(no subject)
I just watched the trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean 3 and...
Ick.
Really. I don't expect it to be that good. The first one was excellent, the second one has some very good moments, but the third looks like...well, it looks like they're trying to hard to make it good, and failing miserably. Well, looks like Tia Dalma shows up a bit more, and perhaps we'll get to see a bit more of her. It also kind of looked like it will be back to being WillxElizabeth, which is fine with me, except that I did rather like the JackxElizabeth in DMC.
Ah, well. I'll probably go see it in theaters, but definitely not in the opening week. I'll probably wait until I get a million people telling me what they think about it before I go and see it.
On a completely different note, I think I've been reading too many peoples' posts on Bleach lately. Which is why I think I should stop reading from some certain peoples' livejournals, before their pessimism makes me start to hate Bleach.
I'll agree with them that the HM arc is dragging a bit. Or rather, it was. All the fighting of the minor ex-espada was rather annoying. But I do really like Nell, even if the other teeny Arrancar are kind of bland.
My secret CRACK!hope is that Ichigo takes her back with them when they get out of HM and Isshin sees her and goes "Masaki! Daddy has a granddaughter now!"
Or something like that.
Really, though, chapters 262-270-ish were good. I adored the Rukia backstory, and how she proved just how strong she is--both physically and mentally. That whole mini-arc was heartwrenching, and just...Rukia...*hugs*
And the initial follow up to that arc was wonderful as well. Ichigo's reaction to Rukia's dropping spirit-power was pretty much exactly what I expected. His fight with Ulquiorra was rather nice(and short! Not a long, drawn out evil thing!). Nell is suitably adorable *huggles Nell*.
What it seems people are having a problem with is Orihime, and I will also agree with them on several points: yes, I hate the way she is so centered around Ichigo now, and yes, the whole little 'schoolyard bullying' did not make me incredibly sympathetic towards her, especially because of what Rukia just went through.
Really, I like the old Orihime. The one who was so quirky and lovable and NOT Ichigo centered. I didn't think she was weak, I didn't think that she was pointless for the story, I didn't not like her. When she was being strong for Tatsuki and her friends, she was at her most powerful, in my opinion.
...that really was the only time that Tsubaki has been able to do anything against an emeny, wasn't it?
From reading the manga and reading several peoples' opinions on this, it seems to me that the more she focuses in on Ichigo, the more she depends on his approval, the more she falls in love with him, the weaker she becomes. The more her character degrades. The less I like her.
Now, that isn't to say I hate her. I think it's rather interesting, really, the way her character is going. I want to see where Kubo Tite is going with her. Unlike other people, I don't think that it is necessarily bad writing. I simply think that we need to see where this will all end up. Right now, we're only getting a chapter a week, and there is still so much that needs to be covered. It will take time for everything to make perfect sense.
If I had come into the storyline during the SS arc, I have a feeling that I would have been rather annoyed with the constant, long, drawn out battles.
Back to Orihime. Now, way back when, before SS--no, before chapter 200-ish (because I don't really remember exactly when the Arrancar arc really started) I didn't really mind IchiOri. I still liked IchiRuki far more, for reason which I will probably discuss later on. But, while IchiOri wasn't ideal, I didn't mind it so much. It could have been all right. It could have been, dare I say, cute. If KT has chosen to start developing it after SS, I wouldn't have minded so much.
The thing is, despite arguments otherwise, I don't think he did. He started really developing Orihime's feelings for Ichigo, yes, but not really Ichigo's for Orihime. For the first time, Orihime was fighting for Ichigo, not for anyone else. For her 'Kurosaki-kun'.
Around this point, I started wondering what had happened to her friendship with Tatsuki.
I've heard people say that IchiOri is going to happen, that it is nearly canon. The thing is, I don't see it. What I see is a girl who has a desperate crush on a guy who doesn't consider her more than a friend. If Bleach where Shoujo, Orihime would get him in the end. But this isn't shoujo.
The way I see it, Orihime has put Ichigo up on a pedestal. He's her ideal. He's everything she's ever wanted. Nevermind that he can be rude to her, doesn't talk to her all that much, whatever. She's liked him for years, right? So she should get him, in the end, just because of how long she's liked him.
No.
She's seeing everything through distorted vision. If they were to be in a relationship, would it be equal? Would she still adore him, practically worship him?
I don't know how coherently this is all coming out, or if I'm even getting my point across. The thing is, I understand how Orihime feels. When I was her age, I suppose you could say that I was her. When I was fifteen, I was hopelessly in 'like' with a guy(I won't say in love, because I wasn't, because I honestly had no idea what love really was then--not that I do now, mind you). This was the guy who I'd liked since elementary school, the scowling, rude, good looking guy. Like Ichigo at the beginning of Bleach, I suppose. But for all that I liked him, I couldn't ever really talk to him (and it seems that Orihime was never really able to talk to Ichigo until after that whole incident with her hollow!brother--several years of not talking to him, I think). But what is a relationship without communication? Even when I started beginning to be able to talk to him, I remember not being able to really be myself around him--I always had to act is such a way that he would like me.
What sort of relationship would that be?
With me, I let it go. I suppose he was my 'fantasy' guy, but that fantasy wasn't real. My feelings for him held me back, because I was always waiting for that slight chance with him, whatever.
In the end, it may not be exactly what is happening between Orihime and Ichigo, but I feel that there are similarities. What I think is that Orihime is becoming so anchored to the idea of Ichigo that she's loosing what she was. If she were to let go, to stop focusing so exclusivly on him, to develop a friendship with him--a real friendship--then I can see IchiOri happening. And I don't think I'd mind it then.
But now, I feel that it is just so one-sided that it is painful.
And, with IchiRuki, I don't think it is. Perhaps neither have said their feelings or shown them, or whatever. But they have that friendship, they have that communication, they have the equality that Ichigo and Orihime lack. In terms of what might simply be the healthier relationship, I'd say that IchiRuki would be it.
I like IchiRuki because there is just so much great a dynamic between the two of them. They talk, they bicker, they are there for one another, neither of them allows themselves to be coddled by the other.
I just...I don't know. Their relationship is just so wonderful. Whether it becomes romantic or not, their relationship, their interactions, thats what makes me really love Bleach. I'd have to say that even Shirosaki falls second to them.
And now, after everything that has happened recently, I see their relationship, I see IchiRuki being far more canon than IchiOri.
KT is wonderful at drawing eyes. His art is just getting more and more beautiful, and the eyes just stand out for me. He's able to convey so much emotion when he draws them.
Since the beginning of the manga, Ichigo has tended to be more on the stoic side, at least when it comes to softer emotions/expressions. But in the post-SS arcs, he's had some of the softest expressions, some of the most lost, most concerned looks on his face. And they have always come about along with Rukia. Chapter 213, when Rukia is being healed. He looks so lost, so worried, and he's looking at Rukia. Not at Orihime. Not at empty space. Not at Chad or Ishida or Renji or anyone else. He's looking at Rukia.
And in 270? What does he do? He abandons the attempt to rescue Orihime. Rukia's down, possibly dead. What does he want to do? Get to her. Yes, he stops to fight Ulqiorra after he's told that Ulquiorra was the one who took Orihime away. Yes, yes, yes. So what? He was already going to turn around and go to Rukia.
Now, it was never said that, after Chad went down, that Ichigo was running to Chad. I always liked to think that he was. Let's, for a moment, assume he was.
If so, he already turned away from Orihime for Chad.
And then he gave up on that for Rukia.
This is just my interpretation. Perhaps I'm reading it wrong. Maybe Bleach is just one big story about Ichigo and Orihime and I'm just a delusional IchiRuki fan. People can read the manga however they want.
Just...stop bashing Rukia. I know people are. But just stop it. It's unbecoming.
Now, I want to see Ichigo get to Rukia's side. That's what I'm looking forward to now. I want to see the look on his face, and I just want to see what will happen. But after this whole arc, I don't think their relationship is ever going to be exactly the same.
I feel like I was horribly incoherent. Did it seem that way?
Ick.
Really. I don't expect it to be that good. The first one was excellent, the second one has some very good moments, but the third looks like...well, it looks like they're trying to hard to make it good, and failing miserably. Well, looks like Tia Dalma shows up a bit more, and perhaps we'll get to see a bit more of her. It also kind of looked like it will be back to being WillxElizabeth, which is fine with me, except that I did rather like the JackxElizabeth in DMC.
Ah, well. I'll probably go see it in theaters, but definitely not in the opening week. I'll probably wait until I get a million people telling me what they think about it before I go and see it.
On a completely different note, I think I've been reading too many peoples' posts on Bleach lately. Which is why I think I should stop reading from some certain peoples' livejournals, before their pessimism makes me start to hate Bleach.
I'll agree with them that the HM arc is dragging a bit. Or rather, it was. All the fighting of the minor ex-espada was rather annoying. But I do really like Nell, even if the other teeny Arrancar are kind of bland.
My secret CRACK!hope is that Ichigo takes her back with them when they get out of HM and Isshin sees her and goes "Masaki! Daddy has a granddaughter now!"
Or something like that.
Really, though, chapters 262-270-ish were good. I adored the Rukia backstory, and how she proved just how strong she is--both physically and mentally. That whole mini-arc was heartwrenching, and just...Rukia...*hugs*
And the initial follow up to that arc was wonderful as well. Ichigo's reaction to Rukia's dropping spirit-power was pretty much exactly what I expected. His fight with Ulquiorra was rather nice(and short! Not a long, drawn out evil thing!). Nell is suitably adorable *huggles Nell*.
What it seems people are having a problem with is Orihime, and I will also agree with them on several points: yes, I hate the way she is so centered around Ichigo now, and yes, the whole little 'schoolyard bullying' did not make me incredibly sympathetic towards her, especially because of what Rukia just went through.
Really, I like the old Orihime. The one who was so quirky and lovable and NOT Ichigo centered. I didn't think she was weak, I didn't think that she was pointless for the story, I didn't not like her. When she was being strong for Tatsuki and her friends, she was at her most powerful, in my opinion.
...that really was the only time that Tsubaki has been able to do anything against an emeny, wasn't it?
From reading the manga and reading several peoples' opinions on this, it seems to me that the more she focuses in on Ichigo, the more she depends on his approval, the more she falls in love with him, the weaker she becomes. The more her character degrades. The less I like her.
Now, that isn't to say I hate her. I think it's rather interesting, really, the way her character is going. I want to see where Kubo Tite is going with her. Unlike other people, I don't think that it is necessarily bad writing. I simply think that we need to see where this will all end up. Right now, we're only getting a chapter a week, and there is still so much that needs to be covered. It will take time for everything to make perfect sense.
If I had come into the storyline during the SS arc, I have a feeling that I would have been rather annoyed with the constant, long, drawn out battles.
Back to Orihime. Now, way back when, before SS--no, before chapter 200-ish (because I don't really remember exactly when the Arrancar arc really started) I didn't really mind IchiOri. I still liked IchiRuki far more, for reason which I will probably discuss later on. But, while IchiOri wasn't ideal, I didn't mind it so much. It could have been all right. It could have been, dare I say, cute. If KT has chosen to start developing it after SS, I wouldn't have minded so much.
The thing is, despite arguments otherwise, I don't think he did. He started really developing Orihime's feelings for Ichigo, yes, but not really Ichigo's for Orihime. For the first time, Orihime was fighting for Ichigo, not for anyone else. For her 'Kurosaki-kun'.
Around this point, I started wondering what had happened to her friendship with Tatsuki.
I've heard people say that IchiOri is going to happen, that it is nearly canon. The thing is, I don't see it. What I see is a girl who has a desperate crush on a guy who doesn't consider her more than a friend. If Bleach where Shoujo, Orihime would get him in the end. But this isn't shoujo.
The way I see it, Orihime has put Ichigo up on a pedestal. He's her ideal. He's everything she's ever wanted. Nevermind that he can be rude to her, doesn't talk to her all that much, whatever. She's liked him for years, right? So she should get him, in the end, just because of how long she's liked him.
No.
She's seeing everything through distorted vision. If they were to be in a relationship, would it be equal? Would she still adore him, practically worship him?
I don't know how coherently this is all coming out, or if I'm even getting my point across. The thing is, I understand how Orihime feels. When I was her age, I suppose you could say that I was her. When I was fifteen, I was hopelessly in 'like' with a guy(I won't say in love, because I wasn't, because I honestly had no idea what love really was then--not that I do now, mind you). This was the guy who I'd liked since elementary school, the scowling, rude, good looking guy. Like Ichigo at the beginning of Bleach, I suppose. But for all that I liked him, I couldn't ever really talk to him (and it seems that Orihime was never really able to talk to Ichigo until after that whole incident with her hollow!brother--several years of not talking to him, I think). But what is a relationship without communication? Even when I started beginning to be able to talk to him, I remember not being able to really be myself around him--I always had to act is such a way that he would like me.
What sort of relationship would that be?
With me, I let it go. I suppose he was my 'fantasy' guy, but that fantasy wasn't real. My feelings for him held me back, because I was always waiting for that slight chance with him, whatever.
In the end, it may not be exactly what is happening between Orihime and Ichigo, but I feel that there are similarities. What I think is that Orihime is becoming so anchored to the idea of Ichigo that she's loosing what she was. If she were to let go, to stop focusing so exclusivly on him, to develop a friendship with him--a real friendship--then I can see IchiOri happening. And I don't think I'd mind it then.
But now, I feel that it is just so one-sided that it is painful.
And, with IchiRuki, I don't think it is. Perhaps neither have said their feelings or shown them, or whatever. But they have that friendship, they have that communication, they have the equality that Ichigo and Orihime lack. In terms of what might simply be the healthier relationship, I'd say that IchiRuki would be it.
I like IchiRuki because there is just so much great a dynamic between the two of them. They talk, they bicker, they are there for one another, neither of them allows themselves to be coddled by the other.
I just...I don't know. Their relationship is just so wonderful. Whether it becomes romantic or not, their relationship, their interactions, thats what makes me really love Bleach. I'd have to say that even Shirosaki falls second to them.
And now, after everything that has happened recently, I see their relationship, I see IchiRuki being far more canon than IchiOri.
KT is wonderful at drawing eyes. His art is just getting more and more beautiful, and the eyes just stand out for me. He's able to convey so much emotion when he draws them.
Since the beginning of the manga, Ichigo has tended to be more on the stoic side, at least when it comes to softer emotions/expressions. But in the post-SS arcs, he's had some of the softest expressions, some of the most lost, most concerned looks on his face. And they have always come about along with Rukia. Chapter 213, when Rukia is being healed. He looks so lost, so worried, and he's looking at Rukia. Not at Orihime. Not at empty space. Not at Chad or Ishida or Renji or anyone else. He's looking at Rukia.
And in 270? What does he do? He abandons the attempt to rescue Orihime. Rukia's down, possibly dead. What does he want to do? Get to her. Yes, he stops to fight Ulqiorra after he's told that Ulquiorra was the one who took Orihime away. Yes, yes, yes. So what? He was already going to turn around and go to Rukia.
Now, it was never said that, after Chad went down, that Ichigo was running to Chad. I always liked to think that he was. Let's, for a moment, assume he was.
If so, he already turned away from Orihime for Chad.
And then he gave up on that for Rukia.
This is just my interpretation. Perhaps I'm reading it wrong. Maybe Bleach is just one big story about Ichigo and Orihime and I'm just a delusional IchiRuki fan. People can read the manga however they want.
Just...stop bashing Rukia. I know people are. But just stop it. It's unbecoming.
Now, I want to see Ichigo get to Rukia's side. That's what I'm looking forward to now. I want to see the look on his face, and I just want to see what will happen. But after this whole arc, I don't think their relationship is ever going to be exactly the same.
I feel like I was horribly incoherent. Did it seem that way?