Quote Originally Posted by The Archangel
Time for some new theories ppl:

- My original assumption was that they were going to retreat but after seeing how ichigo got owned by ulquiora and still kept going for more im thinking another thing: reinforcements. U guys remeber that shinigami tha was in the menos forest? He looked prety powerful maibe he can help. urahara san, the cat lady and the shinigami captains are another, unlikely, option.
Unless something goes TERRIBLY wrong, a filler character won't be helping them out in any meaningful way here. I wouldn't doubt captain backup, Byakuya already seems to be helping Rukia and Renji out but a full appearance would be amazingly sweet.

Also, I get the impression that they are saving Urahara for something cool and soon but not this arc soon.

- Another thing im starting to think about is how the espadas look so much like their shinigami counterparts in terms of appearence. I could do a couple of image comparissons but im too lazy to google all of them :P Not sure if it's just to make them look like the evil counterparts or if there is more to it. Ill update as i get more information.
You mean the robes and stuff being opposite colors much like H-Ichigo vs Ichigo? or are you talking their faces?