It’s Time to Accept Bleach Shafted The Series’ Real Best Character Ages Ago

by

The popular action series consistently developed its main characters, making them more powerful, intelligent, and capable heroes. For example, Ichigo Kurosaki quickly learned a powerful new technique and gained control of his inner demons, Orihime Inoue effectively used her unique abilities, and Uryu Ishida demonstrated exceptional talent. Even Rukia Kuchiki, despite facing setbacks, ultimately became a formidable fighter. However, Ichigo’s close friend, Yasutora Sado, didn’t experience the same level of growth and was left behind.

Yasutora Sado, often called Chad, is a classic shonen anime character with the potential to be a great hero, but he never quite gets the chance to shine. In the early parts of Bleach, he seemed just as strong as his friends, but his progress was constantly hindered. While characters like Renji Abarai were able to grow and become powerful allies to Ichigo, Chad unfortunately didn’t receive the same development or opportunities.

Chad Deserved Better From Bleach’s Story

Fans of manga and anime are used to characters – both heroes and villains – not always getting the endings they deserve. Stories don’t always reward good deeds or punish bad ones; sometimes, kind characters face hardship, like Naruto being ostracized as a child, while villains might find peace, like Wrath in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Despite this, anime fans often become fiercely protective of the characters they like and will defend them against any unfairness they experience.

Fans of manga and anime always hope their favorite characters will have satisfying journeys that reflect their inner strength. This is true for Chad from Bleach, who has earned the respect of the fanbase even though he hasn’t always been a top performer. Looking back to the beginning of Bleach, particularly arcs like the Substitute Shinigami Arc, Chad was initially presented as a powerful and skilled fighter.

Chad initially stood out as a fighter because of his charisma and relationships. He also had a strong start to his character development, largely thanks to well-written personal moments. However, his story didn’t live up to its potential. While it’s common for characters in action anime like One Piece‘s Nico Robin or My Hero Academia‘s Momo Yaoyorozu to start strong and then lose momentum, Chad’s case feels particularly disappointing.

I really feel like the Substitute Soul Reaper Arc was where we got to know Ichigo and his friends. It wasn’t just about fighting; we saw how each of them was developing as a person. Uryu, for example, struggled with being both rivals and friends with the Soul Reapers, especially with Ichigo. Orihime was thrown into this whole spiritual world without any preparation, and she had to figure things out as she went. And then there was Chad – he really came into his own as Ichigo’s closest friend, learning what true strength really meant.

Fans felt for Chad when a past memory showed his difficult relationship with his own power and with others. This connection deepened when Ichigo stepped in to defend him from bullies, sparking a strong friendship. This bond became even more apparent during the intense Soul Society raid, where Chad proved himself as a fiercely loyal and courageous fighter, willing to risk everything for Ichigo and his goals, even when facing powerful opponents like Captain Shunsui Kyoraku.

Following the initial stages of the series, Bleach seemed to run out of creative directions for the character Chad. While other characters like Rukia and Uryu experienced significant development – Rukia mastering new abilities and overcoming personal grief, and Uryu consistently learning and facing a compelling storyline – Chad’s progress felt stagnant. He continued to rely on his established fighting style and unwavering loyalty to Ichigo, but this didn’t lead to substantial growth. Although he did expand his abilities to utilize both arms and participated in the Fullbring Arc, his contributions felt minor compared to the advancements of his peers.

Bleach Made Chad a Jobber Almost Immediately

Fans feel Chad was shortchanged in Bleach, both in terms of his character development and his fighting abilities. His strong friendship with Ichigo didn’t lead to a significant personal journey like those of other characters, and he didn’t get the chance to truly shine in battle. Given his distinctive fighting style, loyalty to Ichigo, and cool demeanor, many believe Chad deserved a more impactful role and a better record of fights.

Initially, it was understandable that Chad struggled to keep pace with Ichigo, as the early story focused on Ichigo’s own development. It was even a bit amusing to see Chad trying to fight enemies he couldn’t even see, relying on Rukia’s help. During the Soul Society arc, while Chad could sense spirits and had begun to unlock his powers, he still only managed to defeat weaker opponents. Given that he was still developing, like Ichigo and the others, his performance felt reasonable. However, by the time the Arrancar saga began, Chad’s lack of fighting ability was becoming a significant issue.

That’s when it became clear Chad wasn’t reaching his full potential as a fighter, especially compared to his friends. While Ichigo, Uryu, and Rukia were rapidly growing stronger, Chad’s improvements felt minimal. He continued to win against weaker enemies during the rescue mission, but ultimately fell short when facing a powerful opponent.

Chad consistently struggled against powerful opponents like Captain Kyoraku and Nnoitora, a pattern that continued in the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc. While he hasn’t always been defeated by a single enemy, he ultimately didn’t contribute meaningfully to the battles, becoming overshadowed by Ichigo and Rukia. Chad’s role felt more like a way to emphasize the strength of enemies and the abilities of other characters, and he deserved a more impactful and respectful portrayal.

Bleach Has No Room For Weak Characters

It’s understandable that supporting characters in Bleach got less screen time as the story focused more on Ichigo. However, looking specifically at Chad’s storyline, it seems the narrative largely abandoned his development, leading to his reduced role. Early arcs allowed for Chad’s growth and occasional shortcomings, which was natural for a developing character. But the Arrancar Arc marked a turning point, where his story seemed to be sidelined.

Chad’s role in the story diminished significantly after his battles with Gantenbainne Mosqueda and Nnoitora, about a third of the way through the series. After losing to Nnoitora and Tesla, he only reappeared briefly during the fight against Yammy and Rudbornn. From then on, he became less important, with Ichigo and Uryu taking on the bulk of the fighting, especially against Ulquiorra and Yammy, leading up to Ichigo’s battle with Aizen. Later, during the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, as the power levels increased, characters like Chad, along with Momo Hinamori, Izuru Kira, and Shuhei Hisagi, were largely sidelined, receiving minor roles or being used primarily to help other characters shine.

By that point in the series, Bleach had a huge cast of characters, and the anime was focused on emphasizing the intense danger and escalating power of the war between the Soul Reapers (Gotei 13) and the Quincy (Wandenreich). As a result, Chad was mostly on the sidelines, often just watching the action alongside Orihime. It was unfortunate, because both Chad and Orihime had played important roles earlier in the story as key members of Ichigo’s team, and they were among his closest, best-developed friends.

However, Bleach prioritized overwhelming strength and surprising plot developments. This led to characters like Uryu gaining significant abilities while Chad was sidelined and largely excluded from the action.

Read More

2025-10-24 00:49