From the moment this episode began, I did not think it could surpass the previous, almost perfect episode. However, it proved me wrong, and this one became one of the best episodes in anime history that I have ever seen. Let’s talk about it.
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Bleach TYBW Part 4 Anime Director
Murata Hikaru, Taguchi Tomohisa
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Original Title
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity or Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen – Kashin-tan (BLEACH 千年血戦篇-禍進譚-)
Bleach TYBW Part 4 Episode 5 Review
Orihime Refused to Let Yhwach Take Ichigo Down
Even in the beginning, the tone of this episode was mostly hopeless. Uryu was getting beaten by Jugram, while on the other hand, Yhwach was completely overwhelming Ichigo. It was apparent that all the power-ups that Ichigo went through would not help him one bit against the Almighty. On top of that, the duty of protecting Ichigo fell on none other than Orihime.
She did an exceptional job, but she still failed to keep him completely safe because Yhwach kept striking Ichigo. Yet, the moment Ichigo got impaled, she rushed to heal him. In such a situation, Orihime became a source of annoyance for Yhwach, and he attacked her as well. She could not save herself in many of those times, and Ichigo had to see her getting hurt.
Ichigo Unleashes His Most Monstrous Bankai Yet
From the moment this episode decided to shift away from the manga, it became great. There were many criticisms of the manga for not exploring its characters properly or giving a fitting finale to a shonen that had so much potential. Thus, when Rukia came to help Ichigo, and he received a huge power buff out of nowhere, things felt absolutely immaculate for Bleach fans.
Here, Ichigo unlocks one of the most monstrous forms of Bankai, and it was truly a sight to behold. Chains appear on his arms and neck, making him look absolutely menacing. On top of that, Rukia also unleashes her power to support Ichigo, while Orihime stays nearby, witnessing them fight. However, to everyone’s shock and surprise, this was not even the highlight of the episode.
This Episode Completely Changes Orihime’s Role in the Story
Orihime is a very interesting character because, previously, she was hardly liked by the fandom. Some even criticised her for not having strong enough powers to support others, reducing her to a supporting character with romantic feelings for the shonen hero. However, this season finally gave Orihime the respect she deserved. Not only could she block Yhwach’s attacks, but she also became an exceptional healer who saved Ichigo multiple times.
Personally, that was enough to elevate her character significantly. However, what she does in this episode is something no one could have expected. Toward the end, the story deviates so far from the source material that you are left wondering how Kubo will bring it all to an end. On top of that, you become mesmerised by this brand-new narrative. In this episode, Orihime becomes the most important character, and everything ends on a heartbreaking note.
Final Thoughts
Bleach has proved that its studio can compete with every other top-tier studio out there when it comes to animation. Not only was this one of the greatest-animated episodes ever, but it also surpassed many shonen in terms of production value. The lighting, the music, and the overall experience can even make you forget to breathe during some scenes. It was simply outstanding, and there is honestly nothing else to say about it.
The only feelings this episode leaves you with are sheer astonishment and overwhelming sadness. Astonishment over the fact that Bleach managed to come back bigger and way, way better than anyone ever expected. All in all, this episode was perfect, and it deserves nothing but a perfect score.
Watch Bleach TYBW Part 4 on Netflix. What are your thoughts on the episode? Let us know in the comments below!
