So... much... talking... Man, I forgot how much jibber-jabber there was in the eps you are watching (273 & 274). If this had been a war of words, all the Shinigami and Espada would have wiped each other out.
Awfully nice of everybody on the field to explain their attacks so fully before they strike. How lovely of their opponents to stand by attentively until the other is finished speaking and the attack is fully powered up, to patiently receive the blow, evade, then enlighten as to why Attack A won’t work, and further go on to give the intimate details of their counterattack, while the initial attacker returns the courtesy and waits patiently for the opponent to energise and clearly elucidate before unleashing Attack B, receive the attack, evade, then enlighten, etc. etc….
Also, if I had 100 yen for every time one of the strongest characters suddenly popped their eyes in surprise and gasped to make viewers think something shocking was happening… I’d have a lot of yen.
I remember legit feeling bad for Studio Pierrot more than once during Bleach’s original run for having to find different – sometimes painful – ways to drag things out for time, like these episodes.
Stay strong, it’s worth it.