Bleach episode 271 review

It’s Ichigo vs. Ulquiorra in a battle to the death! And when Ichigo is defeated and left for dead, Orihime’s cries bring him back to life as a full-blown Hollow. Now filled with immense power, Ichigo beats Ulquiorra, my least favorite character perhaps ever. Ulquiorra says something about Ichigo having “heart,” while narrating the entire battle. Not even Uryu got the honor of being battle commentator, even though he was there the whole time.

Hopefully this is the end for Ulquiorra. By the way, I see ABSOLUTELY ZERO evidence of Orihime OR Ulquiorra having ANY feelings for each other from the beginning up until now. So, UlquiHime needs to be put to bed and buried. It’s over, IchiRuki fans. You lost, and your “make up ship” has sunk lower than the Titanic.

Best girl of the episode: Orihime (44)

Episode rating: 7/10

Bleach episode 270 review

Ichigo fights Ulquiorra, who reveals his Resurreccion, then tells Ichigo that this isn’t even his final form. He has one extra transformation that no one knows about, not even Sosuke Aizen. So, Ulquiorra shows it off to Ichigo, and then to Uryu and Orihime, who have arrived on the scene just in time to become battle commentators. Ulquiorra is about to kill Ichigo as time runs out.

The Ichigo-Ulquiorra fight was nothing special, sadly enough. It was just “watch this!” by Ulquiorra over and over again. I’d much prefer a battle with more strategy involved. But this is Bleach, so one-on-one battles are what we’re gonna get.

Best girl of the episode: Orihime (43)

Episode rating: 7/10

Bleach episode 269 review

Uryu decides to take his battle with Yammy elsewhere, because it would be difficult to animate two big-time battles in the same area. Ichigo continues to face off with Ulquiorra, although it seems more like all he’s doing is buying time so we can get in the Uryu-Yammy fight as well as have Renji and Chad join Rukia in their frivolous affair. Uryu then kind of sort of maybe perhaps temporarily defeats Yammy, at least long enough for Ichigo to go full Hollow on Ulquiorra.

A rather straightforward episode that seemed a lot like many of the battles were just buying time rather than getting serious. The Uryu-Yammy fight was kind of cool. Not much to complain about, even though there’s also not much to write home about.

Best girl of the episode: Orihime (42)

Episode rating: 7/10

Bleach episode 268 review

Loly Aivirrne is at it again! In the middle of Ichigo’s battle with Ulquiorra, she shows up with Menoly and wants to torture Orihime to death. Menoly Mallia, her sister-in-crime, has second thoughts and hesitations. So, Loly takes matters into her own hands, tearing apart Orihime’s clothes, then threatening to gouge her eyes out.

That’s when Yammy shows up as the deus ex machina. He gets into it with Loly, while Menoly watches from the sideline. Eventually, Loly gets so mad that she pulls out her Resurreccion, Escolopendra, which gives her the ability to turn everything she touches to purple poison. (Why is poison always purple?) But it apparently doesn’t work on Yammy, because he just one-shots her into oblivion.

Luckily, the Quincy Uryu had the decency to shoot an arrow into Loly’s dress, preventing her from falling to her doom. This was never shown when the anime was originally aired on Adult Swim. But we find out that important information in the Arrancar Encyclopedia at the end of the actual episode.

One of my favorite Bleach episodes of all time. What can I say? I just love Loly.

Best girl of the episode: Loly Aivirrne, for the fourth and final time (4)

Episode rating: 10/10