10 Underhated Anime Arcs That Are a Literal Waste of Time
Every anime fan has that one arc they dread revisiting. The stretch of episodes that stall the plot or bury the main story under filler disguised as development. Usually, the anime community is quick to call them out. They earn endless hate for dragging on or doing nothing for the story. However, a number of arcs somehow escape major criticism despite committing the same sins. These arcs are protected by great animation, a handful of emotional moments or pure fan loyalty.
The reason arcs like Naruto:Shippuden’s Fourth Great Ninja War and My Hero Academia’s Joint Training are underhated is that fans often defend them because they contain a few standout moments or good animation. However, without the effect of nostalgia or spectacle, these arcs aren’t much more than filler masquerading as substance. Whether it’s battles that lead nowhere, political storylines that stop the momentum, or character arcs that reset the stakes, these arcs remind the audience that “good-looking” does not always mean “worth watching.”
The Fourth Great Ninja War Arc Became a Draining Marathon
Not many arcs in shonen history test patience quite like Naruto: Shippuden’s Fourth Great Ninja War. What starts as the ninja world uniting against a common threat quickly turns into a marathon of flashbacks, resurrections and endless speeches about pain and destiny. For every emotional payoff, there are ten scenes that repeat the same idea.
By the time Madara takes center stage, the pacing completely unravels. Villains die, revive, die again, and the anime adds Kaguya out of nowhere, undermining years of buildup. Even major character moments, like Neji’s death, feel lost in the chaos. The War Arc could’ve been a grand conclusion to Naruto’s journey, but it drowns in filler content and overextended fights. For an arc meant to unite all shinobi, it ironically leaves fans divided.
The Royal Government Arc Is a Political Detour Nobody Asked For
After the brutal chaos of the Female Titan and Clash of the Titans Arcs, Attack on Titan fans were primed for answers, not politics. Instead, the Royal Government Arc halts the momentum entirely to focus on the monarchy’s corruption, and too many discussions about who should rule humanity. While important to the lore, the execution feels painfully slow.
The action takes a back seat to drawn-out strategy sessions, with even Levi’s backstory failing to inject consistent energy. Fans who love worldbuilding defend this stretch, but most were just waiting for the titans to reappear. When an anime known for adrenaline-fueled terror turns toward political intrigue, the shift feels jarring. The Royal Government Arc may be crucial to the story, but that doesn’t make it exciting to watch.
Nothing of Consequence Happens in The Long Ring Long Land Arc
For an anime known for emotional highs and world-changing events, One Piece’s Long Ring Long Land Arc feels quite misplaced. The Straw Hats face Foxy and his crew in a series of goofy “Davy Back Fights” that barely affect the story. It’s colorful, comedic and utterly pointless. The arc does have charm. Luffy’s clownish antics and Foxy’s cheating schemes are funny in bursts, but the story drags on far longer than necessary.
There’s no character growth, no meaningful stakes, and nothing that advances the world’s grand mysteries. Even Oda later admitted it was mainly for laughs, which makes sense, but it still feels misplaced between far more compelling adventures. Long Ring Long Land might not deserve outright hate, but it certainly doesn’t deserve 14 episodes either.
The Joint Training Arc Rehashed Battles With Zero Stakes
The Joint Training Arc in My Hero Academia has a fun setup: Class 1-A vs. Class 1-B in team battles meant to test progress. The problem is that it adds nothing that viewers didn’t already know. After years of watching Deku and friends spar, seeing them do it again, against classmates with less personality, feels like a chore.
Most fights are predictable, and the outcomes rarely matter. Even Deku’s new power reveal, Blackwhip, loses impact because it’s buried underneath repetitive matchups and exposition dumps. While the animation remains top-notch, the arc feels like a long detour between real storylines. Fans who defend it point to its training purpose, but even training arcs need tension. This one feels like a rerun of the sports festival, without the fun.
Swordsmith Village Arc Forgot to Move the Story Forward
Demon Slayer’s Swordsmith Village Arc looks stunning, but feels even more hollow. Every frame is a visual feast, yet the story barely moves forward. Tanjiro’s visit to the swordsmiths promises character insight and plot revelations, but the arc mostly delivers long battles that reset the status quo. While Muichiro and Mitsuri finally get spotlight moments, their development feels rushed and incomplete.
Tanjiro’s fight choreography dazzles, but once the dust settles, the Hashira’s ranks remain the same, and Muzan’s grand plan hasn’t progressed. The emotional beats hit, but they don’t linger. In essence, the arc functions as an excuse to flex Ufotable’s animation team rather than deepen the narrative. It’s gorgeous, but for all its flair, the Swordsmith Village Arc is a beautifully wrapped box with very little inside.
The Tournament of Power Arc Is Fatigue at Its Peak
At first glance, the Tournament of Power Arc seems like everything Dragon Ball Super fans could want: dozens of fighters, epic transformations and a tournament deciding the fate of entire universes. The problem is that it’s all too much. The arc spends over 30 episodes inside the same arena, with recycled ideas and endless power-up speeches.
There are great moments (Ultra Instinct’s debut remains iconic), but most of the arc is a bloated spectacle that confuses scale with substance. Characters like Goku and Vegeta overshadow everyone else, while weaker Z-Fighters get token screen time. The tension is fake, too, since fans know Universe 7 isn’t disappearing anytime soon. By the finale, exhaustion sets in. The Tournament of Power Arc proves that bigger isn’t always better.
The Fullbring Arc Delivers a Weird Reset That Achieves Nothing
After the chaos of Aizen’s defeat, Bleach needed a fresh direction. What fans got instead was the Fullbring Arc, a story that strips Ichigo of his powers and throws him into an awkward pseudo-sequel about “spiritual humans” with random abilities. It’s not the worst idea, but it feels like filler leading up to when the actual story resumes. The plot moves slowly, and the villains are forgettable.
The entire story exists only to get Ichigo’s powers back, something that could’ve only taken up two episodes. Even the action scenes lack spark. Many fans defend the arc for its themes of identity and recovery, but the execution turns those themes into filler. Once the story gets to the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc, the Fullbring Arc feels like a bad dream.
The Royal Knights Selection Exam Arc Is Full of Predictable Fights
Black Clover’s Royal Knights Selection Exam Arc could’ve been an exciting test of teamwork and rivalries. Instead, it plays out like a string of exhibition matches with obvious outcomes. The arc’s tournament format lacks tension since every major victory feels scripted for plot convenience. While the animation is solid, the story refuses to take risks.
Characters who should lose win anyway, and fan favorites barely get development. Even Asta’s growth feels mechanical. By the end, the only major result is a new title: “Royal Knight.” The arc could’ve shown how each squad’s ideology shaped their combat style, but it settles for predictable shonen clichés. For an anime that thrives on speed and energy, the Royal Knights Exam feels like a narrative pit stop that overstays its welcome.
The Fairy Dance Arc Told a Boring Story
After the groundbreaking success of Sword Art Online’s first arc, the Fairy Dance storyline tries to recapture that magic, and stumbles hard. Kirito dives into another virtual world, this time with fairy wings and a new quest to save Asuna. The problem is that it retreads the same “save the girl” plot while adding subplots that make the tone uncomfortably weird.
The world of Alfheim Online looks beautiful, but the story wastes its potential on recycled villains and sluggish pacing. While the arc introduces lore about the VR universe, it doesn’t expand on Kirito or Asuna meaningfully. Instead, it turns a thrilling concept into a tired rescue mission. The Fairy Dance Arc isn’t the worst in SAO, but it’s easily the most underhated waste of narrative energy.
The Grand Magic Games Arc Chose Spectacle Over Substance
The Grand Magic Games Arc is Fairy Tail’s flashiest display of power, and one of its most hollow. The idea of a magical tournament between guilds should’ve been the perfect setup for high-stakes rivalries and character payoffs. Instead, it devolves into spectacle for spectacle’s sake. The fights are entertaining, but the outcomes rarely matter.
The arc teases world-changing consequences, yet, resets everything by the end. Character arcs stall, and the emotional tone swings wildly from humor to melodrama. It’s the definition of style over substance. Fans often remember the big moments, like Natsu’s final brawl and the time-skip reunion, but few recall what the arc actually accomplished. For all its fireworks, the Grand Magic Games is a shiny detour that leaves Fairy Tail exactly where it started.
