The anime fall season is in full swing, and we kick it off with the return of Bleach: The Thousand-Year Blood War. This is Part 3, marking the halfway point of the four-part cour for the final arc of the series, with fans eagerly awaiting more Quincy vs. Soul Reaper battles. The season picks up right where the previous one left off, with the Soul King’s Royal Guard facing off against Yhwach and his elite Sternritter. In fact, this first episode uses footage from the Season 2 finale as a brief recap to bring viewers up to speed on the current battle.
Without diving into too many spoilers, I can say this episode did not disappoint. The action-packed episode delivers stunning animation, courtesy of Studio Pierrot, and concludes with a nail-biting showdown featuring some of the most powerful Shinigami we’ve ever seen—complete with their god-tier Bankai. Ichibei’s ability, “BLACK,” which was revealed last season to erase the name of anything it covers and Senjumaru’s Bankai which creates a pocket dimension that can be used to engulf her victims in a mystical tapestry trapping them. Just when it seemed like things were tipping in favor of our heroes, Yhwach pulls another trick out of his sleeve, completely shifting the tide of the battle.
Let’s just say Yhwach’s newly revealed power is OP as hell and will be a tough one to beat.
At this point, the stakes have never been higher. We’re all on edge, waiting to see what Ichigo and his friends will need to do to turn things around and save the day.
While a good portion of the episode rehashed the previous season finale, it still delivered incredible action and set the stage for some intriguing power dynamics. Plus, it teased the return of another big bad from the series!
What did you all think of the season premiere? Are you hyped for the rest of the season? Let us know in the comments below!
