Filler episodes are usually an arduous challenge to wade through, but Dragon Ball Z has some hidden gems to offer. It’s easy to understand why fans tend to skip anime filler episodes. Perhaps an unusual phenomenon to western audiences, filler occurs because Japanese anime generally adapts its comic source material very closely and, when the two mediums are running simultaneously, the TV version must ensure it doesn’t catch up to the manga. This is usually achieved by inserting anime-only stories into the mix, sometimes for a few scenes, sometimes for a single episode, and sometimes for far, far longer.
Since filler isn’t derived from the original story, and is often made without the involvement of the original author, it’s usually deemed non-canon and, therefore, skippable. But while many anime fans accept filler episodes as a necessary evil, they can also completely derail the momentum of a series and cause anime-only viewers to drop out after noting the obvious drop in quality. The end of the Naruto anime, for example, is stuffed with filler before the big finale, dragging the conclusion to Masashi Kishimoto’s ninja tale down. Meanwhile, the Bleach series utilizes lengthy filler arcs that feel completely removed from the main story. In both cases, viewers would be advised to skip to the good stuff, but this isn’t the case with Dragon Ball Z.
Dragon Ball Z’s filler can be a quality watch for several reasons, the most obvious being that some episodes are so bad, they’re good. The definitive example almost everyone remembers would be “Goku’s Ordeal,” where the Saiyan and Piccolo learn to drive - a comedy masterpiece from start to finish. Modern filler often falls down by virtue of being utterly forgettable, but the Z Warriors’ driving education is still fondly spoken of decades later, and that has to count for something.
Fortunately, Dragon Ball Z filler isn’t just good for comedy value. Some anime-only arcs are a treat for fans who are tired of Dragon Ball focusing squarely on Goku and Vegeta while ignoring the supporting cast. The Garlic Jr. saga achieves this brilliantly, pushing Gohan, Piccolo and Krillin to the fore and offering a rare chance to see Earth’s strongest human in action. Even filler arcs that do keep the action firmly centered on Goku succeed in adding context to the Dragon Ball world. The Snake Way episodes, for instance, might’ve dragged a little, but they help flesh-out Akira Toriyama’s colorful afterlife in a way the manga doesn’t have time to, while the post-Cell high school filler might be corny, but at least helps develop Gohan’s future relationship with Videl. Finally, some Dragon Ball Z filler arcs are so highly thought of, they’re almost considered canon, such as the Other World Tournament which introduced Pikkon to the franchise and revisited some classic villains.
Perhaps there’s a hint of rose-tinted nostalgia when revisiting Dragon Ball Z’s filler episodes in the present day. Most western youngsters likely didn’t know the difference between canon and non-canon episodes when first watching Goku and the gang fly around and blast each with energy, and this might play into why Dragon Ball filler is generally remembered more fondly than most. But while there may be a hint of revisionism, there’s no denying Dragon Ball Z’s filler episodes, more often than not, serve a purpose and enhance the core story, and that isn’t always the case with anime-only fare.
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