You’re Not a True Bleach Fan Until You’ve Seen These 10/10 Episodes

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Any anime series that runs for a long time, like Bleach, is bound to have some weaker episodes and filler content alongside its truly memorable ones. The most popular shonen anime – often called the “big three” – all have standout episodes packed with exciting action, surprising twists, and emotional moments that define the series. Bleach, after over 400 episodes – including both the original series and the recent Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – definitely has its share of these classic, must-see installments.

Dedicated fans of Bleach have a lot of favorite episodes, and with good reason. The series’ best episodes perfectly showcase what makes Bleach a shonen classic, with memorable plot twists, exciting new powers, and important character development. These top episodes combine to create a truly amazing adventure, highlighting all of Bleach‘s strengths.

Season 3, Episode 18: “Conclusion of the Death Match! White Pride and Black Desire”

Ichigo’s Duel With Byakuya Kuchiki Reaches its Climax on Sokyoku Hill

Image via Pierrot.

Most Bleach fans consider the Soul Society Arc to be the best part of the entire anime. While later arcs have their strengths, this one is often seen as the defining Bleach experience, filled with some of the series’ most memorable scenes. There’s so much to love, from Uryu’s battle with Mayuri to Toshiro’s investigation and Ichigo learning to control his bankai. If you’re looking for essential episodes, Season 3, Episode 18 is a standout. It features the epic fight between Ichigo and Byakuya, complete with surprising turns and reveals.

Ichigo Kurosaki isn’t just battling to become stronger; the stakes are much higher. He’s challenging Byakuya’s rigid adherence to rules, believing that family should come first. Ichigo is determined to help Byakuya see things differently, and ultimately, he’ll succeed. Meanwhile, Ichigo continues to grapple with the powerful, inner Hollow within him, a conflict that saved him in the past and hints at exciting developments to come.

Season 3, Episode 21: “Gather Together! Group of the Strongest Shinigami”

Captain Aizen Defies the Entire Soul Society to Chase His Dark Dream

Image via Pierrot.

The Bleach anime surprised fans with two big endings to its Soul Society Arc. While everyone anticipated a battle between Ichigo and his rival Byakuya Kuchiki, no one expected Captain Sosuke Aizen to also become a major enemy. Aizen’s storyline, where he pretended to die before revealing his true, villainous nature, was the most memorable part of the arc. Just when the fight between Ichigo and Byakuya ended, Aizen appeared, signaling that more challenges were ahead.

This episode shocked Bleach fans with Aizen’s overwhelming power, as he easily defeated every attempt to stop him. While Byakuya was a formidable opponent earlier in the series, Aizen felt like an entirely different level of threat – a confident and calculating villain who always seemed to be one step ahead and wasn’t afraid of anything. Aizen’s shocking betrayal and escape raised the stakes for Bleach‘s heroes, as he revealed his plan to become a god-like being, teaming up with Hollows to gain immense power. This expanded the possibilities within the Bleach universe, and viewers were eager to see how this storyline would unfold.

Season 8, Episode 15: “Desperate Effort vs. Desperate Effort! The Hollowfied Ichigo”

Ichigo’s and Grimmjow’s Rivalry Comes to a Head in Las Noches

Image via Pierrot.

The Arrancar Saga in Bleach is packed with exciting battles and surprising turns, showcasing Ichigo’s growth as he learns to control his inner darkness and faces powerful enemies like Ulquiorra and Aizen. A standout fight is his intense rivalry with Grimmjow, one of the Espadas. What made their battle unique was the sense that Ichigo and Grimmjow were evenly matched, almost like reflections of each other, even if Ichigo didn’t realize it at the time. In a strange way, Grimmjow pushed Ichigo to embrace his full potential and become the powerful fighter he was destined to be.

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The best fight of their rivalry happened in Season 8, Episode 15. Ichigo and Grimmjow truly gave it their all, constantly challenging each other to improve. The tension was high as Grimmjow began to gain the upper hand, really pushing Ichigo to his limits. It was a relief when Ichigo finally landed a significant hit on Grimmjow towards the end. This fight perfectly showed how Ichigo grows stronger when facing danger and manages to turn the tables at the last minute.

Season 17, Episode 6: “The Fire”

Yamamoto Unleashes Hell in His Grudge Match Against the Fake Yhwach

Image via Pierrot.

The new Bleach anime and its latest story arc are full of incredible scenes that fans won’t want to skip. A standout moment is the intense rematch between Yamamoto and Yhwach in the episode “The Fire.” While we’d seen Yamamoto use his abilities and even fight without them before, this episode finally showed him unleashing his full power. Yamamoto’s Bankai, Zanka no Tachi, was the highlight of “The Fire,” showcasing the strength that he himself found frightening.

But there’s more to the fight than just action. It also highlights key themes from Bleach about the dangers of becoming too comfortable and relying on strength alone. By this point in the story, the Soul Reapers of the Gotei 13 had grown used to winning and weren’t prepared for the Quincy’s attack. Yamamoto, in particular, was set in his ways and didn’t adapt like some younger heroes, which made his win in “The Fire” feel unsatisfying. Bleach frequently suggests that being powerful isn’t enough to create real change or personal happiness, and Yamamoto realizes this alongside characters like Grimmjow and Baraggan.

Season 17, Episode 20: “I Am the Edge”

Kenpachi’s Shikai and Willpower Are Too Much For Gremmy to Overcome

Image via Pierrot.

While “The Fire” was a spectacular display of power, the episode “I Am the Edge” focuses on characters pushing beyond their self-imposed limitations. Though the characters in Bleach don’t shout a phrase like “Plus Ultra” from My Hero Academia, this episode embodies the same drive for self-improvement seen in even the most powerful Soul Reapers. Kenpachi, who previously relied solely on his immense strength and stamina, finally faced a challenge that forced him to train and learn the name of his zanpakuto.

Kenpachi’s delayed power boost was the key to winning his fight against Sternritter V, Gremmy Thoumeax, but the episode, “I Am the Edge,” offers much more than just exciting action. Like other memorable episodes of Bleach, it delves into Kenpachi’s feelings and beliefs, showing him channeling his grief over Yachiru’s death into even greater strength. The fight also highlights the idea that everyone is capable of surpassing their limits, and that perceived plateaus are self-imposed. Ultimately, Kenpachi demonstrated that determination and self-belief can overcome even the overconfidence and imagination of a villain like Gremmy, who underestimated his opponents.

Season 7, Episode 38: “Friend”

Bazz-B and Jugram Have a Long History Together in Yhwach’s Quincy Empire

Interestingly, one of the best episodes of Bleach didn’t focus on Ichigo and his friends, or even the Soul Reapers. The episode “Friend” was special because it finally showed the Sternritter as people, giving us a glimpse into their personal stories and motivations. Most of the Sternritter are primarily used for fights, which can feel a bit shallow in a series like Bleach, but this episode was a notable exception. It explored the idea that strength isn’t everything, as the young Bazz-B struggled to understand why Yhwach favored Jugram Haschwalth despite his perceived weakness.

Bazz-B was powerful, but Jugram possessed genuine leadership qualities and the ability to share Quincy power effectively. Jugram thrived in this role, while Bazz-B was limited to being a member of the Sternritter, which led to resentment. Fans debated whether Bazz-B was a sympathetic character, lashing out due to his circumstances, or simply an arrogant troublemaker who didn’t know his place. Regardless, their battle was heartbreaking, and after Jugram defeated Bazz-B ruthlessly, viewers questioned if Jugram was truly heartless or if he secretly felt remorse. This made Jugram feel similar to Byakuya Kuchiki, a character known for his stoicism.

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2026-02-10 22:06