I'm not sure if this was filler or not, but if it wasn't it sure was the worst cannon episode I have seen in a long time. The animation was horrible, that bit just before Matsumoto goes off to shop Ikkaku's neck looks too long.

The shopping scene was such a huge waste of time, I know usually we say there was no fighting so the episode was crap, and then someone says "just cos there's no fighting doesn't mean it's crap", but this seriously was a bad episode, almost no depth in the story, bland action. and too many filler parts.

Anyone who read the manga know whether this is filler or not?

This was a filler in every sense of the word.

They've started an entire new story ark which doesn't technically exist, and dropped animation almost completely.

It wasn't as bad as the last episode, but it's certainly not great.

Looks like this filler continues till at least episode 132

2007-07-04 132. Hitsugaya, Karin and Soccer Ball

That title just seems like filler, I can't believe they have restarted filler, before anything really interesting has actually happened. Can only hope for that the filler is good.

wow! what a ...................................

boring episode!!!!

filler....filler.....filler.....

matsumoto was soooo hot!!!LOL

I have a feeling this filler arc is going to be the transition for Ichigo learning how to control his hollow for longer. Probably in the manga they showed him training and then moved on straight away to the next arc.

It better be good, I hate fillers in everything D Gray Man, Naruto, Bleach. If anyone hasn't watched Claymore yet, watch it it's awesome.

This is exactly what Naruto did.

Instead of skipping 6 months like the manga does - It plays the 6 months with fillers :|