Bleach/Ichigo Becomes a Hollow!

Ichigo Becomes a Hollow!
Season 1, Episode 19
Airdate	February 15, 2005
Production Number	19
Written by	—
Directed by	Noriyuki Abe
ADR Writer(s)	Carl Macek Liam O'Brien Mark Ryan Michael Sorich
ADR Director(s)	Michael Sorich
← 1x18 Reclaim! The Power of the Shinigami	1x20 → Gin Ichimaru's Shadow
Bleach — Season One

Ichigo Becomes a Hollow! is the nineteenth episode of the first season of Bleach. Ichigo, buried at the bottom of a hole, is told that he must retrieve his soul reaper powers from within himself in 72 hours or else become a hollow.

Co-Stars: Wally Wingert (Renji Abarai, Tsubaki), Dan Woren (Byakuya Kuchiki), Michael Sorich (Tessai Tsukabishi, Baigon) Michael Lindsay (Kisuke Urahara), Jeannie Elias (Jinta Hanakari), Jamieson Price (Yasutora "Chad" Sado), Terrence Stone (Yoruichi Shihouin), Philece Sampler (Shun'o), Kirk Thornton (Hinagiku), Richard Epcar (Zangetsu)

Plot Overview

The final verdict on Rukia's fate is delivered by Captain Kuchiki, who says that she will be executed in 25 days (5 short of Urahara's initial estimate). Renji is shocked by this decision, as he had assumed that Byakuya would try to pull some strings for his sister. Byakuya, with his back turned to her, tells Rukya that he'll never speak to her again and that he'll next see her at her funeral.

Back on the normal plane of reality, Yoruichi is trying his best to train Chad and Orihime. He's trying to get them to call on their powers at will, but they aren't doing very well. Orihime retraces the steps she took last time she needed to call out her powers and manages to bring the aspects of her soul out into the open, much to the chagrin of Tsubaki, who doesn't like being called upon when there's no danger. Chad is having a harder time with his powers, he imagines Ichigo with make-up on instead of Karin and nearly vomits.

Ichigo is also having a hard time with his task. He's still trapped at the bottom of the hole with his arms bound and his chain of fate cut. He ran up part of the wall but can't get all the way up the straight walls. Ichigo remains in that well for 70 hours without any hope of getting out. Jinta mocks him for not being able to regain his powers until the final encroachment begins. But, it doesn't start as a hollow is normally created. Instead, the mask is being formed first and not the initial body explosion.

Ichigo's mind takes him to a place where he meets Zangetsu, his zanpakuto, who laments not being able to reach Ichigo. Ichigo freefalls from what looks like a large building face and Zangetsu explains that although his powers where nullified by Renji, he still has latent soul reaper powers of his own. His power was awakened by Rukia and it still remains within himself and he must find it before his world collapses and he hits the ground. In one of the falling boxes, Ichigo can find his soul reaper powers. He's reminded of the time when Uryu told him that soul reapers' spirit ribbons are red. He discovers the lone red ribbon and pulls open the box where he finds the hilt of a new zanpakuto.

At the last possible moment, Tessai casts a string of spells designed to contain and destroy a hollow but Ichigo survives. He explodes out of the hole wearing both a shiaksho and mask, leaving Jinta confused as to whether Ichigo is a hollow or a soul reaper. As it turns out, he's a soul reapers. The second lesson has been completed. He's now up for lesson three; to knock off Urahara's hat. Initially he's given no time limit, but Ichigo imposes one of his own on himself: five minutes.