Fillers Galore

[003]

Im not trying to start a flame war so please keep responses clean.

I hadnt watched the Pokemon tv show in quite a while and had some down time the other day. Turned it on and Ash and Co. were still wandering around aimlessly basically in the same place i left the show at (albeit with two new characters and a slew of different pokemon). And now I hear about the change of voice actors? After HOW many years?

I just feel that now the Pokemon series that I once considered endearing and great has fallen into the filler saga whos story is only driven onward by the introduction of new pokemon. Nintendo never had a clear ending (or story) for the series past the first season and it shows as each episode merely showcases a new pokemon that ash and crew run into on their hike in the seemingly infinite wilderness with minor expendable characters galore. Naruto has the same problem as the are making new episodes after the two year gap in the manga. I realize that the once considered "fad" of Pokemon has grown beyond all critics predictions and has endured for more than ten years but at the same time I want some new ideas and new directions. While its main purpose has become marketing for the younger crowd (it always was, but the earlier episodes had a dash of story continuity as well) those of us that grew up on it and cant let go would appreciate a more mature story arc.

Theres always the Japanese episodes which have a slightly more serious and edgy feel...and I know it wont change but I just had to get it off my chest.

 

[Charaxes]

I do agree with you, as they use filler to stretch out the canon storyline as they have to wait for the game details to be finalized enough to insert into the story. Sometimes, it's creative (Orange Island) or gives a unique freshness; sometimes, it's tired out (Battle Frontier) or botches the potential (particularly continuity as you said). It's just a fact of life and you sound like your expectations are a bit high for this series. Personally, you should lower them if you're going to enjoy it at all.

Believe me, I've felt the same way with Johto and onward and how the second season of it, you could just pick a handful of episodes and toss the rest. It's one of those "take with a grain of salt" setups.

As for the two different feels for the Japanese and the dub: that's true, but you have to equate that vs what's happening with the story. Very few dub animes will capture the feel from the original source material, but they compensate in their own ways. Either way, they're showing the same footage: you just have to process it in your own way. It's not perfect, but clearly people want the product as it's been renewed for as long as it has.

I have no problems with filler as occasionally you need the distraction from the darker or serious events, but when you overflow or have nothing to show for it (character growth, foreshadowing), then you got problems. If you want to talk about that, that's fine as it's a serious problem. Not as grave as such a couple of years ago, but still a concern.

 

[Miss Reyna]

I kinda understand. As in the fillers episodes they are okies some times like the hatching of May's Eevee but then there are some episodes that could have been done better like the evolution of Brock's mudkip. The show is still good and enjoyable but there will always be the feeling that the episode could have been done a bit better. Sometimes though the fillers we can see growth in characters and even in the pokemon and those fillers are the ones to remember.

A person filler that I really like and glad to say is my fave is Is That a Ralts I Hear?. Not only is it touching but the developement of Max and the involvement that the newly caught Snorunt had made it seen as if they still had the same magic they had when the show first started.

The show has done something right since it has been on the air for so long. It is nice to see a good show that has been on for so long. It is simple and nice to see how the characters have grown. Ash isn't that completely immature character that started out his journey anymore. Still that doesn't mean Ash isn't immune to some mistakes.

 

[Phatkav]

I don't know if it's just me, but my favorite part of the series is fillers that introduce new Pokemons or fillers with the evil team plot, like Magma and Aqua.

Even though the seasons share a lot of similarities, but they do change some stuff. Like new characters, Ash's starter pokemons any, my personal favourite, gym contests.

 

[Aether]

A person filler that I really like and glad to say is my fave is Is That a Ralts I Hear?. Not only is it touching but the developement of Max and the involvement that the newly caught Snorunt had made it seen as if they still had the same magic they had when the show first started.

Agreed, there is a huge and, not to mention annoying ocean of fillers in the pokemon series, and that do i hear a ralts? episode is one of the rare gems that isn't that same recycled crud we know and hate, it shows actual character development, and foreshadows max's future life as a pokemon trainer. PUSA just needs fresh ideas, i mean they can come up with something that is at least remotely different from all the stuff they did before, can't they?