There are several fantastic anime that have proven time and time again that this medium provides a level of entertainment that is utterly unlike any other medium around. The imaginative nature of the worlds presented in these anime coupled with some truly masterful storytelling and memorable characters make these shows infinitely likable for many fans.
That being said, there are times even the greatest anime around end up crafting episodes that are absolutely ludicrous and make absolutely no sense whatsoever in the grand scheme of things. For the most part, these episodes are filler and can be completely ignored, but there are times when these horrible episodes are crucial to the plot. Keeping this in mind, here are some episodes from critically acclaimed anime that are so laughably bad that viewers have to question the thought process that went behind the making of these horrible episodes.
8 Boogie Woogie Feng Shui (Cowboy Bebop)
It's hard to place a single episode from Cowboy Bebop on this list, given the stellar production value and thought-provoking nature of each and every episode in this legendary anime. That being said, Boogie Woogie Feng Shui comes at a pretty odd time and is placed in the middle of two of the best episodes in the entire series.
While Toys in the Attic could've also been a part of this list, there's still some redeeming quality about this episode. Boogie Woogie Feng Shui just feels out of place and does nothing to bolster the solid world building and storytelling of this series.
7 Letter X From X Gon (Hunter X Hunter)
It would be cheating to put a recap episode on this list, but an amazing anime like Hunter X Hunter certainly deserves to be lambasted for taking such a cheap route to lengthen its runtime. The fact that these recaps are repeated once again in the series makes it all the more harrowing to fathom at times.
It's understandable for viewers who are watching each episode weekly to need a recap so that they don't forget any crucial plot elements. However, most viewers who got into Hunter X Hunter did so by binging through the entire series, making these recap episodes a complete waste of time.
6 Response: The Struggle For Trost, Part 6 (Attack On Titan)
This is easily the most contentious addition on this list. After all, the manner in which Eren revealed his powers and Armin doled out his amazing speech made this episode pretty memorable in its own right.
Unfortunately, the problem with this episode is that every event, thought, and dialogue is dragged out unnecessarily. The plot of this episode could've been wrapped up in half an episode, so using the entire runtime was just a waste of time and makes certain omissions in the manga — such as the various elements that were cut during the Uprising arc — feel even more frustrating.
5 The Directive To Take the Nine-Tails (Naruto: Shippuden)
This entire list could be full of filler episodes from Naruto and no one would bat an eye. After all, the series is full to the brim with unnecessarily filler episodes that are a complete waste of time.
Perhaps the worst filler in the show comes when the Fourth Shinobi World War arc takes a wildly interesting turn... only for the series to randomly branch off into a two-part filler about Mecha-Naruto. It's easily one of the most unwelcome and unnecessary episodes on the list, and completely kills the tension that was building up in the last few episodes.
4 Time Travel Paranoia (Steins;Gate)
Steins;Gate is easily one of the best and most interesting anime around. It also has the slowest start to any anime, with the first few episodes progressing at a snail's pace and turning off most people from the anime.
The second episode is considered by many to be a dealbreaker, mainly since absolutely nothing of note happens in the episode. Thankfully, viewers who stick through this slow build-up will be rewarded with one of the best stories ever told in an anime.
3 Showdown On King Kai's World! Goku Vs. Beerus The Destroyer! (Dragon Ball Super)
The introduction of Dragon Ball Super was met with widespread love and acclaim from fans who were salivating at the prospect of the Dragon Ball series continuing once again. While the two new movies around the series were well-received, their anime adaptations were absolutely horrible and reviled by many fans.
The worst part of Dragon Ball Super came in the fifth episode, where the much-awaited clash between Goku and Beerus was so poorly animated that fans were understandably enraged at the shortcuts that were being taken in the animation of this legendary series. Thankfully, Toei Animation got their act together and ramped up the animation quality in later seasons.
2 You Guys!! Do You Even Have Gintama?! (Gintama)
Gintama is one of the most beloved shonen anime of all time, with its funny nature deceiving people who didn't except the serious arcs of the series to hold so much emotion. That being said, the two-part introduction to the anime was absolutely tone-deaf and did nothing to convince new fans that this series would live up to the hype.
It's a shame, since these two episodes are essentially filler. The real plot of Gintama is adapted from the third episode onward and is an absolute blast!
1 The Beast That Shouted 'I' At The Heart Of The World (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
Neon Genesis Evangelion is another anime that many people consider to be absolutely spectacular. The amazing themes, motifs, characters, and story are what separate this anime from the rest in the mecha genre.
Unfortunately, the ending of the anime ventured a bit too much into a philosophical angle, which didn't really resonate with many fans. Thankfully, The End of Evangelion movie takes care of this issue and ensures that fans get to experience a proper ending.