Bleach Review: Friend

"That was supposed to be my rabbit!"

While Bazz - B and Haschwalth continue their fight we get Flashbacks to when they first met and the early days of Yhwach's conquest.

Now this is the chapter we have all been waiting for, a Flashback arc focused on the Wandenreich set a thousand years ago just before Yhwach was sealed by Yamamoto. Now I think it is set back then because of the evidence; the scenery with castles, the dead Quincy Zeiditz and a younger Yhwach who is said to be over 200 years old even though in the present he is way older than that because it is after his sealing. I also want to point out that the only other Sternritters to get a Flashback where Lloyd, Royd and As Nodt and those where only a few pages long. First off I am really liking the friendship that has been developed between Bazz - B and Haschwalth because it adds a lot more depth to their characters and defiantly makes Bazz - B justified for turning against the Wandenreich. We got some funny dialogue between them as kids (With Bazz - B dressed as a Roman solider) and it is interesting that Bazz - B was superior to Haschwalth back then. It was nice that though Haschwalth was quite throughout he seemed to enjoy Bazz -B's company after the latter tossed him the rabbit however that didn't last with the arrival of his uncle who I think we may see because soon because he was kept in shadow.

When are you going to show us Burner Finger 5?

These good times didn't last with Yhwach burning down the castle and forest, seems like he ruled with an iron fist back then too, and Haschwalth and Bazz - B swearing vengeance. However I'm guessing something changed with Haschwalth because he is so loyal to Yhwach now and he is also given his power at night; maybe he betrayed Bazz - B at some point? Still this revenge plot kind of reminds me of Gin's however this one is defiantly more developed than that one lol. The chapter then ends with Yhwach telling Zeiditz that he will create a new vanguard called the Sternritter to conquer the Soul Society which makes me so excited for next chapter because we can see the origins of the group. Since this most likely is a 1000 years ago the Sternritter in the present won't be the same as the past because firstly Yamamoto does decimate the Quincy and Yhwach recruits ones born in modern day (like the Y brothers and As Nodt) this make me think that surviving Sternritter, like Bazz - B and Haschwalth, go in some kind of suspended animation while Yhwach is sealed until being awoken in the present where Yhwach fills in the rest of the letters. I cannot wait to see which Sternritter where alive in the past and I hope we get some massive battle between the first Sternritter and the Soul Reapers. Finally the first between Bazz - B and Haschwalth in the present is still so damn good!             

Overall I hope this turns into another Turn Back The Pendulum arc because I want more and more Flashbacks. Again this chapter was just perfect and I may have to keep giving out 10/10 if the rest of the Flashbacks are all this good lol.

SCORE: 10/10

Highlights: Flashbacks
                   Origin of the Sternritter hinted at next chapter
                   Bazz - B vs. Haschwalth continues to be awesome  

Gotham Season One: The Blind Fortune Teller

Why so serious?

The feud between Gotham's circus families ends in murder while Gordon takes Leslie there for a date and Bruce schedules a meeting with the Wayne Enterprises board.

Woah! Have we just caught a glimpse of a young Joker? Though it isn't actually said my gut says yes and lots of others on the internet believe so too. Jerome's crazy rant at the end just felt like the Joker which makes me want him to be the Joker even more because the guy was really, really good. When he had that crazy grin he just looked insane and that smile felt worthy of the Joker and him not too sure of his past is also a link to the Joker. I hope we see more of him soon and it is confirmed because I think he did a really great job. Besides Joker we also got to see the parents of the first Robin which was cool, gave us some backstory on them and this whole circus feud gave us a really different kind of episode and I liked it. What was really great about it was that it gave us more time with Gordon and Leslie and I am just really liking the chemistry between them, the scenes they have and it was cool them investigating a case together. For example when Leslie wanted to go to the bridge the reaction of Gordon was so funny and I like the dialogue when they argue about her being involved in the investigation. Leslie is right she is a strong woman and better for Gordon than Barbara who was so weak she walked away from Gordon when she couldn't handle it anymore.

You tell em Bruce!!

As for everything else Barbara being in this episode was something I didn't care for because I never wanted to see her again and it doesn't help that she acted like some drunken idiot at first. I just hate that she has to continue to be on the show because she is just going to be annoying and jealous just to be in the way of Gordon and Leslie and as I said before I bet she will think she is all in the right. Then there is Fish and her little side story is just so boring; I don't like her speeches or her actions with the prisoners, I just don't freaking care because it is just too detached from the goings on in Gotham. As for Penguin I usually always like it when we see what he is up to but the whole subplot with the club was uninteresting and was probably there just to fill up some screen time. Finally the only other good subplot in this episode was Bruce and I liked his whole confrontation with the Wayne board; it was funny to see them not expecting what Bruce was accusing them of, I only wish there was more of it instead of some of the other subplots we got.

"Hell no, we aren't going out to look for clues this time of night"

Overall the possible reveal of the Joker was so awesome but in the end I only really liked just half of the episode because too much time was wasted on Fish, Barbara and unfortunately the bad Penguin subplot.

SCORE: 6/10

Highlights: The feud between the circus families (introducing the Graysons)

                   Possible Joker reveal!!!

                   Gordon and Leslie continue to be a good couple

Let - Downs: Barbara as always

                      Don't care about Fish's subplot

                      Penguin's subplot with the club wasn't that great

The great screenshots of the episodes where provided by the great site Screencapped. You can look for yourself from the link below;





http://screencapped.net/  

Gotham Season One: The Scarecrow

Really cool!

Gordon and Bullock attempt to stop Gerald Crane from murdering more victims meanwhile Fish tries to gain more power and Penguin officially re-joins Falcone.

 

Its the second part of the Scarecrow origins and I got to say that even though everything about Scarecrow was just as good as last week's this episode was let down by other events in this episode. First off it's awesome seeing the first fear toxin and that's it's real purpose was to suppress fear, which actually could have been a good thing for mankind if not for the questionable way of making it. I really liked Gerald's story and how he had a twisted way of dealing with his wife's death so it is a shame he is dead now when it would have been interesting seeing him without fear in future episodes. Jonathan of course is the opposite now since he is consumed by fear and will grow up to instil fear in Gotham, still this origin story does place Scarecrow in a more sympathetic light and I hope this isn't the last we'll see of him. Also those CGI scarecrows where so cool and really done well!

"We're going to be super villains one day"

As for everything else it is always good seeing Penguin's dilemma in the mafia and since Falcone gave him the club and saved him makes me think Penguin is really valuable to him. However the best scene was the interaction he had with Nygma because it was so funny; loved Penguin's expression when being asked a riddle and how Nygma wasn't scared to tease a Mafia guy with riddles. It is also good to see the issue with Gordon wondering whether or not to get aid from Penguin addressed again however briefly but it was kind of annoying to see him making things unnecessarily awkward with Leslie about professionalism in the workplace, I know its a small thing but it was annoying him going on and on about it. Then there are the scenes with Alfred and Bruce and it was really great emotional moment for Bruce dealing with the hikes he went on with his dad and it is always great seeing Alfred fill the role as best as he can and help Bruce in his own way. Finally while I said I was interested to see where Fish was taken now that she is there I actually don't feel bothered at all because I don't really care about Fish trying to get her power back or anything that takes place outside of Gotham.

Ironic that the famous fear toxin could have helped people

Overall it wasn't as good as the first part of the Scarecrow origins but it was still a good watch.  

 

Score: 7/10

 

Highlights: Fear toxin/Scarecrow origin
                   Bruce and Alfred moments
                   Penguin and Nygma confrontation

 

Let - Downs: Fish's subplot
                      Gordon workplace attitude

 

The great screenshots of the episodes where provided by the great site Screencapped. You can look for yourself from the link below;

 

 





http://screencapped.net/ 

Arrow Season Three: Uprising

It would have been interesting if Malcolm took over Team Arrow

With Brick becoming more powerful than ever Malcolm offers his services to Team Arrow and while Diggle, Arsenal and Black Canary consider the proposal Felicity is strongly against it. It is revealed Malcolm has more of a personal vendetta with Brick than anyone thought as Flashbacks reveal how he became the person he is today.

What an end to an awesome three part mini arc in the Arrow TV show; I have said it before and I will say it again I have immensely enjoyed these three episodes and if I did a top moments in Arrow this will be in it. This is probably my favourite of the three episodes because finally my favourite character in the show has the spotlight; Malcolm Merlyn who I have been complaining about lately is too much on the side lines. Finally he got an episode focused on him and I have to say that the writers seem to be trying to redeem his character a bit (such as sparing Brick), I don't think he will ever be a good guy but he is has never been entirely evil in my opinion. It is just as Roy and Thea said, in his own twisted way he protects people and just wants to save the city. Plus we got to see him again as the Dark Archer which is also awesome because his costume is the best and he is the best archer in the show in my opinion. What was also a nice addition was that the Flashbacks where about his past and we definitely needed this and it was good seeing his transformation from a good man to The Magician. I only wish there was more than what we got like him training more with the League because the scene with young Nyssa was just cool but I wanted to know more!

"I'm back!!!"

As for everything else it is good that Oliver is back now and though I think is entrance could have been more grand his speech to the citizens of the Glades was epic. Speaking of the Glades the showdown with Brick at the end was done really well and I enjoyed the massive brawl in the streets, also we got to see two characters again we haven't seen in a while; Sin and Ted Grant. Firstly I have always liked Sin's character and I'm glad to see her again I just wish that she didn't just pop up out of no where and they gave more explanation to where she has been. As for Ted I wanted him to be Wildcat again and he did not disappoint and it was awesome when he fought Brick; he really kicked his ass more than anyone else and I don't even mind he lost because I'm just going to chalk that up to the fact he has been retired for ages and Brick has almost superhuman strength anyway. Another character that was great this episode was Quentin, it was just so funny that he knew Roy straight away as Arsenal and how his joke about how Team Arrow choses names. Seems like he is going to realize Sara isn't the Black Canary soon because of Sin and since next episode is titled Canaries I'm guessing it's in that episode.

WILDCAT!!!!!!!!!!!!

As for Team Arrow they have been great during these three episodes; Roy has really matured in the absence of Oliver, I think Laurel becoming the Black Canary has been handled really well and Diggle is always just great. However the real let down has been Felicity because I think she just become a weak and whiny character lately. She completely ruined Oliver's homecoming and I don't get why, Oliver is basically using Malcolm to train him it is not like he is making him a member of the team. I just really miss the light hearted Felicity before who is super smart but can also cheer up the team and raise their confidence in any situation with her wit and one liners. I just hope they change her back to how she was before because right now I don't look forward to the scenes she is in since she is just a downer. Before I finish I know this episode was similar to the Dark Knight Rises but that doesn't bother me since the people behind the show have said before that Christopher Nolan's Batman has been inspiration for them and it isn't like their completely copying them.

Magic tricks work on everyone; kids or even assassins

Overall great finale to the three part episodes and I am glad that Brick is still alive to appear in future episodes. We got some great action and I actually liked the Flashbacks we got this time and I am looking forward to Oliver being in Star City once again.

SCORE: 9/10

Highlights: Epic three part arc
                   Wildcat and Sin
                   A Malcolm focused episode and Flashbacks
                   Great showdown with Brick at the end

Let - Downs: Felicity has been a constant negative in these last three episodes
                      Wanted to see Malcolm's training in the League

 

The great screenshots of the episodes where provided by the great site Screencapped. You can look for yourself from the link below;

 

 





http://screencapped.net/