Well, if that were the case, it would still suck, that he survived. Would you want Bellemere to return, maybe being imporant to the story? Although it would ruin the sadness of Nami's flashback and it would be completely illogical even for OP….
Bellemelle was most definetly dead. They could see the body, touch it, and tell she was dead. Not the case with Pell:
I mean…Pell was close to a bomb, that was meant to be able to kill everybody in Arbana...but didn't do anything to a bird holding it? Honestly, that must've been one lousy bomb, they didn't even have to take it away, it's not like it was dangerous at all.
What's to say he didn't fly off before it exploded (which, most likely, is what happened). He was injured, yes, (since he was leaving some hospital area when we found he was alive), but there's no reason he couldn't have survived.
But, as Buccaneer just said:
"Yeah….people generally wait 'til the end to review so they get the full package and don't get caught on petty things like a minor character surviving a bomb."
Exactly. Which is why I gave it a 10/10 for the time being. I'm not truly judging until the series is finished*, and if it stays the way it is through and through (or, of course, gets even better), I'd say all the good things in the series far outways you're wanting for a character to die.
When I think a great character is dead (on movies, books, etc.), and find out later they're not, I'm happy, no matter if they tried to sacrifice themselves for something. It's almost like some of you are saying that dying is Pell's reward for rescuing everyone. :/
*Which reminds me that I'm writing a review for the manga on CAA when the series is over. Sure, it's gonna be awhile, but I can wait it out. :p