Bleach episode 123 review

Ich-emo survives the fight with Hiyori, so now he’s going to go to begin his training arc! Which includes running on a treadmill. Somehow this is going to make him control his Hollow better. And while we get a bunch of stuff about the Visoreds who nobody likes anyway (or, at least, nobody should like), this all feels like a giant waste of time. The Visoreds don’t come off as charming or funny to me, they just seem annoying pests.

Also, Rukia can’t find any trace of Ich-emo, and Yuzu is really upset about it, so her dad – a famous Soul Reaper – acts like a complete moron. Oh, and Ich-emo fights against Hichigo (Hollow Ichigo). Really, this entire episode felt like a giant waste of time, and more filler-esque than half the filler in the previous filler arc.

(I don’t usually edit these, but I have to in this case. At one point, the narrator actually says that Uryu and Chad are feeling “useless.” That’s as accurate a description as ever given for those characters.)

Best girl of the episode: Rukia (26) (because I refuse to give it to any of those worthless Visoreds)

Episode rating: 5/10

Bleach episode 122 review

There’s a new nickname I have given Ichigo Kurosaki: “Ich-emo.” That’s the emo Ichigo who pouts and whines and worries and complains and refuses to always look at the bright side of life. He’s annoying and stupid. And that’s the Ichigo we get in this episode. He goes to visit the Visoreds with this attitude, and Hiyori confronts him over it.

But more than that, how about the fact that, of the Visoreds, I could only remember three of their names, and totally forgot that some of them even existed? Plain and simple, these characters are worthless, and they deserved to be killed off in TYBW instead of good characters. They were a sad attempt at trying to create a third crack crew after the 13 Court Guard Squads and the Espada. Instead, they’re just a waste of time and space.

Also, Tosen cut off Grimmjow’s arm and calls it “justice,” which is objectively hilarious. Aizen gets a little testy with Gin – boy, wouldn’t that have been a fun rivalry to see go down? And Mizuho AGAIN steals the show with some yandere and craziness about love and marriage with Ikkaku. Who would have thought that she’d be a better character than Ichigo after appearing in only two episodes? Mizuho > Ich-emo.

Best girl of the episode: Mizuho (2)

Episode rating: 7/10

Bleach episode 121 review

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Rapid-fire punches don’t work. Especially not against Ichigo. Grimmjow must have punched Ichigo a thousand times, and yet Ichigo bounces back with ease. We’re supposed to get the feeling that Ichigo lost, but the fact is, his opponent had hundreds of opportunities of landing the knockout blow and couldn’t do so. So, I’m chalking this up as a win for Ichigo, as Renji did as well in his talk with Ichigo after the fight.

Before that, the TV monitors tattoos on the three Soul Reapers (Toshiro, Rangiku, and Renji) were all activated, and now they’re fighting at 100% strength instead of just 20%. Seems rather convenient. “You know, I feel like getting beaten to a pulp today, so hold off on giving me that 100% strength until I’m about to die, then activate it.” It’s a plot device aimed at making those weaklings (Toshiro, Rangiku, and Renji) stronger without forcing them to go through a training arc. And while it works, it’s still really cheap.

Also, Kaname Tosen, probably the most badass Captain outside of Kenpachi Zaraki, shows up to tell Grimmjow that Aizen is mad at him. Man, I wish you could have been on the right side of history, Tosen. Sadly, you’ll be forgotten about like all the other Hueco Mundo enemies. Aizen’s pissed off because Grimmjow took 5 Arrancar with him, got them all killed, and did so without permission. So now he’s going to be punished held back for a rematch with Ichigo.

Oh, and Keigo’s sister loves men with shaved heads, so when Keigo shows up with Ikkaku and Yumichika in tow, she’s instantly in love (while also being instantly angry at Keigo). I had to look up her name, it’s… Mizuho. This isn’t like Cheers, where I know everybody’s name. But in any case, Mizuho steals the show with her love for Ikkaku’s bald head and her simultaneous rage against Keigo. Talk about a yandere – am I using that term right?

Best girl of the episode: Mizuho

Episode rating: 8/10

Bleach episode 120 review

So, Ururu has this weird out-of-body experience where she just suddenly gets up from sleeping, goes into the sky, and starts fighting one of the Arrancar. It was a makes-no-sense moment like no other, especially given that she didn’t even defeat the guy. Then we see the modsouls trying to help Renji in his battle, but I thought they were all filler characters. Poor Renji can’t even win a battle for himself without filler characters assisting him, and he didn’t even win.

Meanwhile, the other Arrancar who is attacking Toshiro reveals that the top 10 Arrancar are called “Espada,” and that they’re ranked by number. The rest of them? Just in order that they were created. Which means, basically, that they’re fodder for the non-main characters to kill.

Just in time, Rangiku gets approval from the Soul Society to use this new tattoo thing. “Yeah, guys, you know that thing that we can activate on our bodies so we can actually win these battles instead of getting slaughtered? Yeah, I think it’s about time we activate it, because we’re getting our butts kicked out here. Anytime you want to turn it on would be nice. How about now?”

And now they’ve got extra powers, so I assume they’re going to win these battles now. Ichigo vs. Grimmjow, however? I don’t see the appeal in Grimmjow as a character, but I get the feeling those two are going to take some time in their battle against each other.

Best girl of the episode: Ururu (her first win)

Episode rating: 7/10