Bleach episode 264 review

Nanao finally gets an episode of her own! Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most snail-paced, boring episodes in some time. Basically, she’s forced to babysit one of Shunsui’s Zanpakutos. That Zanpakuto doesn’t talk or show any emotion, as her face is covered up by a mask. It feels like a story of a person trying to help out a physically impaired person, which is admirable, except it isn’t actually clear if said character actually is physically impaired, or just really shy.

Anyway, Nanao connects with her through flowers, before an attack by a Sword Beast forces Shunsui to get involved and SAVE them. And all’s well that ends well; Shunsui gets drunk and the Zanpakuto fixes Nanao’s hair with a flower. It’s a touching scene. But the episode on the whole was quite boring.

Best girl of the episode: Nanao (6)

Episode rating: 5/10

Bleach episode 263 review

The two members of Zabimaru – Snake and Monkey – get involved in shenanigans with Senbonzakura, and hilarity ensues. Well, not quite hilarity. It’s honestly more annoying than it is funny. The three of them just keep causing more and more trouble, and while it’s a funny concept, it just didn’t work well for me. Not a bad episode, but didn’t hit my funnybone.

Although I can’t deny it’s funny to see Mayuri’s reaction once he realizes his entire lab has been destroyed. And it begs the bigger question: how does he get the thing rebuilt? Who knows.

Best girl of the episode: Monkey (one half of Zabimaru)

Episode rating: 5/10

Bleach episode 262 review

I didn’t mean to title back-to-back posts with lyrics from Huey Lewis & The News, but it turned out that way. Haineko falls in love with a Sword Beast, and steals stuff from Rangiku while she’s at it. As their courtship goes along, the Sword Beast starts experiencing bad things, and Rangiku catches on. She goes and defeats the Sword Beast, with or without Haineko’s help. Haineko then muses about falling in love, which apparently is something swords can do in Bleach.

An episode that sounds stupid but actually was executed right. Lots of facial expressions from Haineko that brought out her emotions, and I like that. She is probably the most developed of the Zanpakuto – even more so than Zangetsu – so she actually makes for an interesting character to build an episode around. We’ve only got a few more of these episodes, though, until she’s gone forever.

Best girl of the episode: Haineko (3)

Episode rating: 7/10

Bleach episode 261 review

Orihime comes back to school to be greeted by Chizuru, whose crazy antics made this episode survive what is one of the worst plots yet. In this one, a mysterious girl named Kyoko appears. She starts having trouble, and Orihime tries to help her. When that isn’t enough (when is it ever?), Ichigo shows up to save the day.

One of the most boring episodes of Bleach of all time. The only thing redeeming it was Chizuru acting crazy. Heck, the two most prominent characters in this episode (Kyoko and another girl) are either filler-only or at least super-minor when it comes to importance. What a waste. But hey, we got ourselves an episode closer to going back to Hueco Mundo!

Best girl of the episode: Chizuru (3)

Episode rating: 3/10