We’ve gotten to see more of ichigo, that he hasn’t turned out to be the almighty hero and that he has been saved manny times by others(Nel, kenpachi,…).
K he has become stronger but not to say that he could defeat Aizen-sama or Commander-General or even Kyouraku Shunsui.

To illustrate my point I would like to use the relationship between Rukia and Ichigo. Here are two reticent individuals, unwilling to show emotion lest it be taken as a show of weakness. To understand their feeling for each other you need to watch their body language. For example after Rukia is taken back to the Soul Society to face judgement, Ichigo risks everything to become strong enough to save her. When he does save her, Rukia turns round and tells him she will not return with him. She wants to stay. While showing a bland smile to the world and telling her what a great decision she has made, Ichigo clenches his hands. While easily missed, this is a clear sign that he does not mean what he says; he wants her to come back with him and live in his cupboard —all is right with the world when she is there. However, he is a warrior and understands her need to stay and gain strength. Since he cares for her deeply, he allows Rukia to walk out of his life (as he sees it at that time). There are other such signs, between all the main characters; too many to note here.

Since I also have the benefit of time, I can also draw upon the most recent arc. From episode 110 onwards, Ichigo must face his own weaknesses in the face of overwhelming opposition. He is not all powerful and success is not guaranteed. Along with his internal struggle, Ichigo also begins to realise that in his search to become stronger he has alienated his family and long time friends. The very people he set out to protect. Episodes 141 and 142 in particular are highly emotional (though I refuse to post spoilers, so you will just have to watch them and judge for yourself).

The Manga is most definitely worth a read. As with most things, the book is always better. However, the use of understated body language and charged silences in Bleach is one of the main reasons I became hooked on this series. It is why I would also recommend you watch the show.

When I watch the ‘Cartoon’, mainly the ‘Soul-Reaper’-Arc, I can see so many ways of ending the arc without the stalling, cliffhangers, legion of Captains/Subordinates, and ‘more-power’ subplots, that I end up changing the channel. It becomes so freakin’ tedious. I want the character depth I somehow manage to scrounge (or simply input myself) out of the MANGA. The cartoon lacks it. What am I trying to say? I could handle such cliffhangers, dragouts, and the like, from DBZ because I had never watched anything else like it. Most of the characters had some depth to them (even Goku, if you wanna see it). There was a semi-balance between Most-Powerful-In-World and Character Development, I loved it neverthelsss. However, after the CELL-Saga this atmopshere died. DBZ came an entirely slapstick comedy/Shonen-Action cartoon. I lost interest and began to what I’ve written below. The BLEACH “CARTOON” reminds me too much of that. It captures the DBZ-wannabe-ness battle-royales but beyond that, it fails on everything else.

If you understand my reasoning of course.

Probably not.

After I finished watching DRAGON BALL/Z (suffering needlessly through the BUU-Saga) I stopped watching shows like that and rolled my eyes whenever I saw such series like “Inu-Yasha” – and “YU-YU-HAKUSHO” with their wanna-be tough-guys (who are really kind and sweet once you get to know them) because it reminded me too damn of the said show. “ONE PIECE” and “NARUTO” remind one completely of “POK’E'MON” and nothing else, given the main characters determination to be “the best [insert profession here]” of all! Sure, there’s probably a lot of points I’m missing about the shows mentioned, but I can’t get past the abstract concept that they show you to begin with. Its tideous and borning. I want something with more depth that doesn’t show up 100 episodes later. The BLEACH MANGA gives me that.

My Suggestion: Read the MANGA avoid the cartoon.

W i l l o w*

At first, I saw Ichigo as the typical badass shonen main hero, but as time has gone on I’ve seen other sides come out of him. The first is very evident with his devotion to protecting and rescuing his friends. Let me mention first, I think he is a sweet person when it comes to some things, look at the ghost in the anime that he helped. [flashback in ep. 109 I think] He was trying to comfort her and felt very down when he saw that she had been eaten by a hollow. After that he was basically shut down for a few episodes, brooding about his inner hollow and inability to protect everyone close to him. You said that you could not find conflict, but now the conflict has been shown as the manga and episodes have progressed. He is fighting with himself and the inner hollow, which threatens to overcome him at any time. That is partially why he goes to train with the Viazards, his “brethren”. As far as relationships go, there are so many conflicts on whether there will be a IchigoxRukiaxOrihime triangle. In ch. 213, Ichigo does give a rather tender look to Rukia when she is injured. And Orihime definately likes/loves Ichigo. The attempted kiss in 237 seals the deal. As Bleach has gone on, it has grown very interesting and developed into one of the most well-done animes/mangas I’ve seen/read in a while. IT’s taken a while, but Bleach is getting along on the complicatedness rather well. Though I’ll admit that it was strange that it didn’t start picking up the pace until much later.