Bleach Redemption

I am finally excited to read Bleach again, since some of the under used characters are finally getting a chance to fight.

Like many rabid fangirls I've been waiting to see Shunsui and Ukitake fight since, oh I don't know, the original Soul Society arc when their fight was teased and cut away from, never to be revisited (SHAMELESS TORTURE). Bleach sports an impressive number of characters, and it's a shame that two of such good quality have pretty much sat idle for years while a seemingly never ending stream of crappy characters powered up and fought.

I was excited to see that they would be included in this arc, but even so I was pleasantly surprised with this week's development. More than seeing them each fight what I've wanted is to see them fight together, and that appears to be what is in store! I'm a sucker for the older characters in most mangas, especially "man friends" - warrior characters who posess a depth of bond with one another. Grown men who understand teamwork and serve as an example to the younger crowd who have yet to learn such important lessons. Ukitake and Shunsui both posess an enormous gravity and depth that surpasses most characters in Bleach - or perhaps their comic relief is just slightly less and it appears that way. Though they are light and warm in their daily mannerisms, they are both serious and shrewd when necessary. I'm excited to see what these two have up their sleeves. It takes a lot to make a pacifist fight and I'm sure it's not something we'll get to see any time soon once this is over.

It was chapter 156 when the fight cut away, depriving us of the fight and leaving people wondering exactly what was going on, and now 208 chapters later, we finally get to see! The first fight was against their will, and consisted of zero action - simply the provocation for them to release their swords and fight. Though Shunsui had previously "fought" Chad by dodging his attacks till he was nearly out of stamina (and offering him a drink to pass the time rather than a fight) and Ukitake was seen briefly fighting in a flashback, there was very little combat for either of these captains.

Laura's Handy Chapter by Chapter Timeline:

Chapter 105 - 106 - Well met! Ok technically we've seen him sleeping and avoiding work previously, but now he's going to....wait, drink sake?

Chapter 107 - The "fight" is already...over?

Chapter 138 - Oh, what's this? Action in the works? I hope we're not TARDY or anything.

Chapter 151 - OOPS we were late...run!

Chapter 156 - Hey, we're finally gonna fight! How exciting! Except....cut away!

Chapter 172 - Hey, look, we were fighting this whole time and we didn't even break a sweat. Now that the action is on us again...wait, what? Truce? You've got to be kidding me!

BIG FUCKING GAP of badness. BADNESS.

Chapter 316 - Hey remember us? We're back and ready for action. You know, eventually.

Chapter 329 - Hey, I'm even taking this seriously and I won't try to slack off...well, we can slack off for a while since there are other incredibly long fights to watch.

Chapter 335 - Still screwing around? I swear, I'm left handed!

Chapter 361-362 - Ok it's really on this time! Right?

Here's hoping it's not another YEAR before this fight concludes!

FINALLY!!!!!!!