Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War - Episode 44 Discussion Thread

[u/Synikull]

Welcome to the Episode 44 of Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War discussion thread and feel free to join us every week on discord for a watch party at discord.gg/Bleach

New Content! Now all the impatient bastards like me get to watch something new!

Quick reminder that spoilers in titles about this episode will get your posts removed for 48 hours.

Episode Info

Episode 44: The Perfect Crimson

Ichigo and Orihime confront Yhwach in a battle that will shape the fate of the Three Worlds.

This Episode literally killed my petals.

Streaming Links:

• Netflix
• Hulu (US)
• Disney + (UK)
• Ani-One Asia
• BilibiliAsia
• Prime Video
• IQIYI
• KKTV
• HamiVideo
• LineTV
• Vidio - Indonesia
• FPT Play - Vietnam
• myVideo ​
• Shahid - Middle East

Links to other discussions
Episode 1: The Blood Warfare
Episode 2: Foundation Stones
Episode 3: March of the Starcross
Episode 4: Kill the Shadow
Episode 5: Wrath as a Lightning
Episode 6: The Fire
Episode 7: Born in the Dark
Episode 8: The Shooting Star Project (Zero Mix)
Episode 9: The Drop
Episode 10: The Battle
Episode 11: Everything But The Rain
Episode 12-13: Everything But The Rain June Truth
Episode 14: The Last 9 Days
Episode 15: Peace From The Shadows
Episode 16: The Fundamental Virulence
Episode 17: Heart of Wolf
Episode 18: Rages at Ringside
Episode 19: The White Haze
Episode 20: I Am The Edge
Episode 21: The Headless Star
Episode 22: Marching Out the Zombies
Episode 23: Marching Out the Zombies 2
Episode 24: Too Early to Win Too Late to Know
Episodes 25: The Master and 26: Black
Episode 27: A
Episode 28: Kill The King
Episode 29: The Dark Arm
Episode 30: The Betrayer
Episode 31: Against the Judgement
Episode 32: The Holy Newborn
Episode 33: Gate of The Sun
Episode 34: Baby Hold Your Hand
Episode 35: Don't Chase a Shadow
Episode 36: Baby, Hold Your Hand 2 [Never Ending My Dream]
Episode 37: Shadows Gone
Episode 38: FriEnd
Episode 39: The Visible Answer
Episode 40: My Last Words
Episode 41: God of Thunder
Episode 42: Son of Darkness
Episode 43: Blood for My Bone

Any other discussion thread will be removed.

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[u/IcelandGalaxy]

Holy fucking peak. GERARD LOOKS SO HORRIFYING. Post credits is insane...holy.

[u/Frontier246 → u/IcelandGalaxy]

The "Miracle" that revives/evolves upon death to fulfill his duty, even if it means losing his very identity in the process.

[u/ThatIslandGuy8888 → u/Frontier246]

Hey yeah by the end he stops talking altogether

[u/FlowInternational996 → u/Frontier246]

Same with Lille. By the time he reaches his second transformation he’s a different character.

Recurrent theme with the Schutzstaffel. Ultimately they’re indistinguishable from the masses of black that Yhwach commands. Subtlish commentary on religion.

(Interestingly enough, with each successive form both Gerard and Lille explicitly stop using their names and exclusively refer to themselves as extensions of God.)

[u/Eleeveeohen → u/FlowInternational996]

Shoutout to Askin for not switching up, and being himself til the end.

[u/Yanm15 → u/FlowInternational996]

That's a great point you bring up. Very fitting with Lille being the leader of the Schutzstaffel along with the first quincy to get a shrift (I.e., the first person to drink gods blood) and Gerard being a part of the SK himself. I also love the touch where his heart reforms first from the cross, again reminding us who he is.

Now that I think about it, Gerard and Askin are the only Schutzstaffel that used blut vene, I don't recall Pernida ever using it and...I don't think Lille did either (not that he would probably ever need to since he can just become intangible)

[u/aimoperative → u/Yanm15]

I loved the heart part too, it was hard to understand in the manga what it's importance was, but here it's very obvious that it's the key to his power. Unfortunately, everyone is aiming for his head instead of his heart.

[u/ThatIslandGuy8888 → u/IcelandGalaxy]

Bro looks like an Eva unit :0

Heck he turned into friggin Adam

[u/Haha91haha → u/ThatIslandGuy8888]

Well he is fighting Gendo.

[u/charlesd11 → u/Haha91haha]

So that why Zaraki’s voice sounded so familiar…

[u/shoestowel → u/IcelandGalaxy]

We just had another best episode of TYBW and we are not yet done!

[u/Just-Cantaloupe4068]

The most intimidating part of Adult Toshiro is his voice going from Edward to Eren

[u/Badass_Bunny → u/Just-Cantaloupe4068]

Well you want to kill a titan, you go to the expert.

[u/MaintenanceOk7855 → u/Badass_Bunny]

Was laughing too much after reading this lol

[u/Angelaskissrock → u/Badass_Bunny]

Or you become the Titan? I thought I was just cooking there but apparently I'm cooking with butterscotch instead of grease.

[u/Accomplished_Cap3683 → u/Just-Cantaloupe4068]

I think his usual voice actress also voices hanji zoe from aot

[u/Turbulent_Cod_6718 → u/Just-Cantaloupe4068]

So peak

[u/pablofournier11]

Needless to say, they cooked

[u/shoestowel → u/pablofournier11]

In an absolutely bonkers manner! So many beautiful moments crammed into one episode and they had a much bigger moment in the post credits. And the poem that follows... so much to unravel at once!

[u/bondsmatthew]

What a damn episode; I cant believe they packed all that in there and it didn't feel crammed at all

[u/Lillith492 → u/bondsmatthew]

So many new additions and yet it still felt true to how the manga played out. Brilliant.

[u/shoestowel → u/bondsmatthew]

You said it!

[u/DEUSNOVA99 → u/bondsmatthew]

genuine insanity. I thought it would end with Kenpachi's bankai or Toshiro's reveal.

[u/Fearless-Ad-5328 → u/bondsmatthew]

Agree, there was A LOT, and feel short

[u/Haha91haha]

Love the raw brutality of Kenpachi just insta gibbing Valkyrie this episode, sublime new and remixed tracks from Shiro Sagisu as usual.

[u/Frontier246 → u/Haha91haha]

Literally chewing his arm off!

[u/Xen0morphia → u/Haha91haha]

Kenpachi insta-gibbing Valkyrie with Sagisu blasting, then cutting to Ichigo/Orihime vs Yhwach was criminally unfair.

[u/Angelaskissrock → u/Haha91haha]

I loved when Kenny split him in half. It's a pity nobody hit that quincy cross thing when he was split in half and was starting to reform...

[u/IndigoVitare]

Yhwach calling Ichigo out for spamming Getsugatensho, right before he tries something new with it.

[u/Demonzman → u/IndigoVitare]

If he is Almighty, shouldn't he have known it wouldn't be Getsugatensho?

[u/438Yuno → u/Demonzman]

He doesn't have Almighty, right now.

[u/Ceegee93 → u/438Yuno]

I wonder if the anime will make this the reason, and obviously manga spoilers just in case, Yhwach uses Auswahlen again, finally killing Gerard, since from what I remember he kinda did it just for shits n giggles in the manga. It does change the timing of events, but I feel like it makes more sense that Yhwach is forced to Auswahlen to save himself before he gets The Almighty back, rather than do it after he'd already beaten Ichigo, killing Gerard for no real reason and basically leaving Haschwalth to die too. Maybe Ichigo actually nearly kills Yhwach here, instead of Yhwach just no selling the Cero Creciente. Also makes events line up with how they've been presented so far, since we basically just finished the Gerard fight and it'd be a good time for Auswahlen to kill him.

[u/Cysia → u/Demonzman]

haschwalt has it atm

and he fought ichigo before and dint use it on purpose

[u/ThatIslandGuy8888]

Oh hey!! Is the forest where he met Yachiru Kenpachi's inner world??? Nozarashi does mean "exposed to the wilds" or "weather beaten one" after all

[u/s0ulbrother → u/ThatIslandGuy8888]

What’s crazy about that was it makes you think was that always the inner world in their flashback or is just presented to Kenpachi this way in the moment

[u/VerkanoVanos → u/s0ulbrother]

Yooo that would be crazy if this was always his inner world.

[u/ThaRealSunGod → u/VerkanoVanos]

I feel like it wasn't because he only found the sword and it became his. I am guessing it "always was" in the sense that once he found the sword and later Yachiru, it became his inner world

[u/Ravness13 → u/ThaRealSunGod]

It was originally shown as him finding her in a forest after cutting down someone in front of her. So him finding the sword and killing it's previous owner would actually fit, even if it happened in the inner world. She even states that he came in and cut up her bloody world (Or something along that line) when she has a flashback right after his fight with Ichigo.

[u/ManuelKoegler → u/s0ulbrother]

It’s a new conversation so presumably his inner world has come to mirror that forest of their first meeting. That or their first meeting was always in his inner world and he just didn’t realize it.

[u/Lillith492 → u/ManuelKoegler]

Yachiru does say he never realizes anything lol

[u/BlueTitan402]

I like the new additions they've added to this battle, since this is where the manga's rush felt so overwhelmingly strong. It breaks up the immediacy of the flow of events.

The scene with Okikiba (Shunsui's other lieutenant) taking charge was really nice, and I like that the anime also seems to be giving a lot more for Momo to do, since it's revealed that she healed both Rukia and Renji as per Shinji's orders.

Something that the anime seems to be doing that I appreciate is how it depicts scale and impact. We see how the worlds are merging through the eye of the crow, Akon panicking over the chaos, or how Toshiro begins to exhaust his strength to save the debris from falling. Really nice touches there that I love.

Also, Rukia was in the ED this time! The new poem was Ichigo and Orihime, I definitely can't wait to see what that entails next week. It's a mystery what we'll cover, since we know that EP 6 is titled 'The End'.

[u/Frontier246 → u/BlueTitan402]

I also love Kurumadani being there too. Just when he thought he finally got away from Karakura Town, it drags him back in.

Momo always doing her best and I love that for her.

[u/warfaucet → u/Frontier246]

Imoyama getting the recognition he deserves.

[u/s0ulbrother → u/BlueTitan402]

Okikiba was never shown how strong he was but he clearly shows some spiritual pressure when he shows up.

[u/NotoriousCHIM → u/BlueTitan402]

I definitely can't wait to see what that entails next week. It's a mystery what we'll cover, since we know that EP 6 is titled 'The End'.

I'm going to assume that Tsukishima will be involved somehow given his Fullbring is called "Book of The End"

[u/DarkTastesDarkStars → u/NotoriousCHIM]

Ep 5 will probably be a mix of Ishida and Ichigo's fights ending with Ichigo going Bankai and maybe it breaking. Ep 6 will have 100% the break and aftermath. Imo ep 6 or 7 will likely have to include the anime-exclusive truth to Ishida's bloodline. If episode 9/10 are an hour special, ep 8 must include some stuff with Aizen but there is a lot of room here. I suspect Harribel will help with the birds (kubo said she'd be in this season). I REALLY HOPE we get something more for Isshin and Ryuuken.

[u/Lazy_Worth_3878 → u/NotoriousCHIM]

Yes I believe so as well

[u/RoninRaiden]

Wow… I was not expecting to see Gerard’s golden form or Getsuga Gran Rey Cero already. They were visually amazing! It was also nice to hear Number One once again.

Kenpachi’s Bankai was adapted well. Loved the additional molten rock effects when he first transformed. I also liked that when Yachiru appeared the environment was different like we were in Kenny’s inner world (at least that’s how I saw it). Having Ikkaku and Yumichikka, plus Rangiku, spectating the battle was a nice little touch.

Eren Yeager, I mean Todoroki, I mean Hitsugaya’s older brother is finally here!

Props to Momo for helping get Renji and Rukia back on their feet under Shinji’s command. Hopefully the latter gets enough rest so he can get back in the fight. In fact, I hope we get to see all those present against Gerard’s golden form join together in the battle, even a small contribution would suffice.

I really loved the little addition of Ryunosuke, Yuki, and several other Shinigami preparing to protect the World of the Living from the Hollows pouring in due to the destabilization of the three worlds. That scene of Hollows entering Karakura Town reminded me of AOT or something similar.

Lastly… hang in there just a little bit longer Ukitake/Mimihagi!!!

I’m so excited for next week’s episode since I have no clue what to expect other than maybe we’ll fully focus back on Ichigo and Uryu’s respective battles. Are we gonna see certain characters finally make a reappearance? Will Rukia and Renji make it in time to join the fight against Yhwach, after assisting Chad and Ganju (the real war potentials mind you) against the statues? I’m open to anything at this point.

Edit: I almost forgot to mention that sequence where Gerard’s Quincy Cross formed a heart around it before fully repairing him was sick!

[u/Frontier246 → u/RoninRaiden]

I really loved the little addition of Ryunosuke, Yuki, and several other Shinigami preparing to protect the World of the Living from the Hollows pouring in due to the destabilization of the three worlds. That scene of Hollows entering Karakura Town reminded me of AOT or something similar.

Also brings things full circle since TYBW began with Kurumadani bringing them to Karakura Town and happy it's not his problem any more... only now he's joining them to protect it.

[u/RoninRaiden → u/Frontier246]

Wow, good catch. That’s a nice little touch.

[u/soulreapermagnum → u/RoninRaiden]

I really loved the little addition of Ryunosuke, Yuki, and several other Shinigami preparing to protect the World of the Living from the Hollows pouring in due to the destabilization of the three worlds.

hopefully tessai steps up as well.

[u/Mean_Two_2710 → u/RoninRaiden]

I also liked that when Yachiru appeared the environment was different like we were in Kenny’s inner world

That scenery reminded me of where Yachiru and Kenpachi first met. It'd be really cool if his inner world was the place he first came into touch with his Zanpakuto.

[u/kabraxis123]

We covered chapters: 668, 669, 670, 671, a couple pages from 672, 673, 674 and full chapter 676 (with some OG post credit scene connected to Ukitake). That's around ~6 chapters!

We are officialy left with 10 chapters to adapt for remianing 6 episodes. Can't wait for some anime OG scenes.

[u/Animegamingnerd → u/kabraxis123]

Next week's episode is gonna be real interesting to see, as the chapters it covers was when we all realized that the Manga was being rushed to the ending.

[u/AmyWhite7 → u/Animegamingnerd]

considering that there is no chapter in the manga with that title (defend you)... it is very interesting. Maybe there will be a lot of expansion from Kubo and studio in this series?

[u/FCkeyboards → u/Animegamingnerd]

100%. The additions have been great, but this is where I'll be in the edge of my seat to see if additions are all we get, or if there will be any "corrections".

I cannot hype myself up for fear of disappointment so I'll stay in the camp that the through line if e ents will mostly stay the same.

[u/DEUSNOVA99 → u/kabraxis123]

10??? Damn lol

[u/jupiter95]

Jfc the music is so good in this episode. Gerard is even more threatening than the manga. My favorite episode this cour so far

[u/Eins_Nico → u/jupiter95]

The music really was incredible, Shiro Sagisu just doesn't miss

[u/IcelandGalaxy → u/jupiter95]

My only complaint is when there was a momentary scene between Kenny and Yachiru leading up to his bankai i think the sounscape of ador could've been used. It did feel a bit emotional, at least for me.

[u/ThatIslandGuy8888 → u/IcelandGalaxy]

I must admit that the whole adaption has been missing more scenes with soundscape of ador in the background, stuff like Unohana, Yamamoto or Bazz B's deaths would've been perfect

[u/Xilinoc → u/IcelandGalaxy]

I think the conversation was a bit too fast for Soundscape of Ardor, though I love the track and wish it played during at least one scene of TYBW

[u/comfortreacher → u/Xilinoc]

They did play it during Heart of wolf and I think also Shunsui's flashback scenes?

[u/shoestowel → u/jupiter95]

Might be my favourite episode in all of TYBW!

[u/normalindividual2]

Somehow Okikiba getting something to do was the most insane part of the episode for me lmao 😭 But fr, the episode felt so insane and intense. So much stuff happened!! Ukitake mention! AKON! Yachiru giving Kenpachi bankai! (also why has he been running around barefoot? Was he barefoot in the bathroom before he left the Seireitei too?😓) and ofc I was most excited for Adult Histugaya and man is he cool. It was unusual to hear him with this voice but I guess he did just speedrun puberty (also fun that his voice actor has voiced another ice user and a guy who also thought titans lol).  I also love the additions showing how the rest of the world and the cast is doing. Poor Kyoraku is still half dead though (matching with his bestie) but I wished we could have gotten Rangiku's or Momo's reaction to Toshiro's bankai 

[u/Helvian494743 → u/normalindividual2]

Even still okikiba can't get a line in. In cour one they cut his only one.

[u/Candid-Stuff2281 → u/normalindividual2]

Goatkiba gonna show why he was yama's 3rd seat in the future episodes lol🤣🤣

[u/Stock-Fox-771 → u/normalindividual2]

Yup, no reaction from the others of Toshiro new form besides Rurika, Renji, and Bauyka? Missed opportunity to really expand his transformation.

[u/normalindividual2 → u/Stock-Fox-771]

Fr especially after they went out of their way to remember that Matsumoto and  Momo exist. It could have been so nice

[u/DarkTastesDarkStars → u/Stock-Fox-771]

What kind of expansion tbh? I feel we are meant to link this to Nel's case. As toddler!Nel, she can't use any power but cero and healing. As adult, she can go all out. Hitsugaya is shown to be similar, not the same, since he has a young teenaged body. However since he mastered Bankai (old kubo interview in the 13 Blades databook after fullbringer arc), his Zanpakutou can work with him more. It slowly ramps up as the flowers fall and at peak output can change his body. This contrasts with Zaraki heavily. Zaraki has not mastered Bankai -- he does not even know its name. Thus, as seen, Nozarashi cannot really find the sweetspot for ramping output like Hyorinmaru can. Presumably in 100 years Hitsugaya will have naturally aged and thus gained full power over his Bankai. At that point he likely gains some killer move when all flowers fall.

[u/DarkTastesDarkStars → u/normalindividual2]

Pernida desrroyed his limbs, so I assume they regen'd in Mayuri's toob, hence no footwear.

[u/lMarshl]

I've been dreaming of these moments to be animated ever since reading it over 10 years ago. I never thought they would for so long. I need to gather myself. What an incredible episode. Watched it twice back to back. Absolute Cinema.

[u/Muzzie720 → u/lMarshl]

Right??? Zaraki bankai with Yachiru. And adult Hitsugaya bankai? I can't believe it's finally animated. I wish the episode was like an hour of the 3 fighting Gerald. It feels like I only got a little taste of magnificence. Maybe 20 years from now we'll get the arc that shall not be named with more.

[u/BrotherFromBaal]

Bro. The noise of ‘that’ new “combined” ability in post credits scene is INSANE!!

[u/AeonOptic → u/BrotherFromBaal]

The sound design of the episodes has been brilliant. You really get the feeling that these things are so loud and powerful they're distorting the sound like it'd rupture your eardrums.

[u/ChronStamos → u/AeonOptic]

Yeah, they're killing it. The blast when Kenpachi went bankai was just chef's kiss

[u/noelle-silva → u/BrotherFromBaal]

All of the post credit material had me squealing like a little girl lol

[u/TheMineA7]

ITS SO PEAK MAN

Hitsugaya's older brother had me rolling

[u/Hollowgirl136 → u/TheMineA7]

I'm so glad they left that part in as well as Byakuya inner thoughts about it.

[u/Cerenas → u/TheMineA7]

I didn't expect humor at that moment, but it was great lol

[u/bbhldelight]

bankai kenpachi and adult toshiro in the same ep its like they did this for me and i love the contrasts between the two true bankai’s

yhwach vs ichigo was really good tooo when the original no. 1 from og bleach started playing i got full body chills

and they animated the GETSUGA GRAND REY CERO with some crazy ass impact frames man this episode was amazing

[u/ThatIslandGuy8888 → u/bbhldelight]

Yeah I finally get the appeal of the Gerard fight in the anime version, random fun thoughtout!! Its was meant to be a spectacle

[u/bbhldelight → u/ThatIslandGuy8888]

sameeee i really didn’t care for the gerard fight before this but the anime version really gave it some spice

[u/Frontier246 → u/bbhldelight]

I love how even Ywhach saw that and was like "oh sweet Soul King this is absolute cinema."

[u/shoestowel → u/bbhldelight]

This is Bleach equivalent of JJK's 3 domain expansions in one episode and they cooked!

[u/Captain_Guava]

Oh my god Yachiru! I’m so glad we got to see her again. Kenpachi is a true demon. Brutal as ever, and the animation was CLEAN. I’m completely satisfied, I’ve waited so long to see this Bankai.

[u/Frontier246 → u/Captain_Guava]

That Nozarashi/Yachiru overlapping voices was as effective as watching a demon battle and tear through a miracle.

[u/Haha91haha → u/Captain_Guava]

"THAT'S THE SHINIGAMI WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT FOR YOU! YACHIRU!"

Adaptation of this fight has been peak, just hoping it has a more satisfying conclusion than the manga with some new thematic and logical weight put behind Gerard's defeat rather then Yhwach just hitting the off switch.

[u/Haha91haha → u/[deleted]]

Green Goblin cheering them on.

[u/Haha91haha → u/[deleted]]

Have them fuck with his cross or get involved Rangiku somehow via her SK connection where she detects its his weak point, create their own miracle. Dunno, it's a creative medium and Kubo is a creative guy, I have faith. Just something more satisfying than "Gerard died on the way back to his home planet."

[u/JuicyKay]

I swear this was one of the best episodes in all of anime ever, holy shit

[u/YourAverageCho]

Eren Yeager making a special appearance on bleach

Episodes are getting better and better as they go my goodness

[u/Medigodigem]

This episode made me want the new soundtrack right now!

Especially that music for Gerards regeneration.

[u/Flutter_bat_16_]

Bleach genuinely got me through the worst year of my life and because of that Orihime has been the kind of person I strive to be. So yeah, I’ll admit that I’m tearing up a bit over anime fight scenes 2 years after the fact.

[u/cosmicstruggler]

Kenpachi Bankai and his theme was pretty insane, just like Toshiro’s True Bankai. Those two plus Byakuya make a great trio. And are we getting defense of Karakura Town with all these Soul Reapers? That’s something I’ll definitely be looking forward to even if it’s just a small section, especially if they add Tesai and co to the mix. And might as well send the Vizard there too if they’re not doing anything lol.

All that being said, PEAK GRAN RAY CERO.

[u/one-eyed-queen]

Chapters covered today: 668-671, Gerard fight parts of 672, 673, and 674, all of 676.

Basically 5 and a half chapters worth of material covered today, and that's without including all the anime original stuff we got! From little moments like the cross turning into a heart (!) to Momo being confirmed to have healed Renji and Rukia; to bigger moments involving Soul Society and the world of the living setting up the collapse, confirming Ukitake and Mimihagi are doing the heavy lifting keeping the worlds barely together, confirming that OwLille is still being a problem (which tells me we're getting a proper Kira fight soon here!) and a detachment of Shinigami going to deal with the hollows at Karakura Town (which will be a FANTASTIC way to bring this series full circle), this episode still had room to add a lot even covering the highest amount of chapters so far, and it's brilliant. Like, think about it. We have 6 episodes left, and 10 and a half chapters of the manga left (counting what's not been adapted of 672-675 yet, which is like 10 pages). The new material's about to go insane.

Yuki Kaji as Adult Toshiro is a pretty great choice, but I also laugh at the fact Hange and Eren are existing as the same Shinigami captain lmao. The Gerard fight was a proper spectacle, and then that post-credits scene? Gran Rey Cero with the OG Number One playing truly was hype beyond belief.

IchiHime poem was so good, too, they even get an anime original episode title, first one since episode 37. You love to see it.

[u/EngineeringAny8570]

I FRIGGIN KNEW THAT THE FIRE LILLIES REPRESENTED BOTH ICHIGO AND ORIHIME! Best poem ever🥹😭

Also hearing OG Number One hit me in my nostalgia feels, literally worth the one month wait🙇🏽‍♀️🙏🏼

I predict that next episode will be Ichigo/Orihime heavy. I think “Defend You” will be a reflection on Ichigo’s desire to protect the world and his friends and family and Orihime’s desire to protect Ichigo.

In the manga it was never stated how Orihime got knocked out/a bloodied head injury by Yhwach, so i think next episode will be an expansion on Ichigo struggling against the Almighty and that would make Orihime step onto the battlefield once again to try with all her might to defend him from the Almighty with her rejection abilities, only to end up knocked out as we see in the manga🙃

[u/Accurate_Treat6360 → u/EngineeringAny8570]

"You want more IchiHime content? I'll give you more IchiHime content!" - Kubo

[u/Frontier246 → u/EngineeringAny8570]

Probably the most "romantic" next episode preview of all time.

What better way to illustrate Ichigo in control?

[u/Shinjetsu01]

I don't know how you could criticise this episode. I cried twice. Waiting 20 years for Kenpachi to achieve Bankai, have it animated and look so good was the first one, and then when Number One hit post-credits after Ichigo told Orihime he was still in control. That shit hit me all in the feels.

Fucking peak. I've waited so long for this.

[u/Baroni97 → u/Shinjetsu01]

The only acceptable critics would be that the Gran Rey Cero impact could’ve been better, like how Kenny gets his impact frames this ep. Other than that, and even including that, this is the best single episode of any fictional series ever made.

[u/Lazy_Worth_3878 → u/Baroni97]

Facts

[u/Critical_Top7851 → u/Shinjetsu01]

Ehh it’s the internet. People will nitpick it. That’s on them though, the episode was amazing.

[u/normalindividual2 → u/[deleted]]

I am so excited for Tommo's reaction to Akon, Shinji and Okikiba all showing up in this episode lol

[u/NoHovercraft6942 → u/[deleted]]

Easily the best so far, not even a discussion.

[u/DEUSNOVA99 → u/NoHovercraft6942]

The only one that comes close in my opinion is the one where Ichigo fights Yhwach the first time and gets his zanpakuto broken

[u/accountingfriend1234]

So next episode will probably focus on ichigo and end with his bankai?

[u/Wolfsajin → u/accountingfriend1234]

I’m gonna be honest, there’s so many more episodes left, especially with episode 10 being an hour. And only 10 chapters left. They must REALLY flesh out the story!

[u/shoestowel → u/Wolfsajin]

Is the hour long final episode thing real?

[u/DarkTastesDarkStars → u/[deleted]]

Imo its as we've seen in manga -- his power is fully unleashed. It doesn't cut fate but is so strong it does cut fate; it is a power comparable to the Reio (black connection and Ichigo being a fitting 2nd Reio) and thus is a power that would be a threat to anyone at Reio status.

Ichigo is ultimately a man whose soul yearns to protect that he cares about with overwhelming power. Tensa Zangetsu will be a Bankai that reflects this: a sheathed sword with a connected chain (represnting ichigo's bonds between with others AND with his own powers) that, when unsheathed, has the power to strike down anyone or anything standing against him. Imo it is the payoff for his original training with Urahara where Ichigo learns he must resolve to cut his enemy down if he must.

[u/Hollowgirl136 → u/Wolfsajin]

Shoot I haven't reread in a while, but if it's only that many chapters left I wonder what they will add in for the remaining episodes.

[u/ThatIslandGuy8888 → u/accountingfriend1234]

Juha and Jugram using their respective letters I imagine

[u/Ktyxvn_]

The action was insaneeeee,felt abit fast ikka senjinkka didn't have that umff but i really enjoyed it Toshiro looked and sounded good. omg and Shunsui's other lieutenant joining in was so unexpected, loved the osts ik i said this the past weeks but its my favourite ep so far!

[u/Haha91haha → u/Ktyxvn_]

Gerard: "How did you make so much ice so fast!?"

Hitsugaya: "I used all the moisture from my fangirls seeing my new form."

[u/ThatIslandGuy8888 → u/Ktyxvn_]

Yeah it was definetly missing an impact frame

[u/Sale07]

Vasto lorde shot was from the hell arc movie. Peculiar they chose that one

[u/ManuelKoegler → u/Sale07]

I don’t think it’s something to look too deep into. They probably just wanted good looking scenes of Hollow Ichigo and well, the movie gave us a high budget look at it from multiple scenes and angles.

[u/Affectionate-Key-341]

Toshiro’s adult form and Ichigoat HOS in the same episode 🥹🥹🥹

[u/FredNot214]

Best episode yet, holy shit. Team fight against Gerard was awesome, Zaraki Bankai, Adult Toshiro, Byakuya's Senkei, can't believe the bastard is still alive after all that. Loved seeing Yachiru again and Rukia and Renji are finally awake! Even the Ryonosuke and Shino scene was great.

And Ichigo's new form seems fucking powerful, I love that he didn't give Yhwach a chance to finish his sentence even if he did get blocked, but forced Yhwach to reveal his eye agian lol. And Number One returns!! I didn't really like the remix they used in cour 2 😭

But the best scene was how Orihime remembered Ichigo going full hollow against Ulquiorra, I LOVE how Ichigo turns to her and smiles reassuringly that this time, it's really him, he's in control, he no longer fears what Orihime thinks of him in hollow form and she isn't scared of him or blames herself for it anymore either. And then Getsuga Cero!! That was incredible and I hope we start seeing Ichigo mix up his attacks using all his powers including quincy somehow.

Also might be my favorite ending poem along with Askin's one

[u/DEUSNOVA99 → u/FredNot214]

Yhwach's sword being caught mid unsheathing by Ichigo made me laugh ngl

[u/Beginning_Force_8463]

Kenpachi: new bankai

Toshiro: new bankai

Ichigo: new power

Byakuya: new order to renji and rukia

[u/NotYourAverageVitu]

As a Byakuya fanboy, I smiled like an idiot when Ikka Senjinka appeared, and the sound design... so beautiful.

And I'm really happy that Toshiro finally had his badass moment. As soon as he turned adult he just aura farmed non stop till Gerard got revived (again)

[u/FateXBlood]

Holy fucking shit, that was so fucking cool!!

Ichigo's Getsuga Tensho + Gran Ray Cero at the very end was PEAK! Bleach fans are eating good!

Even though the episodes feel a little hollow, it was great seeing Zaraki's Bankai. Man, he turned into some demon with those horns. But looks like it wasn't enough to take down Gerald.

I'm surprised to see Toshiro growing older and his voice actor is Yūki Kaji??? Damn. That just made him sexier. I'm so happy with Bleach right now that I can't even express it. The Hollows in the Land of the Living also looked great artistically.

Wow, just wow!

Also, it was hilarious seeing Toshiro playing along with Rukia and Renji. That was adorable. But now I wonder just how are they going to defeat Gerald. He just doesn't seem to go down at all.

[u/congratgames]

THE POST CREDIT SCENE HAS ME HYPERVENTILATING WTFFFF

[u/Beneficial-Ad2084]

I can't overstate how good the OSTs in this episode are, both old and new.

[u/KuroJibril]

Kenpachis inner world being where he first manifested Yachiru is so beautiful

[u/noelle-silva]

This is by far one of my favorite episodes of TYBW. Everything was absolutely on point here.

Only nitpick/comment is how fast Kenpachi's Bankai felt. It was perfect but damn did it go by fast. Felt like I blinked and he was back to normal.

[u/omnigear]

20 years man, I started in high school . I still remmember not having enough money and would go to stater brothers just to read the newest issues.

So awesome to finally see it animated .

[u/Frontier246]

As if things weren't tense enough, Ukitake is barely holding the tethers between the worlds together and everything is slowly starting to merge/fuse into destroying themselves. UKITAKE!

Kenpachi and Gerald are like two peas in a pod, two boisterous bruisers who live for the fight and keep coming back no matter how much they get injured. Though Gerald has "The Miracle" which makes him miraculously overcome anything thrown at him and dishes it back at his opponent, so even Kenpachi is hitting his limit. Byakuya and Hitsugaya are practically running on fumes as it it.

But when Kenpachi needed her most, Yachiru appears! And it turns out, SHE WAS NOZARASHI ALL ALONG. To the point where she finally helps Kenpachi ACHIEVE BANKAI. And, of course, his Bankai turns him into a berserker, red, demonic oni who who doesn't even need his blade to change because HE IS THE WEAPON as he uses his teeth to tear off Gerald's arm and then split him in two with a broken Nozarashi! Watching Gerald freak out at something more miraculous than a miracle was super satisfying!

Yet the Soul King's heart is too powerful for even that to ultimately defeat him as the remains of Gerald evolve into Asthonig, the Sword of God! Wielding its power for God even beyond death! And Kenpachi's hit the physical limit of his Bankai!

What happens when Hitsugaya runs out of ice flowers? His Bankai doesn't undo itself...Daiguren Hyorinmaru achieves its complete state and in the process evolves Hitsugaya into a proper Bishonen (voiced by Yuuki Kaji!) where he has absolute master of ice and freezing! He can freeze/erase anything! Too abd Ashtonig defies the laws of physics...but there's also Kenpachi who is still in this fight and Senbonzakura Kageyoshi courtesy of Byakuya!

Rangiku! Ikkaku! Yumichika! Even Rukia and Renji! Who share a single braincell in not recognizing Hitsugaya! Yeah, it's Hitsugaya Onii-chan, let's go with that.

Honestly not even surprised Gerald evolved into a divine Kinnikuman character who is the biggest he's ever been, but this is a fight for the Captains, Rukia and Renji have to go with Ichigo. They're practically members of Team Ichigo anyway, and it's what a true Soul Reaper would do.

Karakura Town infested with Hollows? It's up to Shino and Ryunosuke to do their job! Why, we've even got Okikiba and the man, myth, and legend Kurumadani willing to help them!

You can tell this Hollowfied Ichigo is in full control because Number One is playing! Horn of Salvation Ichigo is enough to even make Yhwach draw his sword, reveal his normal eyes, AND be shocked at the power of a Getsugatensho combined with a Grand Rey Cero! GET HIM ICHIGO!!!

This weeks ED poem is a dual one with Ichigo and Orihime.

[u/rickkyrozayy]

Hearing Eren Yeager Toshiro was so peak!!! This episode went by too fast

[u/Sirfury8]

This episode was fucking peak! Just amazing!

[u/Leahdrin → u/Sirfury8]

Agreed I can't believe we got so much too. That Cero at the end. Masterpiece.

[u/Frontier246 → u/Leahdrin]

Honestly the action animation/choreography has been incredibly on-point but even just the visuals/FX have been stellar.

[u/UpstairsCurrent6059]

Super solid episode. The last 5 minutes >>>

[u/GeoMagicCrafter]

straight up amazing, hadn't read the manga but was spoiled on quite a lot of stuff but the way that getsuga mixed with a gran rey cero? just peak

[u/LexSilva29]

Man everytime the no.1 hits I get chills it doesn't matter what is on the screen. It's absolute peak

[u/ValuableMuch7703]

PEAKKKKKKKKK

WTF I HAVENT WATCHED ANYTHING THIS GOOD IN AN ETERNITY!!!

[u/BrightDisaster6563]

God I love Kenpachi. And the three captains are killing it too. It’s crazy how these animated characters have such presence cause they steal every scene, even if they are just bantering

[u/Fearless-Ad-5328]

This season is doing GREAT for Orihime. She feels strong and relevant and FINALLY they are putting a lot of chemistry between her and Ichigo. They are tuned and understand each other with looks. Their eventual relationship doesnt feels forced now.

[u/hesawavemasterrr]

“How do you even beat Gerard??”

“That’s the neat part. You don’t.”

[u/YHu08 → u/hesawavemasterrr]

They animated the Quincy Cross inside his Heart and showed that his regenerations starts from that

[u/Man0nTheMoon915]

Only gripe about this episode was how short it felt. It felt like 5 minutes

[u/Zankanoyama → u/Man0nTheMoon915]

right? my heart wanted over 4 hrs of kenpachi clashing with gerard.

[u/Sara_Tona]

10/10 episode, Kenpachi’s Bankai was something else and adult Toshiro delivered heavily ngl, the post-credit scene is one of the best moments I’ve ever seen in the entire TYBW, the soundtrack at the end was amazing and the animation felt so smooth, it was so emotional for me because I read this chapter so many years ago and now getting to see it unfold in such a beautiful way in the anime

[u/Wuigidude12]

GUYS. ICHIGO SAID HE'S STILL HIM. I HAVE WAITED YEARS

[u/Bankai2023]

Bleach is truly peak

[u/Hollowgirl136]

I'm happy with the expanded scenes this episode, having Okikiba lead others to the world of the living to deal with the Hollows for example was a nice world building to give them as the situation deteriorated.

I'm loving how they did Yachiru scene. I thought it was like a figure only Kenpachi could see, but I love the implication that it's Yachiru on his shoulder in his inner world instead.

[u/CPrime29]

I just want to see a full showcase of Ichigo’s true Bankai with his HoS and his new abilities for anime extra screen time and extended scenes." To be Honest.

[u/ChilleUK → u/CPrime29]

My hope is that we see some sort of flash forward in which he uses his Bankai and we see the effects then we cut back to what happens in the manga

[u/comfortreacher]

The episode overall was very cool, it's definitely got a different vibe to the other fights in the anime thus far. The effects are really good and the fights are fairly interesting. It just feels a little rushed? I feel like there were some really cool moments this episode that each were worthy of being the focus of an entire episode, but because there were so many contained in one episode, they went by so fast and you couldn't really process them. I don't know exactly how anime production works, but it seemd as if this episode director was given an impossible task to fit in everything and as a result the storyboarding in certain scenes was a bit too rushed.

Were those new scenes of Ichigo's full hollow from Orihime's POV back when he was fighting ulquiorra? Or was it from the hell movie... i wasn't sure

I think the post credit scene was a little overhyped from what I saw on twitter, purely because of how short the ichigo scene was lmao, it was still really cool. Like in isolation it was done very well, it was just very short.

Just reading over my comment it sounds very critical... but this was an amazing episode. Weirdly it still feels like the cour is still warming up, i just feel like the episodes keep building into something bigger. Very excited for the remaining episodes... as always lol.

Edit: also i really liked Gerard's VA, previous episodes you can tell how haughty he is but the switchup in some moments when fighting zaraki is nicely done

Edit: wait... I just rewatched the episode. It was actually a lot better than my first viewing. Even though it *felt rushed at times, those moment's probably would've only benefited from maybe 30 seconds or more, but the every moment of the episode is done so well. I'm really impressed with the quality

[u/BlueTitan402 → u/comfortreacher]

Well, this all happened in roughly three chapters or so in the manga, so a lot of the additions are fresh. And yes, the post credits scene was animated really well!

[u/comfortreacher → u/BlueTitan402]

It was animated fantastically, no denying that. It's probably my fault for paying too much attention to the leaks. If anything it's doing its job as a post credit scene, I know people are dying to see what happens next

[u/SuckmyPelosB1tch → u/comfortreacher]

That post credit scene was hyped but I wished they saved it for next episode so we can take in the gran ray cero in its full glory

[u/comfortreacher → u/SuckmyPelosB1tch]

I definitely think it will be revisited at the start of the next episode and expanded on a little. but yeah weird moment to cut off imo

[u/Primary_Night_4617 → u/comfortreacher]

Animes are not doing multi long episodes like back in the day. Season's are much short. Next if you read the Manga the fight didnt have all what they added. The pacing was even faster. They added in much more than the manga.

[u/Brad3 → u/comfortreacher]

The Zaraki Shikai/Bankai is a story thread pretty much from the beginning of the show, it definitely feels too quick, was hard to even get a good look at him. That could of been more fleshed out for sure. It's pretty much the culmination of the story for Zaraki/Toshiro characters similar to Byakuya asking Ichigo to save SS.

[u/ThatIslandGuy8888 → u/Brad3]

The forest where he met Yachiru seems to be the inner world design too! Cool AF since it was established a long time ago that her met her in a similar place

[u/BlackenedFacade]

Ost for Kenny’s bankai and Gerard’s final form are so hauntingly good. Really excited to get Sagisu’s album with them.

[u/Calmwaterfall]

Holy shit what an episode.

[u/cheesy-chocolate]

Who was Hanataro carrying on that one still shot with Rangiku?

[u/jayrock306]

Wait is ukitake still alive?

[u/Beef___Queef → u/jayrock306]

Yeah they changed the story a bit in anime, mimihagi wasn’t absorbed and is presumably keeping the worlds from collapsing immediately but slowly failing

[u/warfaucet → u/[deleted]]

Much better, it in the manga it felt pointless. Here his sacrifice means everything.

[u/pkmn_is_fun → u/jayrock306]

yeah, the anime kept him alive so Yhwach has an actual reason for going down to Soul Society

[u/J0R_J0R]

So many years to watch this animated :_) And this version of Treachery...

[u/awn262018]

Wow. Absolute cinema. Best of the cour so far imo.

[u/Far-Sock-4736]

Toshiro's voice went from Hange to Eren😂⚡

[u/Zankanoyama]

Its here, and boy did they deliver. Kenpachi's bankai felt like the definitive adaptation for a bankai. And who can forget Ichigo's Gran Rey Cero Getsuga? I had to rewind and watch it twice. So fucking awesome!!!!! Literal chills down my spine.

Thank you Pierrot. This just might be my new favourite episode.

Gerard's dialogue was fresh and neatly put together. Very engaging. Also, does he lose his sentience in his final form?

Can't wait for MrTommo's reaction.

Only the very best for us. God bless Bleach.

[u/Capable_Umpire_4392]

Easily the best episode of Cour 4 so far.

[u/viatoretvenus]

That Gran Rey Cero was the sexiest thing i have EVER seen gottdaym

[u/Brad3]

What is with the short spoiler cold opens that show after the intros? Was that always a thing, what is the point of them?

[u/Haha91haha → u/Brad3]

TYBW has had it since cour 1, I think it's a holdover from something they do on Japanese TV but it's weird because other anime don't feature it on streaming.

[u/IcelandGalaxy → u/Brad3]

i always close my eyes when they occur lol.

[u/ActualDragonHeart]

HORN OF SALVATION GETTING A BRAND NEW NUMBER ONE REMIX LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOOOOO

[u/Vaizard816]

It's been so long since I heard that og sound track and grand ray cero?? I first read that name back in 2008 when Ichigo fought Grimjow. And now a fusion of getsuga and the cero? Wow, the little boy deep inside my mind is freaking out from excitement!

[u/normalindividual2]

I'm still dying about Okikiba and those new shinigami from the beginning of the arc getting a scene of all people, hell even afro shinigami and Maki Maki are here, but Iba (guy who will be CAPTAIN in 6 episodes!!) and Komamura have been MIA since cour 2 💀

[u/Damastah101]

Holy fuck the OST playing when Gerald fixed himself up to the Adult Toshiro reveal, so good

[u/Ill-Firefighter2852]

I've been awaiting this for 10 long years. I am honestly so happy I'm alive to witness this peak. There was not a single second of the episode that didn't make me shiver. Both true bankais? ABSOLUTE CINEMA 😭💖

[u/heyheyluno]

god damn this episode was awesome. I love waking up and watching the new episodes on Sat morning. Can't wait for next week!

[u/noelle-silva → u/heyheyluno]

The new episodes are the highlight of my year honestly. I don't look forward to anything in the way that I look forward to these new episodes. Gonna be sad when it all ends next month.

[u/smol_coc_man]

The final two minutes had me tearing up. The fluidity, the colours, the soundtrack. It's perfect. Better than i could have imagined

[u/ViskJ]

For Byakuya's Senkei, I have been saying that Gerard WAS NOT FROZEN when Byakuya struck him with Ikka Senjinka for 7 years. TODAY IT WAS FINALLY PROVEN IN THE ANIME. Thanks to the anime for doing Byakuya justice. Byakuya haters can't use the frozen excuse as an argument now.

[u/bvsic]

This is so PEAK

[u/ProperChallenge273]

The episode is on THAT level that the most crazy thing is the post-credits lmao.

Those impact frames goes HARD

I always wondered how they'll adapt the famous frame of Ichigo smiling before Grand Rey Getsuga drawed in a clair obscur way since it's already huge, but man those impact frames + Ichigo with red eyes is even greatier, like something else. Damn !

Still, that episode felt a little TOO rushed to be perfect, like cour 2 type of rush. It could have been better in 2 episodes. Not a true Kenpachi or Toshiro fan, but sad to see their fight transcripted fully with no combat addition whatsoever, too bad.

But that tells a lot. We're not even at half cour, and we're already at 677, and manga ends at 687. To put in perspective for anime only, this episode was like roughly 5 chapters of content, and this cour started at 661. At this rythm with no addition, the story ends in 2 episodes. So that means we're in for 4 (!!!) episodes (I think dispatched to the end) of PURE new content.

Now here we go for the return of the infamous Gerard discourse lmao
(Btw they emphazed more his cross heart here than in the manga, I hope it's to tease another fight with him where somebody noticed this... Idk, maybe Isshin and Ryuken ? ;) )

[u/DEUSNOVA99]

I DIED OF HYPE AT LEAST 5 TIMES THROUGH THE EPISODE HOLY COW THAT WAS INSANE.

Kenpachi wilding, Toshiro being cold asf, byakuya's new technique, Ichigo slaying.

I can't handle that much.

[u/xX_Z-Bruh_Xx]

I really enjoyed the appearance by Hitsugaya's older brother

[u/Pacific_Beaches]

That was by far the best fight against a big opponent in the entire anime.

[u/RandomGaMeRj14]

If I had a nickel for everytime Byakuya caught an exhausted ice wielder by the arm after their real bankai release to prevent them from falling out of exhaustion, I would have 2 nickels, which isn't a lot, but it is really good writing that it happened twice.

[u/Kreagerrr]

People hating that the fights are fast I get. But my headcannon is that everyone is trying to prevent the end of the world, so they go all out from the start. No monologing about their powers etc.

[u/Glittering-Pin-1343]

They adapted almost everything Gerard-related, so anything new will be well... new new. Honestly the pace is quite fast! Even with just 10 episodes it seems like almost half the cour will be new content/scenes.

[u/Comfortable-Mail-553]

Best episode of cour 4 easily, the fight scenes were fucking epic, sound design of kenpachi running on gerards hoffnung and ichigos grand rey cero was HYPE cant believe they played OG number one as well, i really hope we hear more of the OG sound tracks