[Kamen Rider Lucha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

And what about when serialized shows have a "break" episode after a particularly dramatic arc, for example? Is that lumped in as filler too? Those are decent enough guidelines but there are a lot of exceptions to these rules.

Well, I'd say a break after a dramatic arc definitely contributes to the end product, as those breaks are often where a lot of great character work happens. They also contribute to the rhythm of a given show -- they're the valleys that make the peaks feel important.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

I think the only thing that can make something truly qualify for a title as ignoble as filler is sucking. As long as whatever episode of a show is entertaining, it isn't a waste of your time.

There are plenty of plot-based episodes that suck too -- so just sucking isn't enough to earn the filler title. You really have to look at the reasons why something sucks -- and with filler, I usually find that it sucks because there's little character development or plot progression.

Plus, I'm not convinced that all filler is automatically bad. I'm reminded of a lot of Sailor Moon filler episodes that I deeply, deeply enjoy.