In ensemble anime, as time goes on, most of the cast is eventually relegated to the sidelines as the main character becomes leaps-and-bounds more skilled than everyone else. I get that it's important to focus on the main character of the show now and then, but come on... It can't
always come down to Main Dude versus Bad Dude while Injured Friends watch, can it?
Also, the "tournament arc". It's the hallmark of most action-y anime shows, and though it's entirely possible to handle it well, it usually isn't. More often than not, it smacks of giving giving the show an excuse to grind to a halt while it slogs through fight after fight after fight, sans any character development whatsoever. That is, until the first cliche I mentioned comes into effect and the main character's chance to fight arises.
Incidentally, one of my favorites is guilty of this. The problems don't
really start to set in until later, but when they do, boy howdy, it hurts. I think we all know what show I'm referring to.
Remember when Master Roshi used to be able to kick Goku's tail around the block and secondary characters actually had a significant effect on the overall plot? Yeah, me neither.
