So far the current arc has been essentially a mirror of the SS arc but in a new venue. I have compiled a list of milestones from the SS Arc (Refined from the original list in the Bleach 150 thread).

Step 1: Girl from the main group is sort of kidnapped/ sort of taken by her own free will by people demonstrably much stronger than the main cast to another world, presumably never to return.

Step 2: Main casts gets mad and goes and talks to Urahara about following said girl into the other world.

Step 3: Main cast reaches other world and stumbles across goofy allies

Step 4: Main cast members demonstrate they are all above the grunt level in this other world.

Step 5: Main cast, with the help of goofy allies, breaks into the inner sanctum of the captors.

Step 6: Main cast is forced to split up.

Step 7: Main cast members encounter low/mid boss level characters and have one on one fights.

Step 8: Main cast members win their low/mid-boss level fights learning more about the workings of the captor group as well as showcasing some of their new skills.

Step 9: It is revealed that the captors aren't all in lock-step on how to handle the situation and sub-plots of dissent among the ranks of the captors appear.

Step 10: Main cast runs into upper mid/high level bosses and all get defeated and/or captured after fighting these upper mid/high level opponents (except Ichigo).

Step 11: Ichigo wins his fight by achieving a power boost but is thoroughly trashed in the process. He gets saved by an ally who turns out to have been a lot more than they seemed.

Step 12: Ichigo powers up even more thanks to the help of the previously unknown ally.

Step 13: Ichigo kicks everyone's ass and seems ready to save the day, in the mean time the unknown ally gets a side plot fight.

Step 14: The dissent sub-plots is revealed to be significantly more involved with the captive girl than anyone would have thought, the dissenters fight over her. A conclusion is reached.

As of Bleach 153 steps 1-7 and 9 have all been met in both arcs, and step 8 is in progress. Thoughts? If the story continues to follow the same pattern will you give up or will you stay the course in the hopes that the application of the pattern and any potential deviations will be good enough to keep you entertained?