User blog comment:Godisme/The ever evolving Sosuke Aizen/@comment-44061-20100910204608

I think you may look to much into the old form of Japanese or Asian concpets. As of late since the 90's or so they haven't been that focused on monster transformations. Storyline and plot devices matter alot. The most top manga in Japan as of spring was One Piece, Kochikame and Dragon ball. To say they favor whats going on in respect to Aizen isn't true. They like a good storyline that much isn't rightly appreciated by western view if it isn't Wolverine cutting something up or Spider-man sticking to a wall. Even then violence is more the sake of the story then the human condition what few the american stories actually put out. Japan has a history of monsters true enough but to say thats their focus seems off considering the manga/anime material they commonly put out. Transformations are prevalent but they are more as plot devices then for the sheer sake of making another transformation to enhance a character unnecessarily. Though this doesn't always happen with the multiple transformations of Dragon Ball some are for the story others are for the hell of it.

I would point here to give Kubo the benefit of the doubt and say his transformations of Aizen maybe his attempt to show how much power for the sake of power corrupts. Aizen's selfishness ultimately clouds his visions and for the sake of power he abandons everything. The transformations are the stages in which he losses more of himself. This fourth one would be the final stage of his fall. Where he once may have been great for his manipulation and intellect, this was cast aside because unlike most villains of his make he never could never except himself the way he was. He didn't recognize his own greatness and had to surpass that without having any knowledge of where that path would ultimately lead him. He says to sit on the throne of heaven. But much like we do it can be assumed that Shinigami be they captain or otherwise may have no real understanding of what the Spirit King truly is, if the Bleach Universe has the concept of God, he maybe it. If that was the case then Aizen's attempts are futile and ultimately he aspires to a position that no matter how many transformations he makes he will never have enough power to attain but more then that may never have the wisdom to understand the position or why its unattainable. There is alot of bibical interpretations in the story if you look for it, but thats my personal thoughts. Any case He would have had more substance had he remained as he was from the SS arc. I dont blame japanese view points being counter to western view though, thats not significant of a case.