I absolutely adore Fairy Tail.
The best part is the characters. Almost all have backstories, and the backstories still influence their character and give them their quirks, weaknesses, strengths. Even without that, Mashima has this ability to make you love a character within one chapter of seeing them, I know that's happened to me several times. And no matter what people say, yes, there is character development. Erza's more open, less prone to attack everyone at all times. Lucy's gone from a vain, typical blonde to a strong mage willing to pick a fight. Gajeel cares about people instead of brushing them off and living only for himself. You get to watch these characters grow in wonderful ways throughout the whole series, and it's awesome.
The plotlines and arcs are almost always top-of-the-line. While there have been duds, I admit it, the arcs have plot twists and will make you really feel for these characters and everything they go through. And I know, I know, you've heard it- the friendship controversy. My god, people, the thing even has an in-story explanation that's been referenced several times. Yes, Fairy Tail often wins by the power of friendship, yes, there have been a few totally ridiculous fights(Erza vs. Kyouka comes to mind), yes, Natsu always beats the bad guy- but remember that to get to that final battle it always takes the characters pure power and strength. In fact, almost all shounen series has this. It's a staple. But I truly believe that even if you hate the friendship speeches, there are many, many moments when the characters win through simply their strength, that you can really connect to.
Also, it's frickin' hilarious. Before I really fell in love with the series, I literally watched it because it was so frickin' hilarious. Even if you hate everything else, the story is promised to keep you laughing.
And the ships are awesome, even if they are sometimes insufferably dragged out (or in Juvia's case in the anime, played for laughs too many times. Luckily, that doesn't happen in the manga.) Going back and reading the character's interactions with each other early in the series, I can really see how the main ships have influenced each other and how their relationships have grown, in beautiful ways.
So watch the anime, read the manga, and don't listen to the haters or maybe even me- draw your own conclusions
It's Brilliant, 10/10
I absolutely adore Fairy Tail. The best part is the characters. Almost all have backstories, and the backstories still influence their character and give them their quirks, weaknesses, strengths. Even without that, Mashima has this ability to make you love a character within one chapter of seeing them, I know that's happened to me several times. And no matter what people say, yes, there is character development. Erza's more open, less prone to attack everyone at all times. Lucy's gone from a vain, typical blonde to a strong mage willing to pick a fight. Gajeel cares about people instead of brushing them off and living only for himself. You get to watch these characters grow in wonderful ways throughout the whole series, and it's awesome.
The plotlines and arcs are almost always top-of-the-line. While there have been duds, I admit it, the arcs have plot twists and will make you really feel for these characters and everything they go through. And I know, I know, you've heard it- the friendship controversy. My god, people, the thing even has an in-story explanation that's been referenced several times. Yes, Fairy Tail often wins by the power of friendship, yes, there have been a few totally ridiculous fights(Erza vs. Kyouka comes to mind), yes, Natsu always beats the bad guy- but remember that to get to that final battle it always takes the characters pure power and strength. In fact, almost all shounen series has this. It's a staple. But I truly believe that even if you hate the friendship speeches, there are many, many moments when the characters win through simply their strength, that you can really connect to.
Also, it's frickin' hilarious. Before I really fell in love with the series, I literally watched it because it was so frickin' hilarious. Even if you hate everything else, the story is promised to keep you laughing.
And the ships are awesome, even if they are sometimes insufferably dragged out (or in Juvia's case in the anime, played for laughs too many times. Luckily, that doesn't happen in the manga.) Going back and reading the character's interactions with each other early in the series, I can really see how the main ships have influenced each other and how their relationships have grown, in beautiful ways.
So watch the anime, read the manga, and don't listen to the haters or maybe even me- draw your own conclusions