English Dub Review: Bleach Episode 348

Ichigo got his Soul Reaver badge back, but at what cost?

 

 

Spoilers Below

Ok, let me get this out of the way first. The opening, both song and intro, are terrible. I have listened to my fair share of J-Pop in my time as an anime fan and reviewer, and this is just the blandest garbage i have ever seen. I would rather listen to DBZ Kai’s Dragon Soul on repeat over watching this one more time. You know you’re lazy when you animate your main character to walk in front of a collage of all of your title screens from previous episodes. Jesus fucking Christ, this is bad.

As for the episode, we get another recap of the last episode, with Ichigo getting his badge back. Meanwhile, Ichigo’s sisters are sitting, and watching TV, arguing about being worried about Ichigo. They both go to sleep when he says to, and everyone seems happy again. Ichigo has been going to Xcution for a week to get his powers back, and he thinks its time to get his powers. He bears witness to an argument between Riruka and Yukio, which is really just Riruka talking to herself. She finally gets around to explaining about the box to Ichigo, and it’s a dollhouse. Riruka then explains her Fullbring powers, which is the ability to move objects into something that she thinks is cute. He is pulled in after she says “I permit you to.”

He looks up, and finds a giant teddy bear. Riruka tells Ichigo that he has to defeat the teddy bear, and that it will be easy. The bear takes the first swing, but Ichigo is running for his life. Ichigo is just confused, because he’s training to get Fullbring powers instead of his Soul Reaper powers. The pig starts to talk, who wants to fight. Riruka leaves Ichigo and the animated teddy bear pig to get tea, while Ichigo struggles to awaken his Fullbring. He deduces that it isn’t about the love of an object, but his attachment to something.

Meanwhile, Riruka is eating cake, acting like she isn’t worried about the toy pig, or Ichigo. Chad walks in with groceries, and he’s angry that they started. Chad opens the box, and tells him to use the combat pass. 15 minutes passes, and Crazy Beast Mode activates, with the dude inside the plushie begging to be let go. It turns out that Giriko was behind the Crazy Beast Mode as a way to help Ichigo bring out his powers.

Chad wants Ichigo out, but Giriko won’t let that happen. Ichigo has a total of 30 minutes to get out. If he is let out early, The God of Time will seek retribution. Ichigo will be burned by the Flames of Time if he is removed early. So, for Ichigo, it’s either win, or survive for another 15 minutes. Giriko then explains all three of the objects are governed by his Fullbring, “Time Tells No Lies.” When rules are set, not even Giriko can change it.

Ichigo is stuck with Mr. Pork, with no way to get out. He goes back to what Kugo says, and Chad tells him to use his pride. He had a lot of rough times, and that is what got Chad to use his Fullbring. Chad tells Ichigo to remember all of the pride he had in his Soul Reaper powers. We get a montage of Ichigo’s best moments during the show, and that starts to awaken his Fullbring.

This episode just felt like they were trying to shove a lot of stuff at you. Not to mention that it also felt like they are relying on you to rewatch it just to understand everything. From finally getting Riruka’s power, to Giriko, to Chad’s story at the end, it was all a shit ton of story. Then on top of that, you get the incredible shrinking Ichigo inside the box fighting a plushie pig. Maybe it’s just me, but it didn’t make much sense. I know it was Riruka’s power, but it doesn’t help much.

This episode is a microcosm of the series. They were on the verge of something really cool, but it ends up wallowing in mediocrity. All of these characters, save Ichigo and I think Chad, are all disposable. When they lose their powers, they’re either going to be normal jerkoffs, or they’re going to be dead. The direction in this ending arc is just weird.

18 more episodes to come, and the end can’t come fast enough.