Can everyone PLEASE stop throwing the "filler" label on episodes that clearly aren't?

[Geodude]

I don't think this happens here as often as it does on Serebii, but I thought I'd post it anyway, at least as a reminder.

The generally accepted definition of a filler episode of Pokemon is one in which nothing important happens and that is easily missable. And yet for some reason many people keep labelling just about any episode that isn't a Gym or Contest episode as "filler". These "important things" that define a non-filler include but are not limited to:

-character development (human or Pokemon)
-a Pokemon learning a new move
-meeting a significant character (such as a Gym Leader) for the first time
-dealing with plot points or visiting locations from the games
-main character captures or releases a Pokemon
-main character's Pokemon evolves
(if I've forgotten something, mention it in your replies)

So enough with the "filler" labels on obviously significant episodes please. It's just plain annoying.

 

[Magmaster12]

Re: can everyone PLEASE stop throwing the "filler" label on episodes that clearly are

Geodude you couldnt make this an annoucement

 

[PDL]

Re: can everyone PLEASE stop throwing the "filler" label on episodes that clearly are

It's not a major problem that really deserves an annoucement persay, not unlike say, VA talk.

Anyway, I do agree that "filler" has become a bit of a bad word among people here. Is there a problem with filler? Some of the funniest and most enjoyable episodes just happened to be fillers.

 

[*Leeney*]

Re: can everyone PLEASE stop throwing the "filler" label on episodes that clearly are

Wait, wouldn't that mean most of the episodes aren't filler then?

 

[Aladar]

Re: can everyone PLEASE stop throwing the "filler" label on episodes that clearly are

^ Yup...even if it has only the slightiest, smallest, littlest, most minute character development/new move/an important character who appears 5 seconds before the closing credits...it's not filler.

 

[*Leeney*]

Re: can everyone PLEASE stop throwing the "filler" label on episodes that clearly are

Ok then say a CoTD returns in a future episode, is that filler?

 

[Lugnut]

Re: can everyone PLEASE stop throwing the "filler" label on episodes that clearly are

After having people jump at me because of calling an episode filler recently, I'm guilty of this. But we all make mistakes, right? Anyway, Why is it that some people think of filler as a bad thing? Some great episodes don't really have content important to the plot.

 

[Luna Tiger]

Re: can everyone PLEASE stop throwing the "filler" label on episodes that clearly are

This thread is filler.

I always got the impression people started throwing out the word "filler" when the episode was boring to them, thus feels it holds no place, despite what happens in it (unless it is a Contest or Gym battle, or pre-day episode to either, when the episode's entire focus is the upcoming match), and it can ultimately be skipped in the line-up. *shrug* Sometimes, even throwing in "major events" (the tiniest amount of character development shouldn't actually be help in regards to some of the more medium and major developments) doesn't save most episodes from being considered filler in their minds.

 

[Ampharos King]

Re: can everyone PLEASE stop throwing the "filler" label on episodes that clearly are

Ok then say a CoTD returns in a future episode, is that filler?

I have no clue. That kid with the knickers had a Mudkip and Zigzagoon, then he returns with a Marshtomp and Zangoose. I doubt they're "filler" since 1- May has her first battle. 2- Jessie's Seviper has character development.

 

[Coffee]

Re: can everyone PLEASE stop throwing the "filler" label on episodes that clearly are

Filler has been a bad word since October 26, 2005 - The beginning of the storm of Naruto fillers.

 

[Luna Tiger]

Re: can everyone PLEASE stop throwing the "filler" label on episodes that clearly are

Notably, when an anime based on a manga series threatens to overshoot the manga itself, anything that the manga doesn't cover is dubbed filler (no matter how much characters development is interjected, which there should be little of unless the manga artist intended for that to be the natural course of actions [Hinata's waterfall training...relative somehow, I read]). Except that sort of filler isn't the same definition as an anime series's filler /not/ based on any predetermined medium, for obvious reasons. It happens to all the big series and is inevitable, and sometimes, just plan awkward (I hear Bleach is calling for WTFery concerning theirs).

Naruto only got it bad because it didn't put in fillers as it went along (not enough to compensate, anyway, and they don't have the luxury of being too drawn out like One Piece seems to be able to), and the catch-up was their own fault. Naughty.

Though on that note, an anime that takes a good sharp left turn from the manga and never looks back isn't the same (hey Edward, Arakawa-sensei called; she wants her plot back, and damned if she's not getting it. No Germany for you).


Summer lesson learned, for those who are above the equator and think (a winter lesson for those below): filler is what doesn't count (because sometimes it does count, but it still sucks and we aren't impressed).

 

[Blazaking]

Re: can everyone PLEASE stop throwing the "filler" label on episodes that clearly are

A filler episode is an episode that can be completely skipped without interfering with the plot. For example.

Filler episode: The group meet someone who does something completely unrelated to the plot, and is then never mentioned again.
Non-filler: Dawn meets a cordinator who gives her a few tips which she ends up using later.

 

[V Faction]

Re: can everyone PLEASE stop throwing the "filler" label on episodes that clearly are

Great Taste...Less filling!

Anyway, fillers are subjective, so throwing any kind of lable on episodes to determine if they're filler or not I tend to leave alone.

 

[Shinx3000]

Re: can everyone PLEASE stop throwing the "filler" label on episodes that clearly are

So episodes like "Sleight of Sand" or "A Staravia is Born" would be a filler, but the Darkrai/Cresselia episode would not be a filler then? So because Brocked helped one of the maids and her miltank "Miltank of the Maid Café!" it woud not be considered a filler?

I used to consider a filler episode showed not much happening, no real battles or contests or anything serious like that. But even if its slight, would a small bit of character deveolpment in an episode be considered not a filler?

 

[Aladar]

Re: can everyone PLEASE stop throwing the "filler" label on episodes that clearly are

^ Technically, yes...that's why I refer to eps as "interesting" and "not interesting", not as "filler" and "non filler".

 

[Musashi]

Re: can everyone PLEASE stop throwing the "filler" label on episodes that clearly are

(if I've forgotten something, mention it in your replies)

A main character's or rival's Pokemon evolving makes the episode not a filler.
A main character or rival capturing a Pokemon makes an episode not a filler.

So episodes like "Sleight of Sand" or "A Staravia is Born" would be a filler,

The second one certainly isn't a filler because there was an evolution, and I don't consider the first one a filler either since Yamato and Kosanji showed up.

 

[Luxio2k8]

Re: can everyone PLEASE stop throwing the "filler" label on episodes that clearly are

The real problem seems to be that whenever a bad episode it’s automatically considered to be “filler”, which isn’t true.

Just because Johto aired a large number of very formulaic episodes where Ash and friends help character of the day and nothing happens doesn’t mean that all “filler” is bad. Some of the best episodes during the Kanto and Hoenn Sagas were filler.

 

[Geodude]

Re: can everyone PLEASE stop throwing the "filler" label on episodes that clearly are

A main character's or rival's Pokemon evolving makes the episode not a filler.
A main character or rival capturing a Pokemon makes an episode not a filler.

It was early, I wasn't awake yet, so sue me. Edited in.

 

[Zeta]

Re: can everyone PLEASE stop throwing the "filler" label on episodes that clearly are

I'd like to add something else:

- A recurring character from an earlier episode appears, which can actually make the "filler" episode they debuted in retroactively not filler. IE - the first Duplica episode could be considered filler, but when she appeared the second time, that made both episodes with her in it not-filler episodes.

 

[PDL]

Re: can everyone PLEASE stop throwing the "filler" label on episodes that clearly are

I'd like to add something else:

- A recurring character from an earlier episode appears, which can actually make the "filler" episode they debuted in retroactively not filler. IE - the first Duplica episode could be considered filler, but when she appeared the second time, that made both episodes with her in it not-filler episodes.

I don't really know if that really counts or not though...

It really depends on the importance of the character. There's probably an entire continuim of importance, and this depends on many factors, such as how much of an impact said character has on the main characters, or if they happen to have an equavlent in the games.

Duplica is ultimately not a really important character in the long run of the anime. She only showed up in episodes to show off Ditto's powers of copying. Both times were both filler episodes (i.e episodes that could easily be skipped without any disruptions or inconsistances to the storyline). A character like Casey on the other hand could count as a "non-filler" character. Her first appearence wasn't that major and could have easily been forgotten. However, she managed to return to play important roles in episodes later on.