Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War part 1 episode 9 recap & review

The ninth episode of ‘Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War’ sees a new Head Captain take over, while Renji joins Ichigo as they meet the next captain at the Soul King’s palace. The episode is now streaming on Hulu.

Recap

Kirinji, with the help of Kazuhiro and Kazuo, forces Ichigo to stay underwater at the White Bone Hell so that he can heal. Ichigo breaks free, claiming that he is fine.

Kirinji tests Ichigo’s strength by punching him down. Ichigo quickly gets up, proving that he is all set to hop on to the next palace.

Renji wakes up in the middle of their conversation and expresses his desire to go with Ichigo. Kirinji hands a blow to Renji as well. Renji manages to stand still.

Kirinji is convinced that Renji is up for the next palace as well. He wastes no time in sending both of them to Kirio’s. He admires the spirit of Renji and Ichigo, as they proved to be strong and went beyond his expectations.

Back at Kirio’s palace, Kirio serves Ichigo and Renji the best meal course ever. Initially, Ichigo and Renji doubt whether they should really be enjoying this while the Soul Society is training themselves for the next battle.

Renji suggests to Ichigo that all of this is probably part of the rigorous training that lies ahead of them. Kirio intervenes and confirms Renji’s assumption.

Before they could leave, Kirio explains to them how each member of Squad 0 has created something in the Soul Society. What she has created is a temporary soul and the technology to place it in a body.

The food they both ate was filled with that foreign soul. That soul now has increased their spiritual pressures. She warns them about the next captain they will be meeting.

Their next stop is Hoohden, where Oh-Etsu Nimaiya resides. He is the man responsible for creating Zanpakuto.

Amidst all of this, Shunsui Kyoraku receives a letter informing him that he has been appointed as the new Head Captain and captain of Squad 1. He chooses Okikiba and Nanao to be his lieutenants.

Kyoraku proceeds to pick up his first task as the Head Captain, intending to teach Zanjutsu to Zaraki. He orders Unohana to handle this matter.

Unohana and Zaraki battle each other at Muken. Their conversation before the battle hints at the past they share together. Zaraki has left a wound on Unohana’s chest that is visible to this day.

Zaraki loses his sword in the fight. Back in time, Unohana was the most notorious criminal in the history of the Soul Society. He remembers the first time he fought Unohana, and she soon stabs him in the neck.

He spaces out for a minute. When he comes back to his senses, he realizes that his sword is still in his hand. While Zaraki wonders what just happened, Unohana recalls that every time Zaraki is on the verge of dying, he grows a bit stronger.

Review

• The ninth episode is quite balanced. On one side, the viewers get a fun-filled adventure at the Soul King’s palace, and on the other, a cutthroat battle that is quite personal.
• Apart from that, the episode also educates the viewers as well as the characters. While Ichigo and Renji learn more about the Soul Society,
• the viewers learn about Zaraki and Unohana’s past.
• The viewers will easily connect with Zaraki and Unohana’s story. It’s well laid out, though it only gets a few minutes in the episode. You can feel the tension and emotions brewing during the battle.

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Also Read: Yhwach’s theory around Ichigo’s Blut Vene in Bleach: TYBW explained