The Disappearance of Filler Episodes

Mikayla Leskey | Arts & Entertainment Editor

Teenagers Holding Decorative Colorful Masks on a Sofa. / Photo by 'seventyfourimages', licensed by Envato.com.

I think society as a whole has forgotten about the magic of ‘filler episodes.’ Y’know when the main cast took a break from all the drama and had a beach day or some other wild goose-chase that was usually irrelevant to the plot as a whole. I didn’t appreciate these episodes enough when I was a kid, just wanting the plot to move forward but now, I find myself missing them.

Filler episodes were originally coined by anime fandoms when the anime had to add a cushion between the anime and the manga so the anime didn’t overtake the anime. It would lead to one-off episodes about side characters or the main character getting a new outfit or something inconsequential. But more importantly, it also gives fans a chance to see their favourite characters happy, without all the drama bogging them down.

As well, filler episodes were used when shows were going to be over budget so they needed an episode with less film locations, actors, etc. Which is why filler episodes tend to focus on one character among the entire cast. These episodes in particular allow the audience to get to know a character that they otherwise wouldn’t. It could be the backstory of the side character, or in some cases, the villain. Those filler episodes allow us to know why these characters ended up where they did.

The problem with filler episodes though is that it commonly loses the momentum in the show. All the anticipation, build up, etc that the show gained only for there to be a filler episode which leaves fans to lose interest or be disappointed. But, when the filler episode is done right, where it’s not put at the most climatic part of the season then the filler episode just adds to the show, makes it feel more exciting—the knowledge of seeing your favourite characters being happy amongst all the trauma happening to them.

Which brings me to my next point, all the time I see people online saying how they hate seeing their favourite characters in whatever drama that’s happening to them, that they want them to be happy and in love or anything of that sort. Which, yeah, some episodes are intended for that, but filler episodes are when that magic really happens. When there’s little to no action and the characters are just hanging out—sometimes I think we forget to let our favourite characters be boring.

Filler episodes are getting harder to do especially when episode counts are getting smaller and smaller. When there used to be 24 episodes per season the filler episodes were a welcomed break from the drama, but now, with episode counts as little as 8 per season, there’s not really any point for them anymore. I know some people are ecstatic at this prospect, having no filler episodes. But from a writer’s perspective, and someone always wanting new content from their favourite shows it’s a little bit disheartening.