[Fish Sandwich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamen Rider Lucha

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.

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.

I meant sucking in combination with the other things, of course.

Maybe I just don't know the true depths of how bad filler gets? I don't know how you can even write an episode of a show that doesn't contribute something interesting.

I guess, for example, the tie-in episodes of Gaim are pretty definitely filler but like...

- Kouta interacting with the ToQgers called attention to how much less of a kid he was by that point.

- You got me on the Kikaider one, admittedly. Kouta likes dogs?

- Sagara having Kaito fight AU?!Kouta once again calls attention to Kouta's growth and is kind of a wake-up call for Kaito that he isn't as tough as he thinks. Also seeing Kaito suck at soccer is hilarious and totally makes the episode worth it in of itself.

...they still have their qualities. They're not super great episodes or anything but calling them filler makes it sound like they're super horrible episodes or something. Unless I'm wrong but it's always seemed to me like the word "filler" has extremely negative connotations. Basically the worst insult you can give an episode.

Of course, I'm the guy who thinks Ghost is genuinely brilliant, so what do I know?