Boruto Naruto Next Generation Review (Episodes 1-217)

I think the show is good overall, but not the best. I like seeing what happens to Naruto in the future, and I also like how strong both Naruto and Sasuke have become, and how Naruto has matured from a cocky kid into an adult who thinks more carefully about his actions and the consequences of his decisions. I think this speaks to what makes good writers. In the new series, I also liked the character of Sasuke’s daughter, Sarada Uchiha. I like Mitsuki, Orochimaru's son; both characters are intelligent, but not so bright that it feels unbelievable. I also like the new enemy, the Husk, because they're more organized than the Akatsuki was, plus they have connections to all five nations--not just a bunch of mercenaries.

The Leaf Village has to face off against the Husk, who are more insidious because their plans are more long-term and more complicated than the original enemies that Naruto faced off against before he became the leader of his village. I also like how the new group is more spread out and deeply entrenched in every excellent nation village.

There were a few things I didn't like so far in the series. I wouldn't say I wanted a flash-forward in the first episode; I didn't think it was necessary because I like anime that don’t show the endpoint and let the characters progress naturally throughout the show. I wouldn't say I initially wanted Boruto, but as the series went on, he has grown on me. Still, I think he needs a little more time to mature into the character he will become. I don't like that all the hyped characters are called geniuses, which dilutes its meaning. I think that the word genius was overused in the Naruto series, to begin with; just because somebody has a specific skill set doesn’t necessarily make them a genius. The thing that makes somebody a genius, in my opinion, is the unique way they use their skills. Plus, I think Boruto, being as bright as he is, would understand the pressure his father is under as the village's leader, but he still doesn't understand all the responsibilities that come with it. And then, as the viewer, you have to wait a long time in the series to see Boruto understand the pressure of being a leader. Plus, it doesn’t help that the lead scientist of the Leaf Village calls Boruto "young Lord," which feels like somebody reinforcing higher-than-average expectations for Boruto to aspire to and inflates his ego.

I think the lesson the series can teach us is not to put too high an expectation on your children, because their goals might not be the same as their parents’ goals for them. The one thing I would change about the show is to remove the flash-forward and let the story take as long as it needs to reach its endpoint. Boruto and Naruto's next generation continue the Naruto series, both of which share the theme of the younger generation surpassing the older generation's limitations. I also think Boruto's theme is accepting and adapting to change. I don't think the series is the most outstanding overall, but it does an excellent job of hammering home its points to everyone watching. What are your thoughts on Boruto: Naruto Next Generations