When something feels "off" about a text—when something is happening that is not what you expected—it's perfectly reasonable to ask, is this a failure of execution? But the reading is richer if you also ask the corollary questions: what does it mean if this is on purpose? Why would they do that?

The demonization of the "filler episode" is what is making modern media fall flat. "What does this contribute to the plot?" It contributes character building and fun, what do YOU contribute? (Annoying white noise)

"Ever since I saw the 1982 movie 'Blade Runner,' I have wanted a future in which lots of ethnicities, races, and genders all lived together," Watanabe said gender representation. "But that sort of future has yet to become reality, so I thought I would at least make it come true in my anime world."

Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #1,260,844!

Tempted to make this a Toku stan account.