Bleach episode 59 review

It’s the finale of Ichigo vs. Byakuya II! And this time, Ichigo’s going Hollow on Byakuya. This is going to become problematic for him later, but for now, he’s able to fight off his Hollow self and go at Byakuya. Then, the two of them use one final thrust at each other. Ichigo is injured, but Byakuya goes down! Ichigo wins!

Byakuya now tells Ichigo that the reason he wanted Rukia dead was because she broke the law, and all he ever cared about was the law. But while Byakuya agrees that he’s not going to go after Rukia anymore, for him to admit he’s wrong… that’s for another day.

Orihime and pals (including Yachiru) meet up with Ichigo, and we get a nice, warm IchiHime moment. Seriously, this moment right here should have sealed IchiHime in everybody’s minds. No idea how people were in denial of the OTP after this.

And Rangiku and Toshiro are charging head-on into Central 46. This could be a problem. Yeah, I have the feeling something really bad is about to happen…

Best girl of the episode: Orihime (12)

Episode rating: 10/10

Bleach episode 58 review

So, Ichigo forces Byakuya to go Bankai on him, and it looks like Byakuya’s landed a big blow on him. Not so! Ichigo is just fine, and now he’s going to return with his own Bankai! But the problem is, this takes way too long and isn’t all that entertaining to watch. The reason for that is simple: Byakuya doesn’t talk enough to make things interesting. Now, this battle does get better, but too much time of this episode was spent on it.

There was some comic relief involving Orihime, who has turned into “I’m just here to sound stupid and make people laugh.” The most interesting and important thing was Toshiro and Rangiku searching for the truth. I forgot that Rangiku actually did do something aside from sitting on her couch, although to be honest, all she’s really doing is following Toshiro around.

Maybe a lull in the action, but still not bad.

Best girl of the episode: Rangiku (3)

Episode rating: 7/10

Bleach episode 57 review

Yoruichi and Soi Fon’s fight is interrupted by a flashback… but a good one, where we learn their backstory and what this is all about. I’m not a flashback guy, but sometimes there are really good ones like this. Unfortunately, we won’t get to see this relationship fleshed out all that much more because of the fact that we have 200 characters in this series. But it was a good battle, a good flashback, and a good episode.

We also got Ichigo vs. Byakuya II, which is going to be really fun to watch. Byakuya, use your Bankai already!

Best girl of the episode: Soi Fon (3)

Episode rating: 9/10

Bleach episode 56 review

So, it’s Shunsui & Ukitake vs. Yamamoto. All they really do is charge head on into each other into a ball of fire. As usual, Yamamoto’s not being all that smart. What annoys me is that Kenpachi and Yumichika’s battles both were decided off-screen. Komamura apparently ran away, and Yumichika beat Shuhei Hiisagi. That is one major L for this arc. You can’t just have battles start and never finish. So, that’s disappointing.

But then we get the Yoruichi-Soi Fon battle, in which Soi Fon says the name “Yoruichi” about 10 times. Soi Fon is able to keep on putting butterfly marks on Yoruichi, and Yoruichi is able to keep on battling back every time Soi Fon attacks her. The idea of the butterfly mark is that, if Soi Fon hits her there again, Yoruichi dies. But Soi Fon keeps hitting different parts of her body. The two of them go at it in one of the better battles of the series, although not on the level of the best. Back and forth they go. This is an intense rivalry, and it’ll only get spicier with the next episode.

This episode would have gotten a higher mark, but the Komamura quit made me have to knock it down a peg.

Best girl of the episode: Soi Fon (2)

Episode rating: 8/10