Important takeaways
- The episode features anime-exclusive developments, including an intense battle between Ichigo and Uryū.
- Ukitake's sacrifice to save the universe fails, and a new Soul King nearly materializes.
- After the credits, Yhwach completes absorbing the Soul King, setting the stage for the end.
At this point, BLEACH: The Millennium Blood War is in competition with itself, as each successive installment in the adaptation of the climactic final arc of Tite Kubo's magnum opus has brought something bigger and better than the last. In the fourth episode of Part 3, titled “The Teller”, Ichigo and Uryū finally cross paths after their arrival at the Soul King's Palace.
It's full of developments we didn't get in the manga, including an epic fight between Ichigo Kurosaki and Uryu Ishida, not to mention a first look at the latter's Quincy: Complete. The episode ends dramatically as Uryū fires an arrow that cuts a giant hole in Ichigo's side, and Yhwach finally absorbs the Soul King.
FAMILY
Bleach: All About the Soul King, Explained
Soul King Adnyeus is the biggest mystery in the world of Bleach, here's everything you need to know about him.
Ukitake's attempt to save the universe fails
A new soul king was almost materialized
Ukitake's invocation of the Kamikake to allow the Soul King's right arm to stabilize the Realms was a self-sacrificing move that drains the Captain's remaining life force so that he can act as the Realm's key bearer—a replacement mercenary. When Ichigo's friends saw what the dark arm was doing, they sprung into action and were foiled by Yhwach's Schutzstaffel. Yoruichi laid down talismans to reseal the soul king, using the soul's right arm as the new cornerstone, while Ichigo took on Yhwach, overcoming the wave of reiatsu that forced him to grip Yhwach's sword hard and split the soul king.
Together, Ichigo and Yoruichi seem to be doing a good job; However, Ichigo is shocked to see Yoruichi suffering a vicious injury from an arrow, with Uryū standing in the distance. Yoruichi manages to take cover, but her broken focus meant that the delicate situation with the Soul King was very quickly collapsing again. When the re-containment failed, Yhwach once again takes the position in front of the Soul King and attempts to absorb him, rebuffing all attempts by Ichigo and his friends to stop him. He even licks Pernida Parnkgjas on Yoruichi and violently twists her arm with his power as the Soul King's left arm before Yhwach blows her off the Soul King Palace platform and tosses her to the ground below.
A Brilliant Fight: Ichigo Kurosaki vs Uryū Ishida
The Anime exclusive scene is the best part of the episode
Ichigo continues to try to attack Yhwach while absorbing the Soul King, but Uryū continues to fire arrows, making it difficult for Ichigo to interfere. As Yhwach continues, the black shadow of Mimihagi becomes visible again, and he pulls it away from the Soul King's main body. The Soul King's palace is torn apart by the tremors caused by Yhwach's activities. The effects in this episode are some of the best BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3 so far, and even Uryū's countless arrows have been heightened in both appearance and movement.
It is very gratifying to see the blinding light of Uryū's arrows accompanied by the sharp sounds of them being released and deflected, with the very cinematic and dramatic encounter between Ichigo and Uryū. He makes his decision clear: Ichigo must kill him to get to Yhwach. Ichigo is devastated to realize that his friend has, with full presence of mind, decided to betray them and help Yhwach's cause. There is a great juxtaposition between the four-pointed and five-pointed forms, a nod to the clash between the Shinigami, who want to defend the current structure of the realms, and the Quincies, who are represented by a five-pointed star.
Some of these forms are quite subtle, but it continues the interesting direction of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc that elevates the cinematic feel of the series and feels much more like a deliberate swing to a more theatrical atmosphere where every part of the visuals is carried off. with it a lot of thematic information and almost easter eggs.
Little time is given to the clash between the other members of the Schutzstaffel and Ichigo's friends, and as cool as it was to see Orihime jump into the fray with full confidence and serve as an invaluable member of the team from the start, there was something special about the direction of the Uryū and Ichigo fight making it one of the series' most memorable. The sense of Ichigo's shock at the betrayal, and even more his shock at enduring the kind of vicious beating Uryū inflicts on him at the end of the episode, is palpable.
After Credits
The beginning of the end
After Ichigo falls from the sky with a large portion of his torso missing, Uryu joins the other Quincies to witness as Yhwach completes his absorption of the Soul King. He recites the last lines of Kaiser Gesang as his Schutzstaffel raise reishi swords in celebration as Yhwach breaks open the crystal and releases the mutilated remains of Adnyeus from their prison. He declares that he will take in all that is the Soul King and restore the world to how it should be before disappearing in a blinding flash of light. Moments later, flashes of Yhwach's new form appear in rhythm with his beating heart. Countless eyes blink simultaneously as the assimilation is complete.
Since the Ichigo and Uryū fight was an anime original scene, it was a great pleasure for fans of the series to finally be able to see Uryū's Quincy: Complete, eight years since the end of the manga's serialization. This was a great episode.
FAMILY
Bleach: Every Quincy Schrift Power, Ranked
Which Sternritter's power is the best among the Quincy race and how do they rank in the Bleach universe?
-
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War
-
Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War – Season 2