Bleach episode 22 review

A poor people, a group of immigrants, a group of people just trying to get by, and a people who are blamed for all the problems in the bigger country. Who am I talking about here? The title of the post should give it away.

Ichigo fights Gin and loses easily, which is great. Had he even laid a scratch on Gin, then we’d be in trouble, because he’d be getting too good, too fast. Instead, he gets pushed out back beyond the gate, which then is closed by Gin.

Chad goes and befriends his cockatoo person (yes, really) and then Ganju Shiba enters the fray as a nuisance to Ichigo, just to become a spare rival in case the Quincy Uryu ever gets bored. It doesn’t get really good yet. We’re still waiting, waiting on the world to change. And will it ever!

Best girl of the episode: Orihime (8)

Episode rating: 7/10

Bleach episode 21 review

This episode includes two mentions of one-on-one battles and one big “WHAT?” In other words, it was a very Bleachy episode of Bleach.

Ichigo & pals make it through the gate to the Soul Society, then face a giant wall and a giant opponent. This guy’s a complete idiot, and he loses to Ichigo easily. So, Ichigo & pals are allowed in, but guess who shows up just in time? Gin Ichimaru, my least favorite original Captain.

There were a ton of little jokes and one-liners in this episode that I really enjoyed. Maybe the battle hasn’t begun yet, but these characters are keeping it lighthearted. And Yoruichi is still a cat, and totally different in personality than her human form. But she’s still a he for now, which means the Best Girl is totally obvious.

Best girl of the episode: Orihime (7)

Episode rating: 7/10

Bleach episode 20 review

So, Byakuya gives the sentence for Rukia’s killing, showing no mercy. There’s a funny scene with Gin and Kenpachi that helps liven things up a bit, but otherwise it’s just training time for Ichigo. Finally, at the end, we see Ichigo & pals ready to go through the gate to the Soul Society.

If this sounds boring to you, what do you think it was to me? All setup in this episode. It has to happen from time to time, but that doesn’t mean I have to enjoy it.

Best girl of the episode: Orihime (6)

Episode rating: 5/10

Bleach episode 19 review

Byakuya not only refuses to release his sister, he proudly boasts that this will be the final time he speaks to her, and says the next time he will see her is her execution. Some brother that is. Rukia goes into damsel in distress mode and gives up on life. This is probably the point in the series that I pivoted from Rukia to Orihime.

We see Orihime and Chad training with cat-form Yoruichi, and I’m saddened by the fact that Orihime’s always hanging around Chad and not her OTP. There’s a reason for it today, though. Ichigo is in training himself, and after a long struggle, Ichigo meets his zanpakuto (no name given yet) and finally becomes both a Soul Reaper and a Hollow of sorts, as you can see by his mask.

Not much to write home about in this episode. I hate training arcs.

Best girl of the episode: Orihime (5)

Episode rating: 6/10