a.) Orihime's characterization was not done for shit in the past hundred chapters,

Agreed. At this point, I hate everything she'd doing and will until she proves that she has a spine again.

b.) Kubo did not set up their relationship properly from Ulquiorra's side at all, giving his little proclamation a feel of "OHAI I JUST PULLED THIS OUT OF MY BUTT," and

I actually disagree about this - there has been little touches that show that he's interested in her, so that honestly worked for me. It's just surrounded by so much other fail that it sucks by proxy.

Never apologize for rants in my lj.