I’m really tired of people calling some episodes from this fillers. Do people really know what a filler is? If you do, please tell me and then also state which parts so far are fillers. So far i’ve seen no fillers in this series as many have mentioned. I can agree that i’ve thought of some of them like fillers but they really are not.
What is a filler episode?
A filler episode is generally an episode in which there is no plot development. Good filler episodes generally keep with the tone of the overall series while developing the original cast. Some examples of filler episodes may include, flashbacks and recaps where events up to the current point are once again stated or summarized, introduction of new and strange characters or sidestories though sometimes this may have influence in the outcome of the series as a whole, random conflicts that are resolved in a single episode are sure signs of a filler episode, and others. An exception to filler episodes include episodic animes where although an episode may seem out of place, since the genre of the series implies different ordeals per episode, the only real filler type in these shows would be flashbacks. A sure sign to tell that a filler has past is when after the episode or in some cases arc (examples of filler arcs include all of Naruto season 1 after visiting Orochimaru’s castle and the Bounto/Bound arc in Bleach) the main characters show no real imporvement. In the examples given, Naruto and friends do not gain any real new skills nor do the battles really change their views. In Bleach, the Bounto/Bound arc merely mirrored the events of the previous Soul Society arc and subsequently only strengthened the resolve of the main characters but in hindsight was not really necessary.
Another common definition of a filler generally is that it is any plot event that does not coincide with its manga source. However, since the TV series is usually an adaptation, this is not always the case, but in the case of Shounen Jump series animes/manga there is a close enough tie between the two mediums that the definition is widely accepted.
I don’t think there will be actual fillers in the series. Though it looks like they are going real heavy with the Lion-O centric episodes right now which is getting annoying as we would like to see some growth for the other Thundercats as well.
I think folks definition of ‘Fillers’ varies. I consider episodes that stray from the main story arc (main arc = Mumm-Ra after the Sword and Book of Omens) and while some character development is accomplished, the episode does not effect the main story arc if it were skipped or simply didn’t happen. This is the case with Ramlak Rising (except for the Wily Kittens scene and the final scene of Mumm-Ra, Grune and Jaga)
So I do understand where folks are coming from in regard to the notion of ‘filler’ episodes. Unfortunately it happens in every TV series. I remember how annoying it was in the Buffy The Vampire Slayer TV series! Notable examples of this would be “Go Fish” from Season 2 and “Superstar” from Season 4! (the latter of which I still cannot stand to watch to this day! lol) The only reason I see, why they do this is to space out the main story arc. However from my experience, when we get to the tail end of the season, that’s when the main arc starts to be rushed, so all loose ends are tied up. Hopefully that doesn’t happen here, like it has with so many other TV series!
I see this version of Thundercats kind of going in the same direction as Babylon 5. The whole series told one long story, but the first season had its fair share of stand-alone or “filler” episodes to help develop the characters. Eventually as the main story took shape, the amount of filler episodes became less and less, until by the fourth season they were almost completely gone. And even the ones that seemed like filler eps that didn’t do much to advance the main story were still significant (i.e. “The Illusion of Truth,” “A View From the Gallery,” “Intersections in Real Time.”)
That seems to be the pattern I’m seeing here: a few serialized eps that advance the main plot, broken up by some fillers to keep the pace from getting too frantic, and every once an a while there is a “Wham!” episode where there is a signifcant revelation or development.
(The "Wham! episode was a term coined by B5 creator J. Michael Straczynski, referring to a major plot event that was akin to it being hit with a big stick and going “WHAM!” It does not refer to the George Michael/Andrew Ridgely band as some might think!:p)
What many consider to be “filler” I consider to be world building. This kind of thing happened in just about every episode of TOS. That’s how such a rich mythos was crafted. It takes time folks. Not every episode has to follow the main story arc.
Hell in all honestly TOS didn’t even really have a main story arc! :eek:
Near the end of the series and after the reformation of New Thundera the TCs began to settle and rebuild there. They then started collecting the various artifacts of the treasure of Thundera. So really that was the only main arc of the show.
Other than that the show had a framework of core characters and it built the whole mythos up by introducing strange characters in fantastic situations in every episode. The same way most serial fiction is produced. Eventually it became the rich world that we are now familiar with.
I agree with this post 100% - I do understand what people mean about “fillers” and would definitely acknowledge that there’s a fine line between world building and creating vacuous-feeling episodes. But, so far I haven’t seen anything like that from the new ThunderCats - I even liked “Ramlak Rising”!
I haven’t considered any episode in the series thus far to be filler, but “The Duelist and the Drifter” looks like it will be the first one. I consider an episode filler if it doesn’t contribute to the overall arc in a significant way. If the next episode is merely Lion-O going out to get supplies for the journey ahead, then it isn’t a significant entry.
I have seen “Ramlak Rising” called filler in a few places, but in that episode they have the funeral for Claudus, introduce the Kittens joining the team, start the race to the Book of Omens and Lion-O learns to deal with his desire for revenge. All are significant to the overall plot.
Absolutely, but this isn’t the OS. The creators have said that this new series will not have filler episodes so they can’t fall back on “Oh, we’re making some in the same flavor of the old show.”
I think this will be an episode to deal with another one of Lion-O’s character issues to make him a better leader. He’s arrogant right now, especially after “beating” Mumm-Ra inside the Book of Omens, and he thinks he can’t be defeated. He’s going to loose the sword, learn some humility, and hopefully start to think before he makes decisions.
I’m sure it will, but the reasoning for Lion-O going off by himself still bothers me. I’m all for the occasional Lion-O centric episode where he learns a lesson (very OS), but not if it comes at the expense of the overall arc. The Thundercats just wouldn’t let Lion-O go off by himself when they are being hunted. It just feels like it is being shoehorned into the overall narrative.
Filler episodes don’t bother me. Some in Air Bender were a lot of fun to watch, I especially liked the episode where Aang began to hallucinate and saw Appa and Momo talking to him.
Anyway…
What bothers me is Lion-O being the only focus and not giving the other ThunderCats character developing episodes. Back in the OS, we saw the other ThunderCats off on their own adventures. Usually Lion-O had to come to their rescue, but at least they were strong characters who developed and bonded with the audience. Right now, I feel no bond with any of the characters. I’m not bonding with Lion-O because he only annoys me at this point. Anyway…
In Airbender, they developed the other characters as well. We knew their backstories and so we understood who they were, where they came from, and where they were headed.
I’m still amazed at how great a cartoon Avatar: The Last Airbender was.
