Bleach episode 106 review

With this post, I break the record for blogging the most consecutive Bleach episodes to begin a year. The previous record was 105. Now I’m in some uncharted waters.

Of course, there’s no reason to celebrate, because this is one of the most banal and boring episodes yet. Basically, we get a big flashback about how Ran Tao wanted to help the Bounts, but Kariya didn’t want to help them, and blah, blah, blah. Nothing new here.

Then the Quincy Uryu shows up and fights Kariya. This is predictable, because Uryu can’t still have his powers when the next arc begins, or otherwise this filler becomes part-canon. So, Uryu loses his powers, but hits Kariya enough that he’s able to momentarily save Ran Tao’s life. Of course, Ran Tao can’t survive, or else that’d really mess up the canon!

Ichigo shows up at the last second, and now he’s going to fight Kariya. Just like that. What was the point of all those Soul Reapers gathering all that information and stuff? Oh, forget it. Just let Ichigo finish the job at this point.

Best girl of the episode: Ran Tao (2)

Episode rating: 6/10

Bleach episode 105 review

Previously it was Orihime who couldn’t cook, now it’s Rangiku who can’t cook either. Their misadventures with cooking, carried into the post-credits sequence, were the only thing remotely interesting about this episode.

Most of it was just Ran Tao talking to Kariya, going through a flashback where she told the story of the Bounts and of herself and Kariya. It’s the classic “flashback before death” that Bleach is so well-known for. Except Ran Tao doesn’t die in this episode. That’ll have to wait a while, or at least for another day.

Boring episode and not much to write home about.

Best girl of the episode: Rangiku (12)

Episode rating: 5/10

Bleach episode 104 review

May I stop and mention how good the music OP/ED are at the same time right now? Not since Houki Boshi have we had as good a combination of OP and ED at the same time. Rolling star by Yui and Baby It’s You by June make for a musical paradise surrounding each Bleach episode.

We’re running out of Bounts now. Apparently all the other ones have been killed off, and the only ones left are Koga and Kariya. Koga has a death wish. He plans to stop Kariya, but in the process decides he’s going to pick a fight with our albino shounen Captain, Toshiro Hitsugaya. Bad move. Koga gets killed in quick order, and all we’ve got left is Kariya.

This portion of the Bount arc started out so well – Soi Fon’s battle was one of the best in the series to date, and Kenpachi Zaraki’s battle was brilliant as well. But then we’ve had letdowns in the Mayuri and Uryu fights. This one is a letdown also. It was very straightforward, just Toshiro overpowering Koga. No suspense really at all.

And that’s a wrap on Kariya’s crew. They’re all dead now. All that’s left is Kariya, and four or so episodes for Ichigo to defeat him. Can he do it before the arc ends? Because if he doesn’t beat him by the time the Bount arc ends, Kariya becomes canon!

Best girl of the episode: Rangiku (11) (tied for third; she had a prominent role in this episode in helping Toshiro find Koga, before Toshiro begged for a dreaded one-on-one battle)

Episode rating: 7/10

Bleach episode 103 review

Well it’s springtime in the valley on Magnolia Lane, it’s the Augusta National and the master of the game… who’ll wear that green… hair?

That’s right, our green-haired villain Yoshi is back, and unfortunately about to meet her end. Not because Uryu was stronger or faster than her, but rather that she basically signed her own death sentence. Twice she kicked Uryu when a simple slash of her sword would have easily killed him. It was as if she was daring him to kill her. It’s kind of like when you’re fighting a giant enemy crab in a video game, and they always have that weak point that you can attack for massive damage. That’s what she was acting like here.

And attack her Uryu did, dealing massive damage and destroying her altogether. That means we’re running out of Bounts! Kariya attacks hist own man Koga, but he appears to still be alive. Any others still alive? I’m not sure. If Koga survives, who’s gonna want him? He’s been an enemy this whole time, surely they can’t accept him as an equal. But Kariya has decided that he wants to die, so he’s given the Seireitei 24 hours to think of the best way to kill him. And kill him they will.

Best girl of the episode: Yoshi

Episode rating: 6/10