Bleach Episode 52 and 53 Review:

Episode 52 and 53 was a two episode feature that continued with the fight between Kenpachi and Tousen. As if Kenpachi wasn’t already viewed as a crazed demon, these episodes definitely added even more to that persona as he continued to battle. Rukia is lead to her execution and is confronted by Ichimaru, whom is appearing more and more to be the main villain of the series currently. Great action scenes and definitely a great two episode special.

Bleach Episode 52 Summary:

Bleach episode 52 and 53,  ”Renji, Oath of the Soul! Death Match with Byakuya“, begins with Ichigo continuing his training, now fighting against multiple human forms of his Zengetsu, trying to find the right sword that his his bankai. The scene changes to show Renji confronting a death god in the alley, right after defeating various other death gods for reasons that are unknown. He heads for the shrine of penitence, apparently driving through the death gods that were blocking him.

As he approaches, he has memories of Rukia and tells himself that he will not let her be executed. As he enters the top of the stairwell, he feels an immense spirit force from above, which is his captain Byakuya. “Where are you going, Renji?” he asks. “I am going to save Rukia,” he replies. “You will not,” Byakuya says. With amazing speed, he uses his flash step to appear behind Renji and attack. He seems somewhat surprised that Renji was able to block the attack. Renji tells him he can no longer kill him because he has seen his technique various times.

As Byakuya begins to release his sword, Renji releases his to the Shikai level and slams it against Byakuya’s sword. Byakuya seems surprised that he released his soul slayer without even calling its name. Ichigo is again shown training to master his Bankai, this time appearing to be exhausted to the limit. Renji is shown again, releasing his soul slayer to the Bankai level, which appears to be a very large snake with spikes around it’s body. “I will say it again, I’m going to save Rukia,” Renji once more says.

Renji begins his attack on Byakuya, crashing through the buildings surrounding them with his bankai. Upon closer inspection, Byakuya realizes the soul slayer only has the form of the Bankai. “Scatter, Senbonzaku,” Byakuya says as his soul slayer glows and destroys Renji’s soul slayer. Although the large snake breaks into various pieces, it quickly reforms, seeing as how the pieces are connected together through Renji’s Reiatsu. Renji attacks once more but is met with an explosive blast of spirit force that Byakuya releases through his hands.

Renji continues to try to separate the joints of his Bankai to avoid attacks, but it eventually comes crashing down to the ground, unable to be controlled. Byakuya tells him it will take 14 years of training to master how to control his Bankai in battle . Byakuya uses a binding spell, which pierces into Renji’s body, preventing him from moving. Byakuya drops his sword into the ground, revealing he also has Bankai level. The sword seeps into the ground and then raises back up in the form of multiple swords, nearly 20 feet high, that surround Byakuya. “Scatter, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi,” Byakuya says as the spikes glow purple and burst into flower petals.

An explosion is followed up, splattering blood in various directions from Renji’s body. He tells Renji that he will never match him in strength, and says Renji is lucky to still have his human form after being hit by his attack. Renji tries to stand to his feet and eventually does so, still trying to fight. He is struck down once more and is warned that if he tries to move again, he will completely destroy him. His vanishing bankai also is a form that he is coming close to dying.

Although approaching death, Renji laughs, standing up once more and running towards Byakuya to attack once more. As he staggers, he remembers his goals to one day be stronger than Byakuya, as well as previous encounters with Rukia. Renji manages to hit Byakuya, but is soul slayer breaks in half, not even piercing Byakuya’s flesh. Once more, he falls down to the ground. “Impressive,” Byakuya says as he throws part of his robe on Renji. “Your fangs have definitely reached me,” he says. While being walked to her death, Rukia realizes Renji has most likely died. Ichimaru, smiling, approaches from behind Rukia and greets Rukia.

Ichimaru jokes with Rukia, saying strange things even as Rukia is obviously being walked to her death. Ichimaru says he’s on a walk to go tease someone for a little bit. She remembers Ichimaru using any chance he could to talk to Byakuya once he became 6th squad captain. She remembers sweating all over her body the first time she saw him, feeling as if his characteristics were very snake-like. She hated him from the first moment and always avoided confrontations with him.

Ichimaru says that Renji isn’t dead, which Rukia confirms by feeling his pulse, even though it is weak. “He’s going to die soon,” Ichimaru jokingly says. Ichimaru continues to joke, saying he could save her and everybody right now if he wanted to. She wonders what he would get out of saving Renji and the others. He places his hand on her head and smiling once more, says “I lied,” and walks away.

Kenpachi is seen again, battling both Tousen and Konomura, seemingly having the upper hand. Tousen talks about three ways to achieve the rank of captain. One of them is by passing a general test, another is by being recommended by six captains and for three of the other seven to approve, and the third is to defeat the current captain in front of a 200 person council. He says he heard Kenpachi killed the previous 11th squad captain and believes he most likely just wants to fight. He begins to release his soul slayer to the bankai level, which appear to be various circular disks that all enlarge to form a black aura that appears as if it is another dimension.

Suzumushi Tsuishiki, Enma Kourou  is the name of his bankai. The large blimp-like dimension and everything inside is Tousen’s bankai. The opponent inside of the large area of darkness cannot move, cannot hear, and cannot see anything. The only way to escape the effects are to escape the bankai. Any bit of fear  that is generated by the opponent prevents the opponent from moving. Unsurprisingly, Kenpachi rushes over and hits Tousen, seemingly unaffected because all he is currently feeling is excitement, and not fear.

Yumichika is seen defeated by his opponent, and his opponent looks over to try to help Tousen. Yumichika asks him to keep battling and tells him that the whole squad uses their soul slayers in their most basic form for the thrill of the risk, and begins to release his soul slayer. The scene changes to show Renji being healed by Hanatarou, a request from Rikichi, who is also standing beside him. Hanatarou says someone had already healed some of his wounds before the two came. Yumichika tells him that he didn’t like Renji’s recent decisions, but he admires him and will stand by his side.

Back inside of the large black bubble that makes up Tousen’s bankai, Kenpachi becomes more and more accurate with his strikes, even though he cannot see anything. He figures there is a way to catch him and begins smiling. As Tousen attacks once more, Kenpachi allows him to stab him in the stomach, then grabs onto his hands in order attack. His vision and hearing comes back to him, which he believes might be a result of him being able to touch Tousen, or the fear emitting from Tousen.

Tousen tries to attack once more and his hit in return, and his bankai’s black exterior is popped and destroyed. Kenpachi begins walking away since he feels his opponent is half dead, and as Tousen tries to attack him once more, Kenpachi returns with a strike that would most likely killed him if not for Komamura intervening. The attack from Kenpachi hits Komamura’s mask, breaking it and revealing an animalistic face. He releases his own bankai, “Kokujyou Tenban Myouau”, which takes the form of a human-appearing and very large samurai. Kenpachi laughs hysterically at the thought of a battle to the death.

The scene changes to the location of Rukia’s execution, where various captains gather around, with the absence of a few captains. Byakuya appears and joins the attending captains. Rukia is asked if she has anything to say, which she says she does have one thing to say.

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