Season 3 of One Punch Man has turned into a subject of heated discussion on the Internet, with many people claiming that the series is once again deviating too far from the original source, and it is becoming harder and harder to ignore. The anime that initially received acclaim as a true-to-the-original adaptation of the manga in terms of narrative plot and pacing in Season 1 has been subject to continuous criticism after the shift in aesthetic direction and in structural adoptions since Season 2. One Punch Man Season 3 ushered some hope for the fans who were expecting a cleaned-up animation, in the heels of the new production. Nevertheless, the recent episode has rather caused a new wave of backlash on social media.The key concern remains: recent alterations in One Punch Man Season 3 have crossed a threshold that the fans do not consider the adaptation canon anymore. This concern intensified after the anime omitted major plot elements tied to the Phoenix Man arc. Such edits eliminate character-defining scenes and critical twists in the narrative that develop into further plotlines in the manga. Consequently, the question was raised by viewers about how much of the original storyline the anime aims to preserve in the future.After the episode was aired, viewers noted various details in the cut that changed the general perception of the arc. The exclusion of Child Emperor’s growth, his evolving relationship with Zombieman, and his interaction with Saitama has been viewed as particularly damaging to the story’s long-term structure. The absence of Phoenix Space and its implied connection to God also eliminates an essential thematic thread from the manga. Many have expressed worries, reiterating that without these scenes, One Punch Man Season 3 restructures the narrative in a way that disrupts future tension and mystery.Another major concern is the removal of the darker aspects of the Hero Association, which Phoenix Man originally exposed in the manga. The subplot leads to the Neo Heroes plot, which is a crucial narrative element that was expected to be established in the anime by many readers. Eliminating these scenes could serve to push One Punch Man Season 3 too far off from the direction in which this series was meant to be, and could complicate future adaptation options.Fan Response to One Punch Man Season 3’s ChangesTwitter responses have played a major role in influencing the ongoing discourse around One Punch Man. The viral post that says “Let’s all just pretend that the anime does not exist" sums up the feeling of frustration of many viewers. The sentiment has been shared by several users, agreeing with the post,"Tbf, rght now we can say that the anime isn't canon at all," another X user stated. X user expressed frustration with this season,"OPM season 3 does not exist." An X user agreed,"Yup it doesn't exist." Other enthusiasts lamented that the manga, which is one of the most attractive manga in publication, is getting an adaptation that they do not think is worth its potential. They included statements like,"Bro it shame one of the best looking manga get this anime it’s actually sad ."According to most viewers, these changes are weakening the core of One Punch Man, which initially achieved success due to its balance of satire, action, and the ability to tell a meticulously balanced story.Garou (Image Credits: J.C.Staff)The future of the adaptation is also questioned by the dismantling of the elements of the critical setup. Fans are concerned that the release of One Punch Man Season 3 is an indicator of a long-term creative change in the direction that the manga was not meant to take. It has been compared to other anime versions, which went far off-course and thus were forced to end abruptly or incompletely. This has added to the online discussion, as some of the commentators are advising that the only way to save the original narrative vision would be to have a reboot.The criticisms notwithstanding, One Punch Man Season 3 remains popular due to the better quality of animation. But the viewers claim that the massive cuts in the narrative cannot be replaced by visual upgrades. To most of us, the issue of structural and thematic integrity of the story takes precedence over stylistic elegance. All these repeating issues have now made it clear that the expectations of the rest of the season are now more than half of what they were when the production was initially announced.To sum up, the response to One Punch Man Season 3 highlights the growing rift between the anime and manga audiences. Although the most recent episode is characterized by a refined animation, the elimination of the background plot makes the audience wonder where the adaptation is heading and its purpose. The consequent online discussion indicates wider issues regarding uniformity of the narrative, long-term planning, and maintenance of essential story lines. With the discussion still ongoing, the question that now emerges in the minds of numerous viewers is whether One Punch Man can regain its reputation or whether the reboot request will finally become popular.