Rant: Stop calling every heavy show a 'slow burn'

I keep seeing people on here describe animes that have zero plot progression for 10 episodes as slow burns. That's not a slow burn, that's just bad pacing or padding. A real slow burn builds tension and develops characters over time, like in Monster or Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu. I watched a show last month that got praised as a slow burn, and nothing happened until episode 8. Has anyone else noticed this trend getting out of hand?

2 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In

2 Comments

nathan_foster603mo ago

Episode 8 is just a long prologue apparently, we're just too dumb to appreciate the "artistic vision" of 20 minutes of staring at a rice cooker.

2

linda_butler283mo ago

I used to think the rice cooker scene was just pointless filler too, but after reading some of the director's interviews it actually changed my mind. The whole episode is supposed to reflect how mundane real life feels when you're stuck in limbo, and that stupid cooker becomes a symbol for waiting. Maybe it's just me but now I see it as one of the most honest scenes in the whole show.

1