User blog comment:Omega natsu2/Fairy Tail Episode 205: Beacon of Rebellion, Review./@comment-4449950-20141025042918/@comment-2125188-20141026012701

I didn't name any characters when i said there may be development or have their moments. Of course i know there's not going to be development for Natsu, Lucy & Celestial Spirits. I was mainly talking about side characters besides the typical Natsu, Lucy & Gray.

Sorry for my ignorance about the light novels, as i don't know anything about them. I said not too many people care, not nobody. From what you said, it sounds as though the novels are mainly just one-shot stories, but maybe they didn't want that, and they thought that a story arc with the involvement of Hiro Mashima would be better, who knows. Or maybe they thought they wouldn't be able to produce enough content with the novels.

I'm sure this arc will add something by the end (whether it'd be growth or impact), and even if it doesn't, who said that this arc had to be impactful to the overall story. In my opinion, the arc so far seems really interesting and entertaining so far, unlike a lot of fillers, so really any growth or impact on the overall story is just a bonus.