I thought it was fine. I mainly liked Ginjou, but it was nice to see the humans get some face-time.
The arc was only bad when the shinigami showed up. Then it went to hell.
And many people don't seem to understand the purpose of it, nor things we were shownit. They say
"The arc was just an excuse to get Ichigo's powers back."
And that's a retarded statement. The Fullbringers played no part in getting Ichigo his powers back. Rukia did that with a sword stab. If that's all it was, we didn't need an entire "arc" for it. That could've happened over the course of 3 chapters.
The arc wasn't supposed to be anything big. it was a introductory arc into the final one. It was to answer a few questions. but mainly to get things set up for the next arc, and possibly ending of the series.
This arc
1. Explained the origin of Chad's power.
2. Introduce Ginjou, whom Kubo said would be important later, or his past, which will reveal some big info on SS.
3. Ichigo's character's humanity. At the start of the series, ichigo says he wished he couldn't see spirits so he could just live a regular life. The Fullbring arc shows us that Ichigo isn't connected with his humanity. He was bored with normal life, and being powerless. So, we see that being normal isn't what he thought he wanted. He smiles for the 1st time in the arc when Rukia and the shinigami come. So, that arc showed us Ichigo is more shinigami than human, and he has a closer bond with them. So, it did give Ichigo some development.
4. It explained the badge, and set up something for Ukitake. Because it seems Ginjou has some bad blood with him. So, we'll probably get to that whenever Ginjou shows up again. Which probably won't be for some years probably.
5. Gives a bit of development to Karin. She was buying supplies to help Ichigo fight hollows, so chances are that is going to come back later. Karin has grown up more. At 1st, she says she can see spirits, but is in denial about their existence. Now she's grown up and learned to deal with this, rather than try to ignore it. Who knows, in the manga's end, Ichigo may live in the SS permanently, and KK town will be protected by his sister.
6. It shows Orihime has developed her powers more, and that she's gotten more resolved now. Having no problem attacking Ginjou and telling him he brought his injury on himself when he chose to attack and she said not to. Hopefully Kubo won't throw her development out the window this time. But she did still have some. Kubo being abad writer and possibly throwing it out later doesn't change it happened here.
7. It shows Ichigo is ok with talking to Isshin about the SS now.
8. There's Ikumi also. She probably isn't a huge character. But she could have been nice as an older female figure in Ichigo's life. Like a surrogate mother maybe. He did seem to find some comfort in going to her when he started to lose it. He was just conflicted since, far as he knew, she knew nothing about shinigami, hollows, and powers. But he did lay his head on her, and was content to just rest with her for a bit.
The arc is called "The Lost Shinigami Rep", I believe. And we assume it means Ichigo, since he lost his powers. But it could have also be a prelude to Ginjou. They lost him years ago, and he's an enemy now. And Kubo built Ginjou up a bit. We debated his status-hero or villain, but didn't explain him. Ginjou is still a question mark. And that's probably because it'd have been too early to reveal the info.
It's not much. But the arc wasn't supposed to be anything huge. It was to explain a few things, and mainly set up some things for later. Like Ginjou knowing about Ichigo. Where'd he get his info from. People get mad that was unexplained. But it's probably only unexplained because it's not time to reveal it yet. That was a set up for later events. Me personally, I think he was allies with Kisuke, which is how he knew so much about Ichigo in the 1st place
