Warning: Spoilers for Bleach: The Thousand-Year Blood War Episode 8The Soul Society has been decimated from the Quincy's attack in to defeat the Quincy's Yhwach and his band. There aren't many options when it comes to new allies, though, and the first to sign up is one of the last Ichigo would expect.
With the Quincy having retreated for the time being, it's been a busy time recovering in the Soul Society. The next attack could come at any time, so readiness is crucial, but the Soul Reapers are now so shorthanded that it's already becoming an issue. Fortunately, the Soul Reapers aren't the only ones that the Quincy have been brutally attacking--there's also Bleach's past villains, the Arrancar.
In the episode, while speaking with Squad Zero, Kon appears with a holographic project emerging from his head, allowing for a video call with Kisuke Urahara, Orihime, and Sado, who were last seen still in Hueco Mundo. As they trade information and rejoice at each other's (relative) safety, a fourth person's voice is heard. That person then begins to open the flap of the tent that the three are inside, and for a brief moment, a torso with a Hollow hole in its stomach can be seen. He then recognizes that they're talking to Ichigo and demands to speak with him, while Ichigo recognizes the voice immediately. Orihime and Sado keep the Arrancar out of sight, lest Bleach's other Soul Reapers be unhappy to see them working together.
Grimmjow is Back
Based on the voice and the positioning of the Hollow hole, the Arrancar in question is none other than Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. Grimmjow first appeared during the Hueco Mundo arc, like most Arrancar, and developed a particular rivalry with Ichigo. Grimmjow was once Espada #6, one of Aizen's top lieutenants, but had little in the way of loyalty towards Aizen, the Hollows of Hueco Mundo and the Soul Society will cease to exist. While the Soul Reaper Captains may have reservations about teaming up with Arrancar, at the very least Ichigo's friends will be willing to work with them.
The return of a former-rival-turned-ally is a wonderful piece of continuity that's sure to thrill some Bleach fans, who haven't seen the popular Grimmjow on screen in over a decade.
New episodes of Bleach: The Thousand-Year Blood War are currently streaming on Mondays via Hulu.
