Dragon Ball DAIMA Starts Delivering on Early Promises

Key Takeaways

Improved episode with actual progress finally made in plot development, delivering on earlier promises.
Humorous moments include Goku needing to use the bathroom, typical of Toriyama’s writing style.
New antagonist, Glorio, is revealed to potentially have unclear motivations, hinting at potential conflicts and challenges ahead.

As a long-time Dragon Ball fan and aficionado, I must admit that my initial excitement for “Dragon Ball DAIMA” has been somewhat dampened by the underwhelming start to this new series. However, episode 6, titled “Lightning,” has finally delivered on some of the early promises and brought a breath of fresh air into this franchise.

The following contains spoilers for Dragon Ball DAIMA episode 6, “Lightning” available to stream on Crunchyroll and Netflix.Dragon Ball DAIMA has been a huge disappointment for fans of the Dragon Ball franchise thus far. From episodes that wander aimlessly, to a lack of the classic characters being around, to an antagonist who has largely been off-screen since first being introduced, the series has been more of a chore to watch than it has been fun.

There’s been discussion that this series is repeating the same errors as “Dragon Ball GT,” and so far, that assessment seems accurate. With episode 6 now out (just over a third of the way through the alleged 20-episode run), one might wonder if things will improve from here. Could this be the turning point? Is it possible that the quality of the series could start to improve at this juncture?

Previously On…

Dragon Ball DAIMA Starts Delivering on Early Promises

After Goku and their group successfully rescued Panzy, she expressed a desire to assist them. In turn, she introduced everyone to her father. Grateful for their role in rescuing his daughter, he even hinted that Goku might make an ideal husband for her. However, he was taken aback when he discovered their intention to collect the three Dragon Balls protected by the planet’s legendary warriors, as no one had ever achieved this feat before.

Goku exhibits a sense of assurance, believing that if he were to face off against just three opponents, victory would be straightforward. Following an impressive demonstration of power in a trial match, where he successfully mastered Super Saiyan as a child, the king grants them a ship and Panzy is warmly welcomed into their group (with everyone expressing approval this time around).

No One Pays Attention to Flight Regulations

Isn’t it a bit frustrating that the team’s first issue with their new vessel is its breakdown, caused by overloading it for safe flight? Granted, the solution seems straightforward – they need to reduce some weight and let Panzy adjust the engine. However, considering we spent over half the show working towards getting this ship, isn’t it a bit anticlimactic that we now have to spend more time on the ground, discussing our limited travel options and complaining about it?

Goku Needs to Go…BAD!

In true Toriyama style, this situation provides an opportunity for comedic moments revolving around one of the late author’s preferred themes – bathroom humor. Goku finds himself requiring a trip to the restroom, having been previously reprimanded for not using facilities while at the castle. To facilitate this, a roll of toilet paper is tossed in his direction. This double entendre serves multiple purposes, lightening the mood and providing practicality. Given Goku’s youthful spirit, such jokes are easier to appreciate now that he has returned to his childlike form.

As far as I know, [Goku is] the strongest in the universe.

Security Guards Show Up to Ruin the Fun…AGAIN

As Goku is away, presumably engaged in a Super Saiyan level two activity, the remaining group encounters a patrolling surveillance plane. Essentially, they’ve been spotted by mobile law enforcement officers. The men inside question the group if they know a boy with spiky black hair. When the trio pretend not to know, the men offer ten gold coins for any information about Goku and depart. Just as they leave, Goku returns from his errand, revealing that his hair is too tough to be tied into a ponytail (and unfortunately, our world savior isn’t particularly concerned with personal grooming).

Are We Having Fun Yet…?

Alright, so most of that probably sounds pretty darn boring, but there is good news: this is EASILY the best episode of the show that has been released to date! No joke, this episode finally starts delivering on some of the promises that the first couple episodes teased at. After the group takes off again, we find out about the birth of Kaioshin and how his species work, showing that Toriyama was serious when he said that he had a backstory for every character in this franchise.

It’s also revealed that Glorio, the enigmatic travel partner whose intentions have been a puzzle up until now, seems to be serving a purpose (and it appears these purposes might not be selfless or honorable). Furthermore, we get a hint of his strength as he and Goku engage in combat to determine which one will face a colossal cow that’s craving them for breakfast (the beast starts to grow restless with the attention it’s receiving). Additionally, there is some tangible progress made as more Z Fighters decide to embark on this journey, following numerous hints in the opening and closing scenes of previous episodes.

Degesu is very ambitious and didn’t get along with other Glinds.

In simpler terms, we, the viewers, are still in the dark about many things, but this latest episode felt more engaging compared to others that seemed aimless with unnecessary side-stories. Here’s hoping the next one maintains the momentum and doesn’t squander it, as Dragon Ball DAIMA hasn’t been particularly impressive up until now. It would be great if the series could live up to its promising beginnings from a few months ago.

2024-11-21 05:03