Episode 189 wraps up the summer long Amagai Shusuke arc on Bleach. The filler introduced a few new characters and new secrets. Now that the arc has come to a close, we’re back on the path of the Hueco Mundo arc. But was this story entertaining than the previous arcs?

Warning: This post contains spoilers! Read at your own risk!

Recap:

In Episode 168, a new Shinigami was sworn in as the new Captain of the Third Squad, Shusuke Amagai. Not everyone was excited to have him around, as a few popular captains had certain doubts about him. However, Vice-Captain Kira was very happy to have a new captain of his doomed squad. Captain Amagai wasn’t the only new character introduced: 3rd Seat Kifune is the latest addition to the squad. He helped out Kira and the others when Captain Amagai was not around–as Amagai gets smashed easily by Kyoraku’s drinking habits.

Amagai and Kifune aside, three more new characters entered the world of the living. Enter Princess Lurichiyo Kasumi-ouji of the Kasumi-ouji clan; one of the four noble families of Soul Society, with her are her servants Kenryuu and Enryuu who risk their lives to protect her. As soon as they stepped foot in the living world, they are attacked by assassins, with a hidden agenda. Of course, when things get rough, Ichigo and Rukia and the gang are there to help. When they get word of an unusual spiritual reading, they come to the aid of a Princess noble family they never heard about, until now.

The rest of the arc continues to focus on the events of third squad as they get better acquainted with their new Captain. However, suspicions arise when 3rd Seat Kifune sneaks out without warning for a few days. Meanwhile, Ichigo and Rukia are briefed on the turn of events with the Kasumi-ouji clan and Soul Society, whilst doing battle with the assassins. They sneak into Soul Society, where they are greeted by Soi-Fon and her soldiers, preventing Ichigo and Rukia from going any further.

The culprit of the whole Kasumi-ouji conspiracy is an old man by the name of Kumoi. He’s responsible for creating the Bakkoutou: a very deadly weapon so powerful that it is prohibited in Soul Society. The results of a Bakkoutou’s true power are witnessed earlier in the story, with devastating consequences. It’s definitely a weapon that shouldn’t be messed with by anyone. Kumoi arranges a marriage with a boy from another noble family, so that Lurichiyo will have full power over the Kasumi-ouji clan, fulfilling Kumoi’s plan. Captain Amagai, Ichigo and Rukia team up to put a stop to his plan.

In the final episodes leading up to the end of the arc, Kumoi was murdered by Captain Amagai himself. Earlier in the story, Kira meets Kifune face-to-face in a battle, revealing that he is partly responsible behind the occurring scandal, with an agenda of his own as he wanted to become stronger than anyone else in Soul Society. Kifune eventually admits defeat.

The whole conspiracy with the Kasumi-ouji family was started by Amagai himself, with the unforseen help from Kumoi and his deadly Bakkoutou. Amagai did battle Ichigo (in “BANKAI! mode) in an attempt to assassinate First Squad Captain, Genryuusai Shigekuni Yamamoto for revenge of his father’s death.

After one episode worth of fighting, against Ichigo, Amagai learns the truth of his father’s death. He assumed that Captain Yamamoto killed him because of–well…”corrupt Soul Society politics”, or whatever he kept insisting… Yamamoto had no choice but to kill Shusuke’s father, Shin’etsu, as he was a victim of the banned Bakkoutou. Finally hearing the whole story, Shusuke Amagai thinks back of his father’s dying words, and ends his life with his own hands, bring the story to an end.

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My thoughts of the Shusuke Amagai Arc: I don’t know how many times I’ve said this. When the arc started, I had a lot of expectations for the story, but I guess this wasn’t the best arc it could have been. I found Lurichiyo annoying, especially whenever she kept say “We, Us, Ours”. Perhaps she was trying not to be boastful, being part of a noble family, but I digress..

But the arc ended at the right time and it didn’t drag on like the Bounto arc. Now that it’s over with, this week resumes the Hueco Mundo arc. What will happen to Ichigo and Orihime…?

Rating:

Popularity: 17% [?]