After a long wait, Goku and the other Z warriors return. For real this time, everything that happened in GT is pretty much ignored and this new series picks up after the defeat of Majin Buu.
While the last movie, Battle of Gods, was emphasized to be part of canon, the events of the film never really come up. It does come in handy, as many may not have seen it yet. Nevertheless, Beerus does make a quick appearance; destroying half a planet after being served a meal that was tasty enough, but too greasy. It manages to please those who know who he is and intrigue those who don't.
Still, I wonder if Goku and the others will recognize him. Considering Supreme Kai's reaction, I'm guessing it won't be the case, but we'll see. It could be like in "Power Rangers" where the movie gave them new powers and then they had to go and do a similar story in the show itself just to make things clear to everyone.
Outside of that, the episode is pretty light and fluffy. We see that Goku is working as a farmer, though true to form, he'd much rather be training. He even goes so far as to pass his farming duties off on Goten. This goes about as well as one would expect, given that Goten is still a small child.
We see that Gohan and Videl are going to be married, which prompts a gift hunting venture from Goten and Trunks. As they can't afford cosmetics, they decide to go to a hot spring after hearing about how restorative the water is.
For those looking for action, this subplot delivers at least a little as the two boys are attacked by an anaconda. It's something, I guess, but there wasn't a whole lot of tension as the animal is sorely outmatched. The only reason it gets hits in is because the kids never think to go super saiyan or to just fly away. Goten comes close to launching a kamehameha wave, but Trunks talks him down, saying that it would destroy the spring.
I was wondering whether or not the water would just cool and, sure enough, by the time Videl gets it, it is just water. She plays along though, as she clearly appreciates the gesture. It was a cute moment.
I think the real crux of the episode comes courtesy of Mr. Satan. Not much has changed as he is still hailed as a hero, but when he is given a large cash reward for saving the planet from Buu, he offers it to Goku. It shows how far he's come, as he wants the money to go to those who deserve it (though to Mr.Satan's credit, he helped where he could.)
Goku tries to decline, saying it's too much (if that were the case, couldn't they just split it?) but he is eventually convinced to accept it. This pleases Chichi to no end as her children's futures are now set.
It's going to take me a while to get used to the Japanese voice actors. This is one instance where I'm more accustomed to the dubbed version. Worse, Bruce Faulconer's score is not present (yet anyway).
Episode 2: 'To the Promised Vacation! Vegeta Goes on a Family Trip?!'
Contrasting the last episode, where Vegeta was absent, he takes center stage here. There's no sign of a mustache, but he is coaxed into going on a family vacation.
Meanwhile, Goku returns to King Kai's planet to train. While I'm still getting used to the Japanese voices, the characters still feel like themselves and the dynamic remains the same. I'm not sure why Goku voices excitement at training in 10x Earth's gravity when they're well past that point, but I suppose it's better than nothing.
Like the previous episode, this is pretty light-hearted fare. A lot of it hangs on the fact that Vegeta is grumpy and doesn't want to do anything. Not surprisingly, he keeps getting dragged into things. It gets taken to somewhat ridiculous extremes as he is singled out and called on stage during a show. He doesn't have any of it, but it was still weird considering how big the crowd was.
Oddly enough, one of the best parts of this sequence was during a family meal when the food came out. Vegeta was legitimately excited about the feast and looked like he was enjoying himself. It was a brief scene, but it was so different from what we're used to seeing from the saiyan prince.
In lieu of partying, Vegeta states that he would rather train. On the one hand, it's good that he still has the drive, we saw what happened when Gohan got complacent; but at the same time, his frustration seems odd seeing as he had come to terms with Goku being stronger. Vegeta even notes this himself in the episode.
Oddly enough, by episode's end, he's convinced that he can still be the strongest in the universe and vows to keep trying. I get what they were trying to do, but it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I think that it would have worked better had Vegeta just said that his drive to become stronger wasn't based on Goku's strength, but based on how far he could push himself.
I don't know if this is a good or bad thing. I mean, in a way, it's a step backward for the character, an instance of the status quo being god. On the other hand, it is good to see Vegeta doing what he does best.
The episode's tone takes a darker turn at the mid-episode break. Lord Beerus gets more screen time, giving us a better idea of what his personality and motivations are. It looks like the show is just retelling the last movie, as Beerus is looking for a super saiyan god to provide a worthy challenge.
We're also given a more impressive action sequence as an alien warrior tries to fight off Beerus when the destroyer god (which Beerus is explicitly stated to be here) tries to steal his food.
It was a one-sided battle that really just served to show how powerful Beerus was, but it was still an appreciated sequence. While some might dismiss that as an example of Beerus' power compared to the show's heroes, Beerus effortlessly blows the planet up later.
As was the case before, the supreme and elder kais are unnerved by what's happening. It adds quite a bit of weight to the threat and the scenes are surprisingly tense. I am a bit perplexed as to why supreme kai seemed unaware, whereas last episode he had an idea that something was wrong.
It seems like the show still has some kinks to work out, but the ball is starting to roll and I think that things are going to start picking up.
Episode 3: 'Where Does the Dream Go?! Search for Super Saiyan God!'
I'd mark this as the strongest episode to date. Things are starting to move forward at a much brisker pace now that Beerus has his target: the super saiyan god. As the saiyan planet was wiped out by Freeza (interestingly enough, Beerus notes that he was planning on destroying the planet himself), finding said god proves to be more difficult. Luckily, Goku is alive, and a super saiyan. Beerus notes that it isn't quite the same thing, but it is a step in the right direction.
You'd think with a god of destruction wreaking havoc around the galaxy, that the kais would want to call in Goku to confront it. On the contrary, they go to great lengths to keep Goku ignorant of the situation so that he doesn't take up the challenge. Rather, Elder kai suggests waiting for the storm to pass.
Beerus' power level perplexes me a bit. Elder kai freaks out because Beerus has wiped out the equivalent of a solar system in only a few days, but didn't Kid Buu destroy that many planets in a matter of minutes?
I did get a kick out of the fact that the kais describe it as a "disturbance in the force". I have to figure it was an intentional shout out, that exact phrasing can't be a coincidence.
While the episode does a lot more to build up a sense of dread about Beerus, there is still plenty of humor to be found. It is another reason why the episode is so fun to watch. The exchanges between Goku and King Kai were a highlight of the episode.
Beerus himself is fleshed out a bit. He has more screen time here than he has had in the previous two episodes combined. We get a better feel for how he operates and also learn other tidbits of information like the fact that he was the one who imprisoned Elder Kai in the Z-sword and that he had been on Earth before. Sadly, this wasn't a nod to the movie, but it does establish that he was the one who wiped out the dinosaurs.
Speaking of the Z-sword, I also loved all the continuity nods. King Kai calls Goku out on bringing Cell to his planet and never bringing him back to life despite conjuring Shenron on several occasions. In Goku's defense, I'm not sure what he could do. He died too and Shenron's magic has a time limit in terms of resurrections. If anything, his beef should be with the others.
We also see Beerus learning of Goku's exploits. There's no mention of Cell or Buu, but Frieza's defeat is brought up. It was a little weird seeing Beerus so shocked at it, but he has been slumbering for almost 40 years. We also see no mention of Future Trunks' confrontation with Mecha-Freeza and King Cold, though the episode can only throw in so many continuity nods in the allotted time.
On other fronts, Bulma throws herself a birthday party, allowing the other Z-warriors to finally make an appearance. While we don't actually learn anything about what they've been up to, it was still a nice reunion.
I still need to see "Battle of Gods" but this all but confirms that the show is just retelling it, as Bulma's birthday party was a plot point there too.
Never the less, this was an entertaining watch. There's a building threat and the fun tone remains. The humor isn't forced, which could have easily happened. All in all, I like where the show is going and I'm looking forward to seeing more.
Episode 4: 'Aim for the Dragon Balls! The Pilaf Gang's Great Strategy!'
Sadly, I'd mark this as the first miss for the series. It's easily the weakest episode to date and doesn't really bring a whole lot to the table.
There isn't a whole lot of progress in terms of the plot. Goku and Vegeta are still training, and Beerus continues to make his way to King Kai's planet, while Bulma has her party. There are apparently big prizes and it is revealed that she even has all of the dragon balls collected and kept in a secure location.
This draws the attention of Pilaf, a villain from Dragon Ball. He's pretty annoying here as he shouts a lot and generally screws things up. Worse, it gives the viewers GT flashbacks and you'd think that the show would want to distance itself from that as much as possible.
Pilaf's antics actually eat up a large chunk of the episode. I really could have done without it. While the show has clearly put more emphasis on humor, it didn't even succeed on that level. It makes the episode something of a chore to sit through.
After an overdrawn sequence, Pilaf does manage to make it onto Bulma's boat. It leads to one of the episode's few highlights as Goten and Trunks save him and his crew. As the pair have no idea who he is, they don't make too big a deal of it and invite him to the party. While Pilaf originally declines, he does eventually concede to accepting some food that the kids offer later.
The episode does end on something of a high note, however, as Goku is told about Beerus after he hears King Kai mumbling about him.
King Kai says that Beerus is as powerful as Supreme Kai, but didn't Goku leave him in the dust in terms of strength? It could be a moot point as Beerus' continued existence is essential to the balance of the cosmos, but that line perplexed me. It does undercut Goku's excitement about the challenge too.
In any event, Beerus does make his arrival, determined to find the super saiyan god. While Kai has managed to hide Goku, he is still terrified in the presence of the destructive god.
On top of problems in terms of general pacing and plot advancement, the episode's animation was off. There are several parts of the episode that look like they were drawn in a completely different style. It's random and jarring. It's especially odd as the standard style was working just fine. There's no reason to try and fix what wasn't broken.
The show still has my interest, though I still feel that this was a misstep. Here's hoping the next episode can return to form.
Episode 5: 'Decisive Battle on Kai's Planet! Goku vs. God of Destruction Beerus'
As he is scared out of his gourd at Beerus' arrival, King Kai tries to be as gracious as possible. He offers the god some food, but Beerus declines, choosing instead to eat his own supply.
Despite their best efforts to hide him, Beerus knows Goku is there and the saiyan is eventually called out to answer Beerus' inquiry about the super saiyan god. Oddly enough, the fact that the super saiyan itself was a legend for a long time never actually comes up. Instead, Goku just says that he has no idea what it was, prompting Beerus to want to go to Earth to ask Vegeta.
Before the god departs, though, Goku asks for a sparring match as he wants to see what the god of destruction is capable of. Beerus is surprisingly reasonable about it and agrees to let the saiyan test his mettle.
A lot of the fight is just Beerus dodging Goku's attacks as he slowly makes his way up the super saiyan levels. On the one hand, it feels a bit lackluster, but at the same time, Beerus should be commended for showing so much restraint given how fickle he can be.
While Beerus notes that Goku's strength increases significantly at each transformation, it isn't until super saiyan 3, that he starts to take the fight even somewhat seriously. I was amused at how Goku made a point to say that SS3 was the strongest level. I have a hard time believing that wasn't an intentional jab at GT, but it was funny either way.
Even at Goku's peak, he is no match for the god as he is put down in two strikes. They aren't even really hits in the traditional sense. Beerus flicks Goku in the forehead, sending him reeling and follows that by patting him on the shoulder. The latter hit sends Goku plummeting to the ground and knocks him out cold.
Oddly enough, when Goku comes to, he is rather gleeful. Beerus is a powerful opponent and Goku seems excited at the possibility of ascending to godhood. Considering he's already significantly more powerful than King Kai and Supreme Kai, you could argue he's already there, but this seems to be something different.
In any event, with Beerus en route to Earth, Kai warns Vegeta about what's coming. There's a slight change from the movie here as Vegeta vaguely recognizes the name, but can't recall how. As such, he isn't too fazed compared to the movie where I read that he knows what Beerus can do and doesn't want to start anything.
The weakest aspect of this episode is the animation. By and large, it's the normal style, but once the fight starts it gets half-hearted. You can especially see it with Goku. His facial expressions are off and his hair looks like no effort was put into it. It's a shame as the action sequences are where the animation should really shine, but for some reason they decided not to put as much effort into it this time around. Considering that this is the first major battle of the series, it makes it that much more of a let down.
Hopefully, future episodes won't drop the ball the way this one did. With the action heading to Earth, I'm expecting things to be kicked up a notch as the other fighters are finally brought into the plot. I also hope that the shoddy animation is an isolated incident. It would be a shame if that became a recurring problem for the newly launched series.
Episode 6: 'Don't Anger the God of Destruction! The Heart Pounding Birthday Party'
Having beaten Goku, Beerus arrives on Earth to see if Vegeta knows about the fabled super saiyan god.
For Vegeta's part, he's amazed that Beerus was able to take down Goku in two strikes, but at the same time, he can't shake the feeling that he's heard the name before. The episode does a good job of showing Vegeta's growing paranoia as he ponders what's coming, a feeling that Beerus is all too happy to fuel with a few mind games and taunts before he makes his big entrance.
It is here when the pieces come together and Vegeta remembers where he heard the name. We get a flashback to Vegeta's childhood when he saw his father beaten by the god for not delivering the universe's most comfortable pillow. More specifically, King Vegeta had a more comfortable pillow, but kept it for himself.
At first, it seemed like an unessential flashback as the fact that Beerus beat Goku so easily is reason enough for Vegeta to be scared, but it also showcases how fickle and quick to anger the god is.
The triggered memory puts Vegeta into a state of panic. It only gets worse when Bulma comes along and invites Beerus and Whis to her party. From here on out, he spends the entire episode in fear that they will incur the god's wrath through some minor offense.
It isn't unjustified, but he does more to make a scene than anyone else. Beerus actually seems to get along well with everyone. He likes the food and seems more than willing to just enjoy the festivities. It's oddly endearing.
There is one close call when Trunks accidentally sprays Beerus with a squirt gun during a fight with Goten. Luckily, Vegeta is able to create a distraction that allows Beerus to calm down.
It isn't until Majin Buu decides to hog the pudding that things get bad. To Beerus' credit, he and Whis are as courteous as one could expect when asking for some. Sadly, Buu's child-like nature comes to the forefront as he claims it's all his in a bratty fashion. When things start to get tense, Mr. Satan does try to act as a peaceful mediator, but his effort is for naught as he is effortlessly shoved aside.
Now, you might think that this will be a good match up. If something is going to challenge a god, a nigh-unstoppable magical construct might seem like your best bet. Sadly, this is the same version of Buu that could barely hold his own against Kid Buu. He doesn't fare much better here and the episode ends with Vegeta declaring that the end is officially here as Beerus looks like he's about to kill Buu once and for all.
Thankfully, the episode didn't have any glaring drops in animation quality. It was pretty light-hearted for the most part, though it took Beerus seriously when it needed to. There are some weird lines of dialogue that pop up here and there. Russia is alluded to, as is "the war". What war? Since when does Russia exist on this world? It isn't that big a deal in the grand scheme of things, but it was a peculiar addition nonetheless.
Vegeta's behavior here might bother some. He's right to be scared, as he has no hope of winning that fight, but at the same time, seeing the proud prince act this way can be hard to watch at times.
I'm expecting the next episode to be action packed as the entire Z-team attempts to challenge the god. Hopefully, things will start to kick into high gear.
Episode 7: 'How Dare You Hit My Bulma! Vegeta's Furious Transformation?!'
As the episode opens, there's an odd tension in the air. Vegeta is terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought, but most of the party goers don't really know what's going on. Oddly, they don't pick up on this and task him with setting Beerus straight.
Of course, a straight fight isn't an option, so Vegeta tries one last time to calm the god down to no avail. Even the offer of more pudding does nothing to appease the angry god, who declares that Earth will be destroyed.
Not surprisingly, the others aren't too keen on this. As such, Trunks and Goten immediately fuse into Gotenks. Even with fusion powers, this fight doesn't go too well. One might find it odd that Gotenks never goes to super saiyan 3, but it's probably moot. It's also surprising that he didn't attempt that exploding ghost attack that he seemed so fond of back in the fight with Buu.
To Gotenks' credit, he does point out how ridiculous it is that they are all fighting over pudding. This results in a lengthy rant from Beerus about how he has no idea what pudding tastes like. It's an odd moment, as it is somewhat played for laughs, but at the same time, he takes the matter so seriously that it's almost frightening. It really does show how mentally unbalanced he is. It does make you wonder, though, why Vegeta's offer for more was so ineffective if he was so hung up on trying it.
With Gotenks down, Piccolo, Tien, and Android 18 take their crack at the new enemy. It was good to see 18 jump into the fight, but alas, even with a combined assault, the three are no match for the god. As he had before against other foes, he bests them all with a mere push of his aura.
Buu makes a few attempts to dish out some payback with equally pitiful results. Again, he doesn't attempt to use his powers to turn Beerus into chocolate. Not only is it one of his more potent abilities, but given the god's obsession with food, you'd think it would be fitting.
Even Gohan's mystic form is almost useless. All in all, the group appears to be screwed.
In a twist that shocked nobody, Yamucha and Krillin don't do anything. Krillin almost does something when Chichi points out that his wife is the one going into battle. In fairness, she's a lot stronger than he is, but it's enough to coax him into at least giving it the old college try. He is stopped by Piccolo, who points out that he wouldn't be able to do anything.
The more intriguing development is Dende's fear. His look matches Vegeta's as he immediately picks up on the fact that Beerus' energy is that of a god's. His efforts as the party healer are underwhelming. He does heal Piccolo, but really, he was off his game this time around.
Another interesting character twist is Whis, who becomes a lot more...flamboyant. He largely just sits on the sidelines and continues to enjoy the good food, but he does it in an over the top foppish a way that is drastically different from what we're used to seeing from him. It kind of comes out of nowhere, but it could also make him a more layered character if handled a bit better.
With no one left to stand, Vegeta makes one last ditch effort to challenge the god. He doesn't get far. It did make for a great chilling speech from Beerus, as he compares the saiyan prince to his father whilst pushing Vegeta's face into the ground with his foot. It really did a great job emphasizing how hopeless the situation was and how outmatched they were.
Being a warrior, Vegeta is surprisingly OK with being killed by a destructor god. He does the whole "face death with dignity" thing rather well. Did he beg when Freeza killed him? I don't remember, could be possible character growth there if he did.
His death, however, is stayed when Bulma interferes and tells the god to GTFO. She even goes so far as to slap him.
This doesn't sit well with Beerus. Not. One. Bit. So he returns the favor. The episode milks this for all it's worth too. We see Beerus slowly turn his head as he gives her this angry glare, than he slowly raises his hand and gives an evil smirk as this intense music plays. Vegeta even begs Beerus not to do it, but Bulma gets the backhand.
The way the scene is framed, it looks like he went with a full slap, but given that he sent other warriors flying with a mere flick or touch, wouldn't a full swing have snapped her neck in at least a thousand places? Maybe he just gently tapped her, though that loses some of its dramatic impact.
As was the case in the movie, this triggers an intense reaction from Vegeta, as he calls on power buried deep within him to transform into....super saiyan 2. The build up was great. Vegeta's transformation had the sort of showmanship that you would come to expect. His eyes going all white also showed promise as it appeared to hearken back to Broly's "legendary" form, but the final result was underwhelming.
This could be marked as the show's strongest outing to date. It delivers the sort of action that you expect with this franchise, it does a great job building up tension, and there are some good character moments peppered throughout. The animation, by and large, was solid. There were a couple of close up shots of Beerus' face that looked off due to over-pronounced outlines, but it was nothing compared to what we saw in episode 5. All in all, it was very enjoyable.
Episode 8: 'Goku Steps Up! Beerus-Sama's Last Chance?!'
It's kind of weird seeing the recap close with Vegeta's tense declaration against Beerus only to cut to the bright title card with the cheerful theme song playing in the background. There's more than a little mood whiplash there.
In any event, Vegeta begins his anger-fueled assault in earnest. While it gets off to a rocky start, he actually does start to land some solid hits. Beerus actually seems to feel said hits and, judging by his reaction, is legitimately caught off guard by Vegeta's success.
It was a great moment for the saiyan Prince. He got to boast a bit and achieve a level of success in battle that even his arch-rival was unable to. It was also a refreshing change of pace after seeing the heroes make no progress in their resistance against this particular foe. As one would expect, though, it is short lived. Beerus reveals that he is only using a tenth of his power, at which point, he promptly knocks Vegeta out with a light flick.
Earth appears to be doomed. Then again, the food is pretty good. As such, Beerus offers one last chance at survival. The god challenges Oolong to a game of rock, paper, scissors. Why Oolong? Well, he's pink like Buu. Oddly enough, Beerus mistakes the two for being the same species (as they're both pink) but he knows that Oolong is a pig. He even refers to him as "Mr. Pink Pig". It's over analyzing a bit that was probably more concerned with being funny than consistent, but still.
You can't help but feel bad for Oolong as that is a lot of pressure to put on a person. He's reluctant to say the least, but he has no real choice.
Beerus' claim that it takes a generous person to offer a second chance is likely meant to be simple self-aggrandizing, but in this case, he's not entirely wrong. For a being that isn't known for being patient, he's showing quite a bit of it with them. Also of note, unlike trying to challenge the god to a straight up fist-fight, Oolong's chances of victory are as good as Beerus' here. The other planets that Beerus visited would have considered themselves very fortunate to be given that much leeway.
The situation is played for laughs to a certain extent. At the same time, there's a lot of tension, as the stakes are as high as they've ever been.
After two draws, Oolong loses. As Puar points out, Oolong was an idiot for putting out the same thing three rounds in a row, but that's just armchair quarterbacking. Per the rules of the challenge, Beerus declares the Earth a goner.
It was a surprisingly grim moment as everyone stood helpless to do anything despite their combined might.
As has been the case so many times before, Goku arrives just in time. His arrival is portrayed as triumphant, but it's an odd subversion, as Goku knows he has no chance of beating Beerus and shows no interest in even attempting to challenge the god on that level. He does, however, convince Beerus to delay Earth's execution by offering a chance to help find the super saiyan god.
It's true, Goku and Vegeta know nothing of it, but Shenlong might; and as it happens, the dragon balls are all right there. Of course, even the kais don't seem to know anything of it, but it's as good a plan as any and Beerus agrees to give them one last chance, saying that if this doesn't pan out, he's going to destroy the whole solar system. Granted, that threat would probably carry more weight if any of the other planets actually had life on them, but that's neither here nor there.
One little highlight was Goku wishing Bulma a happy birthday and apologizing for forgetting her gift. It was kind of heartwarming. Not only is that the sort of thing Goku would do, but it shows how he values his friendship with her.
If the episode has a weakness, it's Pilaf. Basically, he and his crew book it as they don't want to get caught in the big fight. It is something they'd do, but it renders their presence in the show almost pointless. You could have cut them out entirely and the plot wouldn't have been affected in the slightest. Maybe he'll play a bigger part later, we'll have to see.
This was another really strong outing for the series. It was engaging and had a good balance of everything. The episode did a great job of building up tension, gave us a great action sequence, and all the emotional notes hit. It appears the series has found its footing and it'll be interesting to see where things go.
Episode 9: 'Sorry for Waiting Beerus-Sama! Finally, Super Saiyan God is Born!'
Shenron makes his Super debut as Goku summons him to help find the super saiyan god. While we don't have Bruce Faulconer's score, the moment is just as awe inspiring as one would expect. Even the voice sounds very similar to the dubbed version, marking the first character where this is the case.
Things seem to be turning around as Shenron says that bringing the super saiyan god is an easy enough task. He immediately backpedals, however, when he's spooked by Beerus' presence. It was really weird to see the dragon drop his gravitas and immediately start stammering over himself. It's meant to be an indicator of Beerus' power, but it was still jarring to see.
Shenron explains that the super saiyan god is a form brought about when five righteous saiyans pour their hearts into one. There's some debate about whether or not Vegeta counts, but both Roshi and Chi-chi stick up for the guy and point out that he's a good father and has been on the heroic side for some time now.
In an interesting twist, Whis clarifies that it's not a matter of building up energy, but something more spiritual. More than that, they need six saiyans (five saiyans pouring their heart into another) to complete the ritual, meaning that they're still one saiyan short.
With that, Beerus decides that it's over and begins charging up an attack to destroy the planet.
Videl, however, jumps into the fray and asks if an unborn saiyan would count. It turns out that not even Gohan knew that she was expecting, leading to a rather heartwarming moment as everyone celebrates the good news. The scene's odd placement, as Earth's existence hangs in the balance, is noticeable. The moment is still nice, though, as everyone is genuinely excited about the news.
Well, everyone except for Beerus, who just wants them to get on with it and bring about the god already.
Fortunately, it turns out to be enough as Goku is able to transform into the new form. The transformation itself plays out differently from others. One might expect rousing music, but this goes for a more classical approach. It gives off the divine feel that they were probably going for.
Sadly, the animation once again gets rather shoddy. It's one thing to cut corners during an elaborate fight scene, but six characters standing in a circle and looking at something shouldn't be something that requires the animators to rush out inferior product. These aren't quick cuts either. The shots linger on character's faces for extended periods of time, making it that much more glaring.
This was one of the more underwhelming entries so far. While there were some big developments, it didn't seem like things moved forward all that much. Oddly enough, the more mundane announcement about the impending birth (and the subsequent rejoice) was the highlight. Beyond that, it was rather flat.
Episode 10: 'Show Me Goku! The Power of Super Saiyan God!'
Goku's ascension to legitimate godhood is confirmed when Gohan notes that he can't sense his father's energy anymore. Whis elaborates, saying that mortals can't sense the energy of gods. Not only does this show the difference between a bona fide god and a powerful being, but it also makes it much more difficult for them to track the progress of the fight once it begins in earnest.
Said fight doesn't seem to go too well for Goku. He does fare much better than he did in his super saiyan 3 form, but he is still unable to land a hit. At the very least, he is able to withstand hits much better in this new form in that he can actually get back up after getting hit.
This alone seems to please Beerus as he appears to be having quite a bit of fun now that he has the challenger he's been looking for. It gives the fight a much different tone than the ones seen in Z. Yes, the fate of the world hangs in the balance, but both Beerus and Goku are enjoying themselves so much that it almost seems like an afterthought. Both are far more concerned with the sport of it all than the epic stakes.
Why Goku makes a wager out of it is unclear. They did deliver on their promise to give him a super saiyan god, that alone should have been enough for Beerus to spare the planet. More than that, sparing the Earth would allow Goku to become a regular sparring partner for future battles. Instead of scouring the universe for a worthy adversary, Beerus could have one standing by.
As the fight goes on, Goku does get better as he adjusts to the new form. Not only is he able to better evade Beerus' attacks, but he starts returning the favor. He even goes so far as to flick Beerus' head and chop the god's shoulder, mirroring how Beerus bested him in their last fight. The results aren't the same, but it amused Goku.
While those on Earth are excited and optimistic about Goku's new form, the kais are freaking out. They fear that a fight between gods would be incredibly destructive. Oddly enough, both fighters do a good job containing the damage. Even Goku's amped up kamehameha wave and Beerus' huge yellow fireball aren't as catastrophic as you'd think they would be.
Then again, it is made clear that Goku is still holding back and the episode ends with Beerus declaring that the real fight between gods is about to begin.
In true 'Dragon Ball' fashion, the episode is largely one big fight scene. It was a pretty good fight, especially as the odds are a bit more even this time around. The rapport between the two was also a major highlight.
On the downside, all of the other characters are sidelined. The only other character moments come from the kais and from Whis, who invites Pilaf and his gang to join him for a meal. It was a nice moment that showcased Whis' affability, but it isn't exactly a huge advance in terms of plot or character.
One also has to wonder why Pilaf thought the dragon balls were still on the ship. He saw Shenron being summoned and everyone knows that they scatter after use. It's an odd continuity gaffe, but it's a nitpick in the grand scheme of things.
Overall, it was a solid entry. It was action heavy, but it keeps you engaged the whole time. It was good to see someone finally give Beerus a real challenge and seeing the two fighters enjoying it makes it easy for the viewer to do the same.
Episode 11: 'Let's Keep Going, Beerus-Sama! The Battle of Gods Continues!'
As was the case with its predecessor, this episode is largely focused on the fight between Beerus and Goku. It's a good fight, though the tension and pace were hindered by a perpetually lagging video player. That is hardly a fault of the episode, however. It was still a hindrance as far as viewing goes.
While the fight seems even, Goku starts to pick up on the fact that his blows aren't hurting Beerus all that much. Granted, part of this could be due to the fact that both fighters are employing rather childish attack tactics. Goku being a biter does have precedent, but the epic battle between gods starts to resemble two toddlers engaging in horseplay.
This becomes apparent as Beerus drops the amiable facade and reasserts his status as show's villain. His beat down of Goku is pretty brutal and it gives the episode a feeling of intensity that the last episode lacked.
This becomes apparent as Beerus drops the amiable facade and reasserts his status as show's villain. His beat down of Goku is pretty brutal and it gives the episode a feeling of intensity that the last episode lacked.
When Goku falls, you really do feel a sense of hopelessness as even the new god form is no match for the current threat. Even Goku himself seems to think that the situation is grim, as he notes he had no idea that Beerus was so powerful. It leads to a sort of 'Rocky' moment, as he gets excited about it and manages to heal his own wounds.
Where 'Dragon Ball Z' tossed aside the fact that saiyans get a surge of power after recovering from serious injury, this series brings it back, as Goku is more powerful after the ordeal. Even Beerus appears convinced that Goku will be able to give him a better fight now, something that excites him.
As for the other characters, they just try to keep up with the fight from Bulma's ship, which is barely holding itself together. Both Gohan and Goten note that they are out of energy after the ritual, though there are plenty of other characters capable of flight who seem to stay on the ship.
Vegeta remains on the ground, but he does keep what eye he can on the fight. He doesn't do anything but look up dramatically, though he does smirk when Goku gets his second wind before the episode's end.
Overall, this was a strong episode. The first half was rather grating, as it was mostly just Goku screaming for a variety of reasons. When things got tense in the second half, though, it worked really well.
Episode 12: 'The Universe Crumbles!? Clash! The God of Destruction vs. Super Saiyan God!'
With Goku having gotten his second wind and a surge of new power at the end of the last episode, the clash of titans is able to resume. The result is something of a mixed bag.
The episode does a good job of showing the side effects of a fight between gods as the shock waves from their punches start to break the universe. Even the realm of the Kais isn't safe as the Elder Kai explains that it will only take a couple of more hits to annihilate everything.
It's a little odd that neither party seems to realize what's happening. You'd think that they'd notice the effects as everyone else seems to. Beerus might not care as he's a destroyer anyway, but Goku wouldn't be OK with people getting killed as a side effect of their brawl. Even when Supreme Kai psychically interjects, he only tells them to stop and offers no reason for doing so. If he had said, "hey, you guys are going to tear existence asunder if you don't stop" maybe they would have listened.
Fortunately for the universe, it's revealed that Goku did know and had developed a way to negate the effects of their strikes. The physics majors will most likely face palm at this reveal as it doesn't seem to make any sense, but they're gods and the writers needed some way to keep the fight going whilst keeping the universe intact.
Speaking of the fight, it's a tad underwhelming. The effects are jaw-droppingly devastating, no doubt, but the two only end up punching each other's fists. It isn't particularly engaging. It gets more gripping when the two challenge each other's energy attacks, though, so it wasn't a total bust.
On top of that, the two go back to almost friendly banter, which was rather nice to see. Beerus even offers to move the fight further away from the planet when he notices that their auras are putting Goku's friends in danger. It was rather gracious of him.
Here's a question, what was up with the dragons? At one point, the two channel their energy into dragon forms. You'd think that the two dragons would fight each other or go after the fighters themselves, but they just circle around and go back to where they came from. Even stranger, it seems to give the two a surge of energy despite the fact that it was their energy that made them in the first place. It looked cool, sure, but it literally accomplished nothing.
As expected of the franchise, a good chunk of the episode features the two powering up. Yes, it eats up the run time, but it's a staple of the show. It was odd to see Beerus actually start powering up. He even says that he's using his full power now, which was unexpected. It's a change from the movie where Beerus is always stronger no matter what level Goku hits.
That idea gets alluded to here, as Goku seems incapable of deflecting Beerus' attack with his kamehameha wave, but he gets another surge of energy that forces the attack back. Even Beerus expresses shock (and possibly mild frustration) at this, as it seemed like he had the fight won.
As was the case last episode, this episode ends with Goku getting more powerful, suggesting that the tide may be turning in their favor.
Oddly enough, some of the episode's highlights come from the smaller character moments that occurred on the sidelines. They inject a bit of humor into the proceedings that worked out really well.
There's a scene where Whis tries to make small talk with Vegeta, who is still focused on the fight. Suffice it to say, it doesn't go well. Even when Whis conjures up an image of the fight, Vegeta refuses to acknowledge it and just stares up into the sky despite Whis' warnings that he'll hurt his neck.
There's another where a reporter calls on Mr. Satan to help when the shock waves start to get really bad. When asked where he is, Satan answers honestly that he's at a birthday party. This, naturally, doesn't go over well as disaster is afoot, forcing him to come up with a story about how a criminal organization is using a birthday party as a front to do crime and he is in the process of infiltrating it. This leads to a follow up about whether the two are connected, which Satan answers positively. Sadly, he can't come up with specifics on how the two would be connected and has to go to the old "feign a bad connection and hang up" stratagem. Couldn't he have just said he wasn't sure how they were connected as he was still investigating? Either way, it was still pretty funny.
This episode had its faults, but it was an enjoyable entry. The humor worked well and the stakes were effectively raised.
Episode 13: 'Goku, Go Surpass Super Saiyan God!'
As both Goku and Beerus continue to pour more energy into their blasts, the effects of so much concentrated energy starts to have adverse side effects. Both the elder kai and Whis himself say that the Earth, as well as other solar systems could very well be destroyed as a result of this conflict.
Mr. Satan tries to chip in by begging Whis to call off the fight before anything bad can happen to his daughter and impending grandchild, but it falls on deaf ears. Even the offer of an "all you can eat" deal doesn't sell him. It's still one of the episode's stronger moments, as it is rather heartwarming.
It was odd to see Whis say that he can't protect them with his powers. Isn't Whis more powerful than Beerus? OK, it's kind of cheating to bring it up as that was established in 'Battle of Gods' and not in the series proper, but it still seems like a valid point to bring up.
Things look grim and it looks like all is done for. While it's a fake out (and you kind of know that it would be) the moment was still effectively executed, augmented by a strong score that really sold the weight of what could have happened.
In an interesting twist, it's revealed that it was Beerus who averted catastrophe by negating all the energy that had accumulated. While Goku notes that it's impossible, Beerus responds by saying that it's only possible if he uses all of his power.
Yeah, it turns out that Beerus was lying when he said he was using all of his power before. It's a matter of pride, as he didn't want to have to do that against a mere saiyan, even one that has ascended to godhood. That gets scrapped, and the two begin to fight in earnest.
It's a good fight, though Supreme Kai notes that the universe seems to be remaining intact. While one could say that Goku is continuing to manage the aftereffects of his own volition, Elder Kai says that there are no repercussions as it is just a brawl. It doesn't really make a whole lot of sense, as the two are still punching each other really hard, but they needed a way to keep the fight going.
It may be a moot point anyway, as Goku reverts to the regular super saiyan form. Even those on Earth can feel his ki again. It doesn't bode well, as Goku doesn't stand a chance. Even Beerus thinks that the fight is over, until Goku keeps fighting, seemingly unaware of the change.
Not only that, but Goku actually lands some hits. At first it seems like the result of Beerus letting his guard down, but Beerus notes that his strength is the same as it was before. He even has to point out to Goku that something has changed. It leads to a rather humorous moment as Goku turns to Beerus to explain what's happened and why he doesn't feel any different.
It's not really explained, something about the god energy fusing with his body completely like some sort of alien symbiote, but it gives Goku the chance to fight with his more iconic look.
The whole idea of forms is more or less irrelevant at this point, isn't it? First Vegeta fights better at super saiyan 2 than Goku did at 3, and now Goku is able to fight in his regular super saiyan as well as he did in his godform. Yeah, Goku's not wrong in saying that it's still him either way, but still.
As the last few episodes have before, this one ends with the fight between the two resuming. The difference here is that the narration implies that the next episode will resolve this arc and settle things with Beerus once and for all. Whether the show resumes after what one could assume is the "season finale" with the next arc (Freeza's return?) or if there is a hiatus remains to be seen. Still, next week's entry should make for an interesting watch.
Episode 14: 'This is the Last Bit of my Power! Conclusion to the Battle of Gods'
Now back to his super saiyan form, Goku attempts to continue the fight with Beerus. While he still fares better than he did in the first fight, it isn't long before he, once again, finds himself on the losing end.
There are two points in the episode where it seems like Goku has been defeated, as he falls unconscious from exhaustion and is sent plummeting back to Earth. The first moment is more effective as Beerus attempts to give his rival an honorable death. It also comes accompanied with a sad and haunting leitmotif.
Even Beerus himself expresses rage that Goku's second wind ruined what would have been such a poignant moment.
The second fall doesn't resonate as much, but it is more ominous as it shows that even Goku's not going to be able to save the day this time. The other fighters stand ready to challenge the god, though it was already made abundantly clear that they stood no chance if they did.
I'm not sure why Videl gave her father the stink-eye, implying that she wanted him to challenge Beerus when he tells those who don't wish to fight to back away. She knows he's no match for the likes of this kind of foe. What's he supposed to do? You can see why the press would expect him to step up when one of their helicopters appears, but Videl knows better. It was weird.
It looks grim, but fate steps in and prevents the Earth's destruction when Beerus suddenly falls asleep. It's a very bizarre deus ex machina, given that an actual god is involved, but it seems to work as Whis takes Beerus back to his home planet after letting Vegeta and the others know that Beerus will have likely forgotten about his trip to Earth.
According to Wikipedia's recap, Beerus was faking, but the way the scene plays out, it is never directly said one way or the other. Honestly, it seemed like Whis actually did wake Beerus up, but it's open to interpretation.
Which one is the better plot path is also open to interpretation. Having Beerus actually pass out from exhaustion shows how powerful the new form was, but having Beerus fake it shows that he has some sense of mercy and decided to spare the planet.
While Goku likely did provide Beerus the challenge that he was looking for (Whis does note that Beerus had to use a lot more power than he usually does), it is also implied that the time on Earth changed Beerus. It's not really made clear how, though it is said that he and Goku have now become friends, which likely played a part.
It was surprising to see Vegeta turn down Goku's offer to let the saiyan prince ascend to godhood. Vegeta says that he's going to do it on his own, which would otherwise be perfectly in character, but there's a difference between reaching a new power level and a meta-physical transformation. It will be impressive if he does find a way to reach the form without the ritual, but it's hard to buy that it is even a possibility.
This was a rather abrupt ending to the arc. It plays out a lot differently than the movie and it seems like the movie handled the issue better. Still, it worked for what it was. It should be interesting seeing how they handle the second movie.
Episode 15: 'Brave Satan, Cause a Miracle! A Challenge from Outer Space'
After the tense battle with a god of destruction, this episode delivers a more lighthearted and humorous breather.
While Goku wants to train so that he can surpass Beerus, Chichi insists he get back to work. She claims that the fortune that Goku won has been spent, but it's never explained how. Honestly, their home is still rather modest and even after setting aside college funds for both Goten and Videl's upcoming child, there should still be plenty of money left. One could surmise that Chichi made it up as she seems more concerned with Goku setting a good example for the baby. It's possible that telling Goku that the money was gone was the only way to get him to do it, but that's speculation.
Meanwhile, Mr. Satan does what he does and gets the credit for saving the world from Beerus, even though he can't remember the god's name. It leads to an amusing imaginary scene where it is he, and not Goku, who ascends to godhood. The scene even comes complete with Satan turning super saiyan. There's something off putting about a character named Satan declaring himself a god, but mileage may vary on that.
It turns out, though, that the people of Earth aren't the only ones who noticed the god's defeat as an alien ship lands just as Satan is being celebrated. It's a tense arrival as the people are unsure of what this new development means, but it turns out that they merely want to thank Satan for his efforts, complete with a Ginyu force-like dance number.
While some of the aliens are grateful, one in particular doesn't want to just give an award away without proof of strength. As such, he challenges Satan to a sparring match.
Of course, Satan knows that he can't win and tries a myriad of excuses, none of which manage to sway the challenger. As such, he retreats to the bathroom to call one of the saiyans for help. Nobody answers, but Goku happens to stop by through sheer dumb luck. It turns out he needs Satan's help getting their tractor fixed and makes a deal to fight the alien in Satan's stead.
It's likely that the alien stood no chance against Goku, but we never find out as Chichi spots her husband, forcing the hero to flee in hilarious fashion. Having Goku pretend to be thrown back by Satan's punch is one thing, but having him "bounce" on the tractor so that he could pick it up as he flies away really clinched the gag and made it a lot funnier.
Sadly, this puts Satan back in the hot seat and he is forced to flee for his life. The people actually start to notice this and wonder if Satan is the champion that they thought he was. It would have been an interesting angle to explore as their hero is disgraced, but the status quo is restored when the alien runs away at the sight of Satan's dog.
This ending is foreshadowed slightly when the aliens are en route to Earth, but their reasons why aren't fleshed out. The translator actually had to step in and add a note that the aliens are cat like and supposedly are at war with a dog-like race of aliens, but that's the best the viewer gets as far as backstory.
As noted before, this is a rather lighthearted entry. It works well as the humor is effective and it gives the viewer a break from tense fights. There were some missed opportunities, but by and large, this was an enjoyable watch.
Pros
- The theme song is fun on a bun
- It's great seeing the characters in action again. The show feels like a more genuine follow up compared to GT
- Good balance of action and humor
- Even the "filler" episodes are entertaining and go more into character than the ones in 'Z' did.
- Beerus makes for a compelling villain, capable of being both affable and frightening; even switching between the two on a dime.
Cons
- The animation can get sloppy at points (though in general it's fine)
- This arc just rehashes one of the movies. Admittedly, I haven't seen the movie itself yet, but it would have been nice to get new material
- The arc does end rather abruptly
Overall
It has some shortcomings, but I'm enjoying it so far. If you weren't a fan of 'Dragon Ball Z' than I doubt you'll get much out of this, but for those who were or are fans, this is a welcome return to the world and a great way to see the characters in action again.
Click here to join our Patreon campaign
No comments:
Post a Comment