Yeah, I'll be interested in seeing the Zaraki fight, since it is a captain. Ichigo I would imagine will be strong enough to take a captain. Though the captains are all at different strengths, and different styles. So who knows how strong Zaraki is compared to the other captains.

And comparing the beginning and arcs. I enjoy the arc, since there is a point to them and a story that goes through it connecting all of the 40 some odd episodes. It is just that it is 40 episodes that is annoying. They spent several episodes just with the spirit orb training and things, that it was getting very boring. Then you get the fight with Ichigo, that was good. But Gonju runs for his life the whole time, which thankfully was not an entire episode, but darn near close to it. Then they both run around for two more episodes before Renji. It is things like that, that are just artifically lengthing the arc for no good reason. That is my own complaint. The beginning was quick and faster paced, with little areas where there is a time to waste time. It could be a lot worse, they could drag things on even further. But it is very jarring when it is moving quickly introducing new characters and wrapping up character stories in a couple episodes and then suddenly you come to a halt with filler time almost.

But the beginning also have interesting stories that were small and contained. The thing with Orihime's brother and becoming a hollow I found to be very enjoyable. There was Chad and the bird with a child's soul attached. I really enjoyed that one, especially when Chad was able to see him when he entered the Soul Society. It is obvious you can't jump from fight to fight, there needs to be time in between. But the endless maze of the Seireitei was a little boring. Breaking down the walls was the most intelligent thing to do.