Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity Episode 1 Review:  An Intense Beginning

With the entire world’s eyes fixed on it, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity returned with the opening Episode 1 on Saturday, July 25, 2026. What we can say is that the return of the series is exactly what all of us have been waiting for, and the first episode did not disappoint at all: it was filled with action, lore, and what we love about the TYBW saga – a new transformation.

Production-wise, it’s smooth with the transitions, clean with VFX, on-point with music, and impeccably constructed with the lore. Without further ado, here is a comprehensive recap and review of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity Episode 1.

The Final Part Kicks Off With Uryu vs Jugram in an Intense Battle

Uryu from Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity Episode 1 | Credits: Pierrot

Episode 1 kicks off with what can only be named as an intense stare-down between Ichigo and Uryu with Jugram Haschwalth, who has gained the abilities of Yhwach’s The Almighty. With no time to waste, Uryu instructs Ichigo to charge towards Wahrwelt, where Yhwach was currently located. Ichigo took Orihime and Chad with him and left, leaving the intense upcoming one-on-one between Jugram and Uryu to commence.

From the get-go, the Almighty already started exhibiting why it was so broken and overpowered as Jugram dodged every Shrift arrow Uryu shot at him with ease. That wasn’t all; despite his valiant efforts at offense and evasion, Jugram caught Uryu off guard and pinned him, only to reveal Yhwach’s ultimate master plan and end goal to him.

Yhwach had opened a rift from the Soul Society to the human world. Yhwach and the Quincy planned to disrupt the balance that held the worlds together, and with Yamamoto and Squad 0 gone, this was their plan all along. The endgame? It was to create the Welt: a kingdom established solely for the Quincy to inhabit, built on the ruins of the three existing realms. While Uryu regains his ground, the episode cuts off to another intense battle.

Yoruichi Reveals Her New Form That Shakes up Askin to the Core

We see Askin Nakk Le Vaar, one of the strongest Bleach characters, sitting up and an immobilized Yoruichi Shihoin on her hands and knees in front of him. Yushiro is gravely injured and is on the brink of death thanks to Askin’s The Deathdealing and arrows. Before Yoruichi can even think of making a move, Askin closes in to finish her off, but then is interrupted by Kisuke Urahara appearing behind Yoruichi. Urahara pushes in an immunity booster that lets Yoruichi and him flee.

However, Askin closes in, and then we get to see it for the first time – a brand new transformation in Bleach – Yoruichi’s Shunko Raiju Senkei, Shunryu Kokubyo Senki. She turns completely feral and forgets every human instinct. Furthermore, her outfit casually becomes nothing but lightning itself. She immediately begins to overwhelm Askin with her new boosted powers and immense form, scratching and blowing up the Quincy like a casual Sunday morning.

However, the 5-minute timer granted by Urahara’s immunity booster runs out, and she collapses. While Urahara stands up to deal with whatever is left of Askin, the Quincy reappears with his Gift Ball Deluxe, the most powerful weapon in his arsenal. This opens the door for one of the major fights in Part 4 of TYBW.

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity Episode 1 Review

Yoruichi from Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity | Credits: Pierrot

Overall, there is nothing to complain about in the entire episode. I personally really like the no-nonsense and filler-free pacing of the episode that dove straight into the intense battles. However, there was some use of fan service here, but then again, this is Bleach. While I did really like the fact that they used Yoruichi’s fan service as a power device, the licking of Urahara’s cheeks as a cat was too much “cat characterization”, I feel like. But all in all, this was a wonderful start that definitely earns the 9/10 in my books.

Have you watched Episode 1 yet? What are your thoughts and opinions on it? We’d love to hear it in the comments down below.

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity is available to stream on Hulu and Disney+.

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity Episode 1 Review:  An Intense Beginning