BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War: The Dark Arm

Key Takeaways

Ukitake’s sacrifice reveals his divine possession by Mimihagi, the Soul King’s Right Arm.
Kyо̄raku frees Aizen to defeat the Quincies and explores the motif of pairing.
Ukitake’s sacrifice stabilizes the universe, showcasing his impactful role.

In my humble opinion as a Bleach enthusiast who has journeyed alongside these characters for quite some time now, this episode was nothing short of a masterful exploration into the life of one of the most intriguing and valiant characters – Ukitake. The way his story unfolded, the duality theme woven throughout, and the poignant moments that brought tears to my eyes, all served to highlight just how significant this character has been in the grand scheme of things.

The following contains spoilers for BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3, Episode 3, titled “The Dark Arm”, available on Hulu and Disney+.

In episode 3 of “BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3 – The Conflict“, Captain Jūshirō Ukitake plays a significant role as we learn the real explanation for his weak physical condition and ongoing illness. Due to being inhabited by the Right Arm of the Soul King, which was worshipped as Mimihagi, a local deity in the 76th District of Rukongai, Ukitake has been able to live a relatively normal life, despite a lung illness that nearly claimed his life at age three. Now, prepared to give back the borrowed life, the Captain is set to save the universe.

In a selfless act, Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku, alongside his loyal friend, takes a hard stance: he releases Sōsuke Aizen and invites him to join forces against the Quincies in order to secure victory.

Ever since I discovered why I managed to live instead of perishing, I’ve been anticipating this moment that inevitably would arrive. My life was spared from an imminent demise. Should I sacrifice it for the sake of the Gotei 13, I would have no regrets about it.

Ukitake Gets Hands-On

The Captain’s Early Life and Divine Possession Are Explored

BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War: The Dark Arm

In the distinctive style of the “Thousand-Year Blood War”, we delve into the past of Captain Ukitake, who hailed from a humble family in Sakahone, the 76th District of Rukongai. By the age of three, his chronic lung condition had brought him close to death’s door. In desperation, his parents prayed to Mimihagi, a local deity and the fallen Right Arm of the Soul King. Moved by their plea, Mimihagi replaced Ukitake’s failing lungs and dwelled within him, thus saving the child’s life. The scene that unfolds before young Ukitake as Mimihagi takes possession of his body is reminiscent of the primordial waters where the Soul King was depicted during Yhwach’s retelling of the creation of the realms. Despite the lingering effects of his lung condition, which left him frail, this intervention gave Ukitake a second chance at life that would have been otherwise unattainable.

He was able to grow up and eventually become one of Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni’s first students at Shin’о̄ Academy, the institution where aspiring Shinigami are trained and eventually sorted into one of the squads of the Gotei 13, and, as we know, he becomes Captain of the 13th Squad despite the Central 46 having doubts about his abilities due to his illness. It is at Shin’о̄ that Ukitake befriends Kyо̄raku, who tells him about a belief that a certain local deity in one of the Rukongai is one of the severed body parts of the Soul King. The left arm governs progress, while Ukitake knew somehow that the right arm governs Stillness. Kyо̄raku arrives at the 12th Squad’s facility where Urahara and many Shinigami have gathered, where he completes the ritual he started during the first cours of BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War: the Kamikake (“Divine Possession”).

Pairing As a Motif

A Descent into Darkness

”
There are two types of fights. Whenever we are in battle, we must be one of the two. The fight for life or…the fight for pride!
– Ukitake Jū
shir
о̄

As the story unfolds, it becomes evident that the theme of duality is significantly highlighted. Captains Ukitake and Kyōraku, renowned for their twin Zanpakutō, represent a unique and infrequent configuration among even the most skilled or powerful Shinigami. This recurring motif of pairs starts by delving into Ukitake’s youth, where we encounter Kyōraku in a sparring session overseen by Unohana and Genryūsai. Intriguingly, Mimihagi’s single eye on the Right Arm of the Soul King’s fist is contrasted with one of Ukitake’s eyes, as he gazes at the enigma before him during possession. However, after meeting Kyōraku, there’s a consistent focus on pairs: Ukitake’s deteriorating health and encounter with Mimihagi; their dual-wielding techniques; their camaraderie as students of Yamamoto; their dialogue about Mimihagi and Kyōraku’s knowledge of the Left Arm of the Soul King as Shin’ō students; his two lieutenants (originally the 3rd and 4th seats of the 13th Squad) and even the Central 46’s demand that Ukitake find a new lieutenant to replace Kaien Shiba are all instances in which this episode has emphasized pairs.

In this episode, Ukitake’s sword, Sоgyo no Kotowari (“Truth of Pisces” or VIZ “Law of the Twin Fish”), symbolizes duality, a theme that is further explored in Ryohgo Narita’s novels, Can’t Fear Your Own World. Here, Kyoraku explains that Sоgyo no Kotowari’s dual nature stems from Mimihagi residing within Ukitake’s soul. This means that the double Zanpakutos in BLEACH are not a usual occurrence. The most striking example of the duality concept in this episode is both Ukitake and Kyoraku confronting ominous, unforeseeable threats to protect their cherished values. While Ukitake ascends to retrieve the life he received from divinity, Kyoraku descends into the Muken to negotiate with none other than Sосуke Aizen.

A Great Exploration of a Valiant Character’s Life

Ukitake’s Role is Given the Impact it Deserved

Following Ukitake’s selfless act, a sinister limb is observed joining the divided Soul King’s halves – an event that even the all-powerful Yhwach hadn’t anticipated. Although Ukitake’s sacrifice temporarily stabilizes the unsteady cosmos, Urahara views it as nothing more than a temporary fix that will endure only while Ukitake clings to his depleting life force. This episode may not have been packed with action, but it skillfully delved into the lore through Ukitake’s narrative. The dialogue between Ukitake and Unohana about his decision to perform the Kamikake feels like a subtle wink at their roles in the No Breaths From Hell one-shot, published 12 years after the conclusion of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc. With part 3 officially commencing, its debut in the past three weeks has been quite promising.

2024-10-22 19:34