"One thing we learned is that Uryu can no longer use his Quincy powers, isn't that true?"

Volume 17 Highlights

The crazy games continue and Ichigo and all of the other are tricked to entering into a dimensional gate. Once there they try to battle the three tricksters. Ichigo figures out the big secret. It has all been a test to get these young saviors to work together as a team. The one thing they did not realize is that this new understanding was going to be tested rather quickly. The big addition in this set of episodes is that Rukia is sent back to the human world and becomes a permanent fixture in this small band of protectors. 

The new dark force to enter the picture is the ancient race called the Blunts. They feed on the souls of humans and have come to Karakura Town. They have strange powers that elude the team and almost appear to be unstoppable. Then one of the Blunts comes across Uryu and senses that he is a Quincy. His new target is Uryu, but another Blunt appears and saves Uryu, and takes him to a hospital after setting the stage by revealing a prophecy. 

Overall

This group of episodes are all about setting the plot for the coming struggle with the Blunts. I found it to be just a tad slow at times, but still brought together everything fans expect from Bleach. While watching these episodes I began to listen to the dialog and understand why this series has such a following. The writing is superb, and tends to spend just enough time on the relationships among the protagonist to give them a reason to be together and help the audience to feel as though they know them. It is clear that with having the constant struggle between good and evil is not always the only thing that carries a series, but the ability to give the audience a feeling of personal stake in these characters. Bleach delivers where many fail.

ComicsOnline gives Bleach: Volume 17, 4 out of 5 Mod Souls.