Renji is one of the most divisive characters among Bleach fans. He’s called a lot of things, from weak to stupid to pathetic. First introduced as a villain, he had to work hard to get into the fandom’s good graces. To some, he’s still an abrasive simpleton. It’s time we re-examine our old bias against Renji.
Here are five reasons why Renji deserves all the love from the fandom:
1. He Is a Fearless Fighter
Throughout most of the series, Renji has been consistently paired up with stronger enemies, and he knew that. Despite punching above his weight, Renji never faltered and played the hand he was dealt with gallantry and determination, including in a fight against his own Captain. Renji’s track record was not good until the final arc, where he finally unleashed his true potential on the Quincy invaders.
2. Excellent Character Development
For the longest time, Renji clearly struggled with self-esteem issues that held him back to the point where his own Zanpakuto wouldn’t acknowledge him. He managed to get rid of his low self-confidence and gained strength as a fighter and a person through sheer power of will and determination.
That moment when Renji lets go of his pride to entrust Ichigo with the mission to save Rukia from execution is one of the most heart-wrenching scenes in the whole anime. It shows incredible strength of character.
3. He and Rukia Are Perfect Together
Renji doesn’t hesitate to sacrifice his own happiness for the sake of another person: even though he did not want Rukia to be adopted into the Kuchiki house, he encouraged her to accept their offer so she could have a better life. Renji and Rukia have a hundred years of shared history, and it was obvious to many fans that he was deeply in love with his childhood friend for a very long time. Their chemistry and shared experiences make them a perfect couple.
4. Beautiful Character Design
Tite Kubo is known for his elegant art style and creative character design, and he put his all into creating Renji and his Zanpakuto. His initial powers had already been impressive, but once he showed up to defeat Mask De Masculine in the Thousand Year Blood War arc, we got to see a brand new version of Zabimaru, which completely overshadows its previous iteration. This fight is one of the most anticipated scenes in the upcoming episodes of the anime and is sure to be a visual feast.
5. Great Chemistry with Ichigo
Renji and Ichigo are alike in many ways, with a sibling-like relationship filled with friendly banter and playful arguments. Their enemies-turned-besties dynamic provides much needed comic relief moments of tension in the anime and is a joy to watch.
To conclude, the hate train against Renji is entirely unjustified. Renji has had his fair share of great scenes in Bleach, displaying incredible inner growth and getting his moment of crowning glory at the end of the series.
Renji fans can never catch a break.
Renji is one of the most divisive characters among Bleach fans. He’s called a lot of things, from weak to stupid to pathetic. First introduced as a villain, he had to work hard to get into the fandom’s good graces. To some, he’s still an abrasive simpleton. It’s time we re-examine our old bias against Renji.
Here are five reasons why Renji deserves all the love from the fandom:
1. He Is a Fearless Fighter
Throughout most of the series, Renji has been consistently paired up with stronger enemies, and he knew that. Despite punching above his weight, Renji never faltered and played the hand he was dealt with gallantry and determination, including in a fight against his own Captain. Renji’s track record was not good until the final arc, where he finally unleashed his true potential on the Quincy invaders.
2. Excellent Character Development
For the longest time, Renji clearly struggled with self-esteem issues that held him back to the point where his own Zanpakuto wouldn’t acknowledge him. He managed to get rid of his low self-confidence and gained strength as a fighter and a person through sheer power of will and determination.
That moment when Renji lets go of his pride to entrust Ichigo with the mission to save Rukia from execution is one of the most heart-wrenching scenes in the whole anime. It shows incredible strength of character.
3. He and Rukia Are Perfect Together
Renji doesn’t hesitate to sacrifice his own happiness for the sake of another person: even though he did not want Rukia to be adopted into the Kuchiki house, he encouraged her to accept their offer so she could have a better life. Renji and Rukia have a hundred years of shared history, and it was obvious to many fans that he was deeply in love with his childhood friend for a very long time. Their chemistry and shared experiences make them a perfect couple.
4. Beautiful Character Design
Tite Kubo is known for his elegant art style and creative character design, and he put his all into creating Renji and his Zanpakuto. His initial powers had already been impressive, but once he showed up to defeat Mask De Masculine in the Thousand Year Blood War arc, we got to see a brand new version of Zabimaru, which completely overshadows its previous iteration. This fight is one of the most anticipated scenes in the upcoming episodes of the anime and is sure to be a visual feast.
5. Great Chemistry with Ichigo
Renji and Ichigo are alike in many ways, with a sibling-like relationship filled with friendly banter and playful arguments. Their enemies-turned-besties dynamic provides much needed comic relief moments of tension in the anime and is a joy to watch.
To conclude, the hate train against Renji is entirely unjustified. Renji has had his fair share of great scenes in Bleach, displaying incredible inner growth and getting his moment of crowning glory at the end of the series.
