "side-kick" and partner in crime, the captivating Yoruichi. This issue is even more severe for manga readers, who know full well how much fan service is in store when this feisty feline kicks things up a notch (and slips into something much more revealing).
Complaints regarding Yoruichi's absence shouldn't be long-lasting, as the bodacious babe is expected to make an appearance when the Wandenreich initiate round two of their fight against Seireitei; better late than never! All that is uncertain is how much censorship will be applied to her sultry Shunkō: Raiju Senkei: Shunryū Kokubyō Senki form.
3 Byakuya's Miraculous Survival
As hopeless as Byakuya's situation looks after being pulverized by his own Senbonzakura Kageyoshi at the hands of Äs Nödt, he manages to narrowly escape death and ends up taking a record-breaking extended stay in the "Blood Hell Pond." While other Shinigami lose their lives as easily as Vegeta or Bakugo lose their tempers, the double standard of Byakuya's survival surely speaks more for fan service than coherency.
The 6th Division Captain has consistently topped the charts in Bleach popularity polls since his debut, and killing him off would undoubtedly anger fans. His survival (particularly alongside Yamamoto's undignified death and Zaraki Kenpachi's convenient getaway) sets the precedent that maybe these Wandereich aren't as fatal as first impressions dictate. Sure, masses of Shinigami get slaughtered, but besides one crucial casualty in the first cours (two, if Sasakibe counts), viewers deduce that most Shinigami will walk away relatively unscathed (which they do, except for Unohana and Juushiro, who barely qualify as fan-favorites).
2 Unohana Dies (Just As She Gets Interesting!)
Although it seems hypocritical to complain about the lack of fatalities and then cry for Unohana's exemption, consider the argument first. Unohana has had more screen time than several other Captains but always comes across as a very placid, almost boring, forgettable character who simply fulfills the medical support role of the Gotei 13. This assessment couldn't be further from the truth, as she is one of the most ruthless, sadistic, and incredibly skilled swordsmen of her generation, earning her the esteemed title of Kenpachi.
As soon as the mask slips and Unohana demonstrates how truly intriguing and epic she actually is, it is all over in the blink of an eye, with no more Minazuki bloodbaths on the horizon. Imagine reawakening Unohana's homicidal nature and letting her loose amongst the Quincy forces; a sight for sore eyes indeed! At least her sacrifice is not in vain, as Zaraki will undoubtedly cause considerable chaos in Unohana's honor.
1 Rushed Ending
Even though Bleach has not been as drawn out as One Piece, it still qualifies as one of the longer series around, with thoroughly fleshed-out fight scenes (and way too many fillers), completely disregarding the concept of short, sweet, and apothegmatic. However, many manga readers can agree that Ichigo's awe-inspiring tale ends rather abruptly, leaving many loose ends dangling in the wind with only a semblance of closure offered in "Can't Fear Your Own World."
As disgruntled as fans may be, most understand the circumstance and appreciate whatever new Bleach they get, as Tite Kubo's poor health made production near-impossible for a stage. Considering that Ichigo's story could have ended without the Thousand Year Blood War Arc should inspire gratitude from true fans, instead of stern criticisms. Remember, unresolved plot points can also become the perfect catalysts for spin-off series. Who knows what the future holds?