Things open with a quick fight between Uryu and Jirobo Ikkanzaka, who is a self-proclaimed master of ranged weapons. When Uryu proves to be more than a match for Jirobo, he turns his attention to Orihime, who spends much of the fight marveling over how much Uryu has grown in power while she is still getting the hang of her own. When Jirobo moves to strike Orihime, he is knocked unconscious.
Meanwhile, Ichigo and Ganju, who are still at each other's throats, attempt to escape two divisions of Soul Reapers by taking a 4th Division officer, Hanataro Yamada, hostage. The plan doesn't work out as planned, but Hanataro still proves useful when he shows the two a quick route to the tower where Rukia is being held captive. Just as the two are about to ascend the stairs leading to the tower, Renji Abarai confronts Ichigo and goads him into a rematch. Renji quickly gains an advantage over Ichigo, however he reflects on his training with Urahara and taps into his "resolve", unlocking a new reserve of spirit energy. As Renji falls to the ground after the battle, he reflects on his past with Rukia and begs Ichigo to save her.
Compared to past sets, Bleach 08 is a weaker selection of episodes. Although some important information is given in one or two episodes, most feel like an episode of Dragonball Z where twenty minutes fly-by, stuff happens but the story hasn't been pushed forward in any significant way. The best part is the confrontation between Ichigo and Renji, though Ichigo's reflection on his training is pointless in the end since his victory is inevitable. Renji's childhood memories also have the same impact on his character as the prequel movies had on Darth Vader.
Although it is easily one of the series' weakest volumes, Bleach 08: The Entry is still worth a look if you want to keep up with the series and not fall behind since they do lay some groundwork for future plot points. The amount of backtracking does, however, make the volume an okay entry point for newcomers who want to jump right into the action and have a vague idea of what's going on.
