Director: Noriyuki Abe
Starring: Yuki Matsuoka, Johnny Yong Bosch, Fumiko Orikasa, Michelle Ruff,
Running Time: 275 minutes
Certificate: 12
I’d consider BLEACH Series 10 Part 1 a bit of a disappointment. Too many characters forced in to a simplistic battle scenario were further complicated by constant ‘twists’ that only served to extend the length of the series. In other words, it felt like padding. Pleasingly, the battle that began to bore me in the last box set is quickly put to an end within a few episodes of Part 2, opening up the rest of the episodes to explore different characters and situations through different worlds and time periods. Variety is most definitely the spice of life, and here we have it in abundance. Having finished the lengthy and serious battle, BLEACH gives us a comical story involving the return of Rurichiyo, a lengthy game of Kemari (a football like sport), and an arc examining the Soul Society 100 years previous. This selection of episodes show what BLEACH is best at with well choreographed fights light on dialogue. The humour is interaction based making it an absolute delight for fans, and the past segments build on the mythology and characters.
The reintroduction of Rurichiyo could be construed as filler, but it works as a necessary breather between chronicling Aizen’s current plans, and his past. Jumping straight into yet another dark and complex tale involving the Soul Society would have been too much even though the Past episodes avoid stepping on the toes of the current storylines running through the series. It would have been easy to trip up in trying to include too many surprise elements, thankfully we are shown relationships evolving in some surprising ways.
Despite my praise for this selection, it seems as though I am only judging based on comparisons to the previous set. There are still the problems of BLEACH becoming too broad in terms of its delivery, and a lack of focus on where it is headed.
BLEACH Season 10 Part 2 is released on DVD on 11th March 2012.
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