When last I reviewed a Bleach DVD Set, I had mistakenly believed I was writing about the conclusion to the Zanpakuto Arc. I see now that this thought was a bit premature…

Bleach Set 18, while diverging from the main plot for the bulk of its episodes (256-267), has a lot to offer. The majority of the episodes contained in this DVD Set include one-shot episodes about our favorite soul reapers and the relationship they develop with their manifested Zanpakuto. And for those anticipating the return of the Arrancar Arc, episodes 266 and 267 will wet your whistle!

Set 18 opens on Byakuya’s swanky garden party at the Kuchiki mansion. As Rukia so astutely points out, everyone needs a chance to relax after all that Muramasa-Zanpakuto-brainwashing-etc drama that went down. However, any Bleach episode is not complete without a battle, and that’s exactly what we get—Rukia is the first to discover the destruction of the family mansion by a new breed of beast…The Sword Beast.

If you thought the defeat of Muramasa, leader of the Zanpakuto rebellion, would end the appearance of manifested Zanpakuto...well, you were wrong! While Muramasa’s brainwashing of the Zanpakuto has been reversed, the weapons of the Soul Reapers have not been returned to their normal state. Those Zanpakuto whose wielders were slain during Muramasa’s rebellion have manifested once again, and sweet Jeffrey, they are out of control. The death of their soul reaper partners has left them feeling abandoned and unstable. It’s up to our favorite Court Guard Squad Soul Reapers to stabilize these violent Sword Beasts and bring peace to the Seireitei.

Many episodes are character focused, revolving around the relationship between Zanpakuto and their wielders. Their connection and trust in each other is crucial for taking down the Sword Beasts who threaten the Seireitei. Amidst all this tension and fighting, many comedic moments “season” the episodes. Episode 263, in particular, had some of the funniest scenes out of the Set.

In this episode, Byakuya’s Senbonzakura ends up dragging Renji’s Zabimaru, “Snake” and “Monkey,” into all kinds of trouble. Senbonzakura displays a side of Byakuya we rarely get to see in Bleach—his immature temper and ability to evade responsibility and blame. This episode also features the return of creepy baby, Ashisogijizo (who I am pleased to say, gets what is coming to him…).

Things wrap up nicely with the Sword Beast conclusion, reiterating the lesson that the true power of Soul Reaper and Zanpakuto lies in their partnership. Those waiting eagerly for the return of the Arrancar Arc will be pleased to know that the last two episodes of Set 18 return the plot to Hueco Mundo (check out the sweet new opening!). There’s a lot to catch up on, and these episodes balance out both new and old information.

If you had a favorite Zanpakuto, I can guarantee you’ll be pleased with this DVD Set. Just about each Zanpakuto gets to play the part of hero for an episode. This DVD Set also reintroduces us to the Arrancar Arc- getting us up to date on all the hot messes going around. The Sword Beast Arc is a fun divergence from the main Bleach plot, allowing viewers to see more of their fave Soul Reapers. As much as we all love Ichigo, I really can’t complain about more screen-time for the side characters of Bleach! Tite Kubo fills the world of Bleach with such amazing, colorful characters—it’s always fun to see more of them.

English & Japanese 2.0 Audio / English Subtitles
Episodes 256-267

Bleach DVD Set 18 is available here!

Bleach © Tite Kubo/Shueisha, TV TOKYO, dentsu, Pierrot

by Cat Rechsteiner