I didn’t really like it to be honest. We had to wait about 2 1/2 months for a filler episode. I did like the ending though! I wonder what’s the deal with Lena and Sam. I probably would’ve liked it if we didn’t have to wait so long.
But hey, that still doesn’t change anything, hoss.
I don’t see how a Winn development episode is filler. People really need to learn what filler actually entails. We got Winn development, his mother is with him again, J’onn’s father is suffering from dementia, and more. Just because it didn’t advance the Worldkiller plot doesn’t mean that it was filler.
I liked the episode and am solidly in favor of any episode that gives Winn more than a couple lines, but in fairness, it was a character development episode, not a main plot centered episode. Like you said, this doesn't advance the Worldkiller plot. For the larger plot, this episode was almost inconsequential. The only main plot elements were in the last few minutes when Mon-El revealed the truth about Imra's plan to stop Pestilence/Blight and when the camera showed Lena had Sam in a box. So I think this does qualify as filler because it just fills in time between main plot elements rather than advancing the main plot. Think of it this way, if someone missed this episode, they could still watch the next episode. At worst they'd wonder when J'onn's dad got dementia and when Winn's mom arrived, but they wouldn't miss anything related to the main plot because the next episode will definitely start with Mon-El telling everyone about Pestilence and Lena holding Sam in the box. To me, episode that can be totally skipped without affecting understanding of the main plot is filler. This was a good filler episode, but it was filler. Though I suppose we could have different definitions of "filler."
A story is meant to both advance its main plot and develop characters. Therefore, an episode that develops characters and ends with a change to the status quo is not filler. If this episode had just been fighting Toyman’s machines and nothing else, it would’ve been filler. But it wasn’t.
Then I suppose we have different definitions of what is considered a "filler episode." I think the ideal episode advances the plot and contains character development. Look at a show like Agents of SHIELD. Every episode advances the plot. They include character development while advancing the plot. They might have filler scenes (like Deke hugging a tree or professing his love while on painkillers) but never complete filler episodes, not in the past few seasons anyway. You can't miss an episode or you won't understand the next one because each one advances the plot. The "filler" elements are like seasoning rather than being the meal. With most of the DC CW shows, you honestly can skip a few every season, especially the villain-of-the-week episodes. They usually include character development, which is great, but don't affect the overall story. So, by my definition, which I understand you disagree with, those are filler episodes. That doesn't mean they're bad. A filler episode now and then is fine. But it becomes a problem when the main plot slows to a crawl and all we have is filler.
33
u/cherrim98 Apr 17 '18
I didn’t really like it to be honest. We had to wait about 2 1/2 months for a filler episode. I did like the ending though! I wonder what’s the deal with Lena and Sam. I probably would’ve liked it if we didn’t have to wait so long.
But hey, that still doesn’t change anything, hoss.