While there are plenty of shonen anime worth watching from beginning to end, a few episodes might be skipped along the way. Filler or recap episodes are rarely watched, even the first time around, let alone the second or third, and some of the best shonen anime have them. The famous shonen "big three" all do this, and for that matter, so do My Hero Academia and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.
Anime like those feature some of the finest story arcs and coolest episodes in the anime landscape, yet they still have skippable fluff. If an anime fan is ready for a binge and isn't in the mood to skip anything, then the list of binge-worthy shonen anime will get narrowed down. Typically, these are short, sweet shonen that simply have no time for filler content. That's a positive trend in the industry, with cool anime like these opting to go off the air for a while rather than pad things out with filler or stretched-out narratives.
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Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Features No Skippable Episodes on the First Viewing
A Few Episodes Might Be Skipped the Second Time
It's true the Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood anime has a few episodes that almost feel skippable. One of them is a recap and introspection episode, that being Episode 27, and it's worth watching exactly once. Recap episodes are often bypassed, and for good reason, but Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has a complex plot that's tricky to follow. For that reason, a recap is actually welcome so fans get another chance to refresh themselves on all the ongoing storylines.
Above all, fans will watch Episode 27 once so they can watch Van Hohenheim deepen his character a great deal. It's rare for him to even show up in the story, let alone explore his backstory or feelings on anything, so Episode 27's contents are welcome. It's not on the same level as Hohenheim's flashback about his days as Slave #23 in Xerxes, but it comes surprisingly close as a near-filler episode. Meanwhile, the anime has a few other iffy episodes, such as Episodes 4 and 10, but first-time viewers are encouraged to see them anyway to get the full experience.
Jujutsu Kaisen Moves Fast and Shows no Mercy
Yuji Has No Time to Goof Off in Filler Episodes
It's a positive trend for today's shonen action anime to do away with filler or recap episodes. One example is Jujutsu Kaisen which, along with Demon Slayer and Chainsaw Man, moves too quickly to bother with filler. Fans would be outraged if a popular and lean anime like Jujutsu Kaisen hit the brakes for a fluff or filler episode with no worthwhile content. The closest Jujutsu Kaisen gets is Episode 21, featuring a baseball game pitting the Tokyo and Kyoto schools against each other.
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Even diehard Jujutsu Kaisen fans who want a bloody good time in the story aren't likely to hit the skip button when Episode 21 shows up. A dark, grim anime like this needs a few moments of levity to ease the tension just a little, which helps maintain the balance in Jujutsu Kaisen. In light of Seasons 2 and 3, fans and characters alike actually deserve a chance to blow off steam and have fun with a baseball game before the characters' lives become too dreadful to bear.
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Has Tighter Pacing Than the Original
Vigilantes Has No "Hero Notebook" Episodes Yet
The original My Hero Academia is 100% worth watching for over 160 episodes, but in all that time, a few weak episodes are bound to show up. It's easy to skip over the likes of "Hero Notebook" at the start of Season 2, but it still means My Hero Academia has bad episodes. The same is not true for its spinoff, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes. It's shorter and a bit simpler than the main anime, so the likes of "Hero Notebook" aren't needed here.
Thus far, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes has been pure plot and canon, allowing the story to glide at a rapid pace with a lean, mean cast of characters. Best of all, the original manga is already complete, so Vigilantes lacks the traditional reason to make filler episodes or arcs. There's no need for the manga to stay ahead of the anime, which is wonderfully convenient for studio Bones and viewers alike.
Spy x Family Has Filler Episodes Actually Worth Watching
Some Filer Episodes Hide in Plain Sight
Strictly speaking, Spy x Family does have a bit of filler content, but not even that should be skipped, let alone the rest of the episodes. That's because Spy x Family is a whimsical, inventive shonen anime where anything can happen for the sake of comedy, G-rated romance, spy adventures, and the "school life" genre. These concepts all blend together in exciting and often humorous ways, and that means it's easy for filler content to sneak in and feel like canon.
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The end result is promising, with Spy x Family having zero skippable episodes, even if some episodes have filler or otherwise feel a bit slow. Fans can watch Spy x Family for the drama and plot, but anime viewers can also enjoy Spy x Family for the comedy and slice-of-life aspects, making it a comfort watch with spy adventures mixed in. Watching this anime for the vibes is a great way for every episode to feel worthwhile, because no matter how irreverent or silly the material, it's classic Spy x Family.
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Takes Its Time But Doesn't Waste That Time
The Leisurely Pace is a Feature in Frieren's Fantasy Expedition
The worst thing an anime fan can say about Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is that it's a bit too slow compared to fast-moving titles like Demon Slayer or Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. Then again, energetic pacing and hard-hitting plot twists were clearly never the point of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. True to its title, this fantasy anime is about what happens after the main quest is completed, where elves like Frieren may wander the world at their leisure. Anime fans are invited to join Frieren's team for a relaxing and whimsical adventure far beyond any hobbit shire.
This is why no episode of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End feels skippable or pointless, even if some sequences make it feel like the anime is spinning it wheels. There is still some semblance of plot, such as the fist-class mage exam and the battle against Aura the Guillotine, but otherwise, this anime is about the little things. Watching Frieren, Fern, and Stark stop to smell the flowers is why fans watch Frieren: Beyond Journey's End as a break from the likes of Attack on Titan.
Death Note Keeps the Story Moving With Breathtaking Plot Twists
If Anything, Death Note Needs More Episodes
There is simply no way a high-IQ crime thriller like Death Note would indulge in any serious filler or fluff content, canon or not. Fans of both the manga and anime noted how the anime version features an extra scene of Light and L in the rain not long before L's death, but that's hardly a strike against Death Note. Fans were intrigued when L asked Light about the latter's honesty, which felt like an implied "I know you're Kira." However, L died before he could do much about his suspicions, which made the scene feel even stronger.
Aside from that and the ending, Death Note's anime follows the manga closely and doesn't waste time with skippable or irrelevant material. Much the opposite, anime fans might wish the anime included more material, since Part 2 feels like it was cut to the bone. Light's on-screen battle against both Near and Mello felt rushed and insubstantial because some manga material didn't make it in. Any fan who feels like the three-way battle of wits is weak ought to check out the manga to make their final evaluation.
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