Unpopular opinion: I used to think the whole 'watch order' thing for older anime was just fans being picky

I mean, I tried watching the Fate series a few years back by just picking one that looked cool, and it made zero sense. I gave up after three episodes. Then my buddy sat me down and made me follow his specific order, starting with Fate/Zero. It clicked instantly. The story actually flowed and the big moments hit way harder. Has anyone else had an anime that felt like a different show once you watched it the 'right' way?

3 comments

3 Comments

wright.eva3mo ago

Honestly that sounds like giving up too easy. The best stories should stand on their own from any starting point. If you need a guide just to get it, maybe it's just not that well told.

jade2403mo ago

Yeah, the whole "best stories should stand on own" thing from wright.eva sounds good in theory, but it just doesn't match how a lot of stuff actually works. I mean, you wouldn't start a book at chapter ten and blame the author if you're lost. Some stories are built in a specific order on purpose. It's not about being poorly told, it's about the way the story was meant to be taken in. Getting that order wrong can totally ruin your chance to connect with it.

jessefoster1mo ago

Gotta disagree with @wright.eva here. Context matters in storytelling, not just raw quality. Watching a movie sequel first or jumping into a series mid-arc feels hollow, no matter how good it is. Right. Starting a book at chapter ten is a perfect example. You miss the character development, the world-building, the emotional setup. The story isn't weaker, you just skipped the framework. Good stories can be standalone but expecting that from everything ignores how most narratives are structured. Order impacts connection, full stop.