REVIEW: ‘Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War’ Season 3 Episode 1

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Season 3 Episode 1 kicks off with a visually stunning and emotionally intense premiere, but for fans of Bleach‘s main character, Ichigo, it may feel a little lacking. For the past two seasons, Ichigo has been largely absent from the action, and this trend continues as we open with the fate of Squad Zero and the Quincy King.

One of my main frustrations throughout the second season of Thousand-Year Blood War was the glaring absence of Ichigo. We’re now at the start of the third season and still missing Bleach‘s main character. For a show that’s part of The Big Three, it’s disappointing not to see Ichigo front and center, especially given how pivotal he is to the plot. Thousand-Year Blood War Season 3 Episode 1 spends its entire runtime focused on Squad Zero and their struggle with the Quincy King, leaving Ichigo to pop up only at the very end. And even then, it’s more of a “Now it’s all up to you, buddy” moment—a message we already knew was coming.

That being said, the animation here is absolutely top-tier. Watching Squad Zero pull out all the stops against the Quincy King and company was a visual treat. Bankais, especially in this episode, are delivered with such spectacle and attention to detail that it’s hard not to be impressed. There’s a sense of grandeur to every move, every attack, that makes you feel like you’re watching titans clash. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Season 3 Episode 1 does a great job of making these moments feel epic.

One of the standout moments was a sequence where Squad Zero Captain Ichibē Hyōsube launched into a full-blown musical number during one of his attacks. It was unexpected, creative, and beautifully animated. The voice acting from Naomi Kusumi added an undeniable flair, elevating the entire scene to something special. But even this brilliantly executed moment couldn’t distract from the fact that Ichigo and his friends are still missing in action.

For all the flashy battles and artistic flourishes, I still miss the core cast that brought me into Bleach in the first place. Yes, the animation has never looked better, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that the show’s soul is missing when Ichigo and his team aren’t on screen.

Another intriguing element that continues to hang over the story is the unresolved mystery surrounding Uryu Ishida, Ichigo’s former ally. Now, working with the Quincy King, Yhwach, there’s a lot we still don’t know about his true motives and the deeper connection he shares with Yhwach. This mystery was teased throughout Season 2, and while it adds tension, we’re still left with the same questions we had at the end of the last season.

In typical Bleach fashion, the real story progression doesn’t happen until after the credits roll. Without giving away too much, there’s a key moment that shifts the stakes and finally moves the plot forward meaningfully. But it’s frustrating that we had to wait until the end of the episode for any real movement. Fans looking for resolution or development in the main narrative may feel like Thousand-Year Blood War Season 3 Episode 1 leaves them hanging.

Unfortunately, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Season 3, Episode 1, is a mixed bag. The animation and action sequences are some of the best we’ve seen in the series, but it’s hard not to feel frustrated by the lack of narrative progression. The season premiere delivers actions in spades, but for those of us itching to see Ichigo take center stage, it’s a bit of a letdown. The after-credits moment offers some redemption, but at this point, I’m just ready for the story to start moving forward again.

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Season 3, Episode 1 is now streaming on Hulu.