Bleach’s Sosuke Aizen and One Piece’s Blackbeard both concocted lifelong schemes of treachery, but one ultimately hit even harder than the other.
Bleach had one of the most famous anime betrayals of all time when Sōsuke Aizen deceived the entire Soul Society. Not only were the Soul Reapers tricked into believing he was a kind and gentle Captain of the Gotei 13, the fans were too. However, Aizen’s master plan was not the only plot twist that changed the direction of a famed shonen series. In One Piece, the ever-bumbling Blackbeard, or Marshall D. Teach, masterminded a lifelong ploy to deceive his crew to get his hands on the Yami Yami no Mi.
Due to Blackbeard’s betrayal happening off-screen, audiences did not experience the impact as it occurred, but more through secondhand emotion from the characters affected by his crime. Even so, the pain of his betrayal was felt across the Whitebeard crew and led to the numerous deaths of pirates and marines alike. When comparing the two, which devious plot was more villainous and had more painful implications — Aizen’s manipulation or Blackbeard’s deception?
How Long Were Blackbeard’s and Aizen’s Charades Maintained?
One aspect of the depth of treachery is the length of time one is being deceived. For Bleach‘s Aizen and One Piece‘s Blackbeard, the time frames are vastly different due to the characters’ lifespans. As Aizen is a Soul Reaper, he can live into the thousands, making the length of time he deceived those around him exceedingly longer than that of Blackbeard. While no actual timeframe is given for how long Aizen schemed to achieve greater heights by manipulating the Soul Society, it is safe to assume he had been plotting for hundreds of years, pulling the wool over generational eyes.
Aizen’s charade was supported by Kyōka Suigetsu, allowing him to act as he pleased within the shadows. In One Piece, Blackbeard wore the mask of dutiful son and loving brother within the Whitebeard crew from his childhood, integrating himself to the family-oriented pirate crew and maintained his plot until the Yami Yami no Mi had been located. Whilst the length of time is far more in Aizen’s favor, the continuous act of deception leans toward Blackbeard.
How Deep Were the Wounds Caused By Each Plot?
Bleach‘s Soul Reaper society is traditional, with characters becoming somewhat close but rarely to the point of being considered family. There is a strange professionalism between the Soul Reapers, with more political maneuvering and chastising rather than loving friendships and familial bonds. Whilst there are exceptions, the majority of Captains stand in a world above the rest of the Soul Reapers and are rarely seen being close to their fellow Captains or subordinates. Because of this, Aizen’s betrayal seemed to affect a few he had purposely manipulated to be within his inner circle, with his peers being more disappointed, dishonored and shamed.
As for One Piece, Blackbeard was part of a group that prided itself on its family aspect. Every member of Whitebeard’s crew was considered a son — a chosen bond closer than blood. They lived together, partied together, drank and shared their hearts. Blackbeard had tricked each and every member into believing he loved them as much as they loved him. So, when his knife plunged into Thatch’s back, not only were a son and brother killed, but another son had done the deed. His betrayal would have struck the hearts of the entire crew on a level far beyond anything experienced throughout the Soul Society — a true and honest heartbreak of one family member killing another.
Blackbeard’s Betrayal in One Piece Was Even Worse Than Aizen’s in Bleach
One Bleach character in particular was affected far more than any other in Aizen’s betrayal. Momo Hinamori was Aizen’s Vice-Captain and had become obsessed with him over the years. She completely trusted and loved him, which Aizen had purposely manipulated from the beginning. As he famously said, “Adoration is the state furthest from understanding,” meaning he was fully aware of the position he was placing Momo in. However, it served little purpose to his overall goal by manipulating her to be so obsessed with him, making the entire act exceedingly sociopathic.
From what One Piece has shown of Blackbeard, he did not care even in the slightest that he chose to kill Thatch. He could have knocked out his fellow pirate and taken the fruit, or stolen it, or perhaps there were other means — he chose to kill Thatch because he knew the effect it would have on the Whitebeard crew. Blackbeard is far more intelligent than he allows others to see. He took advantage of every event to better his position, no matter how painful it was for those he had sailed with all his life. If the Whitebeard crew had to suffer for him to achieve his goal, that was just the way it had to be.
Aizen’s treachery in Bleach is far more hard-hitting for the viewers, while Blackbeard’s is sometimes forgotten by comparison since it happened off-screen. The truth is, while Aizen may have been more twisted in some of his acts, he kept a certain distance from his comrades as the Soul Society’s lifestyle was more professional. Blackbeard butchered a brother, tricked his father, and offered the head of another brother to the marines — all to gain power and infamy. For those within the story affected by the betrayal, One Piece’s underrated manner of deception is far worse.
Src: cbr.com
