I have watched the new movie "Fade to Black" a few days ago but haven`t found the time yet to write a review. I like it very much and I hope I can post a review in a few days.
But I have just finished writing about the new episode, Bleach 240:
The scene at the beginning left me with exactly the same feelings I had when Nemu was smothering Ishida with her boobs so that Mayuri could heal him and whatever else he might have done without telling anybody at the same time. To me it was just barely funny because after what Mayuri had done to the Quincies and his family it was not surprising that Ishida was terrified. The whole scene felt very tasteless to me.
This was no different. I found it interesting that my seven-year-old daughter never laughed. She was concerned and then upset that Gegetsuburi apparently died. She said quite annoyed if Mayuri wants to experiment on a Zanpakutou spirit he should have chosen his own. I understand and agree for the most part except that I consider sacrificing any “sample” a crime. These are sentient beings. This was nothing better than sacrificing Quincies in the name of science in the past. I am sure, if Ishida finds out about this he would go after Mayuri in an instant. Depending on how things go it is even possible that Ishida would side with the Zanpakutou spirits against the Shinigami. But from what I have seen so far it is not very likely that Ishida or any of Ichigo`s human friends will get an important part in this story if at all.
With this scene Oomaeda lost the rest of any respect I still had for him. If Gegetsuburi would have been Zangetsu Ichigo would have fought for him with everything he has got! Oomaeda didn`t do anything except whining mixed with half hearted protests and then he told his Zanpakutou spirit better they dissect him than me. I know that this is a filler and somehow also Oomaeda`s Zanpakutou will be restored including its spirit. That is good to know but still, Oomaeda doesn`t deserve it.
It was interesting to learn that this is not Muramasa`s first body. I wonder, is Muramasa like a parasite, a spirit that takes over a living person, maybe including changing his or her appearance and when that body is drained he is moving to the next? If that is true, I wonder who is the owner of this body? Is it somebody we know? Maybe that person is fighting Muramasa`s spirit. Maybe I am crazy but for a moment I wondered if the face looks a bit like Kenpachi`s. No, probably not. I think my imagination is running away with me.
The fight Ichigo vs. Senbonzakura was exciting. The way he stepped in front of Muramasa to defend him was not surprising but that Byakuya stopped that fight and seemed to have joined Muramasa was unexpected. It seems he also freed Haineko and Tobiume.
What makes this story so interesting is that to a certain degree I can actually understand Byakuya especially after what just happened in Mayuri`s lab. This is not a black and white issue. I very much disagree with Muramasa`s methods and his goals smell more like revenge than actually caring about fellow Zanpakutou spirits. Nevertheless, I wondered for some time if these Zanpakutous are alive what choice do they actually have when his wielder demands to use the spirit`s power? We learned that a Zanpakutou spirit can refuse Bankai but I heard nothing about the Shikai. What Byakuya described as liberation included letting loose a crazy mass murderer like Kazeshini, blocking Hyourinmaru`s memories and twisting the desires of others. I agree that Muramasa has to be stopped but I also think the relationship between Shinigami and Zanpakutou has to be reconsidered. Some relationships already work very well but others obviously leave a lot to be desired. It is time that also Zanpakutou spirits have some rights. They are not slaves.
The choice of words, that Byakuya want to follow his inner desires could mean that he is under Muramasa`s influence. That is possible but I am hoping that this story won`t be that simplistic. Byakuya said that his inner desire is to protect his pride. What does that mean? I don`t think he just means Rukia. He could very well also mean Senbonzakura. Fighting for the freedom of his Zanpakutou spirit and that of others could be seen as his way of protecting him.
From what I can see right now I think labelling Byakuya as a traitor is premature. I need to learn more about his motives before I can come to a conclusion. But I can already say, although Byakuya has never been a character I find likeable I always found him very interesting and he is an important part of the Bleach universe. He showed that he can learn in his own way. Maybe Byakuya`s apparent rebellion is something Ichigo inspired in him. He would never admit it. He probably doesn`t even realize it. Ichigo fought passionately against incredible odds in order to save his sister, the sister he was willing to kill himself all in the name of his sense of honour and justice. Maybe Byakuya feels as strongly about Senbonzakura but this time he wants to fight for his Zanpakutou spirit no matter what obstacles he has to overcome.
I am very curious how this story will develop in the next episodes. Especially because Ichigo, Byakuya and Renji have such a long history together this should be very interesting indeed.