Bleach episode 236 review

This has got to be a record for the most padded-out episode of Bleach in a while. Basically, Renji and Shuhei face attacks from their Zanpakuto, and defend… and defend… and defend… and defend… and defend… there’s no actual fighting going on. There’s just Renji and Shuhei (with Izuru’s help) guarding, and guarding, and guarding, and guarding…

It’s as if the writers painted themselves into a corner. They didn’t know what to do once the Soul Reapers lost all their powers. The concept of the arc backfired on them. So now they’re just buying time, trying to run out the clock until the filler is over. Not working, sorry!

Best girl of the episode: Saru (2) (who got retroactively named best girl of the last episode upon further review, namely in that Rukia didn’t actually appear in the episode)

Episode rating: 3/10

Bleach episode 235 review

These episodes keep on getting less and less interesting. The Zanpakuto taunts its owner, attacks, taunts, attacks, taunts… and nothing really even happens. Meanwhile, the owner of the Zanpakuto backpedals, dodges, backpedals, dodges, backpedals… and still nothing happens. You can’t call these “fights.” They’re more of less standoffs, and boy are they boring. It is padding of the highest order.

Now the question is how are we going to have people “win” their fights when they aren’t actually even battling.

Best girl of the episode: Saru

Episode rating: 3/10

Bleach episode 234 review

In this episode, Renji lets out no fewer than FOUR “WHAT”s during this episode. FOUR of them. The word “WHAT” is starting to lose its meaning. How is he surprised by so many things? It’s as if it’s his first day on the job as a Soul Reaper. I really don’t get how he could possibly be thrown off by this many different things. You’d think he’d be used to this stuff by now.

There’s no reason Renji should be this shocked, but he is. And now he goes up against Zabimaru. Meanwhile, “69 guy” is going up against his Zanpakuto too, and nobody cares. Ichigo is in Zangetsu World, which I think I’ve made clear is my very least favorite part of Bleach.

Best girl of the episode: Retsu Unohana (2) (she had some quality time in the part of the episode not devoted to the three above topics)

Episode rating: 6/10

Bleach episode 233 review

Ichigo turns Hollow as he fights his Zanpakuto, while Mayuri experiments to find further information on the situation.

That’s all that happens in this episode, aside from a talk amongst Nemu, Unohana, and Isane, which is about Mayuri’s experiments anyway. This arc is really aggravating. I wish I had taken my own advice and not watched this again. It’s really boring and stupid. Every one of these Zanpakuto fights consists of the Soul Reaper running away, running away, and running away, before finally striking back. And we’ve got like 20 of these to go.

Best girl of the episode: Isane Kotetsu (2) (for providing probably the most interesting dialogue in the episode)

Episode rating: 4/10