[Kyp]

Bleach had the same problem... well mostly with the fillers.
Giant bad guy appears and crushes them. They go after bad guy and get crushed again, then brutally beaten/and or killed. Then suddenly they get stronger and overcome the enemy who is all 'this is impossible!' or they say 'I've been holding back but now I will use all my power' or something to that effect.
However I think the earlier Aizen plot with Rukia was very clever.
Btw.... Hitsugaya = best captain