WBCR - Friend or Foe? (Grade A)

What's up everyone, Stillmattic here and welcome to another installment of Wednesday's weekly WBCRs (Weekly Bleach Chapter Review). As you can see, the weekly Bleach meme is posted before than after. I'm going to change-it-up a bit for WBCRs by posting the graded meme 1st and secondly, talking about 2-3 crucial moments in the Bleach chapter (talking in segments rather than talk it out in full fell swoop). Without further ado, let us begin by talking about Bleach Chapter 538 ~ The Headless Star 5. Link to chapter:  http://readms.com/r/bleach/586/2422/1

Crucial Point #1 ~ 8 vs. 6 (Pg 9)

The first critical (or important) moment in this week's Bleach chapter is the set-up for the brawl between Sternritters: Bazz-B (H ~ The Heat), the unnamed old guy, Pepe, NaNaNa Najahkoop (Letter ~ U), Candice Catnipp (T ~ The Thunderbolt), Liltotto Lamperd (G ~ The Glutton), Meninas McAllon (P ~ The Power), & Giselle Gewelle (Z ~ The Zombie) VS. The Shinigami: Rukia Kuchiki (13th Division), Byakuya Kuchiki (6th Division), Renji Abarai (6th Division), Shuhei Hisagi (9th Division), Ikkaku Madarame (11th Division), & Yumichika Ayasegawa (11th Division). It's a 8-vs-6 Brawl and the anticipation that many fans are wondering is: Whose fighting who, Who is going to die, and Whose gotten stronger? Knowing this, Bazz-B isn't pleased with the Shinigami's arrival and attempts to do away with them so as to catch up with Ichigo, but the Shinigami aren't backing down anytime soon as they become the Sternritter's answer in a Brawl of Kill-or-be-Killed. As said previously, it's up for debate for whose fighting whom, but I'm curious to know how strong the Shinigami are NOW compared to before when they were getting their @$$es kicked. With 8 Sternritter, their'll be double or even triple-teams on whose fighting whom against the Shinigami, but it's bound to be a bloodbath in the end.

Crucial Point #2 ~ Orihime & Chad's intervention (Pg 17)

As soon as Ichigo discovers Uryu is in league with Yhwach & the Wandenreich, it worries Ichigo. Someone whom he could call a frenemy (both a friend and an enemy) has become his enemy and it clearly angers Ichigo to no end. Though the two didn't see eye-to-eye and are considered rivals, Ichigo respected Uryu for being both his frenemy and willing to go through any lengths to save their friends. Upon Uryu's descent into villainy, Ichigo questions Why, When, and How. Uryu tries to do away with Ichigo (or at least get him to disappear) until 2 surprise guests appear from a Garganta to thwart Uryu's attempts to hurt Ichigo ~ Chad & Orihime. And Yes, one of the things I'm going to be talking about is Orihime's BEEWBS. I mean, DAYUUUUM. When reading the comments at the end, people were saying similar things - Orihime's BEEWBS. I mean, did you see them? Her naval AND cleavage are exposed and that's.....F*cking Awwwwwwsum. I love Orihime and lemme tell ya, when I saw this picture ~ it was love (that cute face of concern for Ichigo's safety, her beautiful hairpins, and especially her BEEWBS). And Chad, buff as F*ck as he, being Ichigo's friend, stands their tall & firm ready to help out our hero. With their arrival, Uryu is torn, but knows that following Yhwach (at least in Uryu's opinion) is his only way to do 1-3 things: Figuring out his roots, Eliminating Shinigami once and for all as a Quincy, or following Yhwach's scheme as a fellow Quincy. Overall, Team Ichigo (as of now) is split as their former friend & ally has turned to the dark side.

Criucial Point #3 ~ Friend or Foe? (Pg 19)

As Uryu leaves with Yhwach, their are mixed feelings and, as said above, this worries and angers Ichigo to no end as just loss a true friend. Uryu's involvement and even meeting with Yhwach is kept in secrecy, but we do know that he reappears as an ally and successor to the throne to Yhwach's legacy. Uryu's motives are unclear, but as seen in this chapter, it appears that he had no choice. This brings me to when Rukia was taken to the Soul Society to face justice + to not allow any further harm to come to Ichigo & when Orihime left with Ulquiorra so as to prevent any more deaths from occurring. Uryu's decision to leave is a cry for help ~ perhaps he knows that it's for the best that he leaves before anything worsens. With the 8-vs-6 Sternritter/Shinigami brawl about to take place & Orihime & Chad's arrival, Ichigo must now do one of the following: Get answers from anyone who may know of Uryu's betrayal, assist in the Brawl, question Orihime & Chad who opened the Gargants up for them, or ask his or Uryu's Dad for clarification considering the Kurosaki-Ishida backstory.

Vercict (Thoughts, Beliefs, etc)

Overall, I like this set-up of BAB ~ Brawl (8-vs.6), Arrival (Orihime & Chad's Intervention), & Betrayal (Friend or Foe). It leaves room for debate on how Ichigo will handle this, but it is clearly depicting Ichigo's disappointment in this situation and his frustration in not finding a remedy in bringing Team Ichigo together as friends once more. With the Brawl about to take place, friends and enemies alike will fight to see who'll come out on top (personally I want the TGPZ sisters to live, but that's very VERY debatable). Orihime & Chad's arrival means that help is on the way, but unfortunately help was too late in trying to dissuade Uryu's defection to the Wandenreich. I'm curious to know where Tite Kubo's direction will be in next week's chapter and so, it is with great thought and belief that this week's chapter is: GRADE A.

So what did you think of this week's chapter (Yes, No, So-So?) and more importantly, what are your thoughts on this extended WBCR (talking in segments on 3 key points that I thought were important)? Comment below and let me know. As always, look forward to WBCRs every Wednesday (unless author is on break or Golden Week in Japan). Until then, you all stay classy now. Stay tuned for a special announcement coming up shortly on July.