There are two - okay - three general types of fighting / adventure shonen series. The first relies on a Sorting Algorithm of Evil wherein the characters fight harder and harder enemies and gain additional skills along the way (think YuYu Hakusho). The second is generally framed around small adventure arcs but have very little character development or skill progression (Gintama here which if you haven't seen DO SO). The third type generally subverts the first two where the main character isn't a Hot Blooded Hero or there isn't much reliance on Defeat Means Friendship (arguably Shaman King).
Fairy Tail is firmly in the second. Whatever is going on, expect a happy ending for most involved, most of the antagonists (aside from the really bad ones) eventually getting forgiven and becoming good friends with everyone else and a deus ex machina at least once to prevent the deaths or sacrifices that a character attempts to make. No matter ho bad the physcial damage don't be concerned - the protagonists are in no danger and will walk away from the battle with no injuries after a few minutes. There will be a few of the standard shonen motivations - friendship, hope, fighting solves everything. Almost all the female characters have DD cups and you will see them featured prominently quite often. Same with shirtless men. Both are fine but often during dark, serious events you'll have a lot of Gainaxing to distract you.
That said Fairy Tail isn't bad. The characters are likeable enough and the animation and music is top quality. The arcs last just long enough without becoming tedious and the battles aren't always the same. I did laugh a good bit too.
Its main problem is that everything in Fairy Tail is stagnant The characters rarely change or grow, the arcs don't have a lot of connectivity and there are very few long-term consequences to the world or the individual characters. It's shonen so it's not supposed to be deep but Fairy Tail relies heavily on the most basic formulas and tropes imaginable. Definitely worth an afternoon watch with some snack food but it's not going to stand out that much.
Good but not Great
There are two - okay - three general types of fighting / adventure shonen series. The first relies on a Sorting Algorithm of Evil wherein the characters fight harder and harder enemies and gain additional skills along the way (think YuYu Hakusho). The second is generally framed around small adventure arcs but have very little character development or skill progression (Gintama here which if you haven't seen DO SO). The third type generally subverts the first two where the main character isn't a Hot Blooded Hero or there isn't much reliance on Defeat Means Friendship (arguably Shaman King).
Fairy Tail is firmly in the second. Whatever is going on, expect a happy ending for most involved, most of the antagonists (aside from the really bad ones) eventually getting forgiven and becoming good friends with everyone else and a deus ex machina at least once to prevent the deaths or sacrifices that a character attempts to make. No matter ho bad the physcial damage don't be concerned - the protagonists are in no danger and will walk away from the battle with no injuries after a few minutes. There will be a few of the standard shonen motivations - friendship, hope, fighting solves everything. Almost all the female characters have DD cups and you will see them featured prominently quite often. Same with shirtless men. Both are fine but often during dark, serious events you'll have a lot of Gainaxing to distract you.
That said Fairy Tail isn't bad. The characters are likeable enough and the animation and music is top quality. The arcs last just long enough without becoming tedious and the battles aren't always the same. I did laugh a good bit too.
Its main problem is that everything in Fairy Tail is stagnant The characters rarely change or grow, the arcs don't have a lot of connectivity and there are very few long-term consequences to the world or the individual characters. It's shonen so it's not supposed to be deep but Fairy Tail relies heavily on the most basic formulas and tropes imaginable. Definitely worth an afternoon watch with some snack food but it's not going to stand out that much.