Starting to remember more about the minutiae of the Bleach story as it unfolds.
Pros: Remembering how much I love the full incantations for kido.
Cons: Remembering how much of an inanimate object, sometimes literally, they made Rukia.

Also remembering how gross Aizen actually was. Full on grooming and manipulation techniques, that, of course, sideline another powerful woman, in Hinamori.

Bleach is particularly bad in certain ways with its women. It does better than some anime where they are actually relevant combatants throughout the series, but when they fuck them up they really do it big time.

Having Ichigo and Renji ignore Rukia's wishes throughout the Soul Society arc, and making her incapable of even moving on her own 90% of the time. Making Orihime, by far, the worst of the humans in a fight.

Ishida and even Chad could go toe-to-toe with a Captain for a little bit. Ishida's case was different because he's already trained and used his ultimate move that was meant to erase his Quincy powers to win, but the point is, someone wrote it to be that way.

Orihime was literally unable to hurt a 4th seat or w/e, and even damaged her only offensive move in the process. Not to mention her getting picked up, again like an inanimate object, and taken away from a fight when Mayuri turns up. The protag women in this show have no agency.

Now that I've finished this small rant, this is my bleach thread. So I can keep it in one place.

Ichigo's theme still slaps every single day.

Never mind, the rant's not over. I forgot about the Hogyoku, (which is just a plot device that the big bad is after, for those unfamiliar with Bleach,) and how they hid it in Rukia without anyone else knowing. Just more removal of agency and making women plot devices.

More shit that I like: Unohana's voice and cadence.

Ok back on Bleach. Why the fuck did they play Ichigo's theme the first time he fights the wiener hollow at the beginning of the new arc? Save that for good fights please. Also the Vizards are here, and they're good. I forgot Shinji and Hiyori got introduced so early.

I also forgot how early they Introduce Yammy and Ulquiorra. Also a very weird concealment of their power levels that Yammy doesn't just instantly kill even the stronger humans with powers, or that can at least see souls. Like they never stand any chance against Espada in a fight.

Has Orihime's offensive move ever actually hurt anyone outside of a filler?

I also totally forgot they did Grimmjow and his Fraccions going to the real world super early as well. Ikkaku's Bankai was badass, and I wish it got more screen time. Forever sad about Yumichika never doing anything because he's hiding his real Shikai.

I hate that the Bount arc mod souls stick around. I hate Rukia getting ganked in one hit by Grimmjow. Yylfordt v Renji didn't have any interesting gimmicks, as we've already seen his Bankai. At least Hitsu v Showlong shows off a new Bankai and you learn about Espada.

I do like the twist that the shinigami are operating under power limiters in the real world. It just goes to show how boss Ikkaku is since he won his fight without having it removed.

I don't remember if Ichigo's Visored fight goes for so long in the manga, but it's really boring in the anime to watch him redo a bunch of fights he's already had. Especially when one of them is the shitty Bount guy who I already skipped once already.

Ok so we've learnt about Aizen's real endgame - The King's Key to go find the Soul King, (who doesn't even end up showing up in the anime, im pretty sure, because it got cancelled, which is funny, but we'll get him now that they're finishing the anime.)

Hinamori's back to be Aizen's pawn again once we get to Fake Karakura Town. She wants them to spare Aizen. Emotional manipulation and abuse bad, in case you were wondering. Also this is the ep with Ishida vs his dad, and Chad's training so I imagine I'll be skipping most of it.

Just to add insult to injury, the Bount mod souls have to be in every scene involving Urahara's shop.

Orihime can somehow sense Ichigo's reiatsu even when Rukia can't, and can also get through the barrier. I guess because she says Hachi's barriers are kind of like her techniques.

The last OP () was one of my faves, but this new OP () is also rather good. Bleach had some bangers. #3, Ichirin no Hana might be my fave. ()

I completely forgot how Ikkaku and Yumichika stay at Ichigo's goober friend's house, and then his sister falls in love with Ikkaku because she has a fetish for bald dudes or something.