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Rating: 7.5/10

Impressions:

This episode covers almost two chapters of manga, with some inserts of minor filler material. Due to all the talking and focus on a single area, this episode feels really slow to me. The problem with Bleach now is, if it continues with a relatively fast pace (2-3 chapters per episode), it will be forced to produce fillers in due time. But going a slow pace like it is now destroys the intensity and excitement of the manga material anyway. I think I’ll just place my faith in the manga for now, and start expecting more when we get to the real fights. Hopefully there won’t be a massive filler arc before ‘reinforcements’ arrive.

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Popularity: 6% [?]

Rating: 7/10

Impressions:

Fights that are dragged on with repeated actions, and battles won by heavy thinking…none of that’s for me. This always happens with the weaker characters, like Ishida, who needs to plan out a strategy. Not only that, but the continuos yo-yoing and arrow shooting get old extremely quickly. To put it bluntly, Ishida’s fight is shit. I just want to be impressed with raw power or skill, and nothing tedious. I would rather focus on some heavy character development or plot progression than rack my brains following a seemingly complicated (but not) battle plan. This is why Ichigo’s (non-filler) fights and those between captains are so fun to watch…there’s simply no bullshit.

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Popularity: 5% [?]

Rating: 8/10

Impressions:

Nice, the next episode I watch after saying how far downhill Bleach has gone turns out to be excellently animated and executed. And Nell’s actually cute in this episode (she’s usually excruciatingly annoying). I’m sure that the ‘good story’ Renji avoids in this episode relates to what Nell can actually become (her unique cero-swallowing and healing saliva powers are simply the start of it). And on another note, it’s funny as how I didn’t like the synching for the new OP, but now with the movie previews happening behind the music, I’m starting to like it much more. And regarding the movie, it seems like this time, it will be more relevant to the anime in its showing of Toushiro’s past.

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Popularity: 6% [?]

Rating: 6.5/10

Impressions:

Is it just me, or is Bleach just not as good as it used to be? The lack of seriousness in the show is highly frustrating, as at this point in the arc, everything should weighty and not comical. Along with that, the concepts are becoming increasingly outrageous. Now we have an arrancar that shoots wind from random holes in his body? Bleach initially takes only the concept of swords, and people who wield them to defeat demons. But even when the fancy stuff comes along in later episodes, nothing is too extreme. Super-high reiatsu is cool, thousands of miniature blades are cooler.

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Popularity: 9% [?]

Rating: 7/10

Impressions:

I know it’s shocking as I once said that I was highly looking forward to seeing Nell in the show, but now, her voice is just plain annoying. I don’t think any of the scenes involving her are executed well in the first place, but at least I can still look forward to the introduction of that ‘other’ Nell out there. Anyway, this episode, like the beginning of the mini filler arc that just took place, illustrates a powerful enemy in the midst that our heroes will surely face soon. However, rest assured, since as along as the manga storyline is followed accurately, the next battle should be a proper one. It will still only touch the surface of the power of the enemies to come, but should be enjoyable nonetheless.

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Popularity: 10% [?]

Rating: 6.5/10

Impressions:

It looks like this is the last episode of the mini filler arc. It started pretty well, though it never really utilised the new characters to their full potential. What was made to seem like powerful adversaries, turned out to be weak adjuchas class hollows, that were easily dispatched. As foreseen, Ashido either dies or disappears, though with this type of ending for him, the producers can produce extra fillers and bring him back whenever they want to in future episodes. And I’m not saying that as a good thing for us viewers. Anyway, now we can finally get back to the manga storyline, and hopefully be seeing some real enemies soon.

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Popularity: 8% [?]

Rating: 6.8/10

Impressions:

Ok, so everything was pretty good, except for the unveiling of the adjuchas-class hollows, which is downright horrible. Honestly, they look like shit. So much for some powerful arrancar that could be a challenge to Ichigo and the others. At least this mini filler arc gives Rukia some screen time. Ashido seems to sacrifice himself at the end of the episode, which would make for a suitable finish for the arc. Either that, or perhaps he’ll decide to return to society and merge with the masses of little weak shinigami. =P It’s strange, how the hero, Ichigo was once as weak as those rank-less shinigami in Soul Society. And look at him now…this is what shounen anime do to things. =)

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Popularity: 25% [?]

Rating: 7.3/10

Impressions:

Wow, this episode is actually pretty good for a filler. With the exception of some badly drawn frames, this episode presents us with some decent quality filler material with a fairly interesting plot. We get the mix of filler comedy as well, which isn’t that bad as this time, instead of a standalone method of entertainment, it actually complements the other interesting stuff going on at the same time. We get Ichigo and co. getting gang banged, alongside Rukia and her mysterious captor (who seems to bear no ill intentions, and is probably only fighting her for some obvious shounen-show reason like testing her worthiness), as well as the sinister-looking arrancar elsewhere.

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Popularity: 29% [?]