With the first four dubbed episodes of “Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War” now streaming on Hulu, we’re taking a look at Episode 29. Read on for a recap (be warned: spoilers are ahead) and our thoughts on this addition to this heart-stopping arc!
The Right Arm Recap
“The Dark Arm” opens with Captain Jushiro Ukitake announcing that he will take the Soul King’s place. He takes off his robe to reveal black shadows coming out of his back and he prays to the god, Mimihagi.
We are then taken into a flashback of when Ukitake was a child. Here, his parents beg the god to devour his lungs and save him from his disease. The eye of Mimihagi starts to cry, and Ukitake drinks the tears; this causes the same black shadows engulf him. He awakens in his home, and his life is spared.
The episode dives more into Ukitake’s backstory at the Soul Reaper Academy. Here, he spars with Shunsui Kyoraku under the guidance of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and Retsu Unohana. He is a happy and carefree young man, and seemingly healthy, judging by his fluid movements. However, the strain of his training causes him to cough blood; Mimihagi saved him, but did not eradicate his disease.
Back in the present, it is revealed that he is asking Mimihagi to forsake him and open its eye. By doing so, he gives up his organs and becomes the right arm of the Soul King himself. As Ukitake lets Mimihagi destroy him, Kyoraku heads down to the darkness where Sosuke Aizen is imprisoned. He unseals Aizen’s mouth, left eye, and ankle, and offers to take him out of his underground prison.
For those waiting for Ichigo and his friends, do not worry! We get to go back to his fight with Yhwach, as Orihime works on restoring the Soul King while the others take on the offensive. However, Orihime’s healing powers are not enough to undo the damage, but Ukitake’s sacrifice is something Yhwach did not foresee.
Review
For an Ukitake fan like myself, this episode was a real treat. His health is touched upon in the original series, and is even joked about in a filler episode, but we never get to see much of him or his relationship with Kyoraku. The animation is swift and clean, giving us much to enjoy as he spars with his friend, and shows his determination to be a soul reaper, despite his illness.
Be warned: “The Dark Arm” is probably the most depressing episode so far. As a manga fan, reading this was hard, but seeing Ukitake’s pain on screen is even more devastating. The interaction Ukitake has with Rukia is especially heartbreaking. Having mentored her since the beginning, it is clear they share a bond. When he tells her “there are two kinds of battles,” a phrase he once passed down to her when Kaien died, it is nearly impossible not to shed a tear.
In addition to to the visual, I think the voice work helps make this episode so tragic. Aleks Le does a terrific job of showing Ukitake’s pain and distress as he is torn apart. Originally voiced by Liam O’Brien, Le impeccably mimics his mannerisms and voice, bringing back fond memories of the original anime.
Though we are likely saying goodbye to Ukitake, I have to say that getting Aizen back is a great consolation prize. Considered a top-notch anime villain, it’s amazing hearing Kyle Herbert’s cool and condescending voice. All in all, it is clear that “Bleach” is continuing to push the boundaries and leave fans on the edge of their seats.
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