Why do people think no fighting/action in an episode makes an ep pointless?

[Lord Beerus]

Because all that matters for some Dragon Ball fans is how many kicks, punches and ki blasts are thrown to determine the depth of someone's character and the general worth of any episode of any Dragon Ball anime. Honestly, episodes like Episode 52 in Super were sorely lacking in the anime franchise and I hope we get more of them in the future.

[ABED]

Exposition is fine if necessary, but I'm not a fan of the idea of an entire episode where they explain things. It's not dramatic and slows things down.

There's an entire episode of the Cell saga where Krillin/Trunks/Bulma go and find Cell's time machine. No action in the episode, just exposition...and it was a great episode.

That's not exposition, that's intrigue and tension. There's some, but very little is actually explained. The most exposition we get is that there's another time machine that both is and isn't Trunks' time machine.

[dario03]

Action is a big part of DB. Though It doesn't have to be all fighting all the time. But a whole episode that is mostly a character talking to some other characters can be a bit uneventful. Years from now there probably won't be a whole lot of people looking up clips from this episode or even re-watching the episode unless they are watching the whole series. Its the fighting clips and episodes that get the most re-watches from most fans because even though you know what happens those have the most visual excitement and often times the biggest effect. Personally I didn't have any issue with the episode but unless I just flat out forget the episode I probably won't re-watch it like I would the action episodes.
And while I welcome character development and non-fighting aspects being put in the show I don't think the episode had to be made the way it was. There are multiple things going on, they could have shown more developments with those other things. Even if no fighting was involved, showing us what Black was doing in the future or mixing this episode and next weeks episode together could have worked out great. Nothing from this episode needed to be removed, just push some of into next weeks episode and move some of next weeks episode up to this one.

[ABED]

I do think two characters just talking can be interesting, it's just not very visual.

[VegettoEX]

I do think two characters just talking can be interesting, it's just not very visual.

Only if they don't do something interesting with the framing. If you're literally talking about a banal conversation between two characters on a static frame, of course, yeah, that's boring.

That all being said, the beginning of Inglorious Basterds is literally just people talking, for, what 20 minutes or something? Because of the acting and the framing and the viewer knowing details the characters don't know, it's some of the most tense and amazing two-characters-just-sitting-there-talking ever put to screen (?!?!?).

[ABED]

That's not a great example because it seems like banal conversation, but that scene is one of tension. You have a Nazi in the house and Jews under the floor. That's different than say a character giving exposition like in the book of Fellowship of the Ring where it's twenty pages of exposition.

[Friezacooler]

because dragonball Z Was all about action. and Dragonball an action comedy and Dragonball GT a grand tour with funny clever lines.

[JulieYBM]

Dragon Ball Super has been very good about its storyboarding and framing, especially in comparison to the first three series. Kakudou Hiroyuki and Satou Masanori have turned out some of the best storyboards in this is regard, using their camera and layouts as dialogue itself. Dragon Ball Super isn't quite as remarkable as more fine-tuned cartoons in that respect, but it is the series' one saving grace.

K-On! also has really great layouts for its dialogue-heavy scenes. The scenes in the club room always have great framing to give off a sense of the surroundings and how the characters relate to them.

Then there's Yuu Yuu Hakusho Episode #68. It's a masterpiece. The claustrophobia of the confined spaced, the coloring, the lighting and canted angles speak louder than any dialogue in that episode. The storyboard by Mori Takeshi is his best and definitely goes to show how Shinbou Akiyuki was pushing all of the other storyboard artists to do better across the series. Episode #69 takes this to the next level with its incredible background animation. Dragon Ball Super would never attempt shots like these.

Another series that has been making its dialogue scenes pop lately is Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu. Series Director Sessha Gorou and the other storyboard artists are using their full cauldron of directing techniques to make dialogue scenes as visually cute, dreadful or exciting as possible. Episode #1 had some very great shot selection to accompany--or replace--dialogue. I love the scenes of Subaru in the alley way, especially as they carry over into other episodes. The grand and polished nature of the visuals really make the series feel like it knows what it is doing.

[ABED]

Then there's Yuu Yuu Hakusho Episode #68. It's a masterpiece. The claustrophobia of the confined spaced, the coloring, the lighting and canted angles speak louder than any dialogue in that episode.

I enjoy that group of episodes, but I'm not sure what your point is regarding dialog. The weirdness of the material lends itself to that sort of trippiness (for lack of a better word).

[JulieYBM]

Disk Wars: Avengers Episode #27 is a nice example of the Chioka Kimitoshi Dragon Ball Super never got to use. The layouts really pop, especially when adapted by Animation Supervisor Toma Seizou. There's little in the way of action throughout the episode, but the storyboarding uses rhythm, foreground, and canted angles to create a sense of energy.

Yokoyama Akitoshi's Idol M@ster Episode #18 is also great at this. The dialogue scenes use close-ups and wide shots at varying angles to add depth to the environment and focus on a character's unease. Shots use high-contrasting between two objects or use the environment to frame and highlight a character. It's a great episode that goes to show scenes that 'speak' do not necessarily need to be scenes that speak.

Gah, I need to re-watch Idol M@ster so badly now...

Then there's Yuu Yuu Hakusho Episode #68. It's a masterpiece. The claustrophobia of the confined spaced, the coloring, the lighting and canted angles speak louder than any dialogue in that episode.

I enjoy that group of episodes, but I'm not sure what your point is regarding dialog. The weirdness of the material lends itself to that sort of trippiness (for lack of a better word).

The point is that the dialogue has nothing to do with what makes the episode good. The episode isn't great because of its story, it's great because of storytelling. The same creativity and energy can be applied to any scenario, regardless of story ideas on paper.

[ABED]

The point is that the dialogue has nothing to do with what makes the episode good. The episode isn't great because of its story, it's great because of storytelling. The same creativity and energy can be applied to any scenario, regardless of story ideas on paper.

I disagree. You can have the greatest shots in the world, but if the characters and the story fall flat, then the camera movements are irrelevant, it's style over substance. And that still doesn't answer the question about dialog.

[floofychan333]

I've actually come to cherish filler because it's a break from the endless and stupidly predictable fighting.

I think you're watching the wrong show if you consider it endless and stupidly predictable fighting.

I'll have you know I got into the franchise through the original DB where the plot was varied, well-written, and always unique. Then Z comes along and although it's still pretty good, Toriyama starts getting lazy and begins recycling the same plot over and over and carries out the fights for way longer than necessary. The people love it. I admit I do enjoy a good fight, but I don't enjoy fights that take 15 episodes, most of which don't even contain anything relevant.
Also, how are the fights not easily predictable? Whenever somebody fires a super OP energy wave you know it probably won't even touch the target. When somebody is down and you're supposed to think they're defeated, they seldom are. These examples weren't predictable at first but now when you're watching a fight you always know not to get excited or anything. Also, everyone knows Goku either loses and comes back even more overpowered, he loses and the enemies suddenly turn good, or he wins.

[ABED]

Whenever somebody fires a super OP energy wave you know it probably won't even touch the target. When somebody is down and you're supposed to think they're defeated, they seldom are. These examples weren't predictable at first but now when you're watching a fight you always know not to get excited or anything. Also, everyone knows Goku either loses and comes back even more overpowered, he loses and the enemies suddenly turn good, or he wins.

Wow, it's predictable because the good guy wins? I don't think he recycles plots as much as recycles big moments like Goku being taken out and having to get to the battlefield in time to help.

I don't enjoy fights that take 15 episodes, most of which don't even contain anything relevant.

What do you consider "relevant"?

Whenever somebody fires a super OP energy wave you know it probably won't even touch the target

I can think of three big examples off hand that squash that theory.

[Gokuto]

Because it's a show about fighting, so that's what people are expecting to see.
But if we didn't have these kinda episodes, people would be complaining too...It's impossible to please everyone.

[floofychan333]

Wow, it's predictable because the good guy wins? I don't think he recycles plots as much as recycles big moments like Goku being taken out and having to get to the battlefield in time to help.

Here's how it works: Bad guys show up. (Vegeta, Androids) Good guys fight and someone usually dies. Bigger threat comes.(Cell or Frieza, although to be fair Frieza was there the whole time.) Bad guys join good guys. (Vegeta and Android 16) Goku is late, except in Cell arc, so everyone else has to hold the bigger threat off, with at least one person dying. Goku finally shows up, gets a new power boost, and wins (different in Cell arc as well.) Usually similar and sometimes identical events with different characters.

What do you consider "relevant"?

If somebody dies or Goku transforms.

I can think of three big examples off hand that squash that theory.

I said USUALLY.

[SSJ Human]

Because all that matters for some Dragon Ball fans is how many kicks, punches and ki blasts are thrown to determine the depth of someone's character and the general worth of any episode of any Dragon Ball anime. Honestly, episodes like Episode 52 in Super were sorely lacking in the anime franchise and I hope we get more of them in the future.

Same here. I'm not a big fan of these non-stop fighting episodes either.

[ABED]

Here's how it works: Bad guys show up. (Vegeta, Androids) Good guys fight and someone usually dies. Bigger threat comes.(Cell or Frieza, although to be fair Frieza was there the whole time.) Bad guys join good guys. (Vegeta and Android 16) Goku is late, except in Cell arc, so everyone else has to hold the bigger threat off, with at least one person dying. Goku finally shows up, gets a new power boost, and wins (different in Cell arc as well.) Usually similar and sometimes identical events with different characters.

Those are similar elements that go back to early DB, but they are arranged in a different order and occur very differently so it's not "here's how it works". Vegeta barely joined the team and that wasn't until the subsequent arc that he did so. 16 doesn't really join the good guys, nor was a he a bad guy. Goku got a boost, but doesn't always win because of it.

If somebody dies or Goku transforms.

That's a VERY limited definition.

I said USUALLY.

I don't think it happens nearly as much as you think.

[Captain Strawberry]

The fight scenes are great and drama is a big part of it with the original DB tournaments being a great example. The drama drives the story or fights, it's what made the series popular. But I think aside the punches and kicks, it's a lot to do with the drama.

[ABED]

The fight scenes are great and drama is a big part of it with the original DB tournaments being a great example. The drama drives the story or fights, it's what made the series popular. But I think aside the punches and kicks, it's a lot to do with the drama.

But it's not something separate (or shouldn't be) from action. You get drama through the action of the characters. Drama literally means "to act".

[Captain Strawberry]

The fight scenes are great and drama is a big part of it with the original DB tournaments being a great example. The drama drives the story or fights, it's what made the series popular. But I think aside the punches and kicks, it's a lot to do with the drama.

But it's not something separate (or shouldn't be) from action. You get drama through the action of the characters.

True but it it's like in the tournament of original DB, you don't know who's gonna win, one technique after another, one moment one character is winning and the next and even if you think Goku's gonna win, how is he gonna win?