This was very good in-between episode from my mind. Nothing that major happened, yet at the same time...small things happened that are important.
However, two major things happened (at least in my mind) Aizen flexing (while still moping a bit) and Grimmjow finally showing up! Those two really did steal this week's episode. The fact Grimmjow was teased at the middle of the episode, just to fully appear at the end of it? Brilliant. Not to mention Ichigo's look of 'Grimmjow?' It was amusing. Also, this episode did indeed explain where Ichigo and Yoruichi fell down which is a good thing. Though, a cat always falls on their feet, so they won't need Kon plush to lessen the impact of falling...
It was kind of amusing and a bit 'oh boy, here we go again' when Aizen showed up and everybody was so against him. Like, they were still in the middle of the war, and just moments ago those remnants of Soul King were falling from the sky...which honestly made me wonder why most kami-related things are black eyeball things with sharp teeth? Like, did anyone get the Fullmetal Alchemist vibe from that? Anyone? Okay, moving on.
The fact Aizen came and was all badass was awesome. Though, there was this undertone of him having lost his mojo. Or maybe it was just me, but it felt like he wasn't really giving his all. Sure, he was restrained and he was (probably) forced against his will to help, but even so...considering the fact how crafty he has been portrayed and smug... Prison really changed a person, eh? He felt a bit less smug and dejected. Even his bickering with Urahara and Mayuri (not talking about the rest of the people) didn't have his usual sass. Then again, Urahara has also felt very...I don't know how to put it. We mostly see shots of him gawking things and looking like he truly doesn't know what he is doing. It has made me feel like his secretive attitude and atmosphere have indeed just been a bluff this whole time, because before he truly did not know what was going on or could make an elaborate guess of what was going to happen. Or, both Aizen and Urahara belong to that type of people when a crisis is going on, they freeze. But still manage to function somewhat, but their peak performance is all but lost. Which shifted my attention to Mayuri. He was sassy and showed he was truly the one on the game and the smartest cookie among the so-called genius people. Then again, Urahara and Azen were on Mayuri's turf, so...
Even so, it was a bit disheartening to see Aizen egging Kyoraku to try and kill him when NaNaNa Najahkoop had made him faint for those five minutes. Because it didn't feel like it was his mere plot to try and get Kyoraku enough close to him just so he could free himself. Not to mention his words about the fact that the one who defeated him (Ichigo) got to go first to Soul King's palace... which made me think: if Aizen had managed to make his way in there, what would he have done there? Kill Soul King? But the fact Kyoraku (and everybody else) was making so big a deal about the world(s) ending, because of Soul King's death made me wonder when Aizen was still his chirpy self, I doubt he would have wanted to make the world's end. Right? Then again, just like we've seen, the world(s) haven't just yet ended, so maybe Aizen knew that? But even so...it was obvious his original goal was to change things, but how? And how going to Soul King's palace would have changed anything since at least to me Soul King seemed like just observing kami who wouldn't intervene in anything. Maybe he would had the power to do so or not, but even so... this what-if scenario came to my mind when I saw that scene.
When all the shinigami were bickering, I just waited for someone to come and break it up. Which NaNaNa did. But surprise! He was betrayed by his fellow cannon fodder Sternritters. It's actually more surprising he was still loyal to Yhwach, after the stunt he pulled on them all in the last season. I think Bazz-B's, Liltotto's, and Giselle's reactions were more natural than NaNaNa's. After all, if someone stabbed you literally on your back, would you still be loyal to that person? I think not many would be, but then again...Yhwach has his 'charm'.
It was nice to see the three Quincies and Shinigami join together in a fragile ceasefire. Did anyone notice that little scene where Bazz-B and Renji are obviously talking about each other's hairstyles and tattoos? While Rukia was so done. It reminded me a bit of Ichigo's and Renji's shenanigans and when they share exactly that one brain cell. xD
Seeing Kenpachi come over and ask where Yachiru is broke a bit my heart. It break more when he was having that small showdown with Nanao, which he basically gave up. Like...it didn't matter and he was just so...tired. Hopefully when he and rest of the people who will go to face Yhwach and his merry bunch of Quincies will cheer him up a bit.
I also have to give it to Soi Fon. She was the first one to act when Soul King's remnants were falling from the sky, and her pointing out to Urahara that they aren't afraid to go up there and fight was awesome. It's nice to see her having these little moments. I also want to give credit to Byakuya for acting as coolly as ever when Aizen showed up. Talk about a cool guy.
I can't wait for the next episode because Yhwach is obviously ready for some resistance, and everybody else seems also ready to fight once again~.