Special Mission!
Rescue Captain-Commander Yamamoto!

Byakuya is shown to Yamamoto. He’s been imprisoned by three, at this point, unknown zanpakutous. Soul Society organizes a plan to go there rescue him. Kazeshini also manages to come back, while really injured, he asks Muramasa about Byakuya but, it doesn’t really change anything.

While entering the caves, everyone ends up meeting with zanpakutou and new battles are arranged.

Ichigo defeats Kazeshini for good, I think. Still, I’m sure he will have to fight that strange wooded guy.

I liked this episode. I hope the new fights are good, I think the show has been really boring and my interest has been decreasing since after Ichigo’s fight with Zangetsu. The art was specially good, really enjoyed watching everything. Also, Kyouraku’s zanpakutou is looking hot (the second one).

The preview shows Ichigo fighting Muramasa, no idea if it’s gonna be good or not still, this episode left me with hope.

• Next Episode: Deceived Shinigami!

Pursue Byakuya!
The Confused Gotei Divisions

The fights continue until Ashisogi Jizou comes through a wall and lets out massive quantities of poison. Ichigo isn’t smart enough to understand that he maybe shouldn’t breathe purple air. Anyway, Mayuri comes and destroys it, he already has a new one anyway.

Meanwhile, Soifon beats her zanpakutou using her other special fighting ability, (can’t remember the name). She’s then brought back by Yoruichi.

Unohana ends up taking control as the 4th squad heals everyone. They discuss Mayuri’s methods.

Meanwhile, Byakuya is finally show what happened to Captain Commander, along with some new zanpakutous. Maybe this was is objective. Anyway, Yoruichi has found it to.

Medium episode again, I’m really losing interest in the show right now.

• Next Episode: Special Mission!

The Long Awaited..
Kenpachi Appears!

Too bad they are making Kazeshini a pussy. I really liked because I though he was just like Zaraki and Ikkaku.. well.. anyway, Kenpachi makes the scene. He instantly takes care of Wabizuke. Kenpachi doesn’t really mind weighting some more lol

Zaraki puts the zanpakutou in their place, it’s like they don’t even matter. He only has eyes for Byakuya right now, the only worth opponent. Meanwhile, Yumichika, after talking with Ruri-Iro Kujaku, decides to stop doing nothing and fight again.

Yumichika ends up winning in a rather simple and stupid way, as many battles have already been. Kenpachi and Ichigo continue their fights

The animation was nice even though most drawings were ugly. Although I liked the beginning, I’m not looking forward to the next episodes, the last fights have been boring.

Medium episode like the others, a little improvement with Kenpachi’s appearance.

• Next Episode: Pursue Byakuya!

One-On-One Fight!
Ichigo VS Senbonzakura

Soifon fights her opponents for real. She almost manages to defeat them when Suzumebachi appears. The fight was cool. Kotetsu and Iba try to escape Ashisogi Jizou but, Haineko and Tobiume appear. Ashisogi Jizou then shows how scary it is lol. Eventually, Hinamori and Matsumoto show up too

Yumichika is in trouble too. Only Ichigo and Kira are doing alright. Still, Kira manages to defeat Kazeshini but then, Wabizuke appears and defeats him. Ichigo is becoming hopeless when.. Zaraki appears. No idea where he came from lol but, anyway, it’s time to kick ass.

This episode was alright. Soifon and Kira’s fight was well done. I liked the new OP too, kind of different.

• Next Episode: The Long Awaited…

Shinigami and Zanpakutō
Total Sortie

So, everyone choses an opponent and fights. The filler writers basically take anything the manga has disclosed about zanpakutou’s relationships and brings it back, all the while making some new stuff up. An "interesting" addiction was Gonryoumaru, shown has having thunder/electric abilities. It seems odd, knowing it’s shape. It’s one of those zanpakutou’s the manga hasn’t developed, yet.

Anyway, the only part of the episode I actually liked a little was Ikkaku’s fight. Still, the episode was pretty boring. It kept changing through different battles which prevented it from being a total bore.

The animation was really plain and the art looked below average for the most part. Still, I liked Ikkaku and Houzukimaru’s dialog, the only that didn’t seem forced. The ending was cool too, Mayuri’s zanpakutou is looking weirdly creepy lol.

• Next Episode: One-to-One Fight!

For the Sake of Pride!
Byakuya vs. Renji

Byakuya’s news arrives at the current leaders of Soul Society. Rukia is notified too. Anyway, back with Byakuya, he follows Muramasa back to their hideout. Once there, they challenge him to defeat ode no Shirayuki so he can prove his loyalty. Of-course, that specific case wouldn’t have any thing to do with his loyalty, it’s his sister zanpakutou..

The "evil" part of the zanpakutou’s prepares to take him down when he really goes and kills Sode no Shirayuki. Finally some one shows how to properly dispose of zanpakutous quickly. And then, the first to get mad at him is Kazeshini lol he let me down.,I was expecting him to be all madness and kill kill kill.

After that incident, Senbonzakura, who just got his ass wooped a few minutes ago, acts all mighty and threatens Byakuya. Anyway, they both go back to Soul Society and find Renji and Rukia. The fight was.. really cool, wasn’t really expecting to be this entertained with a fight in this episode.

The art didn’t seem like much in the beginning, nor did the animation but still, the two last battles were awesome. After that, all the other zanpakutou’s appeared, probably trying to expose if Byakuya was a traitor but then, all the shinigamis appear too.

Really liked the episode, specially the two last fights. It seems everybody is going to fight now, hope it’s as good as in this episode.

• Next Episode: Shinigami & Zanpakutō

Byakuya’s Betrayal

Muramasa meets Ichigo again, along with Matsumoto and Hinamori. He tries to attack them but quickly loses his strength and starts pouring blood out of his eyes, badass. It seems he hasn’t got used to "that" body which I think means he has taken it from someone and is thinking of doing the same with Ichigo.

Then, Byakuya’s zanpakutou, Senbonzakura appears and saves Muramasa. He then goes bankai by the shikay shout.. lol

Anyway, Ichigo deals with Senbonzkura easily until Byakuya appears. And even though he made no sense to me, he basically agrees with Muramasa’s doing or something and will be helping him.

So, still no idea about Byakuya is doing, although I can’t imagine that he’s really betraying them and I think he’s got some other secret plot.

Nice episode, nothing too great but, enjoyable.

• Next Episode: For the Sake of Pride!

The Awakening Hyōrinmaru!
Hitsugaya’s Fierce Fight

It starts where it left off, with Muramasa acting all badass until he encounters what he was probably looking for. Meanwhile, Tobiume has somewhat of a more logical reason than most zanpakutou for not liking her wielder. As for Haineko and Matsumoto, they continue their "who’s sexier" fight. Nothing much, although the increase in art and animation quality makes it more enjoyable.

It ends well, in a simple way. The age speech wasn’t bad. Anyway, Hitsugaya and Hyorinmaru are this episode’s highlight.

Hitsugaya’s part was cool. The fight in itself wasn’t much but, the emotions and drama was wellplayed. The creators also used some material from one-shots from the manga, which helped deepen Hitsugaya’s character.

As for Muramasa, it seems he was just looking for the most powerful Hollow he could find so he could absorb him or use his body, something to extend his lifespan, not sure.

Well nice episode, the animation boost certainly helped, while Hitsugaya and Hyorinmaru were my favorite duo in this arc, along with Ichigo and Zangetsu.

• Next Episode: Byakuya’s Betrayal