6 Worst Shonen Anime Episodes We Wish We Could Forget

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As a long-time anime watcher, I’ve noticed something about shonen series: they often have these amazing episodes and story arcs that really set the standard for the whole industry. But, honestly, they also have some truly terrible ones. It feels like for every episode that’s a perfect 10 out of 10, there’s one that fans just want to skip over. And it’s understandable – when you’re really enjoying a show and then hit something that’s just not good, it’s disappointing, even a little frustrating.

Even popular and well-loved shonen anime sometimes have truly awful episodes. These can be filler that doesn’t add to the story, unnecessary recaps of previous events, or just episodes that are boring and don’t really accomplish anything. For example, One Piece has several recap episodes that make its already uneven pacing even worse, while Naruto and Bleach are filled with filler that feels like a waste of time. Other weak episodes attempt something meaningful but ultimately fail to deliver.

“Long Time No See, Selkie” Was Unnecessary Setup For MHA’s Third Movie

The Beach Sequence Was Unbelievably Forced

Overall, fans weren’t thrilled with Season 5 of My Hero Academia. While it’s generally considered the weakest season so far, it still had some strong points, like the development of Tomura Shigaraki and the exciting battles during the joint training exercise. However, one episode felt like unnecessary filler and awkwardly attempted to promote the My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission movie.

It’s common for My Hero Academia to hint at its movie storylines within the anime series, but the setup for “Long Time No See, Selkie” felt weak. While the action in the second half was okay, it wasn’t particularly memorable, and Ochaco’s team deserved a more meaningful mission. Many fans were also puzzled and disappointed by the completely unnecessary beach scene.

“A Midsummer Christmas” Finally Made Food Wars! Too Weird

No One Needs Clown or Chainsaw Chefs

It’s notable when even an over-the-top anime like Food Wars! goes too far. The show always had a silly, exaggerated style – from typical energetic characters to Soma’s carefree personality. But Season 5 featured a particularly strange storyline, highlighted by the incredibly awkward plot point of Asahi Saiba attempting to marry his half-sister, Erina Nakiri. This was a low point for the series.

Many fans consider “A Midsummer Christmas” the moment Food Wars! jumped the shark. The new characters felt like they were added just to stretch the series out, and the episode relied on ridiculous gimmicks. While Food Wars! usually entertains with inventive cooking, things like chainsaws and clowns simply weren’t necessary.

“Ino Screams! Chubby Passion” is a Body Image Catastrophe

This Episode is a Product of its Time

The popular anime Naruto is well-known for having a lot of unnecessary filler episodes that don’t really add to the main story. A particularly bad example is “Ino Scream! Chubby Passion,” which many viewers find awkward and in poor taste. While Japanese audiences might not be bothered by a storyline about a princess struggling with her weight, some Western fans may find it problematic.

It feels unnecessarily cruel to give Princess Fuku this particular problem. Plus, the Naruto anime rarely delves into the unique cultures and royal families of other countries to expand its world, and this episode doesn’t handle that kind of storytelling well. While the episode does end happily for the princess and her fiancé, it still stands out as one of the weakest in the entire Naruto series.

“Gohan’s First Date” is a Waste of a Gohan-Focused Episode

Gohan Has Better Girls to Spend Time With

As a huge fan of classic shonen anime like Dragon Ball Z, it’s always been clear that the show really focuses on things guys typically get excited about – intense action, the drive to be the best, and epic adventures! Romance definitely takes a backseat. You get little glimpses here and there, like Goku and Chi-Chi getting married, or the fun dynamic between Vegeta and Bulma, but it’s never the main focus. Even when they explore relationships, like with Gohan and Videl, it’s more about fun moments than a traditional romance – that ‘first date’ episode is a perfect example of that!

This episode of Dragon Ball Z is widely considered one of the worst, as it doesn’t contribute much to the overall story and portrays romance poorly. It even suggests that girls are untrustworthy and inconsistent, especially through the character of Angela, who is depicted as a bad match for Gohan. Dragon Ball Z has struggled with its female characters, and Angela’s appearance only makes that problem worse.

“Uron Mirage Chapter 119: The Phasey Hunt, Part 4” Commits the Sin of Being Simply Boring

Witch Watch Can’t Afford to Have Weak Episodes Like That

The anime Witch Watch is struggling to stand out as an unremarkable fantasy series. Its mix of romance, school life, magic, and humor feels bland, making its bizarre ‘Uron Mirage’ episode—essentially a show within a show—completely unnecessary and ineffective. The series simply can’t afford to waste time on such pointless diversions.

Anime fans have encountered stories within stories before, but Witch Watch doesn’t quite pull it off this time. The episode focuses too much on the fake anime, Uron Mirage, leaving viewers unsure of the main plot. Because Uron Mirage doesn’t meaningfully connect to the characters or story of Witch Watch, the entire segment feels unnecessary and could be removed without losing anything.

“Legend of the Holy Sword 2: Wanna Go Drinking, Gambling, and Playing?” Shows Why Excalibur is So Unbearable

Excalibur Really Weighed Down the Soul Eater Anime

Many viewers aren’t happy with the Soul Eater anime because it deviates significantly from Atsushi Okubo’s original manga. The ‘Excalibur’ episodes are particularly divisive – they seem intentionally bad and irritating, which might appeal to hardcore fans of Okubo’s work, but will likely frustrate most others.

The anime Soul Eater really shouldn’t have devoted a whole episode to Excalibur, who is arguably the most annoying character in the series. While the American-style segment might have been a fun change of pace, it doesn’t actually benefit the show. Soul Eater and Fire Force are known for their quirky humor, but the Excalibur scenes just don’t land well and feel like a mistake.

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2026-04-13 02:05