Bleach episode 259 review

Behind those glasses is one of the most fascinating characters in the Bleach series: Nanao Ise. I don’t think her relation to Shunsui has been even told yet, so I’ll spare you from that, but Nanao is such a conflicted individual, super strict yet also super innocent. In this episode, she has the “honor” of getting caught in tentacles after being the brains behind an operation with Ikkaku, Hanataro, and Ikkaku’s Zanpakuto.

And to think this episode is all about Hanataro’s stolen chickens! What a bizarre, weird episode. Basically, the four I mentioned in the previous paragraph all go together to save Hanataro’s chickens, which are in the Seireitei sewer. I am not making this up.

Eventually, the chickens are saved, but everyone’s sanity is lost in the process. There’s a big long explanation to the situation that honestly doesn’t make all that much sense, but it’s filler so we can do whatever we want. This episode was very much like Rick Warren on Steve TV… bizarre.

Best girl of the episode: Nanao (5)

Episode rating: 6/10

Bleach episode 258 review

Snake, one half of Renji’s Zabimaru, decides to run off and live on his own for a while. He meets Karin, who accepts him into her house, where he hangs out with her and Yuzu. Then he gets bored and attacked, and Ichigo saves him in time for him to go back to being with Snake again.

Yes, this episode really is that straightforward. It was funny at times, but also pretty much devoid of substance. I hate to give it a bad grade because I liked Karin’s role in it, but it just wasn’t that good.

Best girl of the episode: Karin (4)

Episode rating: 5/10

Bleach episode 257 review

More music, more music, more music, more music…

A new enemy has appeared, called “Sword Beasts.” Rukia spends all day talking with her Zanpakuto, and not really doing all that much. Rangiku shows up to Urahara Shop with Haineko, then joins Orihime as they go after the enemy. A new building is being built, one that eerily resembles the U.S. Steel Tower in my hometown, all the way down to the shape of the building, and the red lights on top of it. In any case, there’s a Sword Beast up on the scaffolding, and when Rangiku proves too useless to defeat it, Ichigo shows up to fight it.

Overall, a good episode with some antics between Nanao and Mayuri (!) which further shows the dysfunction within the Seireitei which explains why they are so keen to betrayals. It’s enough for me to hand the “best girl” title to Nanao, even though Rangiku got more screen time.

Best girl of the episode: Nanao (4) (moving into a tie with Nemu and Mizuho for 12th place)

Episode rating: 7/10

Bleach episode 256 review

When it’s time to party we will party hard. And party Rangiku does, alongside Haineko. That’s right, the Zanpakuto, who were supposed to disappear at the end of the last episode, have manifested themselves once again. So, they party with their Soul Reapers under the supervision of Rukia’s Zanpakuto.

And then a couple of crazy guys step in and attack Rukia and her Zanpakuto. They’re apparently Zanpakuto themselves; as expected, Rukia defeats them and sends them off to be researched by Mayuri, which is a fate worse than death. Now Ukitake and Shunsui warn Rukia that more may be on the way, so not only does Rukia have to stay on her toes, but the Zanpakuto arc remains alive and well and living in L.A.

Best girl of the episode: Rukia (51) (I think she’s got the year-end title wrapped up; she’s up 12 on Orihime!)

Episode rating: 6/10