Thousand Year Blood War - Traitor

Key Takeaways

The episode contains anime-exclusive developments, including a fierce battle between Ichigo and Uryū.
Ukitake's sacrifice to save the universe fails, and a new Soul King almost materializes.
After the credits end, Yhwach completes absorbing the Soul King and sets the stage for the finale.

At this point, Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War Adapting the climactic final arc of Tite Kubo's masterpiece, each successive part is competing on its own as it brings something bigger and better than the last. In the fourth episode of Part 3, “The Betrayer”, Ichigo and Uryū finally cross paths after arriving at the Soul King's Palace.

It's filled with developments we didn't get in the manga, including an epic brawl between Ichigo Kurosaki and Uryu Ishida, as well as our first look at Uryu Ishida's Quincy: Vollständig. The episode ends dramatically as Uryū fires an arrow that blows a huge hole in Ichigo's side and Yhwach finally absorbs the Soul King.

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Ukitake's attempt to save the universe fails.

The new Soul King has almost taken shape

Shihoin Yoruichi attempts to seal the Spirit King - BLEACH Thousand Year Blood Battle Part 3 Episode 4

Ukitake's invocation of Kamikake so that the Soul King's right-hand man could stabilize the realm was a self-sacrificing move that weakened the Captain's remaining life force, freeing him to serve as the realm's linchpin: a replacement Soul King. Seeing what the Arm of Darkness was doing, Ichigo's friends took action and were thwarted by Yhwach's Schutzstaffel. Yoruichi laid down the amulet to reseal the Soul King, using the Soul's right arm as a new cornerstone, while Ichigo took on Yhwach, gripping Yhwach's sword tightly and overcoming the wave of reiatsu that caused the Soul King to split in two.

Ichigo and Yoruichi seem to be doing great things together. However, Ichigo is shocked to see Yoruichi seriously injured by an arrow while Uryū stands in the distance. Yoruichi managed to take cover, but her loss of concentration meant that the delicate situation with the Soul King was falling apart again very quickly. With re-containment failing, Yhwach once again takes his place before the Soul King and attempts to absorb him, repelling all attempts by Ichigo and his friends to stop him. He even had Yoruichi attack Pernida Parnkgjas, violently twisting her arm with his strength as the Soul King's left arm before Yhwach blasted her off the platform of the Soul King's palace and sent her hurtling to the ground below. Yes.

Spectacular fight: Ichigo Kurosaki vs Uryu Ishida

The animation-only scenes are the best part of the episode

Ichigo and Uryu's shoulder collide during the fight - BLEACH Thousand Year Blood Battle Part 3 Episode 4

Ichigo continues to attempt to attack Yhwach while absorbing the Soul King, but Uryū continues to fire arrows, making it difficult for Ichigo to interfere. As Yhwach continues, Mimihagi's black shadow becomes visible again and moves away from the Soul King's body. The Lord's Palace was torn apart by the tremors caused by Yhwach's activities. The effects of this episode are some of the best: Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War Part 3 Even Uryū's numerous arrows have improved in both shape and movement by now.

It is very enjoyable to see the dazzling light of Uryu's arrow, the clear sound of the arrow being fired and deflected, and the very cinematic and dramatic meeting between Ichigo and Uryu. He makes his decisions clearly. Ichigo will have to kill him to get to Yhwach. Ichigo was shocked to realize that his friend had decided to betray them with all his heart and help Yhwach's cause. There is a striking comparison between the four-pointed and five-pointed shapes, a nod to the conflict between the Reapers who seek to defend the current structure of the realm and the Quincy represented by the five-pointed star.

Uryu Ishida Quincy Explosion Pentagram Pentastar - BLEACH Thousand Year Blood Battle Part 3 Episode 4

Some of these forms are very understated, but they continue the interesting direction of the Millennium Bloodbath arc, which enhances the cinematic feel of the series and feels like a deliberate pivot to a more theatrical tone in which all the visual elements are conveyed. There's a lot of thematic information and little Easter eggs.

The conflict between the other members of the Schutzstaffel and Ichigo's friends was given some time, and it was just as cool to see Orihime jumping into battle with complete confidence and serving as a valuable member of the team from the get-go. , there was something special about the direction of the Uryū and Ichigo fight that made it one of the most memorable in the series. Ichigo's shock at the betrayal, and even more so at suffering the kind of vicious blow Uryū inflicted on him at the end of the episode, is palpable.

after credits

the beginning of the end

Yhwach Absorbed the Soul King – BLEACH Thousand Year Blood War Part 3 Episode 4

After Ichigo falls from the sky, losing a large chunk of his torso, Uryu rejoins the other Quincies and witnesses Yhwach complete the absorption of the Soul King. He recites the final lines of the Kaiser Gesang as Yhwach shatters the crystal and releases the mutilated remains of Adnyeus from his prison while the Schutzstaffel raises the Sword of the Gnosis in celebration. He declares that he will accept everything from the Soul King and return the world to its original state before disappearing in a blinding light. Moments later, Yhwach's new form appears to the beat of his racing heart. As the fairy tale is completed, numerous eyes blink simultaneously.

Since Ichigo and Uryū's fight is an original scene from the anime, it was a great joy for series fans to finally be able to see Uryū's Quincy: Vollständig eight years after the manga series ended. This was a great episode.