Bleach began as a minor reverse-isekai story of sorts when Rukia Kuchiki the Soul Reaper arrived in Karakura Town and taught Ichigo how to fight evil spirits, or Hollows. Ichigo's adventures soon went well beyond the scope of Karakura and everyday Hollows, but Season 1 still had plenty of vital developments for the lore.
Bleach's first season was more than a monster hunter show. It set the stage for many vital developments to come. These early episodes neatly established the combat system as well as Ichigo and Rukia's characters. Which five key moments or developments best defined the first season and, by extension, the entire story?
When Rukia Granted Ichigo Her Powers
What neither Ichigo nor Rukia knew was that this moment was all a part of Captain Sosuke Aizen's grand plan: to draw out Ichigo's potential as a Soul Reaper. This fateful night incited the entire story of Bleach since it properly thrust Ichigo into the world of Soul Reapers and Hollows. When a Hollow cornered Ichigo's family, he and Rukia faced it together but Rukia couldn't take it down.
Out of desperation, Rukia stabbed Ichigo to lend him her powers, in-turn awakening a piece of Ichigo's own abilities. Ichigo became a proper Soul Reaper and hero, but his journey was just beginning. He didn't even have Zangetsu, but the "monster hunter" premise was up and running.
When Uryu Ishida Introduced Himself As Ichigo's Rival
Ichigo thought that only he and the reverse-isekai heroine Rukia could see and fight Hollows, but there was a third Hollow hunter in town: Uryu Ishida. Like his father and grandfather, Uryu was a Quincy, a spiritual archer. He took pride in this fact and saw Ichigo the Soul Reaper as his default rival. One day, he and Ichigo came to blows -- but not against each other.
Uryu challenged Ichigo to a Hollow-hunting contest, which established Uryu's personality, worldview and powers all at once. Then a fearsome Menos Grande appeared, and Uryu reluctantly teamed up with Ichigo to take it down. This scene was exciting, but more importantly it set up Uryu as Ichigo's future ally and companion, since they would have far greater enemies than each other to face. They aren't the best of friends due to their clashing personalities and the Soul Reaper/Quincy feud, but it all started here.
When Ichigo Lost To Grand Fisher
Not all Hollows are a monster of the week. The dreaded Grand Fisher was a beast who routinely slew Soul Reapers across the decades. When Rukia and Ichigo faced him, they learned that Grand Fisher was the one who killed Ichigo's mother, Masaki, one rainy afternoon years ago. Ichigo, driven by rage and grief, stepped up to avenge Masaki.
This fight proved that Ichigo was more than a grumpy monster slayer. He was also a vulnerable and hurting person who cared more about his friends and family than anything. As a true shonen hero, he would risk his very life for them. This made Ichigo even more compelling, and his defeat in this scene proved he had a long way to go yet. He is far from a perfect Soul Reaper, suggesting that some serious training sequences lay ahead.
When Rukia Was Arrested For Her Crimes
Rukia's time with Ichigo was limited. Near the end of Season 1 another Soul Reaper, Renji Abarai, arrived to forcibly take her back to the Soul Society to face justice. Rukia had broken the law by granting a human her powers and was ready to return. Then Ichigo came along and fought Renji over Rukia's fate.
The battle was a stalemate until Captain Byakuya Kuchiki arrived and coldly cut Ichigo down in order to arrest his adopted sister. Rukia abandoned him and returned home, ready for whatever justice awaited her. This set the stage for the Soul Society story arc and the next stage of Aizen's plan. Rukia would face a fiery execution, which would unlock the Hogyoku residing inside her. But not if Ichigo stopped Aizen first.
When Ichigo Trained To Unlock Zangetsu
Ichigo's nameless Zanpakuto was broken, but not all was lost. Kisuke Urahara rescued him, then began some serious training in an underground facility. Ichigo risked death itself to reboot his powers and awaken his true abilities, all while avoiding morphing into a Hollow. This is when Ichigo found himself within his inner world, where Zangetsu awaited.
Zangetsu was Ichigo's true Zanpakuto spirit, and also a hint of his maternal Quincy heritage (since Zangetsu resembled Yhwach, the Quincy king). Ichigo and Zangetsu would be trusted partners and allies from here on out, while Ichigo's rebooted powers were more than enough to take on the Soul Reapers and rescue Rukia. This training sequence also proved that Kisuke was more than just a Soul supplier. He was also an experienced fighter and spiritual expert in many ways.
