Bleach
Reviewed by Dan Peterson |
| Synopsis |
| So, tell me it was never your dream as a highschooler to become a death god? Well, it wasn’t Ichigo’s either, but somehow it happened. Ichigo can see ghosts, probably as a result of having a father who runs a hospital since one of his sisters can also see these ghosts. Ichigo, being a nice guy, tends to be a bit Haley Joel Osment in the Sixth Sense and try to help these spirits by bringing offerings to their graves and so on. However, when a giant undead monster that only he can see called a hollow attacks him, he meets Kuchiki, a girl who also happens to be a death god. The hollow is hunting Ichigo because of his immense but as-of-yet untapped power, and Kuchiki can’t defeat it, so she gives Ichigo some of her power and, in doing so, turns him into a katana-wielding death god, charged with releasing good souls to “soul society,” aka heaven, and sending hollows and other evil souls to hell. Let the fun begin! |
| PLOT: 85% |
| There have only been 7 episodes released so far, and based on them I can tell that the plot will be a good one despite some filler. It’s from Shonen Jump, so like Naruto and Dragonball Z expect a long series, but the plot seems to go a bit deeper than the plots of its comrades. Bleach explores issues concerning death, redemption, and forgiveness, all while continuing to explore what it’s like to be a high school kid. It’s a mix that at times feels a bit dubious but generally leaves you with a clean, fresh taste in your mouth despite having what seems like a nonlinear plot. Not the best show in the world plotwise, but it’s pretty darn good. |
| CHARACTERS: 85% |
| The characters in the show are numerous and seem to grow with every episode for the first ten shows. You meet Ichigo, Karen, Chad, and Kuchiki, all of whom seem the most distinct to me with individual personalities. Ichigo is a punk who now much deal with the weight of the undead world, Karen is Ichigo’s depressed and dark yet comic sister who refuses to recognize the existence of ghosts even though she can see them, Chad is the stoic hero who rarely speaks but helps Ichigo as often as he can while protecting all those around him, and Kuchiki is a death god now trapped in a human body trying to get by in the world. The characters feel vibrant and active, making for a good cast for a good show. |
| ART: 85% |
| For me, this show isn’t so much about its art as its style, which is off the charts. There’s a very hip, retro, cool vibe that you can get even just from watching the intro to the show that permeates every aspect of Bleach. The drawing is clean and crisp, and while not visually stunning or cutting edge, it definitely adds to the mood of the show. |
| SOUNDTRACK: 80% |
| A bit of hip hop, a bit of pop, a bit of rock, this show’s music is rather new and eclectic, adding to the trendy vibe that comes from it. It fits the show well, and the theme song will get itself stuck in your head. Overall, great music though not the best I’ve heard. Still, I couldn’t imagine any other type of music for this show. |
| CONCLUSION: 84% Overall |
| Definitely worth your time. |
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