Bleach TYBW Part 1 – Complete Recap 

Bleach anime has been awaited for so long and the Thousand Year Blood War Arc is the best return fans could get. The Bleach TYBW arc will finish its run in 4 cours, and cour 2nd is here. In case you’re having a little trouble remembering the details of Bleach TYBW Part 1, here’s the complete recap. 

Bleach TYBW Part 1 Recap 

Episodes 1-2

Bleach TYBW Part 1 started with the Quincies commencing their attack on the soul society, the world of the living, and the Hueco Mundo. Ichigo, Orihime, Ishida, and Chad, with Kisuke Urahara’s help, ward off the Quincies in the Hueco Mundo facing off with the Stern Ritter, Quilge. On the other hand, we also see the attack on the Head captain’s office, during which Lieutenant Sasakibe gets killed. 

Episodes 3-5

The fight between Ichigo and Quilge continues in the Hueco Mundo.

• We get an insight into what’s going on in the Soul Society. The Quincies invade the soul society and steal the Bankai of Hitsugaya and Byakuya primarily. We see Zaraki killing off multiple top-level Quincy commanders before facing Yhwach.
• Zaraki is easily overpowered by Yhwach and the Head Captain Yamamoto enters the fight to save him. The head captain gets a flashback of the lieutenant showing him his Bankai for the first time. Before this, we see Ichigo getting trapped by Quilge and taken somewhere. While the rest stay in Hueco Mundo with Urahara.

Episodes 6-8

The fight between Yamamoto and Yhwach continues and the head captain overpowers his opponent by using his Bankai. While boasting about how it can never be stolen. The real Yhwach appears and reveals that his underling was acting as his replacement, while he was meeting up with Aizen.

Their fight continues, and the Quincy King steals Yamamoto’s Bankai. In his last moments, Captain Yamamoto remembers the past when he defeated Yhwach with Sasakibe.

• Parallel to this we see Ichigo meeting Byakuya who asks him to save the Soul Society. Ichigo spars with Yhwach getting his Zanpaku-to destroyed. Yhwach breaks it to him that he’s a Quincy before retreating. 
• Zaraki, Byakuya, Renji, Rukia, and Ichigo are all in terrible condition. Squad zero takes them to the Royal Palace where they’re healed and trained by the former best 5 captains. 

Episodes 9-11

Captain Kyoraku gets appointed as the new Head Captain. He orders that Zaraki needs to learn Zanjutsu from Captain Unohana, which is a facade to bring out Zaraki’s true potential. We see a duel between them which is both emotional and physical.

Their past is explored, where Zaraki’s capabilities as a kid are demonstrated. The duel ends with Zaraki overpowering Unohana and her demise. He also hears his Zanpaku-to for the first time.

After eating nourishing meals, Renji and Ichigo go to the former captain and creator of all Zanpaku-to. During the training, Ichigo fails and gets sent to the human world. We see Ichigo seemingly down and Isshin appears in his soul reaper uniform to pick Ichigo from the shop. Isshin lets him know of the past.

In the past, we revisit the meeting between his parents during their fight against the hollow controlled by Aizen. The fight leaves Masaki injured.  It is revealed that she is a Quincy and was taken in by the Ishida family after losing her parents. We also see the dynamics between Ryuken Ishida and her.

Episodes 12-13

Isshin reports to the soul society about the incident leaving off the part about Masaki. Her merging with the hollow starts to take a toll on her. Urahara suggests a way to heal her for which a soul reaper needs to give up their entire powers. Isshin gives up his powers to save her. They fall in love and get married.

Ryuken marries Katagiri who dies, Auswählen being the reason. Yhwach uses Auswählen to regain his power by killing impure Quincies.

• Back to the present, Ichigo takes off again to the training with Nimaiya. He chooses a white Asauchi and all the others kneel in front of him.
• He finally sees Zangetsu, who tells him that the hollow inside him was the source of his powers and the Quincy powers inside him used to appear as Yhwach obstructing his union with Zangetsu.
• We see his new Zangetsu and Ichigo accepts that they’re the same. Uryu appears as one of the Quincies under Yhwach.
• On the other hand, captains are shown to be training in the Soul Society preparing for the battles ahead.

Conclusion

Here you go with the recap! Now you’re ready to dive right into Bleach TYBW part 2! Happy watching!