The Best Episodes of Bleach Season 1

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   7.7/10(2197 votes)

   #1 - The Day I Became a Shinigami

   S1:E110/5/2004

   Fifteen-year-old Ichigo Kurosaki has the uncanny ability to see ghosts, but otherwise lives an ordinary life. However, once a Shinigami named Rukia Kuchiki appears before him, everything changes.

   Director:Noriyuki Abe

   Writer:Masashi Sogo

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   Director:Noriyuki Abe

   Writer:Masashi Sogo
2. 

   7.4/10(1649 votes)

   #2 - A Shinigami's Work

   S1:E210/12/2004

   After becoming a Shinigami, Ichigo Kurosaki refuses to help Rukia Kuchiki with her work as the local Shinigami of Karakura Town.

   Director:Junya Koshiba

   Writer:Natsuko Takahashi

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   Director:Junya Koshiba

   Writer:Natsuko Takahashi
3. 

   7.7/10(1525 votes)

   #3 - The Older Brother's Wish, the Younger Sister's Wish

   S1:E310/19/2004

   When a Hollowfied Sora Inoue attacks his younger sister, Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki set out to save her.

   Director:Shigeki Hatakeyama

   Writer:Natsuko Takahashi

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   Director:Shigeki Hatakeyama

   Writer:Natsuko Takahashi
4. 

   7.4/10(1395 votes)

   #4 - Cursed Parakeet

   S1:E410/26/2004

   When Yasutora Sado receives a parakeet that contains the Soul of a young boy, it is up to Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki to protect him from the Hollow that is after them.

   Director:Takushi Kimura

   Writer:Genki Yoshimura

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   Director:Takushi Kimura

   Writer:Genki Yoshimura
5. 

   7.7/10(1392 votes)

   #5 - Beat the Invisible Enemy!

   S1:E511/2/2004

   Rukia Kuchiki and Yasutora Sado team up to take on the Hollow Shrieker.

   Director:Kazunori Mizuno

   Writer:Genki Yoshimura

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   Director:Kazunori Mizuno

   Writer:Genki Yoshimura
6. 

   7.4/10(1283 votes)

   #6 - Fight to the Death! Ichigo vs. Ichigo

   S1:E611/9/2004

   At Rukia Kuchiki's behest, Ichigo Kurosaki puts an artificial soul in his body to take care of it and not arouse suspicion while he carries out his Substitute Shinigami duties, but the artificial soul has its own agenda.

   Director:Junya Koshiba

   Writer:Michiko Yokote

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   Director:Junya Koshiba

   Writer:Michiko Yokote
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7. 

   7.5/10(1251 votes)

   #7 - Greetings from a Stuffed Lion

   S1:E711/16/2004

   Ichigo Kurosaki becomes friends with the Modified Soul, Kon, and puts him into a plushie.

   Director:Akira Shimizu

   Writers:Michiko Yokote, Masashi Sogo

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   Director:Akira Shimizu

   Writers:Michiko Yokote, Masashi Sogo
8. 

   7.6/10(1241 votes)

   #8 - June 17, Memories in the Rain

   S1:E811/23/2004

   Ichigo Kurosaki goes to his mother's grave with the rest of his family.

   Director:Shigeki Hatakeyama

   Writer:Masashi Sogo

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   Director:Shigeki Hatakeyama

   Writer:Masashi Sogo
9. 

   8.1/10(1388 votes)

   #9 - Unbeatable Enemy

   S1:E911/30/2004

   Ichigo Kurosaki battles against Grand Fisher.

   Director:Takushi Kimura

   Writer:Masashi Sogo

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   Director:Takushi Kimura

   Writer:Masashi Sogo
10. 

    7.1/10(1202 votes)

    #10 - Assault on Trip at Sacred Ground!

    S1:E1012/7/2004

    While grudgingly attending Don Kanonji's show with the rest of his family, Ichigo Kurosaki is forced to fight a Hollow inadvertently created by Don Kanonji himself.

    Director:Kazunori Mizuno

    Writer:Masahiro Okubo

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    Director:Kazunori Mizuno

    Writer:Masahiro Okubo
11. 

    7.4/10(1166 votes)

    #11 - The Legendary Quincy

    S1:E1112/14/2004

    Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki meet Uryū Ishida, a Quincy.

    Director:Junya Koshida

    Writer:Michiko Yokote

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    Director:Junya Koshida

    Writer:Michiko Yokote
12. 

    7.7/10(1179 votes)

    #12 - A Gentle Right Arm

    S1:E1212/21/2004

    As Ichigo Kurosaki begins his duel with Uryū Ishida, Yasutora Sado gains a new power.

    Director:Koji Aritomi

    Writer:Genki Yoshimura

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    Director:Koji Aritomi

    Writer:Genki Yoshimura
13. 

    7.4/10(1151 votes)

    #13 - Flower and Hollow

    S1:E1312/28/2004

    Orihime Inoue gains a new power in order to protect Tatsuki Arisawa.

    Director:Takushi Kimura

    Writer:Natsuko Takahashi

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    Director:Takushi Kimura

    Writer:Natsuko Takahashi
14. 

    8.1/10(1277 votes)

    #14 - Back to Back, a Fight to the Death!

    S1:E141/11/2005

    Ichigo Kurosaki and Uryū Ishida work together to defeat a Menos Grande.

    Director:Noriyuki Abe

    Writer:Masashi Sogo

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    Director:Noriyuki Abe

    Writer:Masashi Sogo
15. 

    7.1/10(1124 votes)

    #15 - Kon's Great Plan

    S1:E151/18/2005

    Kon decides to run away from the Kurosaki Clinic as Soul Society comes after Rukia Kuchiki.

    Director:Chiaki Kon

    Writer:Masahiro Okubo

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    Director:Chiaki Kon

    Writer:Masahiro Okubo
16. 

    8.1/10(1460 votes)

    #16 - The Encounter, Abarai Renji!

    S1:E161/25/2005

    Two Shinigami, 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai and Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, arrive in the Human World to take Rukia Kuchiki back to the Soul Society.

    Director:Junya Koshida

    Writer:Michiko Yokote

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    Director:Junya Koshida

    Writer:Michiko Yokote
17. 

    8.6/10(1590 votes)

    #17 - Ichigo Dies!

    S1:E172/1/2005

    Ichigo Kurosaki loses his Shinigami powers and Rukia Kuchiki is taken back to Soul Society.

    Director:Kazunori Mizuno

    Writer:Rika Nakase

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    Director:Kazunori Mizuno

    Writer:Rika Nakase
18. 

    7.7/10(1180 votes)

    #18 - Reclaim! The Power of the Shinigami!

    S1:E182/8/2005

    Ichigo Kurosaki begins his training with Kisuke Urahara to regain his Shinigami powers and save Rukia Kuchiki.

    Director:Akira Shimizu

    Writer:Natsuko Takahashi

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    Director:Akira Shimizu

    Writer:Natsuko Takahashi
19. 

    8.5/10(1561 votes)

    #19 - Ichigo Becomes a Hollow!

    S1:E192/15/2005

    Kisuke Urahara helps Ichigo Kurosaki regain his Shinigami powers.

    Director:Takushi Kimura

    Writer:Genki Yoshimura

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    Director:Takushi Kimura

    Writer:Genki Yoshimura
20. 

    8.2/10(1429 votes)

    #20 - Ichimaru Gin's Shadow

    S1:E202/22/2005

    After completing their training, Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends depart to Soul Society to rescue Rukia Kuchiki.

    Director:Shigeki Hatakeyama

    Writer:Masashi Sogo

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    Director:Shigeki Hatakeyama

    Writer:Masashi Sogo
21. 

    7.0/10(7 votes)

    #21 - Enter! The World of the Shinigami

    S1:E213/1/2005

    Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends enter Soul Society.

    Director:Junya Koshida

    Writer:Rika Nakase

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    Director:Junya Koshida

    Writer:Rika Nakase
22. 

    6.6/10(7 votes)

    #22 - The Man who Hates Shinigami

    S1:E223/8/2005

    Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends are forced to find another way into Seireitei due to 3rd Division Captain Gin Ichimaru's intervention.

    Director:Koji Aritomi

    Writer:Natsuko Takahashi

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    Director:Koji Aritomi

    Writer:Natsuko Takahashi
23. 

    6.6/10(7 votes)

    #23 - 14 Days Before Rukia's Execution

    S1:E233/15/2005

    Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends enter the household of the Shiba Clan.

    Director:Kazunori Mizuno

    Writer:Masahiro Okubo

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    Director:Kazunori Mizuno

    Writer:Masahiro Okubo
24. 

    7.0/10(7 votes)

    #24 - Assemble! The 13 Divisions

    S1:E243/22/2005

    As Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends begin their preparations to get into the Seireitei, the Gotei 13 captains assemble for a meeting.

    Director:Akira Iwanaga

    Writer:Michiko Yokote

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    Director:Akira Iwanaga

    Writer:Michiko Yokote
25. 

    7.0/10(7 votes)

    #25 - Penetrate the Center with an Enormous Bombshell?

    S1:E253/29/2005

    Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends enter the Seireitei.

    Director:Akira Shimizu

    Writer:Genki Yoshimura

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    Director:Akira Shimizu

    Writer:Genki Yoshimura