Summary
As part of theBig 3 within the anime landscape, theNarutoseries has become the target of all manner of critique. While some might deem these criticisms baseless, the critique certainly holds merit, especially forShippuden. Initially touted as a much bigger success than the originalNarutoseries,Shippudeneventually succumbed to a myriad of recurring issues, leading to a steep decline in quality and storytelling compared to the original.
Whether it’s plot progression, power-scaling, or therole of ancillary characters in the narrative, the originalNarutoseries does it better.Shippuden, on the other hand, became a convoluted mess with the introduction of a plethora of new plot points, coupled with a complete lack of character development for most of the series' ancillary characters. While both the original series andShippudenare well-written pieces of fiction, these inconsistencies have tipped the scale in the former’s favor.
Unchecked Power Scaling
The Original Naruto Series Has Better Power Scaling
The primary issue plaguing theNarutofranchise as a whole is its power imbalance, whether it’sthe Rinnegan inShippudenor the Karma inBoruto. The originalNarutoseries, on the other hand, does an impressive job at presenting a sound power scaling. The protagonists, antagonists, and ancillary characters are around a similar power level, with no character being too overpowered. However,Shippudenthrows theNarutoworld into a state of imbalance with the introduction of all manner of absurd power ups.
Is this the power of a God…
Shippudenwas off to a great start afterthe two-year time skip. However, things soon took a turn for the worse after the introduction of the Rinnegan, a god-like power that changed the course of the entireNarutoseries. The Rinnegan was the first of many such overpowered abilities, with the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan becoming another example of power-scaling imbalance. By the end of the series, this matter had worsened considerably, with Naruto and Sasuke becoming two untouchable characters after receiving the Sage of Six Paths' chakra. While such power scaling was inevitable, the original Naruto series still presented a more consistent scaling over the course of its 220 episodes.
The Role of Female Characters in Naruto
Female Characters in the Original Played a Bigger Role
One of the most prominent issues with theNarutofranchise is itspoor treatment of female characters. Author Kishimoto has, on multiple occasions, reiterated his inability to write fleshed-out female characters. However, this statement is quite inaccurate considering the female characters in the originalNarutoseries were considerably developed. Some even played a major role in the narrative, while others rivaled their male counterparts.
I will die before I let you touch him - Tsunade
Temari and Tayuyaare two prominent antagonists who were quite fierce, even being portrayed to be superior to their male equivalents. Tsunade also played a major role in part 1 of Naruto, though her status as a powerful kunoichi slowly dwindled inShippuden. Nearly every major female character was eventually sidelined in Shippuden, with the narrative entirely revolving around the male protagonists.
Side-Characters Were Fleshed Out in the Original
Konoha 11 and Other Ancillary Characters Were Written Off
Character growth for ancillary characters is a necessary part of any narrative. While the originalNarutoseries heavily focused on this aspect, Shippuden fell short of offering side characters ample growth and development. It’s quite common for anime with a large roster of characters to neglect most characters, yet the originalNarutoseries still managed to allocate screen time to all of its ancillary characters.Konoha 11 is a prime example, as the Chunin Exams and Sasuke Retrieval Arc focused more on the rookie squads and their shinobi endeavors.
Some of the highlights of theNarutoseries include battles between side characters, such as Rock Lee and Gaara’s fight duringthe Chunin Exams, or Neji and Choji’s battles against the Sound 4.Shippudenended up sidelining these characters altogether, with some Konoha 11 characters, such as TenTen, being forgotten altogether. With new plot points and character expansions, it’s only natural for the focus on ancillary characters to dwindle. However,Naruto Shippudenfailed to handle this aspect properly, leading to an underdeveloped cast of characters.
Quality of Filler Episodes
The Original Naruto Series Featured Higher Quality Fillers
TheNarutoseries is infamous for itsincessant amount of filler episodes, both in the original series andNaruto Shippuden. While the number of filler episodes is roughly the same in both series, averaging around 41 percent, the difference in their quality is rather striking. The original series’ filler mirrored the quality of its canon counterparts, coupled with ample character development for ancillary characters.
Moreover, some ofNaruto’smost iconic filler episodescan be found in the original series, whether it’s “Laughing Shino” or “the Curry of Life” episodes. The quality of these filler episodes was near-perfect, leading to viewers enjoying these non-canon episodes. The same cannot be said forNaruto Shippuden, a series that is plagued by unnecessary filler that only bogs down the narrative. Apart from Kakashi’s backstory and the Akatsuki’s history, most of Shippuden’s filler arcs were a let-down. This stark difference in quality is another aspect that deems the original series superior to Shippuden.
Retcons and Plot Holes
Shippuden Was Plagued By Plot Holes
Retcons are another consistent issueplaguing theNarutoFranchise as a whole. However, the difference in the number of plot holes and retcons between the original series andShippudenis quite high. Over its two-hundred episode run, the original series featured minimal plot holes. The only prominent one is the Fourth Hokage’s near-reanimation by Orochimaru, which shouldn’t have been possible considering he was sealed through the Reaper Death Seal Jutsu.
Shippuden, on the other hand, is a hotbed of retcons and plot holes. From the Tailed Beasts’ role in the series to Itachi’s role in the Uchiha Massacre being rewritten,Shippudenis laced with all manner of absurd retcons. As the story became more and more convoluted with the narrative’s progression, author Kishimoto was forced to retcon a few missing elements, in turn creating several plot holes for theNarutoseries as a whole.
This discrepancy between the original series andNaruto Shippudenis another aspect that showcases part 1 as the superior series. Concepts such asthe Senju-Uchiha rivalry, the origin of Tailed Beasts, and the Otsutsuki never even existed in the original Naruto series. Their forceful incorporation into the narrative led to all sorts of plot holes, tarnishing the franchise’s legacy as a whole.
The Original Series Features Better Pacing
Shippuden’s Pacing Is Highly Inconsistent
Arguably the most striking discrepancy between both series is the overall pacing of the story. The originalNarutoseries had a much more consistent pace, allowing viewers to digest the story without overwhelming them with new revelations and information. The Chunin Exams arc andthe Konoha Crush arcare two prime examples of Naruto’s excellent pacing, as these sets of episodes presented the story without rushing the overall narrative.
From fight scenes to character development moments, the original series took its time presenting a fleshed-out narrative, whether it was Zabuza and Haku’s relationship or the battles witnessed in the Chunin Exams. Shippuden failed to incorporate this element, as the series’ pacing never remained consistent. The initial arcs that featured the Akatsuki were perfectly paced, yet matters took a turn for the worse asthe Fourth Great Ninja Warbegan.
Over 200 episodes were dedicated to the war, an event that only spanned a total of two days within theNarutouniverse. The pacing became increasingly slow, with the war progressing at a snail’s pace. While more than half of these episodes consisted of mere filler, the pacing of the arc was still highly inconsistent. The episodes mostly consisted of baseless fights with little to no actual development for the narrative, leaving fans disgruntled with the poorly written arc.
