Finally got around to watching Boruto. I really, really like it. I am very impressed. As of episode 23 at least.
1. Boruto is very different from Naruto. Naruto was all about hard work, following your dreams, getting the respect of the village, following your own way, comrades. Naruto spend ten episodes on learning how to mold chakra.
2. In Boruto that is glanced over; Here is this kid who is not struggling at all, and who has all the privilege. He seems to be about taking the easy way out, hedonism, trying to forge your own way outside peer pressure and being an individual that does not have to be judged based on his lineage. There is more meat and nuanced drama potential to Boruto.
It's really interesting to see what they will do with the Byakugan. Is it possible that Boruto will ever be able to be as strong as Naruto when he doesn't have nine tails? Based on the clip we saw in Episode 1, with Boruto having a sword and doing some sort of lightning attack, I wouldn't be surprised if Boruto ends up traveling with Sasuke, and taking on more of Sasukes fighting style.
Since Boruto has problems with his fathers, it makes a lot of sense.
Boruto might be able to relate better to Sasuke, who also always stood in Itatchis shadow.
I hope that Boruto will never be able to get the Kyubiis power. I think it's great and logical that Boruto uses shadow clones (somewhat), but his fighting style should be different from Naruto- Also because he is a Hyuga. Boruto has both Senju, Uzumaki and Hyuga blood in him, so maybe he'll have a potential power creep that will let him stand on his own to his father.
I think they should bring in Hiashi Hyūga (perhaps related to Himawaris character development). I don't think anyone got robbed as hard in Shippuuden as Neji.
3. I really love many of the new and older characters.
- Shino is wonderful. He is the best he has ever been, and his struggles are completely different from the same-old with Iruka Sensei.
- Sasukes character makes sense. You don't just try to end the world and ruin the village and then you go home and become a family man. It makes sense to me that he is not staying in the village. He is anti social, and the pink elephant in the room. But it's infruiating to see him be so *psychotically* dense with regards to Sakura.
- Konohamaru is awesome. I hated this little brat. He is very very nice. He is like the new "Yamato".
- Shikadai <3 my favorite of the new kids. He is a great mix of Shikamaru and Temari.
- Saruda is fantastic. But she and Himawari are the only new females I think are great. ChooChoo and Class Rep are annoying
- Iwabi feels like a filler character. Is he going to be a permanent addition?
- Mitsuki is great. He reminds me of Gin from Bleach.
- Sai is pretty great. His lack of selfawareness got old in Shippuuden. Not sure about Inojin. He seems to be a kid that is very reactive.
- Lukewarm about Metal. Rock Lee and Gai are amazing and very funny. With Metal, I am not sure what they are trying to do. It feels like making him nervous was just a trait they added to him because they didn't know what to do. I don't think Metal should be a 100% taijitsu user. Let him be his own thing.
- Kakashi doesn't look like he has aged
- Towards the last episodes of Shippuuden it was weird that there was no real closure with Orochimaru. I can understand Sasuke getting amnisty because he helped save the world, but you'd think that Oorchimaru would be to dangerous to keep alive. And what they are doing with Kabuto. I am not sure I understand.
So apparently part of the Sakura vs Shin fight was a homage to Buckey vs Captain America from Winter Soldier
at least when you pair up the two instances
https://twitter.com/JossieSarah/status/907425092417622016
That is really cool. I really loved the way they animated it. I am wondering if it's the best animation, Sakura has had, or if the fight with Saosari was better animated?