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Should You Give Boruto a Chance?

As a fan of Naruto, I have always seen the new series of his son, Boruto, as merely a publicity stunt to benefit from the success of the main show. Why should I start a new series for a manga that was completed successfully with no loose ends? As an avid fan, I rejected the idea based on how long it took to end Naruto as well. I started watching Naruto in elementary school, and it ended after I finished college. As an adult, I don't have the time or the energy for a long journey like this one again, right? Well, apparently, I do!! Recently, I binge-watched half the show, and surprisingly, I don't hate it.

Why did I give Boruto a chance?

1. Nostalgia

    The main reason I started Boruto was because I missed Naruto. I missed having an anime with many ninja characters fighting for a noble cause. I missed the banter between the main characters and the development of a show without boundaries or laws. I also missed all the main characters like Naruto, Hinata, Sakura, Shikamaru, and even evil characters like Orochimaru. The show was full of great details, and the voice actors did a fantastic job. Therefore, to get rid of my nostalgia without rewatching, I started Boruto.

    2. Battle scenes were good

      Another reason I gave Boruto a chance is the battle scenes on YouTube Shorts. I saw a couple of excellent scenes from the show on YouTube. Although I didn't know what exactly was happening, I was highly entertained by these 1 min scenes. Therefore, I decided to give the show a chance.

      3. Orochimaru's Son

        Until the end of Shippuden, Orochimaru was not a character I thought I would see in a second season of any sort. His role in the story seemed more than complete. Still, when Boruto's trailer showed a character that resembled Orochimaru, I researched the story a bit, and the existence of a son intrigued me. How would Orochimaru be as a parent? What is this new character like? I needed the answers.



        Is Boruto good or bad?

        Like many things, the show has its pros and cons, and now that I am halfway through, I can clearly identify both. Let's summarise the Pros and Cons.

        1. Pros of Boruto

          • You see a lot of Naruto and Sasuke.

          It is not a daily thing, but Naruto and Sasuke constitute a significant part of the new generation's life. Sasuke even acts as a mentor for young Boruto; therefore, he is more present than expected in the hero's life.

          • The fight scenes are excellent.

          Ignoring the fillers, all the major fight scenes in the anime have been well-animated, and the drawing remains consistent throughout the anime. The level of the fights also went up by 1000% as many battles take place in multi-dimensional arenas of sorts.

          • Family life is present.

          Unlike Naruto, which focused on the lack of family for almost all protagonists, all the main characters of this show have really good families at home. Most conflict is external; therefore, for once, you have a cast of sane protagonists without mental issues, except for Mitsuki.



          2. Cons of Boruto

            • Boruto is a brat.

            Yes, I have said it! The main criticism of this show has always been that Boruto is immature. If you are a fan of Naruto, you would remember how lonely Naruto was and how many people saw him as just the Kyubi, the monster. Compared to that, Boruto's lack of fatherly love shouldn't warrant his mischief or immaturity. I agree with this from this point of view.

            On the other hand, from a writer's point of view, Boruto took a gamble that could be both good and bad for the show. The main points of conflict in most shows stem from the hero's childhood issues; these issues could be abandonment, torture, lack of love, etc. Not having any of these issues, Boruto takes an unprecedented gamble of making a regular boy a hero to maybe help the new generation connect with the character. Did it work, though? 

            Personally, I believe until the 50th episode, this created a weak protagonist. Boruto seemed like a fun guy to be around, but he didn't pique anyone's interest compared to other characters in the show. Until the arc where Boruto asked Sasuke to train him, Mistuki, Orochimaru's son, was the only decent point in the show.

            • Fillers are a lot.

            One of the main reasons the show is constantly accused of inconsistencies is the fillers. It is a given that shows would have a couple of fillers here and there. Still, fillers are hated because they don't consider all aspects of the show. Boruto is guilty of that and more. Unfortunately, Boruto's fillers sometimes showcase points that he himself no longer cares for, like Naruto's lack of time, which he understood after the Chunin exam, or his lack of strength, which is not true to begin with. Basically, the fillers are a killer for this show.

            Now you know all the good and bad points of Boruto. The answer to the question is now within your hands. Should you give Boruto a chance? I suggest you do, but let me know if you will.