Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War episode 4 review
The bad guy Quincys (should I spell it Quincies?) have invaded the Soul Society and killed hundreds, not just the very insignificant Lieutenant from episode 1 – it’s possible that the Lieutenant of Squad 3 Izuru Kira may be dead, but I’m doubting it. So now the bad guy Quincys choose to go up against four Captains at random. And two of those four happen to be the most popular Captains of all – Squad 6 Captain Byakuya Kuchiki and Squad 10 Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya. Oh, one of them just happens to be my favorite Captain, Soi Fon (or Sui-Feng as the cool kids call her). The other is the wolf – not a fox, like I thought when I was into Bleach over a decade ago – Sajin Komamura of Squad 7.
So what happens? The bad guys prove to be too strong, so everyone decides to immediately go Bankai. This is in stark contrast to the original series, when characters would wait until 90% of the blood in their bodies had spilled out until they finally “went all out” and used their Bankai. But this decision is a bad one, because the Quincys don’t just have the power to seal their Bankai – they have the power to steal said Bankai.
How this is going to work is beyond me, because it seems like a pretty hopeless situation if Bankai are all they’re cracked up to be. Soi Fon actually suffers a cut to her face. That obviously means that these guys mean business. Now, in desperation the Soul Society calls for Ichigo, in what can be nothing less than a “come and save us, we beg you!” cry. Isn’t this the Ichigo they all… never mind.
So, Ichigo’s about to go back when the Quincy he thought he beat suddenly gets up off the canvas and seals Ichigo inside a Quincy box. Obviously Ichigo is screwed and the Soul Society will be destroyed. It’s time to wrap up the show, if that’s the case. Unless…
Best girl of the episode: Soi Fon
Episode rating: 8/10
Tommy A. Phillips 