I guess that fillers are also necessary for the summer season to pass by, after all I guess the Bleach franchise gets money from channels that get money from advertising.
Advertising is probably less flourishing when everyone is outside for hollydays or whatever entertainement they can have without remaining at home... and forgetting Bleach.
Just some idea.

Regarding the ep, yes it's much better than the manga for it's very hard to get any sense of movement from the manga. I've read only a few chapters as I was bored I didn't see any Ichigo .
I thought the three fractions girls were dead in the manga, when it seems the commander spared them. Not that I care that much, for I do not feel anything for them.
#3 on the other hand gets me interrested, but I hope her mistery isn't just hiding nothing in the end.