Bleach episode 56 review

So, it’s Shunsui & Ukitake vs. Yamamoto. All they really do is charge head on into each other into a ball of fire. As usual, Yamamoto’s not being all that smart. What annoys me is that Kenpachi and Yumichika’s battles both were decided off-screen. Komamura apparently ran away, and Yumichika beat Shuhei Hiisagi. That is one major L for this arc. You can’t just have battles start and never finish. So, that’s disappointing.

But then we get the Yoruichi-Soi Fon battle, in which Soi Fon says the name “Yoruichi” about 10 times. Soi Fon is able to keep on putting butterfly marks on Yoruichi, and Yoruichi is able to keep on battling back every time Soi Fon attacks her. The idea of the butterfly mark is that, if Soi Fon hits her there again, Yoruichi dies. But Soi Fon keeps hitting different parts of her body. The two of them go at it in one of the better battles of the series, although not on the level of the best. Back and forth they go. This is an intense rivalry, and it’ll only get spicier with the next episode.

This episode would have gotten a higher mark, but the Komamura quit made me have to knock it down a peg.

Best girl of the episode: Soi Fon (2)

Episode rating: 8/10

Bleach episode 55 review

The Soul Reapers at Sokyoku Hill have all lost their minds. First, there’s Byakuya, who really is the villain of the show up to this point, even though he can’t tell you exactly why he’s doing what he’s doing. Then, there’s Soi Fon, who steps on Kiyone Kotetsu’s chest like she was a traitor, when all she did was try to help her fallen sister. Yoruichi arrives wearing a COVID-19 mask to disguise herself; Soi Fon is shocked when she realizes it’s her.

Finally, there’s Old Man Yama, who can truly say, “No one’s a bigger idiot than me.” The way he got killed off in TYBW showed exactly how stupid this man was. But even here, he’s not thinking rationally. He doesn’t ask questions or try to figure out exactly why his own Captains have rebelled against him. No, all he wants is to kill. Poor Nanao gets crushed by his reiatsu.

Old Man Yamamoto should never have been the leader of the Soul Reapers. He’s an idiot, to put it mildly. Just because he’s a thousand years old doesn’t mean he’s a good leader. He single-handedly handed Sosuke Aizen all this power, and 10 or so episodes from now he’s going to pay for it. Good job, Yamamoto. It’s too bad Soul Society Captains don’t have a term limit.

Best girl of the episode: Soi Fon

Episode rating: 9/10

Bleach episode 54 review

It always rubbed me the wrong way that Rukia seemed so ungrateful for Ichigo’s rescuing her. But in reality, she wasn’t really all that ungrateful – she just wanted Ichigo to survive. And here’s the thing I never realized after all these years – Ichigo didn’t even save Rukia!

At least not on his own, that is. Ichigo holds back the Sokyoku from hitting Rukia once, so he gets credit for a “save” like a hockey goalie. But he gave up a juicy rebound and the Sokyoku hits Rukia with another shot. This time, the defensemen break up the shot before it reaches the goaltender. Ukitake and Shunsui do the real “saving” of Rukia by their elaborate plan to corral the Sokyoku. So, the correct answer of “who saved Rukia” is Ichigo, Ukitake, Shunsui, and Renji, who Ichigo threw Rukia to in order to escape.

There’s a bit of a tease with Kenpachi Zaraki’s battle with Sajin Komamura, and Yachiru telling Orihime & pals that “Ichi is my Kenny’s new best friend!” It’s a lighthearted scene that fits perfectly in here. This show is just unbelievably good at this point. You know what they call three consecutive strikes in bowling? A turkey. This episode completes the turkey.

Best girl of the episode: Rukia (14)

Episode rating: 10/10

Bleach episode 53 review

Oh, is this getting good! In this episode, Kaname Tosen uses his sense of “justice” to take away two of Kenpachi Zaraki’s senses… sight and sound. But he can’t eliminate Zaraki’s ability to touch, and that leads to his downfall. In one of the best fights of this arc, Zaraki defeats Tosen and advances to the next round in the bracket to face Sajin Komamura, who is revealed to be a wolf (not a fox, as I once thought).

Meanwhile, Gin taunts Rukia and breaks her resolve, meaning that she got her hopes up for a second before getting them burst like a bubble. Ichigo is still training, while Renji is being healed by Hanataro after Retsu Unohana saved him. Oh my, this is all so good. This is Bleach at its best. And it’s not going to lose any steam for a while. Enjoy the ride.

Best girl of the episode: Rukia (13) (Unohana would have won had she gotten more screen time)

Episode rating: 10/10