Fillers, fillers everywhere! This is one of the issues with Naruto, as some say. But is this the case? Well, there’s one thing we know: quantity doesn’t equal quality. This is also the case with non-canon episodes that may or may not work out.
Some are low-key cringe, while others are feel-good. This doesn’t beat the criticism, though, in any case. The series is overly laden with such episodes that add little to the plot. They are irrelevant and inconclusive for the most part, but rating them low would be a little extreme. At least in this case.
With this Naruto Shippuden episode, the rating is the worst thing to happen. It doesn’t even make sense because it is offbeat. The writing and the conception are refreshing, but to some fans, it is misaligned. Does it have to align with the story to make it better, though? Read more to find out the answer.
An offbeat yet low-rated episode
A good story, characters, fights, and stakes make the perfect recipe for a fine Shonen anime. This can be said for Masashi Kishimoto’s series that fits the rubric. There’s a compelling storyline, an impressive cast of characters, and intense battles. When it comes to stakes, though, it can be a bit dicey.
Keeping that aside, the anime peaked with its battle choreography. It is poetic, slick, and fluid, to the point that it should be called art. Take the battle between Minato and Obito, for example. Both characters did not back down during the fight and were toe-to-toe with each other.
Then, we have Naruto’s battle with Sasuke at the Valley of the End, which is commendable, to say the least. Here, we see parallels of their previous fight in Part 1. Studio Pierrot did a good job animating those intricacies in the scene. But we’re not done yet.
There is a fight so offbeat and unconventional that, sadly, didn’t make it to the list. It is iconic, it is legendary, and it sure is the moment. The only thing is, it is not included in the main anime. Well, that’s because it is in a filler, which stands as the worst-rated episode.
Most specifically, Episode 449 of the Shippuden series is the one episode everyone thought was unnecessary. It isn’t needed and doesn’t add much to the plot. The characters aren’t dead, so why is it there? That’s because we all need a breather, and the filler did so.
The battle between Team 7 and Sasori is the highlight. We see Sasori’s human puppets, Ay and Mei, who are crushed by our favorite characters. Sasuke comes back, and there’s a heartwarming reunion. The inverted reality and timeline are what make it so special.
Inverted reality and timelines in Naruto Shippuden
Imagine a world where one could reverse tragic events. How amazing would it be to change reality altogether? The Shinobi world is cruel after all, taking into account the massacres and genocide. We all know it cannot be reversed and undone, but in this case, it was.
The scene where Naruto and Nagato meet as protege is reimagination. It is an alternate reality and timeline that we subconsciously want. But most fans won’t admit it, which is okay. In a similar vein, Itachi fighting side-by-side with Sasuke is yet another heart-rending moment which takes the cake.
Truly, fillers aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. This is also why this episode was rated so low despite an impressive fight scene. Reimagining and humanizing the characters is the best thing to happen. It is the cherry on the cake if we were to put it that way.
Naruto: Shippuden is available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The manga is available for reading on Shueisha’s Manga Plus app.
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