Bleach episode 45 review

We’ve got a ton of prisoners now. In fact, you could guess that 2/3 of the Soul Society is now in prison. The only ones who aren’t of the Ryoka are Ichigo/Yoruichi, and Orihime, who’s hangin’ with Mr. Cooper… er, Zaraki. That’s right, Orihime is kind of just hanging out with Squad 11 like there’s no problem. Ichigo and Yoruichi, meanwhile, are trying to unlock Ichigo’s Bankai in 3 days. Ichigo just has to pick the right sword that’s got Zangetsu in it. Seems a little too easy to me.

Then we’ve got all the people in prison. Renji, who breaks out. Uryu, who was brought there by “the Captain of the least bloodshed,” Kaname Tosen. Chad, who was brought there by Captain Shunsui. And Ganju, who was placed there by Captain Ukitake. Not to mention Hanataro, who like Kramer’s intern, is “going away for a long, long time.” Chad figures they’re being kept there to be questioned for the killing of Captain Aizen. Good thinking, Chad, but I think the Soul Society just likes putting people behind bars.

More of a set-up episode than anything else, but I enjoyed it more than yesterday’s flashback fest.

Best girl of the episode: Yachiru (7) (for her antics around Maki-Maki in the Squad 11 room)

Episode rating: 8/10

Bleach episode 44 review

I shipped Uryu and Nemu back T in the day, then completely forgot about it. This was the moment for this couple. After fighting off Mayuri’s Bankai (for the record, probably the first Bankai we’ve seen), Uryu manages to force Mayuri into a liquid form, which quite honestly he should have stayed in. Then Nemu offers him the antidote to the poison Uryu just received. Nemu and Uryu share a moment, and then it’s over – but the shipping still remains. Obviously this one never comes to fruition, but I’d like to imagine an alternate universe where it does.

Maybe not the most exciting of episodes, due to the lengthy flashback of Uryu’s past, but still an entertaining one.

Best girl of the episode: Nemu Kurotsuchi

Episode rating: 7/10

Bleach episode 43 review

One of my biggest problems with Thousand-Year Blood War is that it’s a lot like Disney Star Wars movies. Kill off all the characters we love, keep around all the characters who suck. In TYBW, we lost a ton of great Captains, yet one of the ones we got to keep was this piece of crap Mayuri Kurotsuchi… at least for now. I will be rooting with all my might that he gets killed off, but I think his fate has already been sealed in a way I won’t like.

Anyway, Mayuri proves to be an utter piece of crap to his lieutenant Nemu, and obviously to Uryu too – which is a little ironic, given what’s going to happen when everything gets retconned for TYBW. Gotta be honest, I’m rooting for Uryu now, even though I’ve been trained to cheer against him in TYBW – wait a minute, that’s what I’m supposed to do! You mean Bleach has actually made me cheer for the hero and root against the villain? Wait a minute, you can’t do that to me!

Best girl of the episode: Orihime (11, new solo leader)

Episode rating: 8/10

Bleach episode 42 review

So! Yoruichi has shown up to save… Ichigo? That’s right, instead of saving Rukia, who everyone came to save, Yoruichi saves Ichigo and leaves the others behind. Squad 13 Captain Ukitake goes easy on those who are left, as Byakuya lost interest and went away after a game of “tag” between Yoruichi and himself. Rukia goes back to her cell, Hanataro and Ganju will get healed, and that’s that.

Meanwhile, we finally see the Quincy Uryu and Orihime for the first time in forever! This time, Orihime has beaten up on random Soul Reapers to steal their clothes. So, Uryu and Orihime are now dressed up as Soul Reapers and pretending to be them. How long will this last? Probably not long, because it looks like Squad 12 Captain Mayuri saw them.

While this episode didn’t have any epic battles, it was still very entertaining, and it keeps things moving.

Best girl of the episode: Yoruichi (2) (a good case could be made for Orihime, but she falls just short)

Episode rating: 8/10