So, I'm trying to figure out, at what point in the timeline does the new episodes that advlt Swim are airing on Saturdays take place? It almost seems like it could be after they rescue Orihime, but, I'm pretty sure that I read that they never actually leave Los Noches(sp?)(The Realm of the espada). So, that would negate this current storyline. Is this some made up filler? Did they skip back before all the preparation was made for the invasion of the espada? I'm really confused with whats going on at the moment, driving me nuts.

:shrug: Its new how should I know... ITS A TRAP.

It's filler. Really awful filler.

http://bleach.wikia.com/wiki/Episodes#The_New_Captain_Sh.C5.ABsuke_Amagai_arc_.28Episodes_168-189.29

Unfortunately this is indeed a filler episode so it's hard to place exactly when it happens, but I will admit it's a bad premise. I think we have like this filler and then we get back to the Hueco Mundo arc, but sadly after that small bit it starts up with yet another filler. The reason we'll see alot of fillers is due to Kubo needing more time to come up with material for the Arrancar arc. Have to say despite the fillers I find Bleach's Arrancar arc to be very intriguing as an anime due to how it weaves together Spanish influence into the Japanese influence. Coyote Starkk is still my favorite Arrancar with Tia Halibel being a not too distant second.

The thing is, they could skip the filler altogether over here in the states and just dub the manga-based arcs. We're getting stuff that originally aired in Japan more than two years ago.

Bleach is packed with filler because it has basically the worst pacing of any manga ever. Giant space-filling splash pages every time anything happens to increase dramatic effect followed by nothing but reaction shots pretty well ensures that each chapter will contain about 1-2 minutes of animated content at most.

So much filler in Bleach. They recently started another filler arc... again....

So sick of filler.

And we have an anime thread for this type of discussion.