Bleach is anime royalty. It launched in 2004, ran for 366 episodes over 16 seasons, helped define 2000s shonen alongside One Piece and Naruto, and left a big fingerprint on both fans and creators. It also did what almost every long-running anime does: padded. If you want the story without the detours, here is what to skip, what might actually be worth keeping, and where to watch it in the UK.
Quick reality check on Bleach and filler
The original series adapts Tite Kubo's manga but adds a lot of anime-original side trips. Out of 366 episodes, 166 are generally considered filler. That is a huge chunk, and depending on your patience level, you may prefer a leaner cut of the show.
Also worth saying out loud: what counts as 'filler' is not always simple. Some anime-original arcs never show up in the manga, but they still deliver cool ideas or character beats. Other times it's, well, vibes only. Think one-off antics like Ikkaku and Yumichika heading to the World of the Living for a fun but plot-light mission. You also get the occasional fan-service episode or slice-of-life palate cleanser that does little for the bigger story.
The skip list (if you want the efficient watch)
If your plan is to follow the main plot with minimal detours, these are the episodes most fans label as safe to skip. A few of them nod toward side canon (there are tie-ins that help set up the Bleach: Hell Verse movie), but they are not required to follow the core story.
- Episode 33
- Episode 50
- Episodes 64-108
- Episodes 128-137
- Episodes 147-149
- Episodes 168-189
- Episodes 204-205
- Episodes 213-214
- Episodes 227-265
- Episode 266
- Episode 287
- Episode 298
- Episode 299
- Episodes 303-305
- Episodes 311-316
- Episodes 317-341
- Episode 355
But wait: the 'filler' some fans still recommend
If you are a completist or you just like good worldbuilding, a few anime-original arcs are worth considering:
The Bount arc (episodes 64-108) is the big one. It introduces a brand-new race of supernatural antagonists that never appear in the manga. Purists treat it as extra, because it is, but it is a properly dramatic saga with its own payoffs. If you skip it, you are not missing manga canon; if you watch it, you get a self-contained thriller with Bleach flavor.
Later, episodes 311-316 dig into the Reigai Uprising and set a darker tone that then feeds into an arc where Kageroza Inaba creates Modified Soul copies of the Gotei 13 and sticks them in Reigai bodies, turning them loose on the Soul Society. Skip it and you will miss context on how that conflict shakes out and where things stand afterward.
For pure entertainment, Zanpakuto Unknown Tales (episodes 230-265) is a standout. It plays with the idea that a Shinigami's Zanpakuto can rebel against its owner, which flips the usual weapon-partner dynamic on its head and gives you extra perspective on the main cast. It is anime-original, but it is flavorful and surprisingly insightful.
How to watch Bleach in the UK
All 16 seasons of the original Bleach series are streaming on Disney Plus in the UK.