In *Bleach*, Hollows are typically human souls that have become corrupted after death, often due to their strong attachment to the living world. This fact was initially used to justify a specific method of killing them—a potentially dramatic method that the story soon abandoned.
Hollows are monstrous creatures that feed on humans and other souls, including Soul Reapers. They wear masks made from the hearts they once had. While not all Hollows are human, most of the people who live in this world are. This makes it easier to sympathize with them.
This becomes especially relevant in chapter 3 of the manga when it is revealed that the Hollow that targeted Orihime was previously her brother, Sora.
Rukia's advice on killing the Hollow is revealed when Ichigo confronts Orihime's deceased brother.
In this chapter, Rukia emphasizes the importance of killing Hollows from behind. Ichigo initially argues that this is unsportsmanlike behavior, but Rukia persists, explaining that Soul Reapers are taught to attack from behind to avoid seeing the Hollow's human face. Seeing the face can cause Soul Reapers to hesitate or feel pity, which could put them in danger.
The revelation that the Hollow following Orihime is actually her deceased brother, Sora, is very effective. Ichigo, against Rukia's advice, sees Sora's face, which affects his ability to fight. This proves Rukia's point about the importance of not seeing a Hollow's human face, despite her seemingly cold advice.
While this dramatic element adds complexity to the fight with the Hollows, it does not reappear in this series, which is disappointing as it had the potential to add drama.
Bleach's Forgotten Drama in Killing Hollows May Reflect Attack on Titan's Battle Complexity
The idea of killing Hollows from behind is similar to the Titans in *Attack on Titan*, who can only be killed by hitting a specific point on the back of their neck. That series used this limitation to add complexity to its battles.
Hollows can tap into a Soul Reaper's emotions by removing their mask, forcing the Reaper to face the fact that they are fighting a former human. This is even more interesting with advanced Hollows like Arrancar, who are more human-like.
While *Bleach* was enjoyable, this aspect of fighting Hollows was quickly forgotten, as it had the potential to add drama to the series.
