"It starts to pick up after X arc!"
"The First couple of seasons are meh, but everything afterwards is great!"
"The beginning is rocky, but the show really finds its footing after X!"
We've all heard these comments and other variations of them whenever people recommend TV shows, anime, comics, etc. Obviously people do this to help build the fanbase, garner the attention of people who are curious, and keep those who are bordering on jumping out intrigued. In spite of those comments, what are some prominent series where you actually enjoy the material "before it actually gets good"?
One example that comes to mind for me is One Piece. If I had a dollar for every time I've heard someone say "just wait until Water 7 where the series REALLY picks up", I'd be filthy rich. I've also heard the same comments about Alabasta to a lesser extent, and it seems people really single out the East Blue arc as being a weakpoint of the series or not holding up as well against the other arcs. One Piece after that point is obviously a whole different beast from anything we've seen in the Shonen space, but I still REALLY like what the anime had to offer at that point. I'm rewatching it right now, and it was already fun, whimsical, adventurous, well paced, and just pretty comforting to watch. I know people have problems with the early art, but I personally loved how lanky and bubbly everything looked back then. I honestly don't understand why people would have a problem with that and not the somewhat awkward mix of extreme caricatures, muscle men, and horny art that One Piece currently is.
I get why it didn't boom in popularity like some other shonen shows; DBZ ended, and people were looking for a successor in terms of action and a lot of teenagers/young adults were ready for some edgier themes. Early One Piece isn't particularly good in the action department and 4kids butchered a lot of the more mature content. Still, it's entertaining in a different way, and I still think there's a lot to appreciate where the series started from. Just like early Dragon Ball it's just so cozy and amusing to watch.
Anyways, I'd be happy to hear some opinions/examples of other shows!
"The First couple of seasons are meh, but everything afterwards is great!"
"The beginning is rocky, but the show really finds its footing after X!"
We've all heard these comments and other variations of them whenever people recommend TV shows, anime, comics, etc. Obviously people do this to help build the fanbase, garner the attention of people who are curious, and keep those who are bordering on jumping out intrigued. In spite of those comments, what are some prominent series where you actually enjoy the material "before it actually gets good"?
One example that comes to mind for me is One Piece. If I had a dollar for every time I've heard someone say "just wait until Water 7 where the series REALLY picks up", I'd be filthy rich. I've also heard the same comments about Alabasta to a lesser extent, and it seems people really single out the East Blue arc as being a weakpoint of the series or not holding up as well against the other arcs. One Piece after that point is obviously a whole different beast from anything we've seen in the Shonen space, but I still REALLY like what the anime had to offer at that point. I'm rewatching it right now, and it was already fun, whimsical, adventurous, well paced, and just pretty comforting to watch. I know people have problems with the early art, but I personally loved how lanky and bubbly everything looked back then. I honestly don't understand why people would have a problem with that and not the somewhat awkward mix of extreme caricatures, muscle men, and horny art that One Piece currently is.
I get why it didn't boom in popularity like some other shonen shows; DBZ ended, and people were looking for a successor in terms of action and a lot of teenagers/young adults were ready for some edgier themes. Early One Piece isn't particularly good in the action department and 4kids butchered a lot of the more mature content. Still, it's entertaining in a different way, and I still think there's a lot to appreciate where the series started from. Just like early Dragon Ball it's just so cozy and amusing to watch.
Anyways, I'd be happy to hear some opinions/examples of other shows!
