Recollection #1 (Episodes 1-2 Summary + Review)

There comes a story of a "normal" 15 year old Kurosaki Ichigo who can see spirits. The franchise Bleach unfolds that story in which our main protagonist goes from a ordinary life to entering into something extraordinary. A tale of chance encounters with a Death God (or Shinigami) and how the events will transpire afterwards. Our story begins here and now....

#1) The Day I Became A Shinigami - Ichigo is your "normal everyday" 15 year high school student who can see spirits. He beats up a bunch of thugs one day when they knocked over a flower vase where a dead spirit was. Ichigo, believing in spirits, lives a everyday life at home w/his over-the-top Dad and his two sisters, one who can see spirits (but doesn't acknowledge them) and the other not. One day, he meets a young Shinigami by the name of Rukia Kuchiki, tasked with watching over Karakura town and eliminating Hollows (or Souls that do not cross to the Soul Society. Rukia, shocked to know that Ichigo can see her, tells Ichigo her story.

 

Rukia unfolds to Ichigo where she comes from, why she's in Karakura town, and most importantly what Hollows are. Hollows are after the spirits that Ichigo normally sees, but Ichigo was unaware that such monsters were after these spirits. Unconvinced of Rukia's story, Ichigo denies her claim and Rukia puts a Kido (Demon Way) on Ichigo, restricting his movements. A hollow, chasing after the same spirit that Ichigo was protecting from the thugs after they knocked over the flower vase, senses Ichigo's spiritual presence and goes after him. Rukia, sensing this, tries to fend off the Hollow, who is attacking Ichigo's sisters. Ichigo, not being normal, was able to break free from the Kido, and recklessly charged towards the Hollow to save his sisters. However, Rukia steps in the way to protect Ichigo and becomes gravely wounded in the process. Ichigo, watching the wounded Rukia, is wondering what he can do to save Rukia & his sisters. 

Rukia offers Ichigo to take her place, to be a substitute Shinigami in order to keep peace in Karakura town, help out Rukia due to her wounds, and protect his family. Ichigo gives Rukia his name and Rukia the same as Rukia's Zanpaktou pierces Ichigo and he finally is able to be a match against the Hollow. Ichigo, however, took more than half of Rukia's powers, leaving her both weak and powerless. Ichigo easily cuts down the Hollow and the episode ends with Ichigo - 15 year olds, orange hair, brown eyes, High school student, and Substitute Shinigami. 

#2) The Shinigami's Work - Ichigo ponders on what happened to Rukia after that day, wondering if she went back to the Soul Society. Ichigo stumbled across Orihime Inoue, in which Orihime blushes and comically goes off somewhere. Ichigo finds that her family is unaware of the events that happened yesterday, with the Hollow attack and his meeting with Rukia. At school, Ichigo sees Rukia, now in a Gigai,  and informs that if Ichigo makes a move, he's a dead man (Comical moment in Bleach). Rukia informs Ichigo that she's replaced everyone memorie from the previous days and that he has taken most of her powers, meaning that chigo will have to slay Hollows and perform Konso (Soul Burial) to any souls that'll send them to the Soul Society.

Ichigo, however, doesn't want to be dedicated to this, to which Rukia is aware and brings forth a glove that forces out Ichigo's Shinigami form from his human form. Rukia informs Ichigo of a spirit being attacked and so he goes forth, engaging with a Hollow and performing Konso on the soul. Ichigo, however, sees that he just must have to do this, whether or not he wants to. The next day, Orihime is attacked by an unknown hollow and explains that she got hurt, although Rukia & Ichigo expect that it was a hollow's doing. That hollow turns out to be Orihime's brother, who was assaulted by a Hollow and turned into one himself.

Later that night, Acidwire (the name of the hollow in the picture and Orihime's brother), attacks Ichigo and a Round 1 fight ensues. Rukia, in her Gigai form, can't do much and so Ichigo fends for himself until he disappears. Ichigo recognizes the Hollow and Rukia explains that Hollows were once human. At Orihime's crib, Orihime & Tatsuki, are talking about Ichigo & Rukia and the episode ends with a loud bang and roar.

Review/Thoughts - Overall, this is a great start with our hero, Ichigo. He ventures forth into a new life and begins to understand the situation of what it takes to be a Shinigami. Rukia's influence had dusted off on Ichigo as he now slays Hollows, keeps spirits alive & performs Konso on them, and has to keep both his friends and family safe. Ichigo at first was not going to be dedicated to this new job of his, but as I said earlier, he has no choice and now he has an obligation to protect Karakura, his home, from being threatened and Ichigo wouldn't just leave a spirit to die at the hands of a Hollow. Rukia is what changed Ichigo and changed his ordinary life to an extraordinary adventure of being a Shinigami. Ichigo's potential is also growing as a Shinigami, departing from his normal high school life, and being what some would consider a Super Hero that preserves peace & fights evil. Rukia & Ichigo's chemistry is a pivotal point in Bleach as well due to the influence each has on one another. Rukia is convincing Ichigo to reconsider and for the best, Ichigo will have to uphold his responsibilities as both a high school student and a Shinigami. Ichigo is no ordinary human as he took most of Rukia's powers, broke free from Kido, and can see spirits/hollows/Shinigami. This is just the beginning for Ichigo and what awaits him is something far more than he can expect. Ichigo's friends as well will change and with Acidwire after Orihime, what will happen to Ichigo's world where his friends now are being targeted and Orihime is the first target? Tune in next week on my Bleach Summary + Review on Episodes 3-4 (Summaries may be shorter). Stay Classy ladies and gentlemen and look forward for tomorrow's Bleach segment.

Photos courtesy of Bleachwiki