Bleach Episode 11 Recap & Characters (Spoiler-Free)

Episode Summary

The Legendary Quincy

Ichigo and Rukia are summoned to the principal's office after their disruptive appearance on Don Kanonji's show is broadcast nationwide. Their friends escape punishment, and Ichigo and Rukia slip away together to answer a Hollow purification order that turns out to be empty. A new Hollow is then purified by Uryū Ishida, who reveals he is a Quincy who hates Shinigami, and who says he has known of Ichigo's high Reiatsu since school began. The episode ends with Uryū challenging Ichigo to a duel that is set to begin.

• Broadcast fallout at the principal's office

  Kagine confronts Ichigo, Rukia, and their friends over the nationwide broadcast of the Don Kanonji incident, and the group escapes punishment as Ichigo and Rukia leave together.

• Empty Hollow purification order

  Ichigo and Rukia respond to a purification order, but no Hollow is present, and they find a frightened Plus who saw a bug-like creature earlier.

• Final exam scores and Uryū's reveal

  Ichigo places 23rd and Uryū ranks first on the exam list, and Uryū then purifies a new Hollow with Kojaku, revealing he is a Quincy who hates Shinigami.

• Quincy history and the duel challenge

  Urahara explains the Quincy's history and extinction, and Ichigo accepts Uryū's challenge to a duel on the stairs.

Recent Timeline

• Ichigo's confession and exposure (Episode 8)

  Ichigo tells Rukia that he killed his mother, then runs off and leaves her shocked. The admission ends the questioning about his mother's death and shapes how Rukia sees him. Soon after, Ichigo tells Saidō he is a Substitute Shinigami despite Rukia's warning. Saidō calls it a serious crime, so his hidden status is now known to a Shinigami of the Onmitsukidō.

• Grand Fisher flees the cemetery (Episode 9)

  At the cemetery, Ichigo stabs Grand Fisher through the side with his Zanpakutō after the Lure reveals Masaki's final thoughts. Wounded, he drives Grand Fisher to flee into the sky while he collapses. Grand Fisher swears never to forgive Ichigo, leaving the battle unfinished.

• Jibakurei becomes a Demi-Hollow (Episode 10)

  During a televised purification at an abandoned hospital, Don Kanonji jams his Super Spirits Stick into the Jibakurei's chest hole, provoking it to become a Demi-Hollow that reforms on the hospital roof. Don Kanonji later realizes his act directly created the monster. Ichigo draws his Zanpakutō after Don Kanonji is struck down, breaks free of the Sticker Phlegm, and slashes the Demi-Hollow's mask vertically to end the fight. The Demi-Hollow then dissipates, revealing the Jibakurei beneath, which also fades away as Ichigo explains that a Hollow is a conscienceless monster born from a broken Soul chain.

• Aftermath of the broadcast and exams (Episode 11)

  Kagine confronts Ichigo, Rukia and their friends after the Don Kanonji incident is broadcast nationwide, but the group escapes before he can act. After the alley Hollow vanishes, Ichigo stops the frightened Plus and sends him to Soul Society with Konsō; the Plus kept his eyes closed and could not identify his rescuer. The first-semester final exam rankings are then posted, with Uryū Ishida first, Orihime Inoue third, Yasutora Sado 11th and Ichigo 23rd, shocking Keigo and Mizuiro.

• Uryū's challenge and Ichigo's acceptance (Episode 11)

  Uryū Ishida fires a Heilig Pfeil from his bow Kojaku and pierces a new Hollow's head as it enters the Human World, destroying it before Ichigo can act. Uryū then reveals that Ichigo is a Substitute Shinigami who draws his powers from Rukia and issues a duel challenge. Ichigo accepts, swaps bodies with Kon by taking his Gikongan, and enters Shinigami form.

Character Graph

Fishbone D

Hollow

Hollow that pursues the dead girl and then turns on Ichigo's family, seeking a soul with high Reiryoku. He is destroyed when Ichigo cuts through his mask.

• Target

  Was drawn by Ichigo's suppressed power, which had been leaking through the dead girl.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Other, Hostility)

  The Human whose power he hunts; he is destroyed by Ichigo.

• Rukia Kuchiki (Other, Hostility)

  Shinigami who wounds him and is wounded in return.

• Karin Kurosaki (Other, Hostility)

  Girl he seizes and threatens to devour.

Ichigo Kurosaki

Human · Shinigami

Fifteen-year-old tenth grader from Karakura Town whose family runs a clinic. He has been able to see ghosts since childhood and ends the episode with Shinigami powers he took from Rukia.

• Shinigami powers

  Gained Shinigami powers by taking in Rukia's Zanpakutō and power, and now wields a large Zanpakutō of his own.

• Rukia Kuchiki (Pact, Mixed)

  The Shinigami who forced him into becoming one; they clash constantly yet cooperate against Fishbone D.

• Isshin Kurosaki (Family, Mixed)

  Father who fights and bickers with him yet shares the household.

• Yuzu Kurosaki (Family, Affinity)

  Younger sister who worries over him.

• Karin Kurosaki (Family, Mixed)

  Younger sister who is dismissive of him and whom he rescues from Fishbone D.

• Fishbone D (Other, Hostility)

  Hollow that hunts him for his Reiryoku and has attacked his sisters.

Karin Kurosaki

Human

Younger Kurosaki sister who is skeptical of ghosts and does not believe in them. She is calm and blunt at home.

• Disbelief

  Claims ghosts do not exist to her as long as she does not believe in them.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Family, Mixed)

  Older brother she dismisses, and who rescues her from Fishbone D.

• Yuzu Kurosaki (Family, Mixed)

  Younger twin sister who worries about her lack of reaction.

Yuzu Kurosaki

Human

Younger Kurosaki sister who can see ghosts but cannot interact with them. She tries to keep peace at dinner and is jealous of Ichigo's spirit attention.

• Spirit sight

  Can see spirits but cannot speak to or touch them.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Family, Affinity)

  Older brother she worries over.

• Karin Kurosaki (Family, Mixed)

  Older twin sister who is unconcerned by the family conflict.

Mizuiro Kojima (Mizuiro)

Karakura High School

Ichigo's classmate who sits with him and identifies classes.

• Role

  Identifies Rukia as a transfer student and names the next class.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Colleague, Affinity)

  Classmate who sits with him.

Orihime Inoue

Karakura High School · Human

Ichigo's classmate who is close to Tatsuki and whose only family, her brother, died after a car accident three years ago.

Ichigo's classmate who can see spirits; now protected by Ichigo and Rukia after her brother Acidwire attacks her.

• Family loss

  Her only brother died at the Kurosaki Clinic three years ago after being badly injured in a car accident.

• Brother bond

  Recognized her Hollow brother Acidwire and sacrificed herself to intercept his bite out of guilt over her past neglect of him.

• Tatsuki Arisawa (Friend, Affinity)

  Close friend who brings her food and walks with her through the school halls.

  Friend who stands by her at school and backs up her story after the attack.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Colleague, Neutral)

  Classmate whom she has not spoken to much; she was the girl crying at the Kurosaki Clinic years ago.

• Sora Inoue (Family, Affinity)

  Brother who died and became a Hollow; she mourns him and wears the hairpins he gave her.

Sora Inoue (Acidwire)

Deceased · Plus · Hollow

Orihime's deceased brother who was seized by Hollows and transformed into a Hollow.

Orihime's brother Sora Inoue, a Plus taken over by a Hollow; in Hollow form he is called Acidwire, claims Orihime as his own and targets Ichigo. When his mask shatters, Sora's face is revealed and he purifies himself with Ichigo's Zanpakutō.

• Fate

  Gave Orihime the hairpins on the day he died; they had fought that day, and she never saw him alive again.

• Sibling bond

  Raised and protected Orihime after their parents abandoned them when she was three; his Hollow form resents her forgetting him.

• Orihime Inoue (Family, Mixed)

  Her only family, who she loved and who died three years ago.

  Younger sister he raised; as a Hollow he claims her as his own, and when his mask breaks she sees Sora's face.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Other, Hostility)

  Hollow who attacks Ichigo as his target, and Ichigo fights him to protect Orihime.

Rukia Kuchiki (Princess of the Rukongai)

Shinigami · Kuchiki Clan

Shinigami sent from Soul Society to exorcise Hollows and send Pluses on. She first appears by purifying a Hollow in town and later forces her powers into Ichigo.

A Shinigami adopted into the noble Kuchiki Clan, formerly known as the "Princess of the Rukongai"; currently in the Human World hunting Hollows and has been delayed in returning to Soul Society.

• Role

  Explains Shinigami duties to Ichigo: sending Pluses to Soul Society with Konsō and purifying Hollows.

• Current state

  Stuck in a Gigai after Ichigo took most of her Shinigami powers.

• Reputation

  Was famous at the Shin'ō Academy under the nickname "Princess of the Rukongai" after her adoption into the Kuchiki Clan.

• Current status

  Keeps receiving orders to purify Hollows and has not returned to Soul Society; has a Denreishinki that alerts her to Hollows, and is hiding her Shinigami identity from Ichigo's family.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Pact, Colleague, Friend, Mixed)

  Partner forced by circumstance; she gave him her power to save his family and bickers with him throughout.

  Met in the Human World; she is wary of his family's safety and shows concern for him, which Saidō teasingly suggests is romantic interest.

• Fishbone D (Other, Hostility)

  Hollow she fights and wounds, and who threatens Ichigo's family.

• Eikichirō Saidō (Colleague, Hostility)

  Fellow Academy student two years behind him; she does not remember him and he is an Onmitsukidō agent sent to question her.

Tatsuki Arisawa (Tatsuki)

Karakura High School

Orihime's close friend at Karakura High School who is blunt and teasing with Ichigo.

A childhood acquaintance of Ichigo who first met him at her dojo when he was four and has known him since; she recounts his past to Orihime.

• Role

  Brings Orihime food and comments on her habits.

• Childhood with Ichigo

  First met Ichigo when he was four at her dojo; was the first to make him cry; looked out for him after Masaki died, finding him walking by the riverbank with his book bag.

• Orihime Inoue (Friend, Affinity)

  Close friend who looks after her and brings her food.

  Friend who asks her about Ichigo's childhood.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Colleague, Friend, Affinity)

  Classmate who she scolds and teases.

  Childhood dojo acquaintance who grew up alongside her; she watched him struggle after his mother's death.

Eikichirō Saidō (Saidō)

Soul Society · Onmitsukidō · Shinigami

A Soul Society figure who plays spinning tops with children and is approached in an alley by an Onmitsukidō member about his next target, Rukia Kuchiki.

A Shinigami who fights Grand Fisher alongside Ichigo and Rukia and holds a close, teasing rapport with Rukia.

• Assignment

  Receives an assignment from an Onmitsukidō member to find out what else lies behind Rukia Kuchiki's offense in the Human World.

• Academy history

  Two years ahead of Rukia at the Shin'ō Academy, and was popular there according to himself, though Rukia does not remember him.

• Mission

  Confronts Rukia about Soul Society Shinigami growing irritated at her delayed return and questions her about her Human World activities; fights Ichigo after learning he is a Substitute Shinigami.

• Conduct

  Fights aggressively, ignores danger in the battle, and is sometimes shown falling asleep unexpectedly.

• Rukia Kuchiki (Colleague, Mixed)

  Fellow Shin'ō Academy alumnus two years behind him; he mocks her romantic interest in Ichigo and threatens to take her back to Soul Society.

  A fellow Shinigami; he teases her about coming of age and assures her he will not break up a serious couple.

Isshin Kurosaki (Isshin)

Human

Father of the Kurosaki household who runs the clinic with his children. He is mourning his late wife and is at odds with his children.

Ichigo's father, who grieves Masaki's death while encouraging his son to move on.

• Household

  Enforces dinner at 7:00 pm and quarrels physically with Ichigo.

• Masaki

  Speaks of Masaki's wishes, including her view of his smoking, and insists that no one is responsible for her death.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Family, Affinity)

  Son he spars and fights with, though he cannot see ghosts.

  His father; he tells Ichigo not to blame himself and encourages him to live well.

• Yuzu Kurosaki (Family, Affinity)

  Daughter who cares for him and the household.

• Karin Kurosaki (Family, Mixed)

  Daughter who is cold toward him.

Don Kanonji (the charismatic medium of the new century)

TV personality · medium

Television medium and host of Casual Soul Realm Assault Trip who claims to purify spirits on live broadcast and performs a signature pose and laugh with a catchphrase.

• Show popularity

  Claims his show has a 25% rating, meaning one in four Japanese citizens watches it, with many child viewers he feels must be shown courage.

• Demi-Hollow incident

  Purifies a Jibakurei with his Super Spirits Stick during a live broadcast, causing it to become a Demi-Hollow; then fights it, is protected by Ichigo, and admits he created the Hollow; declares Ichigo his number one pupil.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Mentor, Colleague, Mixed)

  Initially dismissive of Ichigo and fights his wish to stop the purification; later admires Ichigo's courage and power, asks to borrow his strength, and names him his number one pupil.

• Isshin Kurosaki (Other, Affinity)

  Isshin is a fan of the show, following Don Kanonji's broadcasts.

• Karin Kurosaki (Other, Affinity)

  Unlike the rest of her family, Karin is unimpressed by Don Kanonji's broadcasts.

• Yuzu Kurosaki (Other, Affinity)

  Yuzu is a fan of the show, following Don Kanonji's broadcasts.

Uryū Ishida (Uryū)

Quincy · Classmate

A Quincy who hates Shinigami and specifically hates Ichigo Kurosaki; ranked first on the final exam and sits in Ichigo's class, where he is in the handicrafts club with Orihime Inoue.

• Quincy identity

  Introduces himself as a Quincy who hates Shinigami; his Heilig Bogen is Kojaku, formed from the cross on his wrist, and he fires Heilig Pfeil that pierces Hollows entering the Human World.

• Taunting Ichigo

  Taunts Ichigo as a mere Substitute Shinigami who received his powers from Rukia Kuchiki and cannot lift a finger without her permission.

• Awareness of Ichigo

  Has known Ichigo has high Reiatsu since Ichigo entered school and became a Shinigami; has watched Ichigo and Orihime from afar and challenges Ichigo to a duel.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Other, Hostility)

  Uryū openly hates Ichigo, criticizes his ignorance of basic Shinigami matters, and challenges him to a duel to prove who is stronger and that Shinigami are unnecessary.

• Rukia Kuchiki (Other, Neutral)

  Uryū taunts that Ichigo is merely a Substitute Shinigami who received his powers from Rukia and cannot lift a finger without her permission.

• Orihime Inoue (Colleague, Neutral)

  Shares a handicrafts club with Orihime, who knows his name and points him out to Ichigo.

World Memo

• Two types of spirits

  Spirits come in two kinds: Pluses, the normal spirits that living people such as Ichigo can see, and Hollows, evil spirits that attack both the living and the dead to devour their souls.

  All Hollows were once Humans. Pluses who hold onto grudges and regrets are hard to perform Konsō on; they linger alone and become Hollows on their own or are devoured by other Hollows, and the devoured then become new Hollows.

• Hollow purification by one blow

  Purifying a Hollow means attacking it from behind and splitting its head in one blow; this minimizes the Shinigami's injuries and keeps them from discovering the Hollow's identity.

  Purifying a Hollow is not killing it; the Hollow's soul is cleansed so it can enter Soul Society, which is why Shinigami exist.

• Hollows crave Shinigami souls

  Once a Hollow has tasted a Shinigami's soul, it will always crave Shinigami souls because they are exceptionally tasty, and Hollows must keep devouring to fill the emptiness of their existence.

• Gates of Hell reserved for sinners

  The Gates of Hell are reserved for Souls and Hollows who committed sins while alive. The Zanpakutō only washes away sins committed after death.

• Project Spearhead cancelled in Soul Society

  Soul Society once ran a program called Project Spearhead that placed artificial combat souls into dead human bodies to fight Hollows; it was cancelled because it would force corpses to fight, and all Mod-Souls in development were slated for destruction.

• Onmitsukidō Shinigami organization

  The Onmitsukidō is a Shinigami organization to which Saidō belongs.

• Substitute Shinigami status as serious crime

  Saidō declares that being a Substitute Shinigami is a serious crime, a status Ichigo revealed to him.

• Reiryoku as Shinigami life energy

  A Shinigami's Reiryoku is their life energy, so its depletion or excess bears on their survival.

• Fixed-location Jibakurei hidden in earth

  Souls that inhabit a fixed location such as a building become fixed-location Jibakurei and assimilate into the earth, which largely keeps Shinigami and Soul Society from detecting them.

• Attachment-driven Jibakurei become Hollows

  A Jibakurei that feels strong attachment to a part of the Human World left alone can eventually become a Hollow.

• Quincy tribe extinct 200 years ago

  The Quincy were a tribe scattered throughout the world that specialized in destroying Hollows; humans with powers like Ichigo's sensed Hollows and trained to fight them, forming the tribe, and the tribe was destroyed about 200 years ago.

• Quincy kill Hollows, Shinigami purify them

  Shinigami purify Hollows and send them to Soul Society with their Zanpakutō, while the Quincy sought to completely kill Hollows, believing they were avenging their loved ones; this belief led to their destruction.

Clue Board

• Suppressed Reiryoku origin (Episode 1)

  Rukia conjectures that Ichigo's power was almost completely suppressed until just now, which is why she sensed nothing from him and why no Hollow attacked him before. The cause of the suppression is unexplained.

• Shrieker's reason for pursuing the child (Episode 4)

  Shrieker has devoured two Shinigami who tried to perform Konsō on the child and relentlessly pursues the soul, but he refuses to explain why unless Rukia lets him devour her soul.

• Rukia's weakening Gigai connection (Episode 6)

  Rukia's hand fails to move properly and her connection with her Gigai has weakened lately, making her body hard to move. Urahara warns she cannot keep faking this forever. The cause is not yet explained.

• Mod-Soul identity (Episode 6)

  Rukia names the substitute soul a Mod-Soul, an artificial combat soul originally meant to be placed in human corpses under a cancelled program.

• Mod-Soul survival (Episode 7)

  Rukia is surprised some Mod-Souls still exist despite the order to destroy all those in development, and Ichigo wonders how this one survived being created and discarded.

  Urahara intends to destroy the pill, but Rukia takes it and hands it to Ichigo. The Mod-Soul then lives on inside a plushie body.

• Urahara's group identity (Episode 7)

  Urahara and his employees can see and hear Ichigo, which surprises him. Ichigo asks who they are, and Urahara hesitates without giving an answer.

• Rukia's hidden offense (Episode 8)

  An Onmitsukidō member targets Rukia Kuchiki for staying too long in the Human World, but insists something else lies behind the order. Saidō is tasked to find out what it is.

  Saidō says Rukia has committed a serious crime. Rukia refuses to explain it. Saidō doubts her stated reason for not returning to Soul Society, the recurring Hollows and purification orders, and suspects a cover story.

• Source of Ichigo's transformation (Episode 8)

  Saidō asks how a Human like Ichigo can transform this way and how he got the ability. Ichigo refuses to answer, so the source remains unexplained.

• Ichigo's potential to become a monster (Episode 10)

  Saidō notes that a Shinigami's Reiryoku is their life energy and asserts that Ichigo's immense power means he could become a monster, a possibility left open.

• Unexplained orb of light (Episode 10)

  A bright orb of light obscures the moon, moves to the hospital roof, and draws Reishi to form the Demi-Hollow; its origin and nature are not explained.

• Missing Hollow after purification order (Episode 11)

  A purification order was received for a Hollow, but no Hollow appeared in the alleyway or after the search. Rukia suspects the Denreishinki may be broken, but the cause is not explained.

• Uryū's advance knowledge of Hollow location (Episode 11)

  Uryū names the street where the new Hollow will appear before Rukia's Denreishinki reports the order. The source of his knowledge is not explained.

Battle Record

Uryū Ishida shoots down a new Hollow with his Heilig Pfeil as it enters the Human World, after Rukia receives the purification order.

Grand Fisher cemetery battle

Ichigo's fight against Grand Fisher · Episodes 8–9

Location: cemetery and clearing in the forest

Trigger: Grand Fisher attacks the Kurosaki family to devour high Reiryoku individuals

sides

• Ichigo's side — fighters: Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia Kuchiki, Eikichirō Saidō
• Grand Fisher — fighters: Grand Fisher

Outcome: Grand Fisher flees into the sky after Ichigo stabs him in the side; Rukia declares the battle over.

Aftermath

• Ichigo collapses into Rukia's arms
• Grand Fisher is not dead and vows never to forgive Ichigo

Demi-Hollow battle at the abandoned hospital

Karakura Town · Episode 10

Location: Abandoned hospital, Karakura Town

Trigger: Don Kanonji forcibly purifies a Jibakurei with his Super Spirits Stick during a live broadcast, causing it to become a Demi-Hollow

Sides

• Ichigo Kurosaki and Don Kanonji — combatants: Ichigo Kurosaki, Don Kanonji
• Demi-Hollow — enemy: Demi-Hollow

Outcome: The Demi-Hollow is destroyed by Ichigo's vertical slash through its mask; the Jibakurei underneath dissipates.

Aftermath

• Don Kanonji realizes he created the Hollow and is shamed, then is cheered by the crowd.
• Don Kanonji asks Ichigo to lend strength from now on; Ichigo agrees once in a while and is named Don Kanonji's number one pupil.

Hollow hunt in Karakura Town

Heilig Pfeil strike · Episode 11

Location: Karakura Town street

Trigger: Rukia's Denreishinki received a purification order for a new Hollow nearby

Sides

• Shinigami and Quincy — Quincy: Uryū Ishida / Shinigami: Rukia Kuchiki, Ichigo Kurosaki
• Hollow — Hollow: new Hollow

Outcome: The Hollow was pierced through the head by the Heilig Pfeil as it entered the Human World and disintegrated

Aftermath

• Rukia realized the purification order had disappeared
• Ichigo demanded to know what Uryū is and Uryū revealed he is a Quincy who hates Shinigami

Ability Table

Music Releases

• *~Asterisk~ (OP)
• Life is Like a Boat (ED)