Bleach Review: BABY, HOLD YOUR HAND 7 (Never Ending My Dream)

"SURPRISE!"

With Pernida defeating Mayuri enters a pod to recover meanwhile Shunsui and his group deal with the Sternritter sniper Lille Barro.

It looks like the Pernida fight is truly over now and I got to say this has been one of the best fights of the arc; it was one of the longest, very entertaining and my favourite captain was fighting it. After they fight he retreats to a pod to heal and I'm guessing this is an excuse for Mayuri to have a break now from this arc and let it focus on other character. Kenpachi is also healed and since he got taken out pretty quickly by Pernida I think he will recover faster so he can have a proper fight later on. I did really like how Mayuri states that he has surpassed Urahara because of Nemu which is something he wanted to do for ages and we also get an image of Mayuri and Nemu floating together in water (with Nemu being naked for fan service). It was cool because it rounded up the father/daughter relationship these two have, with Mayuri finally appreciating Nemu and most likely going to bring her back with the brain he has. However what I really, really didn't like about this chapter was the reveal of Toshiro and Rangiku now alive and well because I just do not like those two characters and would have preferred them to stay dead. The reason for this is because Toshiro loses all of his fights, makes himself out to be really strong thought I think he is the weakest captain and I bet he was only brought back based on his popularity. It was a big WTF moment when I thought Kubo killed him off (I gave him praise back then for having the guts to do it) but no he has now ruined it but what really annoys me is that I bet great captains like Rose and Kensei are still dead because they just wasn't as popular but that is Kubo's fault for mostly ignoring them in favour of Toshiro. Moving on from this it looks like the new fight will be with Lille Barro which I have been looking forward to and I hope he kicks some ass! I liked how Shunsui managed to trick him but I am interesting in seeing is how Lille Barro is going to fight such a large group? Because Shunsui was travelling with quite a few people I would be annoyed if they all are just going to wait on the side-lines.

I wonder if these two will fight during the arc?

Overall I really good end to the Pernida fight and set up for the next big show down however I have got to dock this chapter quite a bit of score for bringing back to of the worst characters in Bleach and all in all it was a bit slow. However I got to say that I hope in the future we will get a Flashback showing how Perndia came into existence and that Yumichika and Ikkaku will get to have a fight and they finally use their Zanpakuto to the fullest instead of always holding back which got annoying years ago.   

SCORE: 6/10

Highlights: Mayuri's joy at beating Urahara
                   Shunsui vs. Lille Barro

Let Downs: Toshiro and Rangiku now alive and well

Bleach Review: BABY, HOLD YOUR HAND 6 (Waiting For Love)

"I'm back!"

Nemu's succeeds in severely damaging Pernida however the Left Arm is not ready to go down just yet meanwhile someone from the past haunts Mayuri.

I think I'll will first talk about the biggest WTF moment in this chapter and that was the return of my favourite Espada, Szayelaporro Granz! Now I am getting a bit carried away because Szayelaporro is dead but it is such a genius was for Kubo to have him return as a vision to taunt Mayuri. I loved this moment because it made sense since it goes back to Szayelaporro and Mayuri's opposing views on perfection because Mayrui thought that Nemu was perfect something he said he hated while fighting Szayelaporro. Plus I like this throwback to a old fight because it shows that it actually meant something and that Szayelaporro left a lasting impression on Mayuri, unlike characters like Byakuya who doesn't seem to care about his old fights again after his has won them. A shocker is that it seems Nemu is defiantly dead now which some of us saw coming with her recent flashbacks and development = but I didn't expect it to be really gruesome! This is thanks to Pernida who is one of the most gruesome, creepy and disgusting villains in Bleach with the way it killed Nemu, tired to eat her remains and grew eyes all over it's severed parts. However I am not liking the end of this chapter because Nemu's regenerative powers which is causing Pernida to explode was just too convenient of a way for it to be defeated. Now I do see this fight being over now because I don't see how much longer it can go on after this but it was just as cheap way to end it.

So Pernida has a tongue now?  

Overall this chapter gets high praise for bringing back Szayelaporro the way it did and if this is the end of Pernida we defiantly need a Flashback or two showing how the Left Arm became like this.

SCORE: 8/10

Highlights: The return of Szayelaporro
                   The gruesome scenes with Pernida

Let - Downs: Pernida's defeat is just too convenient

Bleach Review: BABY, HOLD YOUR HAND 4 (When I Am Sleeping)

Just keep firing! Your bound to hit him soon

Mayuri and Nemu now team up to fight Pernida who continues to evolve and gain more abilities.

This chapter is a continuation of fight we have enjoyed recently and I just want to first say that while Mayuri is my favourite Captain and this fight is one of the best of the arc, I admit it should come to some sort of a conclusion soon. What I really liked about this chapter is the team up between Mayuri and Nemu because I liked how Mayuri has come to care more and more about his artificial daughter since they where first introduced and it really makes me want a Flashback about their past. Speaking about when they where first introduced Mayuri used his limb regrow serum on his arm which we have not seen since his fight with Uryu. As for the fight Mayuri is really good at dodging as he manages to evade many all of Pernida's arrows which is actually just a distraction to provide Nemu time to inject a drug into Pernida. However Pernida continues to evolve even further by taking on the personality of Kenpachi and using Mayuri's Bankai ability to shed it's skin and heal itself. Pernida does seem really overpowered but I guess this is to be expected of the Elite Sternritter and makes me think Mayuri, Nemu or both will die soon and while it would be a shame I hope it is a least a nice send off. As for Pernida it is interesting it takes on the personality of those it comes into contact with which makes me think "Pernida" is actually someone the Left Arm came into contact with before, we'll just have to see. Finally chapter showed some really awesome artwork such as the three Pernida's attacking Mayrui or the shadowed Pernida as it's talking, it's really cool Kubo can put that menacing expression on a hand and not a face lol.

"Been a while since I had to use this"

Overall still just a battle chapter but was a really entertaining one and again I liked this new team up of Mayuri and Nemu.

SCORE: 8/10

Highlights: Mayuri and Nemu vs. Pernida
                   Pernida's evolution and new abilities
                   Awesome artwork

Bleach Review: BABY, HOLD YOUR HAND 3 (Mad Lullaby no.7)

Time for Nemu to shine!

Pernida manages to survive being swallowed and begins to attack with a new set of moves which has Mayrui on the defensive.

Well this was a bit of an odd chapter which I am not to sure I like too much. First off the chapter starts with a vague Flashback of possibly Nemu awakening as a child and seeing a hand greeting him which is probably Mayuri's. Unfortunately we didn't get much of that when back in the present Pernida escapes from Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō and attacks Mayuri, though I think everyone must have called this. What is interesting however is that Pernida begins to use a Quincy bow and arrow and it's speech and behaviour keeps changing, something that Mayrui notices and believes Pernida is evolving. Mayuri then has a hard time dodging the arrows and we get some and shot of his arm being ripped off (and later Nemu's) but  again it was obvious Pernida was going to get the upper hand in this fight eventually. However its seems that Nemu has finally stepped in something that Mayuri berates her for and then calls her Nemuri Nanago (something that Manga Stream translated to Sleeping no.7) which was a surprise. I guess Nemu was not the first artificial being Mayuri created which makes me think there could be a Flashback to her creation soon. However like with Mayuri trying to figure out Pernida's behaviour it is to vague and I would have wanted some more background and flashbacks to explain these more.



"Looky what I can do"

Overall that is all we got, the chapter was not long and the only things that was interesting was Pernida still believing it is a Quincy (I think Yhwach brainwashed it) and some background on Nemu. Also while Mayuri is my favourite Captain I do hope this fight changes up a bit soon like Ikkaku and Yumichika joining in or Ukitake arriving because he had the Right Arm inside him.

SCORE: 6/10

Highlights: Pernida's evolution and using bows and arrows
                   Background on Nemu

Let - Downs: The fighting was alright but just mostly dodging
                      Could have used more Flashbacks and the explanations of Pernida and Nemu are too vague
                      Chapter felt short because nothing much really happened

Bleach Review: BABY, HOLD YOUR HAND 2

Not a very pretty Bankai

Though Pernida has taken some serious damage it refuses to give up the fight so Mayuri reveals a new ability of his Bankai

Back with a Bleach review and before I start I want to say I did manage to read the two chapters on holiday and finding out that Pernida was the Left Arm of the Soul King was a big WTF moments. It has also been a really awesome fight so far with Mayuri (my favourite Captain) kicking some serious ass! On with this chapter it just continues the fight but with some surprising twists with the most obvious one being a new form to Mayuri's Bankai; Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo: Makai Fukuin Shotai. Having a modified Bankai that can adapt to the enemy does sound OP but it is so typical of Mayuri and the new Jizo bursting through the fat thing's stomach was really disgusting lol. As for Pernida that thing just refuses to go down and even have some disgusting shots as well such as pulling off it's own fingers to make new fingers and hands (I don't know how the anime is going to adapt this with it's censoring lol). We also get some more back story on the hands and a shot of a younger Mayuri studying up on the Soul King's arms which was interesting. All in all the chapters feels short but that is typical of ones that just involves fighting and I don't think this is it for Pernida which Nemu seems to agree with, with her stare at the end.

Bleach has made an Alien reference!

Overall another great addition to the Mayrui vs. Pernida fight and probably one of my favourites this arc. What I really like about this fight is how Mayuri is taking a more active role in the fighting like he did with Uryu.

SCORE: 9/10

Highlights: Mayuri's modified Bankai
                   The awesome fight
                   Some great disgusting shots with Mayuri's Banaki and Perndia

Let - Downs: Felt short

Falling Skies Season Five: Find Your Warrior

Tom returns to Earth after his brief encounter with a new race of aliens however he soOn starts to display more rage and aggressive tactics against the Espheni.

Falling Skies is back for it's final season, which is a shame because I think it could go longer even if they use a spin off, and this episode started strong. I picks up immediately after the finale of Season Four and even though the encounter with the new aliens was shorter than I thought it would be I liked the lasting effect it had on Tom. It was almost like they made him into a sleeper agent; the way he repeated certain phrases and how he knew he had to go to the highschool. It was also thanks to the new Warrior Tom (lol) that we got some really cool action scenes like when Tom's group was surrounded in the woods or the assault on the highschool. The highschool part in particular was awesome because I liked the dark atmosphere and the best moment of the episode came from when Tom shot the Overlord in the head. These actions make me think that the new aliens aren't friendly and they want Tom to do their dirty work for them so I hope the finale season has room to give us enough information about them. Now as for the other alien races it is always great to see the Volm and I liked how they helped a lot during the fights and their info about more Militia makes me hopeful we will get some massive battle near the end. As for the Espheni it is good that even in Season Five we still learn more abut them like the Feral Skitters.

Since the episode was mainly focused on Tom there isn't too much else to say; I always like seeing Pope however briefly since he is my favourite fictional character and I'm sure he will get more focus soon. Sara had her own moment with shooting the explosives and it looks like Anthony will tap into his inner rage more with the death of Denny. What I didn't like about this episode was the love triangle that still exists between Ben, Hal and Maggie because I just freaking hated it last season and thought it was a waste of time. Hal just acts like a damn brat and Maggie is not helping; sure she says she can't control her emotions but like she said to Hal she isn't doing anything against them. Also I am still not liking Anne, really wish she was still a doctor, I mean what was all that whispering nonsense when she was stabbing the Skitter? Finally I just want to point out that I am glad Lexi is not coming back because while she was alright I think they just messed up her story last season, I found it to be a boring arc and I never liked any of the stuff she did.     

Overall great start to the final season, not much really letting it down and it ended on a cliffhanger with that weird fly attacking Tom.

SCORE: 8/10

Highlights: Warrior Tom is a freshening change for the character
                   Great action sequences
                   Enjoyed all scenes with the Volm, Espheni and the new aliens

Let - Downs: The stupid love triangle returns
                       Anne still bothers me

Arrow Season Three: This Is Your Sword

"Going to be hard wearing green again after all this awesome black"

Oliver now finishes his training to become the next Ra's Al Ghul meanwhile Malcolm makes an offer to Team Arrow and Thea goes to see Roy.

I knew it, I knew that Oliver wasn't turned to the dark side and had his own plan to bring down the League though I did kind of see it coming. It is really cool that Oliver (working with Malcolm!) came up with this big secretive plan, so secretive that they couldn't tell Team Arrow however I wish they didn't reveal it so early. The reason for this is because all of the drama and tension that was built up last episode with Oliver being a villain is gone now because we know it was fake so soon. In my opinion it might have been better to leave the reveal until the end of this episode or the beginning of the finale where it is revealed Oliver managed to cure Team Arrow without their knowledge, obviously they are not going to be killed off just like that. However at the very least Diggle did not just forgive and forget Oliver and is still holding a lot of anger towards him for the events of last episode and I am glad he is. Diggle again had some great material to work with; feeling betrayed by his best friend by the way he punched that criminal or ignored Oliver's explanation, it is going to take some time to rebuild their trust and I will say again Diggle needs a costume! (He could have used one during the chase). Before I move on I want to mention the action sequence in the desert with Team Arrow because that was freaking awesome and probably the biggest fight they have done all season. It was just so cool with Malcolm kicking ass, Laurel showing off her improved skills, Katana slashing away and Felicity having that funny moment with her tablet though it was the only time I liked her this episode. Then of course there was ATOM having an aerial dog fight with that plane and the effects in Arrow just keep getting better and better.

As for everything else I am glad we got to see Katana in full costume and action now however I just feel kind of let down because she has barely been given any character development, we have mostly just seen her as a mother in the Flashbacks. Still the final fight between her and Maseo was done so well; the sword fight was epic and Maseo's death was really sad and I liked how Katana sung to him which mirrored the death of their son. Shame to see Maseo go but I feel that his death was handled perfectly and that his story is complete. As for the Flashbacks they where good but it is a shame we don't get to see General Shrieve as much as we should be he does seem like a good villain with the way he captured Oliver, Maseo and Tatsu. Then there was Thea's visit to Roy and that was alright; mostly just there as a break from the main plot but it gave those two a proper goodbye and Roy has now passed the torch to Thea. As for Nyssa it was kind of funny how she tired to kill Oliver but I kind of think she will be let in on Team Arrow's plan and fight her father with them in the finale. Finally as I mentioned above I didn't like Felicity that much in this which is something I have said lots of times before but I shall explain it now. CW hasn't done a good job with it's women characters in the Arrow/Flash universe; Thea is a whiny brat who gets so much time invested in her yet does not do anything, Laurel was made unlikable with her drinking and drugs (though I admit they have made her way better that I actually really like her now), Iris is supposed to be this reporter but doesn't feel like one, Caitlin just feels like she's just there sometimes for the sake of it and now Felicity is plain annoying. I know they probably wanted to give her character something more to work with than just the light hearted computer expert but this pairing with Oliver has been such a downer for her and she feels that her opinion has to matter for everything.

Overall a great set up for the finale with one of the best action sequences I have seen so far.

SCORE: 7/10

Highlights: Team Arrow vs. the League
                   Diggle dealing with his anger towards Oliver
                   Maseo vs. Katana

Let - Downs: Oliver revealed to not be evil was too soon
                      Flashbacks remind me that General Shrieve could have been more of a major character


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: Draw Back Your Bow

The definition of crazy right here

The episode begins in a Flashback and Arrow saves Carrie during the attacks of the Mirakuru army, in the present Arrow and Quentin find the corpse of Isaac who was killed with red - spade shaped arrows. In a Flashback Maseo tells everyone he has to go on a mission for A.R.G.U.S while in the present Ray asks Felicity to go to dinner with him to help close a deal with a client meanwhile Oliver is angry that that Felicity is spending more time with Ray and that Queen Consolidated has been renamed Palmer Technologies. Arrow and Diggle then go to an address hidden in the red arrow and find a shrine dedicated to Arrow and realizes the red spade is actually a heart, he then gets a call from Cupid who is clearly infatuated with him but also taunts him with a tied up mob boss. Thea is looking for DJs at The Verdant but is hounded by an annoying one meanwhile at the Arrowcave Roy is still haunted by the cop he killed but luckily Felicity finds out the identity of Cupid who was a former SWAT officer. In a Flashback Maseo has been gone for too long so Oliver and Tatsu go out to find him, in the present Arrow and Arsenal go to the location of the mob boss at a flouriest however Cupid gets the drop on Arsenal but Arrow manages to save him and the mob boss.

"I've sure attracted a real nut job here"

Arrow then later tracks down Carrie's old psychiatrist and gets more information on her mental state while Diggle talks to Felicity about what is going on between her, Ray and Oliver however Felicity says Oliver has the problem since he gave up on her. In a Flashback Oliver and Tatsu track down some Triad but get no answers, in the present Cupid learns from a hacker that the Arrow operates at The Verdant before killing him. Oliver learns that Cupid is at The Verdant so he calls her and she demands he meets him at the place she picks elsewhere Felicity gives an impressive speech to the mine owners Ray is meeting with. Arrow manages to defeat Cupid despite being almost run over by a train and then he hands her over to the Suicide Squad in hopes she can do some good, in a Flashback Maseo turns up safe and sound. Ray then thanks Felicity for her help and kisses her but seems to hesitate and walks away while at the Arrowcave Roy and Oliver decide to visit Diggle and his family for dinner. The episode ends with Digger Harkness AKA Captain Boomerang killing a man in an alley.



"Should have know she would have had handcuffs on her"

Got another great adaptation of an Arrow villain and this time it is the love obsessed psycho Cupid! They really did quite the good job of making her out to be incredibly crazy such as her stalking Arrow in the last episode and this one to her insane shrine of Arrow in her apartment; maybe this girl watched 'Play Misty for Me' a little too many times lol. I really like her costume and her heart shaped arrows was a really nice touch (they had it in the intro sequence!). Her fight was Arrow was good to watch, I mean she really was insane the way she was going to kill herself with Arrow, however I didn't like that Arsenal was taken out so easily however he is still getting over killing a cop. I'm glad that she is still alive and is now apart of the Suicide Squad; I hope we get to see them soon and that besides Cupid they have new members, they don't have to all be past Arrow villain they should introduce new ones.

My favourite Suicide Squad member!

As for everything else the Flashbacks where a lot better and Tatsu wasn't so annoying and actually used her katana. However I am still not enjoying it as much as the island since the ending with Maseo still alive was so underwhelming, he just appeared at the end safe and sound and said he just couldn't phone home for hours. I also liked the cute moments with Ray and Felicity and a pairing between them probably works more than any of the others we have seen so far, even Oliver and Felicity in my opinion (I mean you did hear how much he spent on that dress and necklace for her!). Lastly who the hell was that annoying DJ character? I mean honestly what a stuck up p***k! I don't know what purpose he was supposed to serve but I hope he doesn't appear on the series again. While we are on the subject of annoying characters, I know it was only one scene, but Cupid's old psychiatrist was damn annoying! Where does she get off talk to Arrow like that?

Sorry OliverxFelicity fans I'm more for RayxFelicity

Overall get episode and the ending scene with Captain Boomerang, one of my favourite villains and Suicide Squad members, was just awesome!     

SCORE: 8/10

Highlights: Cupid
                   Flashbacks got a bit better
                   Ray and Felicity

Let - Downs: Flashback ending was underwhelming
                      DJ and psychiatrist

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 Two: Keep Your Enemies Closer

You should call this episode Diggle, not Arrow

The episode begins with Felicity interrupting a meeting Oliver is having with Isabel because Roy has contacted them with information on counterfeit plates. Oliver gets there as Arrow however Roy is unable to stop himself from helping and is arrested and Diggle is abducted by an unknown group. Turns out Diggle was kidnapped by A.R.G.U.S and Amanda Waller (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) wants him to rescue Lyla who is being held in a Russian cell while tracking Deadshot meanwhile Quentin lets Roy go because of his involvement with Arrow. When Diggle announces his plan to go to Russia Oliver and Felicity decide to help as well and at the airport Isabel invites herself. In a Flashback Sara advises Oliver to give a fake name and when Ivo arrives he says he is at the island to retrieve a super - solider serum the Japanese where working on called Mirakuru and wants Oliver to help find it. In Russia Isabel is angry believing Oliver is using a company jet to be with Felicity later Oliver and Diggle meet with Oliver's old friend Knyazev for help in getting into the Gulag Lyla is in, Diggle then reveals Lyla is his ex - wife.

"Now what shall we talk about Mr Queen?"

Diggle gets himself arrested so he can be sent to the Gulag and in a Flashback it is revealed Slade and Shado are alive but Slade his badly burned. In the Gulag Diggle gets into a fight with one of the prisoners and is sent to the freezer and chained up along with Deadshot meanwhile Isabel and Oliver bond more. One of the guards releases Diggle so he can rescue Lyla however Deadshot kills him so he can be involved in the escape plan, outside Oliver, Felicity and Knyazev stand by to help out. In a Flashback Sara leads Oliver to the radio room who confirms Slade and Shado are alive however she is forced to sever the connection when Ivo arrives. Deadshot leads Diggle to Lyla and they escape when Oliver sets off explosives, Diggle reluctantly lets Deadshot go but Deadshot then says it was an organization called H.I.V.E that wanted his brother dead. Back home Diggle thanks Oliver and Felicity then starts to research H.I.V.E and in prison Moira urges Thea to get together with Roy; Thea having broken up with him earlier because the lawyer said he would hurt her mother's image. The episode ends in a Flashback and Sara has convinced Ivo to spare Oliver life as long as he leads them to the skeletons he found earlier.

Wonder if he would have done it if Deadshot didn't help him?

Finally this season we got a Diggle centred episode that we needed and it was a great and something different from what we have had so far. What I mean is that we actually got to get out of Starling City and Diggle had to go undercover himself to rescue Lyla. We also got the reunion between Diggle and Deadshot and it was great seeing those two characters confront each other again and Diggle proved more honourable than I thought in letting Deadshot go. However it seems Diggle may soon get even more of a story to work with as Deadshot mentioned the H.I.V.E organization which also exists in the comics, hopefully they will play a major role soon. I did like everything else in Russian such as a change to a snowy setting and that Knyazev from the Flashbacks is there, I'm really interested in seeing how he got off the Amazo now. However what I didn't like in the Russia moments was the forced love triangle between Isabel, Felicity and Oliver because it was kind of silly and even though I'm sure Isabel has a larger role to play she felt kind of pointless here.

Pick a fight Diggle, you need to build some cred

As for everything else I was also disappointed in Waller in this, her character and her casting. She doesn't come across as the intimidating and commanding individual she is in the comics and in fact she looks more like a secretary than anything else; I'm just not feeling that Robinson was the right choice at all with the stuff I just mentioned. I also didn't care that much for the Roy and Thea moments because it was just them basically breaking up and getting back together and they did that last season. However the Flashbacks where really great and I feel like we are making some progress finally and that is when Ivo talked about the super - solider serum. I was really glad when he said that because this is the kind of thing I wanted to in season one, if they do feature super - soldiers it will make this seem more like the comics. Plus since Slade an Shado are revealed to still be alive maybe we will get some cool rescue operation for Oliver.

"You trying to cosplay as me kid? Cause you haven't even got the colour right"

Overall I enjoyed that Diggle got the spotlight and we got some great action with him and scenes with Deadshot, however it should have focused more on them because I feel that it was a slight let down after how awesome the last episode was and now that Sara has left.

SCORE: 6/10

Highlights: Diggle and Deadshot
                   Having it set in Russia
                   Flashbacks

Let - Downs: Hated Waller
                      Isabel could have had a better role/purpose in this episode
                      Roy and Thea subplot

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