The Beginning

[Vael]

Is there anyone else besides me that kind of misses the start of the story?

I guess it kind of has to do with the fact that I really like Rukia and particularly her interaction with the other characters. I always enjoyed the scenes with her and Ichigo and before too long into things she's locked away in some tower moping around every time we see her.

The story really took a pretty dramatic turn early on - at first it looked like it would be focused around Ichigo and Rukia trying to protect the human world from hollows - when suddenly one of the main characters goes poof and everyone has to march off to Death God HQ. I thought it would take longer before anything happened there. I envisioned things where the Soul Society would be gradually revealed and, well, our good guys would have a more peaceful interaction with the place. Maybe even Ichigo going to the academy or something. It almost seems like the story progressed to a 'climax' too quickly.

And now with Ichigo near the top when it comes to fighters how much more can things go on before we descend into 'DBZ-land'? What happens after the hollow forces led by Aizen are defeated and Ichigo is capable of defeating anyone, anywhere? How many more arcs can the universe of Bleach sustain?

Not only that but it seems difficult to bring the other characters back into the fights. Ishida's father will probably give him his powers back but what about Orihime and Sado? They're completely out of their league when compared to Ichigo and the current foes. Maybe Kubo will pull off something impressive but I don't see a way to bring them back without some silly DBZ-esque transformations/powerups.Less fighting and more chracter/story development!

Hmmm, seems I've started to drift off. Anyways, I'll cut this off now. ;) Anyone else feel similarly?

[Hef]

Long post
Yes, I feel completely the same. Ichigo just developed his überskills too fast. How is Kubo going to pull the future fights off? I don't want to see them go destroying planets and transforming into megaversions of themselves. :sad

I just hope that Kubo pulls of this well. I have a feeling that Bleach won't last that long anymore. :oh

[Toiletnojutsu]

Meh, I would like and end. I hate neverending mangas/animes.

But still, ichigo from 3seat level to captain level in three days is pretty gay.

[monk3]

God if they don't end the story at this arc, then it's gonna start to suck. i wish they'd just end it now and make it good. yeah. ichigo got too awesome too fast. its all like ichigo: oh shit, im sooo dead here. then all of a sudden he's like, i won't die. then he becomes god-like and totally pwns his opponent. its just tooo DBZ-ish. and no anime wants to be DBZ-ish.

[Utz]

Watch the spoilers please, remember this is Court of Pure Souls, spoiler tags are required if you use context from the manga.

As for story, it's a little to soon to end it, only 192 chapters, seeing how good Naruto has done lately on Chp. 272, Bleach can still go on as long as Kubo keeps us on our toes with excitement and doesn't stray too far from the main point of the manga/anime.

[Powerman]

As far as Orohime and Sado are concerned. In DBZ there were a handful of characters that were super weak compared to the main characters and yet had a part in the story. Although it was usually them getting there butts handed to them.

[Potentialflip]

People tend to forget. While Ichigo has grown he really hasn't shown he could own anyone. He was technically tied with Byakuya even with Ban Kai. He lost power first before Byakuya did. That shows that Ichigo was in actuallity still below him. Despite the assumption that he could now be for sure win against Kenpachi that is hard to say. As we have seen Kenpachi is a crazy fighter. As smart one as well when he fought Tousen. So in all seriousness just cause Ichigo can be super uber speed now doesn't really mean much. He technically got owned badly by Aizen. The fact that he is not in the class of these top tier captains. I won't even mention Yamamoto, Ukitake and Shunsui. Shows he still has a lot to grow. A guy just owned Chad in the last chapter. I say despite how much he has grown he still has his work cut out for him.

I agree with what people have pointed out. I have to say there is the possibility this will be the end or near the end. Meaning last arc or second to last (I mean by the manga). Because after all unless there is still somethings left unresolved. Which is all I want. I want all things to get resolved. Once that is done I would like it to end. Who knows how it will continue afterwards really if it does. Expect me to seriously bring in the DBZ comparison and path consideration.

[Zaraki]

I think it has alot further to go, and I'll explain why:


Well okay Ichigo is now at captain level, but we have just found out that compared with the Arankaru and the Vaizards that not exactly overly special. So the up coming war could take several arcs of interesting interaction between the various factions. I feel that there are at lots of storylines and intrigue to be built in and so many issues to be potentially dealt with that this could go on for a long time. Especially with the depth to which the current characters have been portrayed.

Besides the war you have Ichigo dealing with his inner hollow and his father coming out of retirement. Karin starting to develop SS skills maybe. And how the others in the group will keep up with ichi (Chad in full armour maybe ? Inoue Having better use of fairies ?).

After the war depending on the state of the win there could be so many stories to play out through the world, the normal hollow threat. The Gotei 13 dealing with the new strengths on earth and dealing with Urahara, Ishiin and maybe others found in this arc. If the Vaizards turn out to be good then they will have to have something to deal with how they integrate or be destroyed etc etc


I feel at the moment in both the manga and the anime we are at inbetween periods, where it is often easy to think that everything is coming to a climax or an end, or that the potential for growth within the story is limited. I think if we allow Kubo to develop the story in his own time and come up with new ideas this could outlast many of the other mangas out there, mainly due to its many different ideas and interesting characters.

And yes I do think this is a good thing, if it remains interesting and they can generate new ways to challenge the characters without them becoming god like then I would like to see Bleach stay around as long as possible. I hate to hear people saying they wish it would end, when even now Im dying to read the next episode or see how the next fight is drawn.

Anyway there just my thoughts on the issue :D Hope you find em interesting

[Shiari]

As Zaraki and Filp said... Have you forgot how Aizen owned Ichigo? He wasn't even trying! Heck... The old man would likely beat the wet-behind-the-ears Ichigo. The captions of 8th and 13th divs would(or could) beat Ichigo or gave him a run for his money.

It not like Ichigo easily beaten Byakuya, They both were tired at the end. They both had only enough energy to do one attack.

Besides, Ichigo's great power.... came with price of the Hollow side taking over him and drive him insane, The Hollow side would likely eat his soul as well, and kill his loved ones if he doesn't control it...

Now, I don't know about you, but that is one heavy price to pay for power.

....Done with the spoilers. >.>

Bleach is getting closer to the end, as for how long it is? No one really knows.

But I hope to see more cool things happen! ^_^

[Zaraki]

Another thing is that Ichigo only got more power when trying to save Rukia, you know the whole thing of getting the strength when you need it most. Weve yet to see him just pull it out as and when... But hey its anybodys guess as our friend Kubo can write whatever the hell he wants to....hehe.....God Bless 'im......