I Promise, Bleach Is Great If You Avoid 7 of Its Original Anime Episodes at All Costs

Bleach became one of the most popular anime of the 2000s for a reason. The main plot is extremely compelling, and it features excellent characters and a well-developed world. However, the series is also plagued with filler, and some of that filler content is really, truly bad.

The problem with a lot of Bleach filler is that it has almost nothing to do with the actual story of Bleach itself, often going off on irrelevant tangents that are hard to reconcile with canon. Characters may behave in an out-of-character manner, and many of the original characters invented for Bleach filler are simply boring and unlikable. Worse still, the placement of these filler episodes within the series means that they're often interrupting very important, compelling moments with the most trite and dull filler content, stretching out the story for no real reason. Here are 7 episodes of Bleach that should absolutely be avoided at all costs.

7 New Development, the Dangerous Transfer Student Appears!

Bleach, episode #169

Bleach has numerous "filler arcs," in which a longer-form original filler story is told across many episodes. By far one of the least popular of these is the "New Captain Shusuke Amagai" arc, which is where this episode falls. This filler story deals with a noble from the soul society named Rurichiyo Kasumioji who pays a visit to the World of the Living, along with two bodyguards, Kenryu and Enryu. Rurichiyo is a stuck-up, high-society girl who makes demands of Ichigo, which he doesn't take kindly to. She even demands his attention while he's busy fighting Hollows. The episode ends with the trio enrolling in Ichigo's high school, ensuring he'll have to deal with them further.

Rurichiyo is introduced as a very unlikable, demanding character, and she really doesn't get much more interesting from here on out. Her bodyguards are also pretty dull, and they're going to be the focal point for a number of later episodes as well, ensuring that this arc is off to a bad start from the very beginning. Since this episode primarily exists to introduce these filler characters, there's absolutely nothing of value here for someone just trying to follow the manga's storyline, and nothing about the filler endears itself to fans. Fans are generally recommended to skip the whole arc, and this episode proves why.

6 Delusion Roars! Hisagi, Towards the Hot Springs Inn!

Bleach, episode #305

Busy with work, Shuhei Hisagi talks with Izuru Kira, who needs him to sign off on an organizational budget. Hisagi agrees, and they set up a time to meet up for drinks later. While drinking, they're confronted by some members of the Soul Reapers' Women's Assocation, whom Hisagi did a favor for. Kira thinks Hisagi is trying to get Rangiku's attention, but he denies this. Soon, however, Hisagi and Rangiku are sent on a mission together, which, through a series of bizarre misunderstandings, gets Hisagi thinking that Rangiku is coming onto him. Rangiku, however, had simply used him as a decoy.

While this episode focuses on a fan-favorite character, Shuhei Hisagi, it doesn't exactly do him many favors. Hisagi isn't really a good choice for this kind of plot, and honestly, this kind of plot isn't a good fit for Bleach in general. And, of course, with the title's emphasis on hot springs, this is ultimately all just an excuse for some fanservice that's just utterly unnecessary. The episode's general plot, about tracking down a Hollow, is also as basic as it gets, meaning that there really isn't much substance in this episode for those who are uninterested in fanservice.

5 Cry of the Soul? The Rug Shinigami is Born!

Bleach, episode #299

Yumichika and Ikkaku are sent to the World of the Living to track down a Hollow, and must go undercover, but Ichigo won't let them stay with him. Instead, they end up at his friend Keigo's house, and Keigo's sister Mizuho is completely crushing on Ikkaku, allowing them to stay. Mizuho gives Ikkaku no privacy, often barging in on him while attempting to be a good host. Knowing she likes his bald head, Yumichika suggests Ikkaku get a wig. Ichigo laughs at the wig, annoying Ikkaku. Mizuho and Keigo are taken by the Hollow they're hunting, forcing Ikkaku to defend her.

Yumichika and Ikkaku end up being the face of a lot of filler, and this one is no exception. Much like the last episode, the basic plot is extremely by-the-numbers Hollow hunting. The humor here is supposed to be derived from the mismatch of these characters, but it really just isn't all that funny, leaving the episode's jokes falling flat. If you find Ikkaku wearing a wig inherently funny, then you might enjoy this episode, but for the rest of fans, there's even less present than the average filler episode.

4 The Soul Detective! Karakuraizer Takes Off Again!

Bleach, episode #311

Kon, as the hero Karakura-Raizer, tries to save a soul from a Hollow, only to be beaten to the punch by a man in a cloak. When Kon heads to Urahara's to find out what's going on, everyone is familiar with this "Michel," who they claim is a spiritualist fighting Hollows. Kon is then embarrassed in front of the team during a Hollow attack when he is able to do nothing and must be saved by Michel. However, it turns out that Michel is a Hollow himself, one who has placed the entire town under hypnosis, except Kon, due to his nature as a Mod Soul. Kon is able to defeat Michel and reverse the hypnosis, saving the day.

The filler episodes which focus on Kon tend to be among the worst and most detached from the main story, as Kon and various other World of the Living characters end up as superheroes working to defend Karakura Town in Ichigo's absence. While some of these characters are nice to see, like Tatsuki, others, like Chizuru, would be better off forgotten, like in the manga. These episodes do link up and form a mini-arc, but that doesn't do much to redeem them for their generally low quality.

3 Side Story...Ichigo and the Magic Lamp

Bleach, episode #287

Ichigo wakes up in a dark desert, wearing Middle Eastern-style clothes and surrounded by versions of his friends who insist they have different names. Ichigo travels with them for a while, until they reveal that their plan is to steal a crystal from a merchant, who is clearly based on Urahara. They pick a treasure chest in the merchant's home and retrieve a lamp, while Ichigo realizes that this is all just a dream. Urahara catches them and unleashes his security on them, forcing them into a small room. In the lamp is a genie that looks like Rukia, who offers three wishes.

This episode can be sort of entertaining just from how weird it is, but ultimately, as a dream episode, it has nothing to do with anything. It's just pure filler, intending to take up time and allow the manga to get ahead again. Characters and things behave strangely, as if in a dream, and worse still, it's not even Ichigo's dream, so it can't be used to subconsciously analyze his feelings. It's all very random, with little in the way of redeeming features. At least it offers some interesting costumes, for those who like to see characters dress up.

2 Gaiden Again! This Time's Enemy Is A Monster?

Bleach, episode #304

Apparently dreaming again, Ichigo is summoned by Rukia to a castle, where various Bleach characters are dressed as monsters. Hitsugaya insists that they're here for a meeting, and that they must defeat the "hunters" who are after them. Uryu reveals that the hunters are actually after the snow crystal from the previous dream, which has the power to turn monsters into humans. The monster hunters are Uryu and Ichigo's fathers, who don't hold back in their fight. Ultimately, Komamura wakes up at the end, proving it all to be his dream this time.

The idea of doing a sequel to the dream episode is a weird one, especially when it goes in a totally different direction, and is dreamed up by a different character entirely. How does Komamura even know who Uryu's father is, anyway? The episode once again uses this dreamy nature to excuse a lot of things that don't make terribly much sense, and nothing is explained. And of course, as a dream episode, nothing that happens here has any real consequences on anything, making it really only enjoyable if you're just dying to see a little more of your favorite Bleach characters.

1 Real World and Shinigami! The New Year Special!

Bleach, episode #303

The Soul Reaper Women's Association is celebrating New Year's with cards, but Ikkaku is critical of the quality of Yachiru's work. More debate over the quality of the cards continues, with Sui Feng finding a card she believes to be from Yoruichi, although it isn't. Yachiru sets up a tournament for the card game Karuta, pitting men vs. women. Ikkaku is disqualified for fighting with the judge, and Hisagi has to quit as Rangiku gives him a nosebleed. Kira decides to use his Zanpakuto, prompting others to use theirs, and then Kido spells as well, and soon anarchy breaks out.

This is overall a pretty dull episode with not much going on. The extensive debate over the quality of Yachiru's cards is really just not interesting, and Karuta is a card game most Westerners aren't likely to have much exposure to, making the mayhem even harder to follow than it already is. Once again, there's no substance here, as the episode doesn't really focus on any one particular character. It uses the same running jokes as several other of these filler episodes, like Hisagi's attraction to Rangiku, so even the comedy is rather weak. Given all these downsides, it's easy to call this the worst episode of Bleach ever.