Bleach – 234
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Summary:
As Unohana, Kyouraku, and Ukitake review what’s going on, Shuuhei and Renji come face to face with their own Zanpakutou. Renji doesn’t even recognize his Zanpakutou at first due to how its human form has two halves, a baboon female and a snake child. They attack him because, as they explain, they heard a voice that told them to follow their instinct. Kazeshini tells Shuuhei the same thing, and he claims that Shuuhei doesn’t understand how he wants to reap lives. Ichigo meanwhile regains consciousness inside of his inner world, and to his surprise, Muramasa is there as well. Muramasa explains that he’s able to be there because he’s a Zanpakutou, and he goes on to reveal that he killed his former owner. He’s now interested in Ichigo’s Hollow powers, and when Ichigo tries to attack him, he easily stops Ichigo with a wave of the hand. He then uses his powers to summon Hollow Ichigo out of Ichigo. After figuring out that Hollow Ichigo was the source of Ichigo’s earlier power, Muramasa introduces himself again and reveals that his power is to awaken Zanpakutou instincts, and he wants to do the same again here. Hollow Ichigo, however, isn’t affected and attacks Muramasa.
Preview
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I wouldn’t call this a slow or boring episode since it had a few decent action scenes that made up the start of some interesting showdowns, plus the introduction of Zabimaru’s human form, but I was hoping they’d make a little more progress than they actually did. As it stands, all this episode did was basically set up three fights and emphasize the whole instinct thing amid a lot of flashbacks and recap over what we already know. They ended the episode right as we were getting to the best part, so while I look forward to seeing what happens between Hollow Ichigo and Muramasa next week – and to a lesser degree, Renji and Shuuhei in their respective battles – this week was somewhat lacking. I do find it interesting though that Muramasa claims to have killed his former owner, and I’m still waiting for some plot twist revelation on who that owner was. I’m also curious about why the title of episode 236 in two weeks refers to some new Getsuga Tenshou.
August 26, 2009 at 4:18 amKuma-san
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first!
August 26, 2009 at 4:24 amKisara
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The episode lacked in some areas but I found it kinda funny how slow Renji realized that Zabimarus human form is that of a hairy woman and a little snake kiddy. And I laughed while watching the preview für next weeks episode. Renji & Rukia FTW! XP “You sicko.”
August 26, 2009 at 4:26 amGene
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second! Hmm…two zabimaru o_O
August 26, 2009 at 4:49 amGod~Knows~
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Ichigo is practically useless now.He should just let his hollow do all the work and kill Muramasa.
August 26, 2009 at 5:05 amJemindor
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What’s going on with Ichigo?! First losing to Rukia’s Zanpantkou and now fucked up after a Star Wars hand sign… “May the force be with you…”
I was really longing for the episode because of the Hollow Ichigo fight and all they showed were battle introductions. WELL!
Hopefully they won’t slow down now!
August 26, 2009 at 5:09 amjlyn101
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yeah, nothing much happening here (strangely, i’m recalling the lame eng dub of tokugawa ieyasu in sengoku musou/samurai warriors that goes “slow and steady wins the race”. *knocks head on wall*).
then again, there’s still the “muramasa, you’re asking for trouble” echoing in my head.
August 26, 2009 at 5:12 amDeathdakid
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Zabimaru sound like a transexual – which in this case is true. I am too looking foward for episode 236 as well. I know also the person who will be in charge with the animation will be the person who did episode 219. Next week episode also looks promising.
August 26, 2009 at 5:26 amKandur
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@Deathdakid
Renji asked Mayuri do do a sex-change on Zabimaru, that’s why it looks female but sounds male.
August 26, 2009 at 5:30 amPeter Rice
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i doubt if hollow ichigo would agree to Muramasa vision for the zanpakutous to be free from their masters like hollow ichigo said he is ichigo’s instincts because if ichigo dies he does also but at the same time if he is free then he might attempt to kill ichigo cuz right i,m not sure if hollow ichigo is fighting for ichigo sake or his own sake.
August 26, 2009 at 7:08 amNARUTO
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hey what is naruto in here. i’m mongolian. sorry i studing english
August 26, 2009 at 7:24 amPanther
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This sucks I was so banking on either Yoruichi or Zaraki being the owner of Muramasa, and now they come out and tell us Muramasa killed his wielder. I must say though that would likely mean his previous wielder was some new filler character.
Also quite obviously AI would be unaffected, I would say he is not so much of a representation of Ichigo’s inner instincts (which means he lied to Muramasa, but not fully) but more of a separate entity that lives within him, an alter ego that would be unaffected by Muramasa’s powers which seem to draw out true inner instincts. That may also be the key to releasing the Zanpakutou from their materialized forms and bringing them back under the Shinigami’s control (controlling their instincts) without killing them.
August 26, 2009 at 8:20 amEspada
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NYAHAHA HICHIGO CHOP HIM TO BITS NYAHAHAHA
August 26, 2009 at 8:55 amZange
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A VERY BORING EPISODE THIS WEEK. =/.
Not much happened :(
August 26, 2009 at 9:39 amkaineng
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probably the new getsuga tensho refers to hollow ichigo letting ichigo use his powers fully to fight muramasa?
overall, this episode’s a good start, hope next week would be good, Asai Kenichi still not on the Net yet leh…
August 26, 2009 at 11:53 ammads
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how long are the fillers gonna go on? *yawwwwwwwn*
August 26, 2009 at 12:29 pmstarss
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Well, the fact that Muramasa killed his owner automatically rules out any character who is ALIVE! Which means his back story will feature another new character that won’t matter past this arc. :( Yes, the arc is very good for filler, but already I see even LESS of point to it, and I wish there WAS.
August 26, 2009 at 12:31 pmMatt4300
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Man, I smell a Hentai doujin of what “really” happend when Unohana stopped by mayuri’s place ;)
August 26, 2009 at 12:31 pmstarss
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Also, is it me, or did the baboon part of Renji’s zanpaktou have a clear MALE voice?!
August 26, 2009 at 3:37 pmssj4jw
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Well at least people will stop thinking that Muramasa is Kenpachi’s zanpakutou.
August 26, 2009 at 4:11 pmChimasternmay
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slow episode, but lucky for me i skip every part of the show besides Ichigo’s part that way its all interesting stuff, and fast, rest of the peoples fight its the same they all say u don’t understand us, so we left…. we get the point now, thats why i rather just focus on the main dude, and not delve too much in the filler arc.
plus that 236 episode called something new Getsuga Tenshou, may be good, but i’m sure it will be a temporary bizarre upgrade, that we will only see here.
August 26, 2009 at 4:30 pmMatt Gross
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So Muramasa killed his own Shinigami partner? What kind of Zanpaktou Spirit would kill it’s own partner? And what will become of Ichigo’s Inner Hollow when he battles against Muramasa?
August 26, 2009 at 4:31 pmMatt Gross
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The male and female that make up Zabimaru don’t seem to get along too well.
August 26, 2009 at 4:38 pmMatt Gross
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I think I have it figured out. Muramasa uses his spell look into the minds of the Zanpaktou, finding out what it is the the Zanpaktou wants and uses that desire to turn the Zanpaktou to turn against it’s Shinigami partner.
August 26, 2009 at 5:11 pmbrianleung8912
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nah can still be kenpachi’s zanpaktou, happens alot in anime, where Subject A thought he/she/they had killed subject B, only to found out later they are still alive.
As i was saying last week :) muramasa fail to “free” hichigo :) i can write fillers ^.^
August 26, 2009 at 7:54 pmKate
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Zabimaru’s tranny voice kinda freaked me out…a lot.
Can’t wait to see H!Ichigo start kicking some real ass 8D
August 26, 2009 at 10:09 pmSplash
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Is it my imagination or did they really milk this episode. They showed so many flashbacks to last weeks stuff and it was only last week. The makers must think we all have the memory of a 5 year old.
August 27, 2009 at 12:39 amShadowFlare
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Wasn’t there some flashback sometime a long time ago showing when Kenpachi and Hachiru first met, where Kenpachi was lying on the ground and in bad shape (though nothing life threatening) and they may or may not have said from what?
August 27, 2009 at 12:42 amShadowFlare
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Can’t edit posts on this, I suppose. I meant Yachiru above (I said it correctly in my mind, but typed it out wrong…) :D
August 27, 2009 at 8:01 amP0
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EP WAS KINDA SLOW but it has hichigo in it you cant go wrong there
There were alot of flashbacks but then agian they have the STREEEEEEETCH this filler to give the manga time to grow. Muramasa could be lying when he siad he “KILLED” his shinigami… i highly doubt its kenpachi since that would mean going agiant the no banki for him and the idea that it would be a dead end for him manga wise as he couldnt get any stronger… considering bleach will not be ending anytime soon stronger more crazy enemies will be appearing (hopefully vastro lordes)
August 27, 2009 at 4:22 pmReiter
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Was a slower episode, but still fairly entertaining even with all the flashback exposition. It looks like they’re structuring this filler arc so that they introduce the vice-captain’s zanpakutou and the fights with their respective masters first, and then work their way up to the captains and their swords. Zabimaru’s voice was a bit more manly-sounding than what I was expecting (I did lol at how it’s Renji’s fault for humanizing his sword that way).
I find it interesting that Renji’s is the only zanpakutou that seems to be represented as two separate characters (so what happens if someone cut the chain attaching Hebi with Zabimaru?). The sickle-wielding zanpakutou is one of the more slicker character designs too, though I’m looking forward to Kira’s more. His just looks wicked with that weighted ball and chains.
August 27, 2009 at 6:25 pmforce
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the hollow want Ichigo’s power, but it seems that shinigami keep their reiatsu when separated from their zanpakuto so… And he doesn’t seem to be one to obey order, he is already instincts so there is no need for him to be subjugated.
August 27, 2009 at 9:42 pmMatt Gross
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I wonder what happened to Zangetsu. That cero attack that Hollow Ichigo performed appeared to be very strong. It could have blown Zangetsu up to the point where there was nothing left of him, and the Shinigamis still don’t know what could happen to their Zanpaktou if they are destroyed in battle.
August 27, 2009 at 11:45 pmBROOKLYN otaku
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“i don’t know any HAIRY women” AHAHAHAHAHAHAH! funny
August 30, 2009 at 1:31 amanonymous
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how in the world can a zanpakutou kill it’s owner when a zanpakutou is nothing but a physical representation of the owner’s power? suicidal thoughts? : /
August 30, 2009 at 2:28 amAnonymous
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HIchigo… kick Muramasa’s ass!!!
August 31, 2009 at 4:49 pmActarus
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i wish the new getsuga tenshoo is like the twin getsuga tenshoo as in the new psp game heat the soul 6, where u can use ichigo and inner hollow ichigo in tag battle to perform a super special combo attack…wow
August 31, 2009 at 11:47 pmKaris
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If the writers were to degrade Hollow Ichigo’s awesomeness like what they did with Ichigo, then I’ll be using profanity in the next episode.
September 2, 2009 at 12:38 amliborek3
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pretty good episode…