Is Naruto getting better? (Spoiler alert)

[A Cup of No]

I don't know if this is too much of a spoiler since the show is in its 150s in the eps already, but do you all see Naruto going downhill? I think it was in its prime during the Chuunin exam and Itachi's grand entrance, but it seems that after that weird thing they did to Sasuke when he battles Naruto before the two year break, things are just getting weird. So what do you think? Has the show lost its charm or should be expect massively awesome things to come? For better or for worse?

[Kami]

I personally think it's going to get better, it should soon go into the Kakashi Gaiden, then the later episodes. I'm sticking with it. ^_^ !

-Kami

[Kaori]

It probably depends on whether you are following the manga or the anime. The manga is about the same as always (though some people might disagree with me), but from what I have heard, the anime has started to insert quite a few filler episodes that have nothing whatever to do with the plot of the manga. While some sort of stalling tactic is an (unfortunate) necessity, this does significantly diminish the quality of the anime. I myself stopped watching at around episode 115 or 120, so I can't really attest to the quality of the most recent episodes.

By the way, are you a member by the same name over on TheologyWeb?

[uc pseudonym]

As I have barely watched the anime, I cannot consider myself qualified to speak about it. In terms of storyline alone and presuming that the anime continues to follow the manga, I think that things will improve following the two year break. In my mind, Naruto has always been strongest when focusing on shinobi skills. Sasuke's transformation and the Kyuubi interfere with this element. However, things return to the normal following the two year gap, and I anticipate the plot will get better as it the Akatsuki element is developed.

[A Cup of No]

By the way, are you a member by the same name over on TheologyWeb?

Yes.

Are you on T-Web?

And at times, Sasuke's story seems to be so much more interesting than Naruto's. The anime is quickly catching up to the manga, so fillers are necessary to keep it going. I just thought that Sasuke's transformation was just...weird. I guess I just don't want to see Naruto go the route of DBZ.

[Mave]

Personally, I think there was a period where Naruto goes down with the Dragonball syndrome for a while but it does pick up from there onwards <--- based on manga observations. I would recommend sticking around though.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

So many filler episodes... GET ON WITH THE KAKASHI STORY ALREADY!

It's becomming a DBZ i Believe....

I miss the old episodes... T_T where they were true to the heart... and you felt something... (first 20 episodes rocked)

[dreamhacker]

The manga keeps up the good work, though some parts of the later chapters have been too predictable...The anime kinda suck, and they won't move on

[A Cup of No]

I think the last ep I saw was when Sasuke's being taken away by Orochimaru's men...>.>....

But I do keep up with the manga a bit and I'm definitely looking forward to being introduced to more of the Akatsuki. As long as Sasuke doesn't turn into a bat again, I'll probably be happy.

[uc pseudonym]

As long as Sasuke doesn't turn into a bat again, I'll probably be happy.

This may already be known to you, but he has yet to appear after that fight. I doubt that Masashi Kishimoto will use the same thing twice, so he'll probably have developed the ability along a different route or found something else entirely. I believe that his transformation was rather unpopular overall.

This is a question for those of you who are following the anime: what kind of filler episodes have been appearing? Have they merely added new things to the events that already occured, or created entirely new incidents?

[A Cup of No]

From what my friends have told me, they're doing some new incident with Mizuki after he escapes from prison or something. That's as much about the filler as I know, though. If I recall correctly, that wasn't in the manga.

If things continue this way, Naruto could end up with 300+ eps. That would make a sick collector's series.

[Dunedan]

After Sasuke leaves with the Four and Shikamaru's task force follows him, it feels like One Piece, as in "I can't be defeated" "Yes you can" "No I can't!" "Oh, I guess you can't" sort of overextended unnecessary battles, but I just finished volume 23, and it seems to be getting better.

But I'm not very far along and do not even have any idea what the Kakashi Gaiden is. So...

[Mr. SmartyPants]

This may already be known to you, but he has yet to appear after that fight. I doubt that Masashi Kishimoto will use the same thing twice, so he'll probably have developed the ability along a different route or found something else entirely. I believe that his transformation was rather unpopular overall.

This is a question for those of you who are following the anime: what kind of filler episodes have been appearing? Have they merely added new things to the events that already occured, or created entirely new incidents?

Ya know after naruto fights sasuke, he goes back to Konoha, then it has the whole Kakashi's past thing... well instead of jumping to that theyve had

1. A mission with Naruto and Sakura and Jirayia going to some village and attempting to bring back sasuke (obviously failing) and restore some silly clan. And they fight some silly ninjas with obligatory hair-fighting powers... and something weird 3 ninjas that form into 1 deformed thing thats retarded

2. Random stuff with mizuki and he turns into some lame tiger who all gigantor and looses to a rasengan, then shrivels up to a raisen.... then is inprisoned again... Shows Mizuki's ex-girlfriend, and Iruka and Naruto beat up Mizuki

3. Naruto, Hinata, Shino, and Kiba going on some mission to find a bug that will help find sasuke.... where they face off some silly other bug clan that uses Bees or something... (currently where the anime is at)

another filler from before was the whole "race thing with the magical sword" thing....

And these aren't filler episodes... they are filler.... sets of episodes... and many cliched too (Hair that fights people...)

[Myoti]

Wow, I feel so out of it. I'm just now on the fourth Volume of the manga. -_-;

After Sasuke leaves with the Four and Shikamaru's task force follows him, it feels like One Piece, as in "I can't be defeated" "Yes you can" "No I can't!" "Oh, I guess you can't" sort of overextended unnecessary battles, but I just finished volume 23, and it seems to be getting better.

DBZ overextends them. OP typically has a good reason for prolonging arcs.

[uc pseudonym]

But I'm not very far along and do not even have any idea what the Kakashi Gaiden is. So...

It is a set of five issues (in the manga, anyway) that cover some of Kakashi's past and answer a few important (or at least frequently asked) questions.

Ya know after naruto fights sasuke, he goes back to Konoha, then it has the whole Kakashi's past thing... well instead of jumping to that theyve had

1. A mission with Naruto and Sakura and Jirayia going to some village and attempting to bring back sasuke (obviously failing) and restore some silly clan. And they fight some silly ninjas with obligatory hair-fighting powers... and something weird 3 ninjas that form into 1 deformed thing thats retarded

2. Random stuff with mizuki and he turns into some lame tiger who all gigantor and looses to a rasengan, then shrivels up to a raisen.... then is inprisoned again... Shows Mizuki's ex-girlfriend, and Iruka and Naruto beat up Mizuki

3. Naruto, Hinata, Shino, and Kiba going on some mission to find a bug that will help find sasuke.... where they face off some silly other bug clan that uses Bees or something... (currently where the anime is at)

another filler from before was the whole "race thing with the magical sword" thing....

And these aren't filler episodes... they are filler.... sets of episodes... and many cliched too (Hair that fights people...)

Thank you for that rather complete answer. The only good thing I see in any of that is that Shino would appear. But I imagine he doesn't do anything that amazing, does he?