Bleach episode 243 review

This episode was very nondescript, save for Soi Fon’s battle with her Zanpakuto. She gets stung once. How much do you want to bet that she doesn’t get stung in that same spot again? Otherwise, everything going on in this episode was very forgettable.

The main takeaway I have from this episode is the changing of the OP. No more Shojo S, which is quite possibly the second-best OP in Bleach history next to Asterisk. Shojo S wasn’t just catchy; it had a great collection of images to make it almost unskippable. I say “almost” because I did skip it at times, but it’s still really good.

Best girl of the episode: Soi Fon (19)

Episode rating: 5/10

Bleach episode 242 review

Soi Fon is confronted by a Zanpakuto, but she has no idea who it belongs to. As it turns out, he’s Sasakibe’s Zanpakuto! Which absolutely no one would guess, because Sasakibe is such a useless character! Soi Fon fights bravely, at one point going 1-vs.-2 in an out-of-Bleach moment.

Meanwhile, Yumichika fights his Zanpakuto, and Ikkaku and Izuru also have battles. Overall, not the most to write home about in this episode, but it wasn’t horrible or anything, just not as exciting.

Best girl of the episode: Soi Fon (18)

Episode rating: 6/10

Bleach episode 241 review

Did I miss a day? Oh, well, I guess I’ll just have to squeeze in two today. Byakuya turns on the Soul Reapers and joins the rogue Zanpakuto, and everyone is left to figure out what to do about it. For one thing, Nanao plans to cover it up, but Shunsui saves us from Byakuyagate by deciding to tell anyone and everyone that Byakuya is a traitor now. Rukia finds out and is traumatized.

Then Byakuya goes ahead and destroys her Zanpakuto before showing up in the Soul Society to attack Rukia. Seriously, Big Bro? You’re losing your position as the Big Brother that all the little sisters look up to. But Renji starts fighting Byakuya before he can hit Rukia, and now it’s Byakuya vs. Renji at the same time as Senbonzakura vs. Zabimaru – two dueling fights of which one is not even a one-on-one battle™.

Interesting episode, and certainly one capable of keeping my interest in this arc.

Best girl of the episode: Rukia (47) (a full 10 ahead of Orihime. I think the best girl crown is just about clinched)

Episode rating: 7/10

Bleach episode 240 review

So, Mayuri is conducting experiments on poor Omaeda. Can’t this guy get a break? His Captain hates him, his Zanpakuto hates him, and now he has to suffer while Mayuri does experiments on him with the help of Nemu. Really, what did you expect from Mayuri? And what did you expect from Omaeda? There’s no way he’d actually be useful.

While some Soul Reapers carry off Rangiku and Momo’s Zanpakutos, Rangiku runs into Ichigo. They go their separate ways, just in time for Ichigo to collide with Muramasa and Byakuya. Yes, apparently Byakuya has turned to the dark side. Which, if you listen to Disney, is just a darker version of the “kinder, gentler” light side, that’s “morally gray.” The Sith aren’t really bad, they’re just morally gray. Excuse me while I puke.

Anyway, Byakuya disappears, because we can’t have the big fight with Ichigo yet. And again, I feel pleasantly surprised by another episode of this arc.

Best girl of the episode: Rangiku (32)

Episode rating: 7/10