Bleach episode 145 review

Let me make it clear: Grimmjow is not overrated as a fighter. He deserves all his flowers as a fighter and as an enemy to Ichigo; he’s powerful and strong. But he is overrated as a character – very overrated. Grimmjow provides nothing to the table (pun intended) than an irrational desire to fight Ichigo.

You may say, well, doesn’t Kenpachi Zaraki also have an obsession with fighting Ichigo? Yes, that’s true, but that’s not all there is to Zaraki’s character. He’s got so much more to him than just wanting to fight Ichigo. And he doesn’t only fight Ichigo; he fights others as well. Granted, Grimmjow fought (and beat) Luppi, but that wasn’t a true battle. Grimmjow’s got such an obsession with Ichigo that there’s nothing else about his character other than that.

Is he better than Ulquiorra? You bet your britches he is! (I have no idea where that quote came from.) But there’s no reason for Bleach fans to be so enthralled with him as a character. Sorry for you if I’m calling you out, but Grimmjow doesn’t deserve the love he gets, and that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Best girl of the episode: Harribel (for a brief scene with her at the Espada tea table – yes, I’m grasping at straws for my pick yet again)

Episode rating: 7/10

Bleach episode 144 review

Uryu, Chad, and the other guy enter Hueco Mundo, where they immediately face booby traps and weak Arrancar. I say it like that because this episode does its best to make the other guy – Ichigo – to be a complete idiot and pretty much useless. Instead, Uryu and Chad do all the cool things and get to fight the fights. Okay, sure, that’s nice that they actually get to do… something. But isn’t Ichigo important too? Oh well, got to spread the love around, I guess.

Oh, who cares. This episode did not include any female characters save for the short recap where Orihime got a couple lines. Thus, she ends up tying Rukia’s total despite having appeared in the episode for less than 15 seconds. Way to go, Bleach.

Best girl of the episode: Orihime (27) (by default)

Episode rating: 6/10

Bleach episode 143 review

Aizen now has Orihime to do as he wishes. Orihime has no backbone. (Just because I support IchiHime doesn’t mean I can’t criticize Orihime.) So, Orihime goes ahead and heals Grimmjow, just for Grimmjow to go and kill Luppi. Doesn’t Orihime feel any remorse for doing this? Not really, I guess. She’s just hoping that she’s going to somehow help her friends, when all this is doing is putting her friends in danger.

Meanwhile, Tatsuki, Keigo, and the other guy go and spy on Ichigo as he’s going off to Hueco Mundo. Mr. Hat & Clogs sees them and lets them know kind of sort of what is going on. And Ichigo, Uryu, and Chad are off to Hueco Mundo, but not without a little bit of tomfoolery. Also, Isshin and Uryu’s dad talk with each other as well.

Overall, not that terribly exciting of an episode; the whole point of it was to prove how Orihime’s “rejection” powers are something beyond anything that even Aizen is aware of. Now this obviously means Aizen isn’t going to bail on Orihime at any point, right? It’s not like he’s just going to say “jk lol” and abandon the Orihime plan, right?

Right?

Best girl of the episode: Orihime (26) (one more to catch Rukia!)

Episode rating: 7/10

Bleach episode 142 review

Let’s get this out of the way: Old Man Yamamoto is a terrible, terrible Head Captain. We know this for certain now that he’s dead thanks to his own stupidity, but this episode proved that the guy was going headlong for destruction long, long ago.

He claims that Orihime went away to Hueco Mundo on her own volition. Seriously? That’s just flat-out gaslighting. I’m sure UlquiHime shippers – shame on all of you – took that as “see, Orihime wanted to go with Ulquiorra!! It’s love at first sight!!” But this is just gaslighting from Yamamoto. Oh, and did you see how mad Ichigo got? You can’t tell me he doesn’t have feelings for Orihime after the anger he put on display in this episode.

Old Man Yama further gaslights Ichigo by calling back all his Soul Reapers to protect the Soul Society. Yeah, like a lot of good that’ll do after what just happened 100 episodes ago. Plus, he won’t let anyone go to Hueco Mundo, not even Ichigo, because he views Orihime as a “traitor.” Next thing you know, the guy’s going to tell us that there are five lights when in reality…

THERE! ARE! FOUR! LIGHTS!

Tatsuki confronts Ichigo about the missing Orihime, then Ichigo sneaks off to Mr. Hat & Clogs, who already has prepared for Ichigo to go rogue – alongside Chad and Uryu. Just call them, “Rogue Three.” Or something of the sort, I don’t know. What, you mean to tell me there might be someone else coming along, too?

Great episode, especially because it proves to the world that A) Ichigo definitely has feelings for Orihime even now, and B) Old Man Yama is an absolute idiot who deserved what he got in TYBW.

Best girl of the episode: Tatsuki (6)

Episode rating: 9/10