Spy x Family’s episodic format has been a source of complaints from fans for a while — but the series was like that all along.
Fans in the West don’t really watch episodic shows, and they often get into Spy x Family with wrong expectations.
The anime might not be suitable for weekly discussion at all.
While Spy x Family is still very popular, it has been slowly but steadily losing followers. Some fans feel like it has been getting worse, and are wondering if the movie can save it. However, not much about the series has actually changed: fans have just been getting tired of its formula.
The series is mostly an episodic comedy
Spy x Family is essentially a lighthearted sitcom. Yes, it occasionally brings up more serious topics, but it mostly consists of vignettes that are largely comedic in nature. This might have been a novelty at first, but to many, it became tiresome.
This sitcom-like structure is not often found in anime series. Even more rare is to see it in a shounen, and while this structure can work in the manga form, it can be boring to watch the adaptation weekly.
Some viewers complain about how Spy x Family is mostly episodic and nothing ever happens. That said, it has been episodic since its very beginning: the Cruise arc is the first actual plot-heavy arc of the series, and even then, it goes back to the usual structure after that.
Viewers wanted something different from it
A lot of the reason why people are growing tired of Spy x Family was getting into it with wrong expectations. The series has mainstream appeal — we haven’t really seen many anime with a similar premise before.
Despite that, it doesn’t really have much progress, and if you wanted something more plot-oriented, you’d be disappointed.
Among the Western otaku, episodic series are just not very popular — and haven’t been for a while. Especially for newer fans, anime means a flashy spectacle with crazy plot twists and hype moments. While there are many extremely well-animated moments in the later seasons of Spy x Family, some viewers feel like they’re watching the anime for nothing.
Perhaps you’re watching it the wrong way
Some fans have theorized that the seasonal format actually hurts the anime. If you expect progress every week, an episodic series like Spy x Family is just not going to cut it. It might not even be made to be watched weekly: you should try to watch a couple of episodes at a time when you’re in the mood for it.
The movie, Spy x Family Code: White, is already out in Japanese theaters. It doesn’t really affect the rest of the series, and is largely just an extended episode of the series, reinforcing its nature.
Fans are wondering when they will be able to watch it, and they shouldn’t expect much from it: the series is already being criticized too much for what it actually intends to do
Yes, it was supposed to be episodic all along.
Summary:
Spy x Family’s episodic format has been a source of complaints from fans for a while — but the series was like that all along.
Fans in the West don’t really watch episodic shows, and they often get into Spy x Family with wrong expectations.
The anime might not be suitable for weekly discussion at all.
While Spy x Family is still very popular, it has been slowly but steadily losing followers. Some fans feel like it has been getting worse, and are wondering if the movie can save it. However, not much about the series has actually changed: fans have just been getting tired of its formula.
The series is mostly an episodic comedy
Spy x Family is essentially a lighthearted sitcom. Yes, it occasionally brings up more serious topics, but it mostly consists of vignettes that are largely comedic in nature. This might have been a novelty at first, but to many, it became tiresome.
This sitcom-like structure is not often found in anime series. Even more rare is to see it in a shounen, and while this structure can work in the manga form, it can be boring to watch the adaptation weekly.
Some viewers complain about how Spy x Family is mostly episodic and nothing ever happens. That said, it has been episodic since its very beginning: the Cruise arc is the first actual plot-heavy arc of the series, and even then, it goes back to the usual structure after that.
Viewers wanted something different from it
A lot of the reason why people are growing tired of Spy x Family was getting into it with wrong expectations. The series has mainstream appeal — we haven’t really seen many anime with a similar premise before.
Despite that, it doesn’t really have much progress, and if you wanted something more plot-oriented, you’d be disappointed.
Among the Western otaku, episodic series are just not very popular — and haven’t been for a while. Especially for newer fans, anime means a flashy spectacle with crazy plot twists and hype moments. While there are many extremely well-animated moments in the later seasons of Spy x Family, some viewers feel like they’re watching the anime for nothing.
Perhaps you’re watching it the wrong way
Some fans have theorized that the seasonal format actually hurts the anime. If you expect progress every week, an episodic series like Spy x Family is just not going to cut it. It might not even be made to be watched weekly: you should try to watch a couple of episodes at a time when you’re in the mood for it.
The movie, Spy x Family Code: White, is already out in Japanese theaters. It doesn’t really affect the rest of the series, and is largely just an extended episode of the series, reinforcing its nature.
Fans are wondering when they will be able to watch it, and they shouldn’t expect much from it: the series is already being criticized too much for what it actually intends to do
