Search - Bleach, Vol. 22 on DVD

Spelunking

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 08/23/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"It's time for the nefarious plans of the Bount to be revealed, and for our heroes to torturously fight their way to the ultimate bad guy. "Bleach 22" is top-heavy on elaborate magical combat and light on actual plot developments, but it has some interesting plot twists -- particularly one that seems to be leading into the next big arc.

While Ichigo's little gang recuperates from their fights, Yumichika has discovered the location of the Bounts' hideout, and the four Soul Reaper officers head inside. Obviously things go wrong for them, or this arc would end pretty quickly. Specifically, they run afoul of the bespectacled Ugaki, whose doll turns shadows into weapons, eyeballs and giant hands. When Ichigo and Co. arrive, they are attacked by the same tactics.

In the meantime, Uryu encounters a Soul Reaper from the previous arcs -- Nemu Kurotsuchi, who has come there to give him a very special item that may provide some temporary help in his current trouble. And Ichigo has some shocking discoveries of his own when he finds and attacks the souped-up Kariya -- he learns the true origins of the Bount, and what their ultimate goal is.

The first 75% of "Bleach Volume 22" is pretty much non-stop action and fighting -- our heroes and the supporting cast are assaulted with biting flying eyeballs, falling rocks, ropy tentacles Ichigo and Orihime), giant shadow hands (Rukia and Yumichika) and occasionally The Pizza Cutter From Hell. Even Uryu gets pulled into some combat with Nemu.

But the plot erupts all over the place in the fourth episode, with new revelations and a very shocking plot twist that leaves the heroes at even more of a disadvantage. There's still action (mainly a bloodied Ichigo bouncing around with his bankai powers), but the story suddenly hits a turning point. It's pretty obvious that a whole new arc is opening up after this, and the advantage is with the Bounts.

The biggest flaw? Uryu does something INSANELY contrived at the end of this round of episodes, which is also uncharacteristically selfish, stupid and short-sighted. Even more bizarre, all the characters instantly forgive him.

Other than that, several of the characters get to shine -- Ichigo's determination to stop the Bounts' master plan is tempered by his disgust for Kariya sacrificing one of his own. Orihime gets to show her skills in battle, and the four visiting Soul Reapers also demonstrate their own skill and stamina. When even flake queen Rangiku is utterly serious and Yumichika doesn't whine about "ugly" things, you know it's bad.

"Bleach Volume 22" is marred by a contrived climactic twist and an absurd decision from Uryu, but is otherwise a solid, action-packed gateway into a new arc."