A dedicated anime fan will certainly watch every episode of an anime like Bleach, possibly even all the filler episodes, while casual or undecided fans may take a different approach. Some fans will skim through Bleach's long episodes to grasp the essentials without spending hours, while others, more experienced, might browse the anime to decide if Bleach is worth watching in its entirety.
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In this case, fans are encouraged to at least watch the Bleach episodes featuring the best fights, the most significant twists, or key moments in character development. These essential episodes summarize the story and tone of this anime, and together, they provide an excellent highlight reel, either to reward fans who skimmed through it quickly or to encourage potential fans to dive in fully.
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10. "The Day I Became a Shinigami" Introduces Ichigo and Rukia as Soul Reaper Heroes
Ichigo stands before the Hollow Fishbone D. Image via Studio Pierrot.
The first episode of almost any anime is a must-watch, whether the viewer is determined to watch them all or simply skimming to get the gist. The same goes for Bleach: Episode 1 introduces Ichigo and Rukia while laying the essential groundwork for Bleach’s combat system, with Shinigami and Hollows.
Episode 1 establishes Rukia as a fun reverse-isekai heroine and Ichigo as a brave human with incredible spiritual gifts, as he fights the Hollow named Fishbone D. The mix of action, humor, supernatural elements, and Ichigo’s budding friendship with Rukia in Episode 1 helped encapsulate Bleach's entire vibe within a brief window of time.
9. "Kon's Great Plan" Sets Up Ichigo’s First Serious Stakes as a Soul Reaper
Rukia speaks tearfully over her shoulder at night in the Bleach anime. Image via Studio Pierrot.
For a few episodes, Bleach saw Rukia and Ichigo fighting Hollows together, but that all ended when Rukia fled one night, with Ichigo chasing after her. The sad truth was that Rukia was a criminal in the eyes of the Soul Society, and both Renji and Byakuya had come to take her back. Worse yet, Ichigo couldn’t even win, despite all his efforts.
This episode marked a tragic turning point: Ichigo and Rukia were separated, and Ichigo even saw his unnamed zanpakuto destroyed. It was a terrible night for Ichigo, but the silver lining was that it allowed him to reset his powers, preparing him for the mission ahead. These twists helped set up the Soul Society arc, arguably the best in all of Bleach.
8. "Ichigo Becomes a Hollow!" Reboots Ichigo’s Zanpakuto and Fighting Style
Ichigo wears a Hollow mask and a white cloth over his black robe in the Bleach anime. Image via Studio Pierrot.
With his unnamed zanpakuto gone, Ichigo needed a new weapon and a new mentor, as shown in Episode 19 of Bleach’s first season. This episode pushed Ichigo to his limits, nearly forcing him to become a Hollow midway through Kisuke Urahara’s training, but he made it through. He obtained a new weapon named Zangetsu, which would remain his iconic zanpakuto for hundreds of episodes.
"Ichigo Becomes a Hollow!" Also Revealed the Truth About Ichigo’s Other Powers. Ichigo emerged from his trial with a Hollow mask on his face, and he seemed rather comfortable with it. The true nature of Ichigo’s inner powers remained a mystery at the time, but this prepared Bleach fans to see Ichigo using Hollow powers in the future, as a Soul Reaper who was anything but ordinary.
7. "Conclusion of the Death Match! White Pride and Black Desire" – The Heart Behind Byakuya Kuchiki's Actions
The entire Soul Society arc was filled with incredible battles and twists, none more significant than the fateful rematch between Ichigo and his arch-enemy, Captain Byakuya Kuchiki of Squad 6. They were fighting for Rukia's fate, so the stakes were much higher than simply proving who was the better swordsman or settling a personal grudge.
In Episode 59, Ichigo's inner Hollow powers reappeared, setting him up to master them in future episodes. This episode also humanized Byakuya's stance somewhat. While he was still wrong to defend Rukia's unjust death sentence, he spoke as a noble and captain, upholding the law. If high-born souls like him didn't respect the law, no one would, and chaos would reign in the Soul Society. That said, Byakuya ultimately relented and vowed to stay out of Ichigo's way.
6. "Urgent Report! Aizen's Terrifying Plan!" – Ichigo Finally Masters His Inner Hollow
Ichigo faces his Hollow self with a blue sky in the background. Image via Studio Pierrot.
One of the best training arcs in Bleach unfolded when Ichigo met the eight Visoreds, who helped him confront his inner Hollow on even ground. In Episode 125, Ichigo found the resolve to face and defeat his Hollow counterpart on equal footing, allowing him to become the "king" between them. This was a major breakthrough, but the developments in Episode 125 didn't stop there.
Bleach's overarching plot, which had slowed down, picked up momentum again when Toshiro's team informed the Gotei 13 captains about the imminent war against Aizen's Arrancar army. It was an essential way to build excitement, terror, and a sense of impending danger as both sides prepared for battle, though Ichigo's role remained uncertain.
5. "The Moment of Conclusion, The End of Grimmjow" Showcases Ichigo's Unyielding Determination
Grimmjow grabs Ichigo's blade while looking down. Image via Studio Pierrot.
Many of Bleach's best moments revolve around Ichigo's victories over his enemies, which go beyond just resolving the physical stakes of these fights. Ichigo didn’t defeat characters like Grimmjow Jeagerjaques merely to settle their grudges; his victory over Grimmjow actually put him on the path to a partial redemption, turning him into an antihero. After his defeat, Grimmjow had to find a new purpose in life, one less centered on conflict.
Ichigo's victory in Episode 167 also once again demonstrated his incredible determination, which was questioned when Grimmjow challenged his reasons for being in Las Noches. Ichigo hesitated more than once in Bleach, so he needed victories like this one to redefine his motivations and heroic resolve.
4. "Protect Karakura Town! The Shinigami's Complete Appearance" Marks The Start of Sosuke Aizen's Final Push for Victory
Yamamoto creates a fiery leaf in the sky. Image via Studio Pierrot.
Certain episodes of Bleach clearly mark the beginning or end of major narrative arcs, such as when characters move to a new location to fight with new stakes. These plot-centric episodes are must-watches, explaining new story points and fueling viewers' interest in what happens next.
Episode 215 marked the beginning of the final war against the supervillain Sosuke Aizen, who then set his ultimate plan in motion. Aizen wasn't just ruling Hueco Mundo; he aimed to eliminate the Shinigami and create the Oken to reach the Soul King, but Captain Yamamoto stood in his way. Yamamoto and his allies stood their ground in the replica of Karakura Town, facing evil forces for the first time as true heroes.
3. "THE BLOOD WARFARE" Sets Up The Incredible Thousand-Year Blood War Arc
The Thousand-Year Blood War arc was launched with an essential episode that brought Bleach back on air for the first time in a decade. Episode 367 ushered in a new storyline while updating the visuals for the 2020s, encouraging anime fans to stay and experience Bleach at its production quality peak.
Episode 367 also showed that even though Ichigo was the great and powerful hero who could defeat Aizen and the Espadas, he still had more challenges ahead. The terrifying reality of the Quincy empire shattered the viewer's sense of safety and comfort regarding Ichigo's team, setting the stage for the brutal war to follow, starting with Asguiaro's ambush and Chojiro's tragic death.
2. "March of the StarCross" Maximizes the Deadly Stakes of the Final Arc
The Thousand-Year Blood War arc's plot was dense, so anime fans quickly watching through the final arc are encouraged not to miss anything. After only three episodes, the TYBW arc delivered another must-watch episode: Episode 369 marked the beginning of the promised war from Episode 367. Yhwach led his armies into the Seireitei, while Quilge Opie continued wreaking havoc in Hueco Mundo.
Another key element in this episode was the strategic strength of the Quincy empire, with Quilge acting as bait to draw Ichigo away from the Soul Society, facilitating the invasion. In Ichigo's absence, the Shinigami faced severe difficulties, and Uryu Ishida struggled with choosing a side. This subplot eventually led to Uryu’s shocking, game-changing decision soon after.
1. "Born in the Dark" Is a Brutal Turning Point for the Gotei 13 and Ichigo
"Born in the Dark" highlighted Ichigo’s personal stakes in the war against the TYBW, as he had more to worry about than just protecting his Shinigami friends. This episode revealed the truth about Ichigo's lineage, intriguing new viewers as Yhwach referred to him as "his son born in the dark." Never before had Ichigo shared such an intimate connection with the villains.
Episode 373 presents a twist similar to “Kon's Great Plan,” destroying Ichigo's zanpakuto and challenging him to create another.
Just as before, Ichigo had to dig deeper within himself and uncover his true nature before developing a new, even better zanpakuto. This storyline eventually led Ichigo to discover the truth about his mother and train with the Royal Guard to forge his final Zangetsu.
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