Alright, don't you all think it was cute how Kyoraku had a cellphone that had First Division's insignia on it? Just me? Okay.
Well, it seemed like every shinigami had their Squad's number on their cellphone, but it was still cute. It also made me think if all those phones were mass-produced by the 12th Division and if it was requested each Division phone would have their insignia on it? (And naturally Mayuri's little spy program, because I won't doubt even a second he wouldn't have putten one in each phone if the 12th Division produced those all.)
Anyway, it was funny how Mayuri was all sassy toward Kyoraku, over the fact they had lost so much of their manpower. While Mayuri appears all uncaring and such, he sure knows how to bite when his higher-ups have failed from his mind or otherwise think they're idiots. Does that mean Mayuri has an authority problem? Maybe (and highly likely, considering his ex-prison life.)
Kensei roasting Hisagi (while he was unconscious) was cute as he gave this strong vibe of 'I trained you so hard son, yet you failed so badly! Don't make me ever worry like this again! This still doesn't mean once I'm done here, we'll do extra training!' Talk about mixed daddy vibes, lol. Too bad, he got in the end crushed by the Superstar. But it was kind of expected (because the main "villains" must defeat him). But it was still nice Kensei got his moment to shine and we got to see a bit more of his Bankai.
But, if I'm honest, I was anticipating Rose's Bankai showcase.
Somehow, I was disappointed. I don't know, but I was expecting more music and a good show. The manga gave such a strong impression, but this one? It kind of felt flat. Hearing xylophone play wasn't really...that good musical number -at least in my mind. I was expecting something massive, dreading, anything! I mean, they had Shiro Sagisu as the composer. Even if his music piece would have been cut short, because Mask de Masculine pierced his ears with his fingers, even so, I was expecting something else than just xylophone. (At least I assume the instrument that was played was the xylophone. I could now be wrong.) In fact, imagine if Shiro Sagisu would have pulled Neon Genesis Evangelion-type dreadful battle music, yet it would have got cut abruptly? Then the animators would have panned Rose's shocked expression as he would have realized something is very, very wrong. But no. Instead we just got a small moment that felt very...rushed? I know even in the manga Rose's moment was very short, but with good animation direction, the scene could have been so much more impactful and I bet Rose would have appreciated it as an enjoyer of art. Instead, it was a blur of a moment, to give way to a rematch between Mask de Masculine and Renji. While I can understand the main "villain" must defeat the "hero", it still didn't make this moment in the anime as disappointing as it did in the manga. (At least for me. I was hoping visuals and music would have made up the short moment, but nope.)
The rest of the fight went as expected. Our main 'villain' defeated the 'hero' in the end. And it was plainly obvious where the more dramatic animation effects, etc., and music were directed in this episode. It was kind of expected after Kensei's and Rose's fight. While the animation was still top-notch during the whole episode, I still think they could have done so much more if they had wanted to. But...if they had, the possibility of outshining Renji's 'main moment' could have been big.
Oh well. Renji going on his true Bankai was pretty neat. Not to mention Ichibe explained his role in Squad Zero was nice.
It was a good thing they wrapped up the whole case of Mask de Masculine in this episode, which gives us all hint in future episodes we will probably see more shinigami VS. one Sternritter and be done with the episode. There might be some additional info here and there, but the focal point will be on the "main" fight.
It was interesting it was implied James was the main Quincy and Mask de Masculine was like his extension, despite the fact Mask was the Strenritter. Or, maybe Mask's true name was James and the mini-James was Mask de Masculine when he was little and fanboy of wrestlers? Hard to say, but something to think about.
That little moment between Ishida and Jugram at the end was nice, but I was still kind of expecting to see a glimpse of Ichigo in this episode, but I suppose because we saw Ishida...there wasn't simply time for that. I wonder if we'll return back to that conversation in the next episode, as the focal point of it will be Rukia and Äs Nödt, based on the next episode's name and the fact Äs Nödt spoke that ending 'quote'... |