Shonen Jump

It’s Official: Daima is GT 2.0!!!!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Blogging, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dragon Ball Daima Ep 19 Review

There are only two words that can be used to describe these final episodes of Dragon Ball Daima: absolute. Cinema. And the fandom certainly seems to think so.

We are now in the final two episodes of Toriyama’s last gift to the world, and Daima has never been more popular. In-universe, though, things were looking dire for the Dragon Team. Goku and the others were unable to leave a dent in Gomah thanks to the Evil Third Eye. To make matters worse, Glorio chose this crucial moment to summon the Demon Realm’s Dragon on behalf of Dr. Arinsu. It looked like the betrayal that was teased earlier was about to take place, and the episode’s title didn’t help much.

Guess what? We got punked! Classic Toriyama!

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Glorio just Played us All!

The episode starts off with everyone, from the Dragon Team and their allies to the audience, watching as Glorio has summoned the Demon Realm’s Dragon (Red Porunga). It looked like he was about to make Dr. Arinsu’s wish to be stronger than Gomah a reality. However, much to everyone’s astonishment, he didn’t end up wishing for that! Instead, he wished for the Dragon Team to be returned to their adult selves!

This isn’t the first time that Toriyama decided to give us this kind of bait-and-switch; after all, he did it when Krillin chose not to shut down 18. However, the fact that the audience was just as in the dark about Glorio’s wish due to it being in Namekian was brilliant. Cliffhangers may not always be enjoyable, but when done right, the payoff is worth the wait.

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As for why Glorio chose to betray his employer, who had saved him from the Third Demon World, no verbal explanation is given. However, the look on Glorio’s face as he’s warmly greeted by the others says it all. He did it because he’s grown to like his traveling companions. Good on him for that! Even better knowing that Goku finally got his name right.

Besides, it’s not as if Arinsu has no other allies. Kuu and Duu remain loyal to her, and the relationship she has with them seems pretty positive. Even moreso when it’s thanks to Kuu that Arinsu learns how to get the Evil Third Eye out of Gomah.

Vegeta Gets his SSJ 3 Moment Yet Again!

Now that they’re back in their adult forms, the heroes can fight Gomah on more equal ground. Unfortunately, they fall back into the old habit of fighting the enemy one at a time, with Vegeta going first. Try as Vegeta might, not even his adult SSJ 3 form is enough to hurt Gomah. Or rather, it does hurt him, but the damage doesn’t stick, thanks to the Evil Eye.

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No wonder why that eye is considered so dangerous. It basically gives the user infinite health and stamina! But, like any good video game boss, it does have a weakness. And it’s something so simple, it’s actually laughable: hit the user on the back of their head three times, and the Eye will fall out.

That’s nowhere near as funny as the threat that Bulma gives Vegeta if he won’t let Goku and Piccolo fight, though.

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Toriyama. He knew what fans wanted!

It may seem silly (and it is), but it’s moments like this that show just how much Toriyama understood his fans. He knew what would make us laugh, make us cry, and most of all, leave us squealing in joy. And if seeing SSJ 4 Goku as a kid was awesome, that’s nothing compared to what happens next. As Goku prepares to distract Gomah so Piccolo can get in the hits, we not only get a call-back to one of the most famous transformation sequences in the franchise, but a bonus.

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And on this day, manly tears were shed the world over as the Internet exploded from sheer joy.

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In all seriousness, though, these last few episodes have done wonders to help make up for whatever shortcomings Daima might have. It’s very bittersweet to think that the next episode will likely be the grand finale, but all good things must end. Let’s make sure that Daima gets the attention it deserves before we send Toriyama off to that great studio in the sky.

I Give “Betrayal” a 5/5

SUPER SAIYAN 4! SUPER SAIYAN 4 IS REAL!!!

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Dragon Ball Daima Ep 18 Review

Over the years, Dragon Ball GT has been a great subject of debate in the Dragon Ball community. Does the anime-original sequel hold up against its predecessors and successors? Is it even canon anymore since Super showed up? One thing that many fans agree on, though, is that Super Saiyan 4 was freaking awesome. From the shadow trim around the eyes to the red fur, SSJ4 gives off this wild, untamed look that was built for aura farming. While the canonicity of GT remains up for debate, it seems like Toriyama decided to give us one last gift: he made Super Saiyan 4 canon for us!

And the fans have been freaking out over it!

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Gomah is the Real Deal Now

If anyone doubted how tough Gomah would be when powered by the Evil Third Eye, that doubt has been thrown out the window. In the last episode, he managed to take every blow that the assembled partyโ€™s fighters could throw at him and shrugged it off like it was nothing!

Let me repeat that. The series broke the unwritten rule of fighting one-on-one by having eight fighters jump Gomah at once. And the best they could do was slow him down. Not even Goku is going to SSJ3, and Duu achieving a similar form is enough to pressure him for a long time. The Evil Eye is no joke!

To be fair, we cannot accurately assess how strong Gomah is in this form, as heโ€™s not fighting Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, and Shin at their full strength. As strong as they are as kids, theyโ€™re still kids, and have to deal with the nerfing that comes with that. However, given everything that weโ€™ve seen so far, and what he continues to accomplish in this episode, it might be fair to say Evil Eye Gomah is close to the level of Kid Buu. Considering the absolute menace Kid Buu was, and where this takes place in the timeline, thatโ€™s a pretty serious threat.

Things get so bad, in fact, that Neva has to go and pull a deus ex machina and give Goku a power-up just to save their hides. And what happens next is going to be debated among the fans for years to come: Super Saiyan 4 returned to Dragon Ball!

SUPER SAIYAN 4 RETURNS!!

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As previously mentioned, fans have debated for years over whether or not Dragon Ball GT is canon. Some say the story is not up to par with its predecessor, DBZ, or its successor, Super. Others want it to be canon simply because of how cool Super Saiyan 4 looks. And some would prefer it would be scrubbed entirely. Regardless of what fans think, one cannot deny how the addition of Super Saiyan 4 is a big deal. Given how Toriyama himself wrote the entire story for Daima before he died, this is basically him giving the form his stamp of approval. And just listen to how the fans have reacted.

Granted, many of those same fans will now be questioning why this form never appeared during Super. And through that, they may question if Daima is canon at all. But you know what? Who cares? Itโ€™s awesome, and so was the fight that followed.

In a series that has preferred to keep the action on a level to the early days of Dragon Ball, the fight between SSJ4 Goku and Gomah is a fantastic return to the days of Z and Super. The animation is fluid and fast-paced, Gokuโ€™s fighting style really leans into the more primal nature of his appearance. The whole thing is just awesome! The only reason that Gomah even survives is simply due to the plot armor heโ€™s wearing!

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Sadly, despite the huge power boost the heroes get, it turns out Gomah had been holding back the entire time. Itโ€™s unfair, but the story has to do it to justify the next plot twist as Glorioโ€™s double-agent status finally comes into play.

I must admit, itโ€™s a little disappointing to see that the Demon Realmโ€™s Dragon is just a red version of Porunga. I know itโ€™s supposed to keep with continuity, but come on, Toei. You could have had the dragon look like anything you wanted, and you chose to reuse Porunga? That feels like wasted potential! However, it was a good call to have the wish Glorio makes be spoken in Namekian. Since the audience doesnโ€™t understand Namekian, we wonโ€™t know what he wished for until the next episode. Did he follow through with Dr. Arinsuโ€™s wish to become the strongest in the Demon Realm? Or did he decide to turn on his employer and help the heroes? We wonโ€™t know until the next episode, and thatโ€™s the best kind of suspense the audience can be left on. Hopefully, the last two episodes of Daima will get the attention they deserve and end things on a high note.

I Give “Awakening” a 5/5

Gomah. He Looks Goofy, but is Dangerous

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Dragon Ball Daima Ep 17 Review

Last time on Dragon Ball Daima, Goku and the other heroes made it to King Gomahโ€™s castle. There, they managed to take down Degesu and rescue Dende, fulfilling one of their two goals of traveling to the Demon Realm. However, when they arrive at the final Tamagami, they realize that the Dragon Ball is missing! At the same time, Gomah manages to get his hands on the Evil Third Eye and places it in his forehead, unlocking a powerful new transformation. Will Goku and the others be able to defeat the Demon King in their current state?

Honestly, theyโ€™re in for a pretty rough go of it.

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Duu and Goku Fight…

Since the beginning of Daima, this blog has said that Dr. Arinsu was working against Gomah. The signs were all there: she gave him the idea of trying to mess with Goku and his friends. She hired Glorio to bring them to the Demon Realm and retrieve its Dragon Balls. She created Duu and Kuu to get the last Dragon Ball. The writing was on the wall, and it should come as no surprise when this episode has her say it. She wants to overthrow Gomah, and use the Dragon Balls to turn the Demon Realm into her own empire. An empire from which she can conquer the rest of reality.

Again, none of this should be a surprise. Arinsu had โ€œStarscreamโ€ written all over her face. What is surprising, though, is the fact that she doesnโ€™t have Glorio turn on the others right away and give her the Dragon Balls. Instead, she has Duu fight Goku with the Dragon Balls on the line.

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Only for Gomah to Crash the Party

The fight between Goku and Majin Duu is brief, but it also turns out that the two are pretty evenly matched. Goku does a good job, but Duu manages to tank most of his hits and give them back just as well. However, their fight soon becomes moot when the real threat shows up: King Gomah.

A few weeks ago, some fanart of what King Gomahโ€™s ultimate form would look like wound up trending online. He was seen as this big, menacing figure akin to Frieza and Cell.

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Imagine the disappointment fans must have felt when this episode reveals Gomahโ€™s Third Eye form looks like this.

However, keep in mind that when it comes to the villains, Toriyama liked to subvert our expectations regarding their appearances. Friezaโ€™s true form may look plain, but in truth, itโ€™s downright terrifying. Cell may look more humanoid than bug in his perfect form, but his power is unreal. And letโ€™s not forget the menace that was Kid Buu. So, as goofy as Gomahโ€™s new form seems, the power he has is the real deal.

Donโ€™t believe that? Hereโ€™s proof: Goku takes a moment to ask all the other strong fighters to help him jump Gomah. In a franchise famous for having the main heroes fight while the others watch, that doesnโ€™t often happen. The fact that Goku is openly acknowledging that he cannot handle this on his own shows how serious this is!

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Let’s Kick Things Up a Notch

So, the climax of the episode has Goku, Vegeta, Glorio, Shin, Piccolo, Duu and Kuu, and even the Tamagami all rushing Gomah. And, in keeping with the Dragon Quest leanings, the fight feels like the climatic boss fight of a video game. Itโ€™s incredibly well-animated with some great, continuous shots. But, much like in the original Broly movie, not even jumping him at once is enough for the heroes. Gomah just tanks all their hits, and comes dangerously close to killing Goku. Itโ€™s only thanks to Duu and Kuu jumping in at the last second that heโ€™s able to catch a break.

The episode ends with Goku powering up to the only form he has that can handle Gomah, Super Saiyan 3. He may. Or be at his full power as a kid, but this is his last resort. And judging by the previews for the next episode, this fight is going to be wild. Something that fans have been wanting to see from the very beginning!!!

This is the good stuff!

I Give “Gomah” a 4/5

The Evil Third Eye, Confirmed!

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Dragon Ball Daima Ep 15 Review

The final battle is upon the Dragon Teamโ€ฆor Z Warriors or whatever the fans call Gokuโ€™s group of friends and allies. After stumbling their way into the First Demon World, Goku and the others are on the verge of ending their quest to rescue Dende and return to their proper ages. However, thereโ€™s one problem: Gomah knew they were coming and isnโ€™t pulling any punches. To make matters worse, it turns out that a certain theory that came up regarding the Evil Third Eye turned out to be right. And with Gomah now aware of this fact, heโ€™s determined to get his hands on it! The question isโ€ฆdid he manage to do that?

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Guess who Had the Evil Third Eye?

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As fans, including this very blog, speculated, that eye in Hybisโ€™ belt is, in fact, the legendary Evil Third Eye. Anyone who places it in their forehead can gain immense power that can make them nigh-unstoppable. However, the reason why it was lost was due to a power struggle between royalty. For the late Dabura, in an effort to overthrow his father, Abura, hired a thief to steal the Eye while his dad was away. Fortunately, the plan went south when said thief got killed before he could meet his client. Dabura overthrew his dad anyway, and Hybis found the Eye and kept it, ignorant to its true purpose. For further comparison, think Bilbo Baggins finding and keeping the One Ring, never realizing how dangerous it could be.

So, the prediction that Hybisโ€™ eye belt was the Evil Third Eye turned out to be correct. However, this should come as no surprise if one considers the hints that were dropped earlier in the series regarding this. And once Gomah becomes aware that Hybis has the second-most important artifact in the Demon Realm, he orders Degesu to get it. Which leads to what is, easily, the funniest part of the episode.

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While itโ€™s not clear whether this Demon woman was Degesu in disguise, that doesnโ€™t take away from the fact that this moment was hilarious. In the same conversation, Hybis calls the belt his favorite and most prized possession. And then he just trades it away for that big hat like itโ€™s nothing! The fact that he doesnโ€™t even want a kiss makes it even funnier! Hybis just became one of the funniest characters in the series! Time will tell if the Evil Eye becomes a factor in the final battle, though.

This storming of the castle could be harder than we thought.

Now, onto the main event of storming the castle. Given how theyโ€™ve effortlessly managed to demolish Gomahโ€™s forces up to this point, one would think the Dragon Team would have no problem getting past them. After all, Goku single-handedly demolished the Red Ribbon Army as a child. This should be a breeze for him and the others.

In a surprising subversion of one of Gokuโ€™s great early feats, the fight isnโ€™t as one-sided as fans would expect. Thanks to their sheer numbers and weaponry, the Gendarmerie manage to pressure the Dragon Team at several points. They manage to keep pushing, but by the time the tanks roll out, itโ€™s clear that the heroes are starting to feel the strain a bit. And thatโ€™s great!

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As some of the strongest beings in their universe, weโ€™re used to seeing the Dragon Team steam-roll past the nameless grunts and mooks. Seeing them start to struggle as they press onward ensures that the tension remains realistic. Had Panzyโ€™s father and his gang not shown up, thereโ€™s a real chance that Goku and his allies might have been pushed back. But show up, Panzyโ€™s father did, and his gang manages to help the heroes rout the enemy. All thatโ€™s left is for them to storm the castle and get the Dragon Ball and Dende!

Things are about to get tougher

Or so they think. Most of the party doesnโ€™t know that Arinsu already has the Dragon Ball and two skilled warriors capable of guarding it. And Gomah has the Gendarmerrie Force and Degesu at his disposal. Combine that with the chance that he could gain the Third Eye, itโ€™s clear that Goku and the others are in for a tough battle ahead. Itโ€™s a shame that the story has to end so soon, though.

I Give “Third Eye” a 3.5/5

Toriyama Couldn’t Resist the Sentai, Could He?

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Dragon Ball Daima Ep 14 Review

Even if they would be quickly overshadowed in strength by future villains, most Dragon Ball fans remember the Ginyu Force. Their flamboyant personalities, their unique powers, and their love for choreographed posing. The Ginyu Force was Toriyama’s first affectionate parody of the tokusatsu genre and Super Sentai series, AKA the Power Rangers. A tribute to the franchise he’d grown to love from watching alongside his son. Dragon Ball would come to incorporate other sentai parodies like the Great Saiyaman and the Pride Troopers, but the Ginyu Force are the most iconic. Therefore, it’s perhaps fitting that Toriyama’s last gift to Dragon Ball would include yet another sentai parody among the antagonists. And while it’s easy to see that Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, Shin, Glorio and the others will mop the floor with this new group, they’ll still be fun to watch.

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The latest tokusatsu team in Dragon Ball

After their detour in the last episode, the hero’s party is back on track for the First Demon World. Unfortunately for them, Gomah already knew they were coming and planned ahead. Not only did he pull back the bulk of his forces to the First Demon World to defend him, he had Degesu shut down Warp-Sama across the entire Demon Realm. Whatever world its inhabitants are in, they’re now trapped there. In addition, he’s mobilized his elite forces, the Gendarmerie Force. AKA, the Demon Realm’s version of the Ginyu Force.

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From the outset, a longtime Dragon Ball fan see Toriyama’s love of tokusatsu and sentai oozing off the Gendarmerie Force. They’re essentially Demon clones of the Ginyu’s, right down to their friendly nature and love for synchronized posing. The only difference between them and the Ginyu’s is that, unlike Frieza, Gomah has zero tolerance for their hammy nature. Given how he already knew how strong Goku was as an adult, and seeing how strong he and his allies are as kids, his intolerance is understandable. He’s taking the threat seriously, but his best soldiers care more about getting chips and giving candy to kids (Kuu and Duu.)

It doesn’t take a genius to know that, while they might put up a good fight, the Gendarmerie Force is going to lose to the combined force of Saiyans, Namekians, Demons, and two super-geniuses. The one upside is that, unlike the Ginyu, the Gendarmerie might stand getting out of this mess alive. That would be a nice change of pace; one last way for Toriyama to show his love of the sentai genre.

This feels like a cop-out

Meanwhile, thanks to being stuck on a planet of giants, it’s only now that the party arrives at Warp-sama. Thus, it’s only now that they learn that Gomah shut Warp-sama down, and with the barriers connecting the Demon Worlds up, they look to be trapped. At least, they do, until Neva reveals he was the one who put the barriers up to protect the Second World from thugs and snooty elites and brings it down.

As impressive as this feat is, with Piccolo even saying Neva deserved his legendary status, it feels too much like a deus ex machina. The heroes traveling with the one who created the Demon Realm’s Dragon Balls is believable, as that has happened in the past. But for that same person to be the one who created the barriers separating the Demon Realm? That’s pushing it, and it feels like Daima only did to save fans time by slogging through an episodes-long fetch quest. Normally, that would be a good thing, but in this case, it might have done more harm than good.

Firstly, consider how much time Daima’s spent in the Second Demon World. Now compare it to the time spent in the Third Demon World. The Second World is nowhere near as well explored as the Third, and that’s a problem. This is the first time outside the games and supplementary material that fans have gotten a look at the Demon Realm. The show should try and build it up as much as possible, not rush through it like this!

Yes, Daima is ending soon

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What makes it worse is the revelation that Daima will be ending in February with twenty episodes. Considering how this series is Toriyama’s final contribution to the world he created, many fans might not be ready to say goodbye so soon. However, it’s out of the fan’s control, with the episode seeing the party of Saiyans, Demons, Namekians, Kai, and human making it to the First Demon World…and losing their plane again.

Gomah’s preparations seem to have borne fruit, as the second the group arrives, they’re immediately beset by the Gendarmerie. The episode ends with them running from the sheer force of numbers, and they’ll likely be in for a tough fight. As exciting as that sounds, though, and as funny as the Gendarmerie Force is, it doesn’t change the fact that this episode feels rushed. That could spell bad news for the ending and, ultimately the legacy, of Daima. As any Game of Thrones fan attests, a good story can be ruined if it doesn’t stick the landing. Seeing Toriyama flex his love for sentai one last time helped, but not much. Unless the last six episodes are really good, Toei made a mistake with the number of episodes it gave Daima, and this proves it.

I Give “Taboo” a 2.5/5

The Giants that Make Great Apes Look Small

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Dragon Ball Daima Ep 13 Review

After a week off, Dragon Ball Daima is back for the new year, and it’s gearing up for the latter half of its story. To recap where we left off, Goku and the other just retrieved the second of the Demon World’s Dragon Balls. Simultaneously, Dr. Arinsu got the last one thanks to her new minions, Majin’s Kuu and Duu. As for her boss, Supreme King Gomah, he’s entering full-blown panic mode as Goku and his allies look set to arrive on his doorstep. As he takes drastic measures to stop him, the group runs into its own problems a-la Gulliver’s Travels. Though Attack on Titan might be more appropriate, given how this is an anime.

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Gomah is Getting Desperate

Supreme King Gomah is being backed into a corner, and he knows it. His attempts to try and weaken Goku and his friends and family so they’re not a threat have completely backfired on him. And with his army pulled back to his stronghold in the First Demon World, he faces the very real risk of losing his control over the Demon Realm. Thus, he decides to take drastic measures. He orders Degesu to shut down Warp-sama in a last-ditch attempt to keep Goku out.

We don’t yet know the implications of shutting down the main form of transit between the Demon Realm and the multiverse, but this will likely be a problem for the heroes. Not only does this make getting to Gomah and Dende (their goal) harder, but without Warp-sama, they might not be able to make it home. And since there’s no guarantee Goku’s instant transmission can get them to Dende, they might have to find another way!

Giant. DEMONS.

That problem can wait, though. Continuing their string of bad luck with planes, the group’s plane goes down on a mysterious planet that has Neva shaking in fear once he remembers its name. Enter, Planet Mega, AKA the second most dangerous planet in the Demon Realm due to everything there being so big, including its inhabitants, the Megath. Inhabitants who, even as kids, make a Saiyan’s Great Ape form look puny in comparison. And the adults are big enough to hunt the Krakens that inhabit the seas of the Second Demon World.

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Run. Just Run!

Saying that Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo and the others are out of their league would be an understatement. A single Megath child manages to pressure them to the point where they can’t win a straight-up fight. Even in their adult forms, it’s likely the Megath would be too much for the Saiyans and Namekian to handle at this point in their lives. As a result, viewers have to watch as the group flees for their lives. And even then, they only manage to get away by the skin of their teeth. Little wonder why Neva said that not even the Supreme Demon King and his army dared to travel to Mega; it’s terrifying!

The scariest part, though? This is only the second most dangerous place in the Demon Realm. According to Neva, the most dangerous place, Planet Giga, has beings even bigger than the Megath!

This unexpected excursion conjures mixed feelings within me. On the one hand, I can’t help but be curious as to how strong the Megath and Gigath are compared to an adult Goku and Vegeta. On the other hand, I think that they might be too much for even a Saiyan to handle. Still, if this counts as a filler episode, I’m not going to complain. This was a fun, yet terrifying, experience.

I Give “Surprise” a 4/5

Dr. Stone, I presume?

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Dr. Stone: Science Future S4 Premiere Review

Everyone, Iโ€™m ten billion percent certain Iโ€™m going to be watching this season of Dr. Stone.

Iโ€™ve been following the Dr. Stone anime off and on since it came out back in 2019, but the new season is said to be the last one. And given how I love the seriesโ€™ sense of comedy, quirky characters, and (largely) accurate use of science, I wanted to see it off. It also helps that itโ€™s got a solid dub and caught up to the point where I actively started reading the manga as it came out. And while some may see the season premiere as padding, I see it as a way for the show flex its comedic muscles.

I canโ€™t spoil anything from the manga, but trust me: you are going to miss the light-heartedness after a certain point.

Disagreements on Travel

Having acquired one of the mysterious devices responsible for turning humankind to stone, the Kingdom of Scienceโ€™s next step is to confront the one responsible. Thereโ€™s one problem, though: theyโ€™re located on the Moon. Getting to the moon was a gargantuan undertaking even with modern society, and Senku is having to rebuild civilization from the ground up. With Japan unable to provide all the resources needed, the Kingdom of Science has no other option: they have to start recruiting people around the world. First stop is the good olโ€™ US of A.

One question, though: what route will they take?

Once again showing their knowledge of science, the anime points out that taking a route hugging the continents would get them there faster, even if itโ€™s more difficult. However, the resident sailor Ryusui argues that they should go in a straight line to the west coast of America. Unable to break the deadlock, Senku and Ryusui decide to settle the matterโ€ฆin a game of poker.

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Many people will likely consider this episode focusing on a game of poker to be a waste of time. To be fair, theyโ€™re not wrong. Even in the manga, this largely gave off the feeling of padding the story out for the sake of it. However, it still winds up being enjoyable to watch for two reasons. Firstly, it means we get to see the character interacting with each other, which is one of Dr. Stoneโ€™s strongest selling points. Most of the main cast does a good job of bouncing off one anotherโ€™s quirks for comedic effect, and that holds true for this episode.

The second reason? Simple: seeing everyone wearing casino attire. You canโ€™t deny that Senku and Kohaku look amazing in their respective outfits!

Enjoy the fun while it lasts

So, after shenanigans ensue, Senku ends up winning like he usually does. And with their route now set, everyone celebrates by doing the other thing casinos are known for: drinking and partying. And Senku does point out how heโ€™s 3,700 years old, so heโ€™s able to drink. Plus, there are no governments to enforce drinking ages, so itโ€™s a moot point.

Some people might see the season premiere as unnecessary padding. I see it as a fun little way to get started on the final season of Dr. Stone. Like I said, Iโ€™m ten billion percent watching this entire season, because this is going to be one of the big early hits of 2025.

Also, I wasnโ€™t joking earlier: there will come a time when you will miss how light-hearted things are.

Verdict: Imma Watch it

Spoiler Alert: SSJ3 VEGETA IS REAL!!!!!!!

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Dragon Ball Daima Ep 12 Review

I take back everything I said in the last review about Vegeta getting the short end of the stick. This episode of Dragon Ball Daima saw Vegeta cook! Not only did he manage to continue his fight against the Tamagami, but he also showed a transformation that, until now, had been relegated to fanfics and video games. As for Dr. Arinsu and Majin Duu, they also cooked, scoring a big win for themselves.

Before we get started, it should be noted that the OP credits to Daima have changed to reflect whatโ€™s going on in the series. Itโ€™s not much, but considering how the OP and ED to an anime can set its tone as well as reveal potential plot points, itโ€™s nice to see it get updated.

Vegeta Didn’t Get Shafted!!

In the last episode, it looked like Vegeta had been swallowed by a giant Kraken and that Goku would have to bail him out. As it turns out, though, the Prince of the Saiyans was fine, escaping the Kraken in the nick of time!

Itโ€™s not clear what Toriyama was involved in regarding and what wasnโ€™t, but this feels like another one of his fake-outs meant to troll us. Dragon Ball has a running gag where it looks like something bad happened to a character, only for it to be revealed to be a false alarm. It can seem a bit cruel to mess with the fans emotions like that, but at this point, unless you count disease and old age, death isnโ€™t going to stick for the heroes.

Now that Vegeta is warmed up, heโ€™s able to fight to his fullest, and continually pressures the Tamagami. Thanks to a little cheating by Neva, though, he has to use a transformation that, until now, remained non-canon. For the first time ever, Vegeta goes Super Saiyan 3! After that, the fight ends fairly quickly.

In Hindsight, SSJ3 is…Kinda Useless?

From a meta-standpoint, the reason why Vegeta never used this transformation in future stories can be chalked to them being written before Daima. From the perspective of the story, though, it can be best explained by the fact that SSJ3โ€™s rapid draining of ki makes largely a hindrance in long-term fights. After the discovery of Super Saiyan Blue, the form practically becomes useless. So, unless Vegeta thinks he can swiftly end a fight, heโ€™s not going to use it.

In a very amusing moment, Vegeta also proves to be smart enough to win the game that comes afterwards. Vegeta for the win!

Majin Duu Steamrolls Tamagami

Meanwhile, back with Dr. Arinsu and her creations, Duu continues to run circles around the Tamagami while remaining a total goofball. The only time he winds up on the ropes is when he starts wanting chocolate, prompting Kik to run out and get him some. After that, he steamrolls through the guardian of the Dragon Ball. In another humorous moment, though, itโ€™s Kuu that solves the puzzle thatโ€™s supposed that comes with each Dragon Ball.

There seems to be no purpose beyond these puzzles beyond being a source of humor, but itโ€™s fun to see the characters wrack their heads instead of using their fists.

At this point, the heroes now have two of the three Dragon Balls, while Arinsu has the last one. All that is left is for them to make their way to the First World, get the last Dragon Ball, and rescue Dende. However, theyโ€™re going to have to deal with the threat of Gomah, Arinsu and her Majin, Shinโ€™s brother, and whatever Glorio is being asked to do. The group is in for a tough battle going forward. Though this isnโ€™t the first time the Dragon Team has gone barging into an enemy base with half a plan. They should be fineโ€ฆright?

At least Vegeta got to come in clutch this episode!

I Give “True Strength” a 4.5/5

Why Must Vegeta Get Shafted Again?

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , , , ,

Dragon Ball Daima Ep 11 Review

Thereโ€™s a running gag in Dragon Ball surrounding Vegeta: he keeps getting the raw end of the deal. No matter how many times he gets stronger, no matter how much he yells, he seems to end up losing when it matters the most. Toriyama admitted that he didnโ€™t like Vegeta that much, despite how heโ€™s become the co-protagonist of the franchise alongside Goku. Knowing this, you canโ€™t help but feel that what happens to Vegeta in this episode feels like a cruel joke Toriyamaโ€™s playing on him from beyond the grave. Once again, Vegeta gets shafted.

Dragon Ball Just Solved the Problem of Keeping Them Away from Villains

At the end of the last episode, our heroes were getting ready to leave the abandoned home of the Namekians for the next Tamagami. However, they werenโ€™t alone. Neva, the last Namekian in the Demon Realm and guardian of its Dragon Balls, appears before them. And while he pretends to act senile, Piccolo sees through his act. Thus, Neva gets right to the point: he wants to go with them to the next Tamagami.

While the flight is a bit cramped for the occupants, it does give viewers the chance to learn more about the Demon Realmโ€™s Dragon Balls. When they were created, they were unguarded like the other sets were. As was the case with the sets on Earth and Namek, though, evil beings sought to use their power. In other words, the Tamagami were created to address one of the biggest flaws the Dragon Balls have had throughout the franchise: that anyone can use them for evil if they get their hands on them.

This…this is smart writing!

Honestly, this decision makes a lot of sense. Thanks to inventions like the Dragon Radar, the Dragon Balls main defense of being scattered across whatever planet theyโ€™re on becomes little more than an issue of time. And given how villains have tried to use the Dragon Balls time and again, with King Piccolo succeeding, it highlights how dangerous they are in the wrong hands. Having a powerful guardian to protect them means that most people cannot use them unless theyโ€™re strong enough. And given how Goku had to go Super Saiyan to beat one, itโ€™s likely that if Namek had their own Tamagami, Frieza wouldnโ€™t have gotten close to them. That’s some smart writing going on! The kind that makes me wonder if Toriyama took a page or two from fans like TeamFourStar

As an aside, this episode establishes that Piccolo doesnโ€™t know Namekian. Didnโ€™t he and Kami speak it during their fight in the World Martial Arts Tournament that one time, though?

Poor Vegeta

At any rate, Vegeta gets to fight the next Tamagami, and like with Goku, heโ€™s more than capable of holding his own. Sadly, the fight is cut short when Vegeta falls underwater and is attacked by a kraken, swallowing him whole.

Man, Vegeta just canโ€™t catch a break, can he?

Kuu, now Duu? Where did Toriyama come up with these names?

Meanwhile, back with Dr. Arinsu, sheโ€™s given up on using Majin Kuu to get the third Dragon Ball. Instead, she and Marba use the last of the essence of Buu to create another Majin, Majin Duu. Whereas Kuu seems to have Kid Buuโ€™s build and Super Buuโ€™s intelligence, Duu takes after Good Buu in both appearance and mannerisms. Heโ€™s big, goofy, and loves to eat chocolate and other candies. Much like Good Buu, though, underneath his unremarkable exterior, Duu is a formidable warrior. When he fights the Tamagami, heโ€™s able to give it a run for its money. The fight doesnโ€™t end before the episode does, but what is shown proves to be a good callback to Majin Buuโ€™s first appearance in DBZ.

Basically, Duu is strong but silly, like Buu. And if what we have seen on social media is true, Duu might not be the last Majin we see before the show is done.

So, once again, Vegeta has gotten shafted by fate and the anime, meaning itโ€™s up to Goku and the others to save him from the Kraken. That, or Vegeta might end up killing it from the inside. Meanwhile, weโ€™ll also be seeing whether or not Duu measures up to his template. Given how much fun Buu was even when he was evil, this could make for some entertaining fights.

I Give โ€œLegendโ€ a 4/5

Daima Just Told us How the Multiverse Was Created! Crazy, Right?

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dragon Ball Daima Ep 10 Review

Full disclosure: the original draft for this review was somehow erased like Zeno erased a third of the Dragon Ball multiverse, leaving it to be redone. Thus, this review will not be quite as detailed as one would hope it would be, but enough to cover the key points of the tenth episode of Dragon Ball Daima.

Speaking of Zeno, we might have been introduced to Zeno’s predecessor as the ruler of the multiverse in this episode. As it turns out, the Demon Realm might be the oldest place in all of creation, predating everything that we have seen!

Giant Sea Monsters!?!?

Having completed everything they can in the third Demon World, Goku, Panzy, Glorio and Shin all set out for the Second Demon World. Unfortunately, the show drops some hints that indicate it doesn’t intend to stay long in this second world, which largely consists of vast oceans…with giant sea monsters in them!

Kaiju-sized monsters aren’t anything new to Dragon Ball thanks to the Saiyans being able to become Great Apes. However, the Krakens that dwell in the ocean are shown to be so powerful, even Goku has to give them a wide berth. It’s the first big reminder since the start of the series that Goku’s operating with a noteworthy handicap, hence the need to return to his adult form fast as he can.

So that’s how the Multiverse came into existence!

The main focus of this episode, though, comes when Goku and the others arrive at the original homeworld of the Namekians. Besides serving as a call-back to Namek and New Namek, this is also where Shin drops some major lore regarding the history of the cosmos. According to Shin, the Demon Realm existed before the rest of creation, but one of the first Supreme Demon Kings asked a Super Majin named Rymus to create more worlds for the Demons to explore. Rymus’ creations became what we know as the multiverse for Dragon Ball!

This is big news in more ways than one. Besides confirming that the Demon Realm is, in fact, the origin point for existence, it gives us a concrete look at how the multiverse came to be. However, while it may seem to contradict everything we learn in Super about Zeno and how he governs the multiverse, it doesn’t. Rymus looks a lot like Zeno does, leaving many fans to conclude that Zeno is a descendant of Rymus.

https://twitter.com/HeDontMissVj/status/1867643815089385703

It’s details like this that make worlds like Dragon Ball so entertaining. I doubt few fans ever considered learning how the Multiverse began, but Daima decided to tell us anyway.

Kuu turns out to be a chump!

The other big thing about this episode is that we got to see the fight between the first Tamagami and Dr. Arinsu’s new minion, Majin Kuu. Despite getting hyped up as being as strong as Majin Buu, if not Kid Buu, the show managed to pull the wool over all our eyes by having Kuu lose the fight! Kuu puts up a good struggle, but he’s ultimately unable/unwilling to keep fighting the Tamagami. Thus, he bails, leading Arinsu to deem him a failure and head back to the drawing board.

https://twitter.com/itislevent/status/1868292134706598321

This was such an unexpected twist. Given how he shared the skinny physique of Kid Buu, it would be easy for fans to assume that he was as strong as Kid Buu. And given how Kid Buu is the biggest menace Goku has faced up to this point in his life, that prospect is terrifying. Instead, it seems that Toriyama or whoever came up with this part of the story decided to prank us. Personally, I’m fine with this. Toriyama always did have a good sense of humor.

What does Neva want?

The episode ends on a cliffhanger on the hero’s side, and for good reason. Right as Goku’s group is getting ready to leave the ancient Namekian home to meet Vegeta’s group, they’re approached by a lone figure, the last Namekian in the Demon Realm, Neva. But what could the ancient Namekian want with the group?

We already know by this point, since the next two episodes are already out. Rather, three episodes, depending on when this goes up.

I Give “Ocean” a 4/5