Bleach Thousand Year Blood War Arc Episode 1 Summary and Discussion | Bleach Season 17 Episode 1 Review

Bleach Thousand Year Blood War Arc Trailer 2

Bleach Thousand Year Blood War Arc Episode 1 Summary

Bleach Thousand Year Blood War Arc Episode 1 starts off with a narration of the history of the Quincy King. Then the scene shifts to Mayuri Kurotsuchi descending the elevator to the research and development laboratory after receiving alert number 4 due to the increasing number of hollows disappearing in the real world. It appears that there is only one group capable of doing this.

Meanwhile, two new recruits, Yuki Ryunosuke and Shino Madarame (same last name with Ikkaku) were sent to Karakura town to replace Zennosuke “Imoyama” Kurumadani who guides them to their now post. This was a significant upgrade as there are now two shinigami to patrol Karakura while Yuki doubts that he is even capable in the task given to him.

But things were not as plain as it seems. A silhouette bearing the same pendant as Uryu Ishida was lurking in the shadows and luring the hollows silently. The two split between the north and south direction to widen their search for any hollows. As time passed by, Yuki got tired and was idly sitting on the bridge when a hollow suddenly attacked him from above.

The shinigami ran frantically from the wild hollow while trying to call Shino all the way to the rooftop. Alas, he found the lifeless Shino in the hands of a hollow as several hollows started appearing. Yuki tried to attack the hollows but he was so weak to move when a slash came rushing on his side rendering him incapacitated.

The Tearing (Chapter 481)

The weak, helpless Yuki lied on the floor as his blood gushed from his wound. The hollow who hit him was about to give his final blow when Ichigo and his group arrived in the nick of time to save the new recruits. Inoue immediately used her powers to give first aid to the shinigami. Some of the hollows screamed attracting more hollows near the site.

Chad and Uryu were fighting the hollows on the building using Brazo Izquierdo Del Diablo La Muerte and Licht Regen. A hollow the size of the building tried to capture Yuki but Ichigo was able to stop it with his sword afterwhich he transformed to his Bankai. Using his Getsuga Tensho he one shot the hollows trying to approach the building.

The shinigami was clueless as to what was happening and was wondering who the teenage group were and how they were able to defeat the hollows so easily. Ichigo introduced himself as the “Substitute Soul Reaper”

A few days after the incident, Yuki finally regained consiousness and found himself lying in Ichigo’s bed. Inoue arrived with a tray of of left over bread as Ichigo complained that the left overs were mostly from the batch the store was unable to sell. Uryu teased Ichigo that he is the one who enjoys the left over bread the most and the two started bickering again.

Yuki shouted, finally realizing that the group were the ones who saved him the night before. Ichigo told him that it was not last night but the night before as the shinigami was already sleeping for two days. He was offered bread and was asked to enter his gigai who was lying lifeless beside him. His partner appeared next bringing in soda from the store and the two shinigami started wrestling again.

Ichigo just remembered that he does not know the name of the boy shinigami. As he turned to ask, another person entered his room through the window introducing himself as Ebern Asguiaro.

Bad Recognition (Chapter 482)

An irritated Ichigo stared at the figure standing on his bed and ordered the man to get off. The man refused and Ichigo kicked him off sending the man flying outside his windows. The group was confused on who the person was and Uryu suggested that he might be an Arrancar by the hollow mask hanging on his left eye.

Ichigo transformed to his Shikai form and followed the man. Ichigo being Ichigo was full of himself and taunted the man that he was after him. Ebern laughed while telling Ichigo that he must be curious as to who or what he is. Ichigo shouted that by the look of the man, he must be an Arrancar as Uryu suggested. The man suddenly changed mood at the idea that he was an Arrancar so he pulled out his pendant which made Ichigo realize that he was wrong and the man was a Quincy afterall.

Meanwhile in Soul Society, Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa were investigating the case of missing citizen in Rukongai West 64 District Sabitsura. Reports came in that the entire village vanished and that they found a set of footprints pointing that the people were somehow abducted.

Kriegserklärung (Chapter 483)

Then the scene shifts to the barracks of Commander Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni when a group of seven masked men in white robes appeared from nowhere and was meant to declare war against the Shinigami. They taunted that the security to the head captain was lax and easy to infiltrate with the old man responding that there is no better security than him.

The battle between Ichigo and Ebern continues but it appears that the latter was not attacking seriously. To Ichigo, his opponent was only taunting him while the other was opening the idea that Ichigo will never beat him without transforming into his Bankai. Alas, Ichigo fell for the trap and gave what the man wanted and transformed.

The man laughed at the sight of Ichigo transforming and opened a locket that appears to capture Ichigo’s Bankai while chanting

“Aufreide.. Meer eh wolken, wolken eh regen, regen eh nebel. Sieht balle eh um sieht ballen. Wir gut freude. Danach Vrund Dill Becher”
Translation: Melt.. Sea to cloud, cloud to rain, rain to fog. That with which shape to that which is unseen. After our jubilation, the chalice will be turned face down.

Unfortunately, the attack did not work and Ichigo was able to break free from the clutches of the light and strike the foe with his Getsuga Tensho.

The Buckbeard (Chapter 484)

As soon as Yamamoto finished, his liuetenant Chōjirō Tadaoki Sasakibe came flying across his quarters shot with a light arrow.

The leader of the group warned that five days from the day, Soul Society will be annihilated by the Wandenreich. The enraged Yamamoto strike the arrow holding Sasakibe hanging on the wall and turned his gaze towards the group. The leader said that he will not introduce them further but Genryusai should already have an idea of who they are and their goal. Yamamoto did not waste anymore time and attacked the group but they already disappeared from the shadow just like they appeared in the beginning.

Yamamoto was no longer able to feel their reiatsu, concluding that the invaders are able to pass thourgh the Shakonmaku (barrier) undetected.

Sasakibe reported to Yamamoto that the group unfortunately had the power to make the bankai disappear.

Ebern was furious. He could not fathom why Ichigo’s Bankai did not disappear. Ichigo’s curiosity grew larger. Why would his bankai disappear from the Quincy’s attack as he pointed his sword towards Ebern? Suddenly, a shadow appeared in front of Ebern. Ichigo got cautious and stepped back and Ebern told eren that the shadow will only hide the chosen ones before disappearing from view.

How did the man disappeared? It was not like Garganta that arrancars use to transcend to Hueco Mundo.

Ebern was transported to the headquarters of the Wandenreich and was kneeling down. The other seven arrived looking down on Ebern who was scorched from his battle with Ichigo. The leader mocked Ebern as if he was kneeling before him when in an instant, his right arm was severed and a silhouette of the king emerged reminding them not to fight in his presence.

Who is the Quincy King?

The confined Quincy king regains his pulse after 900 years.
His mind after 90 years.
His strength after 9 years

Bleach Thousand Year Blood War Arc Episode 1 Discussion

Bleach Thousand Year Blood War Arc Episode 1 stayed faithful with the scenes of the manga. There were only a few modifications with the pacing and some little details ommited. Here are some of the things worth noting.

• The entry of Yuki in Shino into Karakura town in the manga introduces them with Zennosuke “Imoyama” Kurumadani
• Chapters 483 and 484 were intertwined to give more context on the scene and to give impression that the attack on Karakura Town and Soul Society was happening simultaneously.
• Familiar techniques like Santen Kesshun I reject, Chad’s Brazo Izquierdo Del Diablo La Muerte and Uryu’s Licht Regen is a familiar sight to the bleach community.
• The Quincy King was not yet named on this episode but a brief description was given at the beginning of the story.

Wandenreich – Invisible Empire
Kriegserklärung literally means Declaration of War

Bleach Thousand Year Blood War Arc Episode 1 Analysis

Blood Warfare (Chapter 480)
The Tearing (Chapter 481)
Bad Recognition (Chapter 482)
Kriegserklärung (Chapter 483)
The Buckbeard (Chapter 484)

• The animation was significantly improved while staying true to the design format of the characters.
• The soundtrack also used the familiar songs and OST from the previous seasons which may give goosebumps to those who waited for Bleach’s return for more than 10 years.
• The pacing does not feel rushed while adding more context and reintroducing the main protagonists and other characters including Ichigo, Inoue, Chad, Uryu, Yamamoto, Sasakibe, Mayuri, Ikkaku and Yumichika.
• Most of the important parts of the episode was already shown on the trailer.
• The ending credits showed a rewind of the previous seasons of bleach and to reintroduce them to new audience.

How long has it been since Bleach’s last Episode?

Bleach Thousand Year Blood War Arc Episode 1 (Season 17) was aired ten years, six months and thirteen days after the last episode of the Season 16 The Lost Agent Arc aired last March 27, 2012.

Bleach Thousand Year Blood War Arc Episode 1 Manga Chapters

Bleach Thousand Year Blood War Arc entitled “The Blood Warfare” was adapted from Bleach manga chapter 480 following the same title. The episode covered 5 chapters from chapter 480 to 484.