User blog comment:Mangetsu20/Hidden Browed Dragon (FTC 422 - Orochis Fin)/@comment-24384232-20150306164943/@comment-4326112-20150307041214

I genuinely believe that Hiro Mashima is genuinely afraid of change. Much like most things in cinema, comics, long-standing TV series, etc. it all boils down to the fear that change will incite disapproval, critcism or anger. I respect authors who actually change things in their stories, regardless of the source and despite what fans may think or say. However, if you have ZERO change from the start of the series and continue onwards, not only does every Arc feel the same, it feels degraded and stagnant. In fact, the quality slowly depreciates until nothing of original value is left.

This is what happened to Fairy Tail. For me, the Last Three Arcs (Grand Magic Games, 7 Dragons, and the Tartaros Arcs) all had some grand moments. But that's all they are. Moments. While the first of the three wasn't as bad, the finale of the Arc was just atrocious, same thing for the 7 Dragons. Tartaros Arc stopped being enjoyable the moment Happy survived an atomic bomb-scaled blast and Natsu negated a Curse. It just...kept...getting...worse!

And now, just when you thought Natsu COULD have been getting better as a person...he reverts to a brattier version of his child-like self. Cause, at least as a child, he had some moral understanding of caring for others and protecting those who mattered. This Natsu is completely selfish and egotistical. It's...it's atrocious. At least Paragon Incarnate Ichigo has a trait I can stand behind. Natsu is just a bratty little shit I wouldn't mind seeing impaled and watch burned alive. That's not even an exaggeration, I want that to happen now -.-

Rant ended XD