User blog comment:Videogamep/Why Fillers Don't Work/@comment-1595565-20140310162539

I actually like fillers. They're a nice break from the norm and it's interesting to see what the writers come up with in terms of plot, characters, new abilities, etc. One reason I think people don't like them is exactly because they are non-canon. You're all thinking "No duh", but let me explain. Unlike the manga, there will be no progress made at the end of the story in a filler arc. Nothing new is learned about the world, no new character development, no one joining the crew, etc. For those who like progress, the arcs just seem like a waste of time. The same goes for those who just like the story. The resolution of each arc in the manga gives the Straw Hats something new to deal with in the next arc. Filler arcs fail to do that to, except on the rare occasion where one filler arc builds off a previous one. The reason I enjoy fillers is because of how I treat them. I treat them like one-shots or omakes. I acknowledge and accept their lack of bearing on the real story and enjoy them for the alternate storyline they are.