It’s inevitable that the main characters in any action anime series will have plot armor, since the story cannot continue if all the major characters die. The trick is to hide the plot armor with plausible, organic developments in the story, such as characters using clever tricks to cheat death. The problem is when the plot armor is too obvious, as is the case with several Bleach characters.
No one wants to see their fan-favorite Bleach characters get permanently killed off, so fans will are grateful for plot twists that keep them alive. Still, it makes for a clunky narrative if the plot has to repeatedly step in to bluntly shield the best characters from harm, making the plot armor conspicuous. Ten particular characters are known for relying on such thick plot armor, and some of them do it in practically every arc in Bleach.
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10
Momo Somehow Survived Aizen’s Wrath Twice
Debut Episode: “Assemble! The Gotei 13”
Most of the Soul Reapers in Bleach have remarkable plot armor, to the point no one whatsoever died in the Soul Society arc, not even the most vulnerable characters. One example is Lieutenant Momo Hinamori of squad 5, who nearly died when the villain Sosuke Aizen seemingly returned from the dead and ran her through with his zanpakuto.
It was a miracle Momo survived that, aided by not just squad 4’s medical experts but also the plot. Later, Momo survived fighting the Tres Bestias despite being outmatched, and most of all, Momo somehow cheated death after Toshiro was fooled into stabbing her. Despite all that, Momo ranks last among the Bleach characters with the most plot armor because the other characters cheated death in even more unbelievable ways.
9
Orihime Always Has Someone to Protect Her
Debut Episode: “The Shinigami’s Work”
Since Orihime Inoue can’t easily fight, she needs ample plot armor to survive each major story arc in Bleach. It was fortunate the Hollow Acidwire managed to retain his original self as Orihime’s brother Sora, or else he definitely would have eaten her soul. Orihime also needed constant plot armor to survive the Soul Society arc, such as when Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi attacked.
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Orihime’s plot armor remained firmly in place as she endured hardships in Las Noches, with Grimmjow saving her from Loly and Menoly, and Orihime needed similar protection during the battle against Ulquiorra. Most recently, it was fortunate Yhwach and the Schutzstaffel didn’t kill off Orihime during the climactic battle for the Soul King’s fate.
8
Chad Never Pays the Ultimate Price For Being Weak
Debut Episode: “The Shinigami’s Work”
Ichigo’s good friend Chad keeps acting like someone who can win his fights with sheer power and skill, but plot armor is his true saving grace. Such was the case in the Soul Society story arc’s events, where Chad was hugely lucky to face a Captain who simply didn’t want to kill him. Shunsui Kyoraku wasn’t the type to kill invaders, but most other Captains would have done so.
Chad’s plot armor also saw him through the Arrancar saga, where the Espada Nnoitora Gilga conveniently decided Chad wasn’t worth killing off, Tesla Lindocruz thinking along the same lines. That attitude was similar to Kenpachi’s own, giving Nnoitora a vague sense of honor in an otherwise honorless character.
7
Ikkaku Keeps Surviving His Own Foolishness
Debut Episode: “Formation! The Worst Tag”
Ikkaku Madarame has the attitude of a fearless warrior, ready to face death on the battlefield anytime, but his plot armor ensures that never happens. Ichigo spared Ikkaku’s life when they fought in the Seireitei, and later, Ikkaku survived fighting Edrad Leones because he conveniently had a brand-new bankai to help him win that losing battle.
That was how Ikkaku survived his foolish attitude of holding back, and in the fake Karakura Town arc, something similar happened. Ikkaku unwisely held back when fighting Poww, and he might have died if it weren’t for Tetsuzaemon Iba evacuating him before Captain Sajin Komamura could finish off Poww with his bankai. Ikkaku learned a hard lesson, but in the TYBW arc, Ikkaku didn’t get many chance to put it into practice.
6
Uryu Needed Plot Armor to Defy Yhwach
Debut Episode: “Greetings From a Stuffed Lion”
Ichigo’s good friend Uryu Ishida needed ample plot armor to see him through each major arc, starting with his last-minute power-up when fighting Captain Kurotsuchi. Uryu also needed plot armor when Captain Kaname Tosen captured him, with Tosen being the type to take the enemy alive rather than spill more blood.
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Uryu needed more plot armor to survive the nightmarish battle against Szayelaporro Grantz, with Captain Kurotsuchi arriving just in time to save the day. Most recently, in the TYBW story arc, Uryu needed the plot armor of Jugram Haschwalth having a change of heart. In fact, Jugram allowed himself to die so Uryu could survive and contribute to the final battle against King Yhwach.
5
Kenpachi Won’t Die Because the Story Won’t Let Him
Debut Episode: “Gin Ichimaru’s Shadow”
Captain Kenpachi Zaraki ranks in the middle spot among Bleach characters with the most plot armor because of how hilariously obvious and blunt that plot armor is. Fortunately, Bleach fans love how direct and blunt Kenpachi himself is, so his plot armor actually feels more like a character quirk than a plot contrivance.
Kenpachi is, to put it simply, too tough and too cool to die. He’s one of those characters who may get stabbed and bleed in a fight, but no amount of damage will reduce his “hit points” to zero. Kenpachi survives as long as he must to keep pulling off amazing feats in battle while frustrating and terrifying foes like Nnoitora Gilga and Gremmy Thoumeaux with his bottomless stamina. The only exception was when Kenpachi fought Ichigo, with Ichigo’s own plot armor taking priority.
4
Byakuya Should Have Died When Äs Nödt Attacked Him
Debut Episode: “Kon’s Great Plan”
Captain Byakuya Kuchiki needed plot armor once the Soul Society story arc reached its climax, right when he fought Ichigo Kurosaki to a draw. Fortunately for Byakuya, Ichigo only wanted to win, not kill Byakuya, and not even Ichigo’s berserk Hollow powers could change that. Byakuya was also seriously lucky to survive Gin Ichimaru’s attack when Byakuya shielded Rukia from harm.
Later on, it was through an off-screen contrivance that Byakuya and Kenpachi somehow slew the seemingly unbeatable Yammy, which may have raised some eyebrows. Most of all, Byakuya cheated death in a big way when Äs Nödt stole his bankai and attacked him with lethal force. For a moment, it seemed certain Byakuya had died, but through a plot contrivance, Byakuya pulled through and recovered thanks to squad 0’s medical expertise.
3
Renji Keeps Powering Up in Convenient Ways
Debut Episode: “Kon’s Great Plan”
Ichigo’s enemy turned friend Renji Abarai often survived thanks to either sudden power-ups or having allies bail him out of trouble. For example, Renji was lucky to survive when he turned on Byakuya in the Soul Society arc, needing both his sudden bankai and Byakuya’s mercy to get out of trouble. Renji was also fortunate to survive when he and Ichigo lost badly to Aizen on Sokyoku Hill.
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Renji’s plot armor was still firing on all cylinders when he and Uryu fought Szayelaporro, only for Captain Kurotsuchi to take over the fight and win. Then, Renji conveniently survived when Mask de Masculine attacked him in the Seireitei, and Renji got the perfect power-up to defeat Mask in their matchup. Finally, Renji needed bonus plot armor when Uryu defeated him bloodlessly with the Feder Zwinger technique, a non-lethal technique designed to drain away the enemy’s shikai and bankai.
2
Ichigo’s Half-Other Powers Always Bail Him Out of Trouble
Debut Episode: “The Day I Became a Shinigami”
Shonen heroes tend to have a lot of plot armor, and the same is true for Ichigo Kurosaki. He often wins fights thanks to sudden power-ups or his half-other powers, with half-other abilities being a common way for an action star to cheat death repeatedly. That obvious plot armor comes at the “cost” of such heroes struggling to control the darker or more bloodthirsty side of those half-other powers.
Ichigo won many of his fights with a combination of genuinely impressive power and serious plot armor, such as when he defeated Grimmjow and when he returned in his Vasto Lorde-style form to take down Ulquiorra. Ichigo needed maximum plot armor to survive each encounter with Yhwach too, most of all their final clash where Yhwach held nothing back.
1
Rukia Has Supernatural Luck on Her Side
Debut Episode: “The Day I Became a Shinigami”
Pound for pound, Rukia Kuchiki has the most plot armor in Bleach, even if her friend Ichigo has more numerous instances of plot armor at work. At least Ichigo’s survival can be chalked up to his immense power, while Rukia relied on endless conveniences and sheer luck to get out of trouble. One major example was the climax at Sokyoku Hill, including her interrupted execution and Aizen neglecting to kill Rukia after removing the Hogyoku from her chest.
Rukia needed incredible plot armor to survive Las Noches, such as her sudden new move to stab Aaroniero’s head, not to mention Byakuya arriving just in time to save Rukia from Zommari. More recently, it was convenient how Rukia survived the Soul Society invasion while other Soul Reapers suffered worse fates, with no Sternritter finding it in themselves to finish off Rukia. She also needed Byakuya’s last-minute help to win when Äs Nödt had her cornered.
Bleach
- Release Date
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2006 – 2022
- Network
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Funimation
- Showrunner
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Tite Kubo
- Directors
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Noriyuki Abe, Jun’ya Koshiba
