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

Friendship? Hatred?
Haineko & Tobiume

It seems Byakuya and his zanpakutou are still separated so, I’m not sure of what’s been going on. Anyway, Ichigo loses his target and is found instead by Haineko and Tobiume. Still, Matsumoto and Hinamori appear and have their fight with their zanpakutou. The fight is left unfinished.

Ichigo ends up finding Hyourinmaro next. Hitsugaya appears too. He looked interesting. It’s strange he doesn’t have his memories. By the way, I didn’t understand Isane’s strange look to Unohana.

Byakuya remains the big mystery that everyone’s thinking about. Meanwhile, Muramasa is just walking around half hurt trying to look baddass by defeating lots of hollows lol.

Nice enough episode but, didn’t really have anything exciting going on.

The next episode will deal with Hitsugaya, Matsumoto and Hinamori.

• Next Episode: The Awakening Hyōrinmaru!

Soi Fon
Surrounding the Zanpakutō

Ichigo is quite the substitute shinigami, going to meetings and everything.. lol Basically, everyone now knows that they must fight and best their zanpakutou’s. But, really, with some zanpakutou’s abilities.. it kind of seems impossible to some shinigami right now. Meanwhile, all the zanpakutou’s are going after Ichigo.

Byakuya appears, his silhouette at least. Not sure of his plot but, it doesn’t quite look like it’s in favor of the shinigami right now. Also, Oomaeda finds his zanpakutou and fights it. The dialog was funny but, Oomaeda seemed out of character. I would expect him to be more of a coward or feel some fear.. I mean, he has no zanpakutou. I’m guessing his attitude would be less confident that when he fought the elephant arrancar. By the way, Gegetsuburi looks a lot like Buu from Dragon Ball lol.

Houzukimaru, tagging along Gegetsuburi, is found by Ikkaku. Ikkaku obviously enjoys this situation. Still, when Houzukimaru goes bankai, he starts losing. But, the fight is interrupted. Kyoraku and Ukitake were already prepared to intervene. Still, Houzukimaru runs away and Ichigo follows. But, he’s stoped by Byakyua’s zanpakutou, and Byakuya himself is seen. As he already gotten control of his zanpakutou?

Anyway, nice episode, hope the quality continues.

The next seems to be about capturing Ichigo. It also looks like the zanpakutou’s will do some talking.

• Next Episode: Friendship? Hatred?

Release!
The New Getsuga Tenshō

Hisagi falls and is saved by Kira. Ichigo gets Shirozaki’s help but, he can’t use his mask. Also, Zangetsu has gone bankai. Renji is having a better time than the others, until his zanpakutou goes bankai too.

The fights were really cool. Not sure why Shirozaki has prevented Ichigo from using the mask, doesn’t make sense but, it will at least make it more of a challenge for him.

Meanwhile, Renji’s zanpakutou goes bankai and he loses his advantage. Still, he manages to use kidou and divise a nice stratagy to defeat them. It didn’t feel like a real defeat but, served it’s purpose. After being defeated, their zanpakutou returned to him. Also, Ichigo managed to defeat Zangetsu knowing he would accept him back. He then learns that Muramasa is controlling the zanpakutou’s mind to some extent and that Ichigo saves him.

So, Muramasa is a true villain, with his own personal agenda. Now, everyone else just need to defeat their own zanpakutou’s and free them from Muramasa. Also, at the end, Muramasa, who’s become really interest in Ichigo and his connection with Zangetsu, comments he might be.. Well, my theory right now is that he’s searching for a new wielder and Ichigo might be the one more suitable. I would also say he’s somehow sick and dying because of his existence apart from a shinigami. Being that why he need a wielder again.

Nice episode, the animation varied from normal to really cool. I’m liking it this way. It has made all latest Bleach episodes consistent in terms of production quality.

• Next Episode: Soi Fon