Warning: Bleach: A Thousand Years’ Blood War, Episode #19 Revealed, Despite its focus on death, spirits, and monsters, Bleach It rarely uses horror elements and imagery in its storytelling, but when Quincy Sternritter Äs Nödt joins the picture, the series focuses entirely on horror and it’s appropriately terrifying.
Äs Nödt’s fear-based abilities were first seen during Quincy’s first attack on Soul Society, when he used them to defeat Kuchiki Byakuya and steal his Bankai, but that was only is a small part of the villain’s abilities. In episode #19 of Thousand Years of Blood, Äs begins to question Rukia about her brother’s whereabouts and immediately becomes creepy. Although Rukia was initially able to fend off the attack, it was eventually held back, trapping her in a nightmarish dimension surrounded by Äs’ eyes. She sees images of herself being swallowed by flies, and even disturbing images of Ichigo, Orihime, and Byakuya dying and decomposing, complete with falling eyes and everything.
Bleach Made Äs Nödt is as scary as he deserves
However, the horror was not limited to the illusions inflicted on Rukia. When Äs Nödt activated his Vollstandig ability, his body was ripped open and internal organs began to overflow momentarily before it stitched up on its own. Äs begins to transform into a mass of Akira-like organs and tentacles, making things all the more unsettling as he happily embraces the transformation. As an “F” holder, The Fear, it makes sense for Äs to be as scary as he is, but the episode really goes over the top showing his transformation and illusions. How horrible it can be.
Of all the Quincys to come out so far, Äs Nödt has probably made the biggest impression on this episode, despite his eventual defeat at the hands of Rukia. The bodily horror that Äs inflicts on him still manages to stand out, even among other unsettling factors, given how willing he is to do it. It really shows that Äs has become a master at instilling fear in others, and he’s fine with all the time if that means terrifying his opponents. Rukia simply became a poor opponent for Äs Nödt, who would have likely crushed most other Shinigami even at Captain level, if his performance against Byakuya was anything to go by. go out.
Horror images are very suitable for Bleach
While the horror elements aren’t as intense as one might come across in a true horror manga, the use of these adaptations here is extremely effective. Though originally simply one of many mind-manipulating anime villains, Äs Nödt has actually managed to live up to the reputation of being said to be the master of fear. Bleach could certainly benefit from injecting a little more horror into its story and this episode is the perfect introduction to how it can be done.
Bleach: The Thousand Years Blood Battle streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
