Bleach ep 217
Bleach Uncut Set 14 (Eps 206-217) DVD
Obviously, this episode wasn’t the completion of the battle, and that’s a good thing. This is a very important thematic moment for the series. Moreover, as I’ve said in the past, this gave the anime a chance to correct some of the shortcomings of the manga. The series is often paced to prioritize action and not character. Because of that, these sorts of corrections, alongside the satisfying action scenes, do the overall series justice. Kawaki, in my opinion, has always been the best character of this portion of the franchise. Boruto episode 217 proved that in spades.
Interestingly, Boruto episode 217 gave less time to the nuts-and-bolts explanation of Naruto’s new form. This form, called Baryon Mode (I don’t consider that a spoiler, it’s a name) treats chakra like inputs in a chemical reaction. As Kurama explained, life force is consumed to create a new form of energy. Contact with that energy causes anything hit to deplete just like its source. In this case, while Naruto is hitting much harder, the force of blows isn’t what is killing Isshiki. Rather, it’s getting hit
Kawaki, as usual, is the shining star of Boruto-era character development. Boruto episode 217 gave extra time to his flashbacks. In those, we see familiar motifs such as a shattered vessel held precariously together by tape and glue. Like the vase in the Uzumaki household, this vessel is a representation of Kawaki. And, like that vessel, Kawaki makes sure to keep things together. What’s interesting though is that while the repaired Himawari vase was never fully complete, the young Kawaki was able to repair a tank to the point of supporting additional life. I thought this was an excellent way to describe the progression of his desire to stay whole. While his preserving behavior remains, he is unable to completely stay intact now that he is affected by Karma.
Bleach Episode 216
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