I also feel that the Loads And Loads Of Characters was a bit deleterious. I love seeing Naruto & Sasuke fight, especially when the Superpowered Evil Side(s) and/or spectacular high-powered Jutsus come out. Shikamaru, Chogi, Ino, etc? Not so much, especially since they only seem to use one (weak & unspectacular) signature Jutsu each. Granted, some of them ride the Rule Of Cool, such as Rock Lee vs Gaara; but overall, there was too little Character Focus. The show is “Naruto”, not “Naruto and Friends” or “Highly Visible Ninjas of the Leaf Village”.
Additionally, the tone is a bit inconsistent. Sometimes you have pranks, cheating-based exams and Sexy/Harem Jutsus; other times there are big fight scenes but Nobody Can Die and it’s Only A Flesh Wound; then other times Reality Ensues and The Determinator goes to hospital. It’s a bit jarring to go from a deadly serious fight against an Ax CrazyBody Horror murderer, to a semi-Played For Laughs fight between a sand wolf and a giant toad Large Ham.
Having said all that, these are the grating flaws in an otherwise awesome show. The melee fight scenes are well done and look awesome. The Highly Visible Ninja, Jutsus and Artistic License Martial Arts are well covered by the Rule Of Cool, although they do sometimes leave you wondering “why don’t ya just shuriken/rush/Back Stab him?”. The show tries to add feeling & tension to the fight scenes, and sometimes succeeds well e.g. Negi vs Hinata (although it often tries too hard; see the first paragraph). Plot Armor is limited; although few actually die, you feel that Anyone Can Die except Naruto (although the Clone/Substitution Jutsu Ass Pull does get old). Although often excessive, the exposition effectively prevents many of the Xanatos Speed Chess battles - involving clones, transformations and multi-layered attacks - from entering Mind Screw territory.
Behold the King of the Inaction Sequence!
Eps 1-80.
As per the title, the frequent (over)use of the Inaction Sequence is my biggest gripe. The belief that Viewers Are Goldfish & Morons is also frustratingly prominent. The average episode: Inaction Sequence, Reaction Shot, excessive exposition, more Inaction Sequence, FINALLY some cool fighting, exposition & Reaction Shot on the attacks used, possibly another engagement & accompanying exposition, another Inaction Sequence and Reaction Shot, next episode stinger.
I also feel that the Loads And Loads Of Characters was a bit deleterious. I love seeing Naruto & Sasuke fight, especially when the Superpowered Evil Side(s) and/or spectacular high-powered Jutsus come out. Shikamaru, Chogi, Ino, etc? Not so much, especially since they only seem to use one (weak & unspectacular) signature Jutsu each. Granted, some of them ride the Rule Of Cool, such as Rock Lee vs Gaara; but overall, there was too little Character Focus. The show is “Naruto”, not “Naruto and Friends” or “Highly Visible Ninjas of the Leaf Village”.
Additionally, the tone is a bit inconsistent. Sometimes you have pranks, cheating-based exams and Sexy/Harem Jutsus; other times there are big fight scenes but Nobody Can Die and it’s Only A Flesh Wound; then other times Reality Ensues and The Determinator goes to hospital. It’s a bit jarring to go from a deadly serious fight against an Ax Crazy Body Horror murderer, to a semi-Played For Laughs fight between a sand wolf and a giant toad Large Ham.
Having said all that, these are the grating flaws in an otherwise awesome show. The melee fight scenes are well done and look awesome. The Highly Visible Ninja, Jutsus and Artistic License Martial Arts are well covered by the Rule Of Cool, although they do sometimes leave you wondering “why don’t ya just shuriken/rush/Back Stab him?”. The show tries to add feeling & tension to the fight scenes, and sometimes succeeds well e.g. Negi vs Hinata (although it often tries too hard; see the first paragraph). Plot Armor is limited; although few actually die, you feel that Anyone Can Die except Naruto (although the Clone/Substitution Jutsu Ass Pull does get old). Although often excessive, the exposition effectively prevents many of the Xanatos Speed Chess battles - involving clones, transformations and multi-layered attacks - from entering Mind Screw territory.
When there actually is action, it's pretty epic.