Getting straight to the point, I really loved this show at first; it had an interesting setting, a large cast of unique characters, and what is arguably the most inspiring soundtrack to ever exist in anime. That being said, things went downhill and they went downhill fast. Yes, fanservice is an unfortunate part of a lot of anime. Yes, many of us have likely ignored traces of fanservice in favor of a show which deserved a second chance. But I have to draw the line somewhere, and Fairy Tail made that all too easy; it is almost despicable how often the women characters are stripped of their clothes in combat or put into embarrassing sexual situations for the cheap thrills that draw in audience members. On that note, the body image expectations this anime puts forth are outright absurd; you might as well go watch hentai.
The true shame is that this show had tons of potential, but there is such a thing as too high of a price to pay. I don't have much else to say other than this: when a show that objectifies its characters as much as Fairy Tail does is rated so highly, I am ashamed to be a part of the anime community.
