Bleach episode 27 review

So! (As Pat Sajak would always say) The Ryoka are all split up now, and each one is having their own battle. Ichigo’s battling with Ikkaku, Ganju’s battling with Yumichika, Uryu and Orihime are running like crazy, and… yeah, come to think of it, what really happened this episode aside from Ichigo beating Ikkaku? I feel like I’ve been lied to that this was an actual episode. Ichigo beats Ikkaku with no real strategy involved, just continuing to fight until he won. Oh, and Ganju and Yumichika fell into the garbage pit.

I guess there’s only one way to describe this episode…

Not. Much. Happened.

Best girl of the episode: Yachiru (2), for her lack of direction, which is something I share

Episode rating: 6/10

Bleach episode 26 review

So, everyone gets split up. Uryu ends up with Orihime (but not like that!). Chad ends up all by his lonesome, which is so on-brand for him. Cat-form Yoruichi lands somewhere else, and then there’s Ichigo and Ganju, hugging it out till the very end, when they arrive where Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika I-Can’t-Spell-His-Last-Name show up. Yumichika takes on Ganju, while Ichigo goes at it with Ikkaku.

The battle between Ichigo and Ikkaku is actually the less fun one of the two. Watching Ganju use his special powers and seeing Yumichika’s great expressions in reaction are some of the best parts of this episode. The only bad thing? We don’t really get much of a Best Girl here. Orihime wins by default for helping SAVE the Quincy Uryu with her Rejection power.

Best Girl of the episode: Orihime (9, which ties her with Rukia)

Episode rating: 8/10

Bleach episode 25 review

So, it has come to this. Ichigo & pals are being blasted into the Seireitei, while the Captains wrap up their meeting and all get ready for battle. Most of the episode is even more tomfoolery between Ichigo and Ganju, with a little bit of humor from cat-form Yoruichi thrown in. The one scene of note? Screenshotted above. Man, we should’ve seen Aizen as the villain a long time coming.

Yachiru joins Kenpachi, and it’s sad to see her knowing her muscles get turned to cookies by that evil Gremmy. Actually, Yachiru’s fate was still unknown when we left off TYBW, so we’ll wait on that for the moment. For now, it’s Kenpachi at his best – wanting to fight the strongest intruder. Can Yachiru help him find him?

Ichigo and Ganju dominated this episode so much that it’s hard to even pick a Best Girl. But I’m going with the pink-haired one.

Best girl of the episode: Yachiru Kusajishi

Episode rating: 7/10

Bleach episode 24 review

We get our first look at the full Gotei 13, or at least 12 of ’em. The Squad 13 Captain is missing, which would lead you to believe that he’s very important (he’s not). The rest of them are mad at Squad 3 Captain Gin Ichimaru for letting Ichigo get away. Before they can finish their meeting, an alarm goes off: the Ryoka are coming in!

Much of this episode centers around more tomfoolery with Kukaku, Ganju, and Ichigo. But Orihime and Ichigo share a brief, poignant moment that further strengthens my case for IchiHime going back all the way to the early episodes. Orihime offers to stay with him as he trains instead of eating, and Ichigo is highly polite in asking Orihime to go and eat while he trains. Normally, Ichigo would tell someone to screw off in that situation. Not here. Another seed has been planted for the enormous tree of IchiHime.

Soi Fon got one line, and I think it was two words long. My favorite Captain may have shown up, but she will not win Best Girl this time.

Best girl of the episode: Kukaku (2) (yes, I thought her tomfoolery with Ichigo and Ganju was rather hilarious)

Episode rating: 8/10