TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

Dragon Ball Z Abridged

Go To

nomuru2d Gamer-turning-maker from Port Saint Lucie, FL Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Longing for Dulcinea
Gamer-turning-maker
#2776: Jan 28th 2013 at 9:52:54 PM

Best Buy-Buy-Buy-Buy-Circuit City

Long live Cinematech. FC:0259-0435-4987
CPFMfan I am serious. This is my serious face. from A Whale's Vagina Since: Aug, 2010
I am serious. This is my serious face.
#2777: Jan 28th 2013 at 10:11:03 PM

Once again, I freely admit that I never watched the show, but just from reading a plot synopsis and playing a few video games, I get the impression that the story and character got a lot worse after the Frieza Saga, starting with the introduction of a blatant Marty Stu.

Funny episode regardless. But unfortunately very short, though I can see how it would take a lot of effort to make an episode.

...
Saiga Since: Feb, 2011 Relationship Status: Getting away with murder
#2778: Jan 28th 2013 at 10:14:13 PM

Trunks is very much not a Marty Stu. This is the only time he'll act anything like one, and then he'll go on to show his flaws and inexperience.

And I disagree about things getting worse after this point, though I'm not sure what made you feel that way.

edited 28th Jan '13 10:15:34 PM by Saiga

Anomalocaris20 from Sagittarius A* Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: Love blinded me (with science!)
#2779: Jan 28th 2013 at 10:15:34 PM

Eh, Trunks isn't that bad. Once Goku returns he reasserts himself as the dominant force anyway. And Trunks is pretty popular too.

It's the Buu saga that many people feel is when it took a turn for the worse. But even that has its fans, and it had some of the best battles too, such as Goku vs. Majin Vegeta or Ultimate Gohan vs. Super Buu.

You cannot firmly grasp the true form of Squidward's technique!
Lionheart0 Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: I'm just a hunk-a, hunk-a burnin' love
#2780: Jan 28th 2013 at 10:17:01 PM

[up][up][up]Trunks is about the furthest thing from a Marty Stu. Yeah, he shows up the pwn Frieza, but that was more to demonstrate how much dangerous the future threat of the Androids was.

edited 28th Jan '13 10:17:17 PM by Lionheart0

Saiga Since: Feb, 2011 Relationship Status: Getting away with murder
#2781: Jan 28th 2013 at 10:17:16 PM

Oh, the Cell Arc has plenty of people crying Ruined FOREVER as well. Not as much as the Boo Arc (which is my favourite, actually), but yeah.

That's how the whole "Toriyama wanted to end the series at Freeza" rumour started.

Anomalocaris20 from Sagittarius A* Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: Love blinded me (with science!)
#2782: Jan 28th 2013 at 10:19:55 PM

Buu arc is my personal favorite too, actually. Specifically the Fusion Saga (Super Buu is my favorite villain of the franchise, Ultimate Gohan was really cool while it lasted, Vegito was cool and a candy, and the whole inside-Buu was pretty funny even though I'm normally somewhat adverse to FantasticVoyagePlots.).

edited 28th Jan '13 10:22:02 PM by Anomalocaris20

You cannot firmly grasp the true form of Squidward's technique!
Spirit Pretty flower from America Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Hooked on a feeling
Pretty flower
#2783: Jan 28th 2013 at 10:21:02 PM

The only thing that gets "worse" is that around the end of the Cell Games to the start of the Buu saga only the saiyan/half saiyan characters (and Piccolo) can put up a challenge against the villains.

#IceBearForPresident
Saiga Since: Feb, 2011 Relationship Status: Getting away with murder
#2784: Jan 28th 2013 at 10:21:54 PM

While it was my favourite, I think it went downhill a bit when Potara was introduced. As cool as Vegetto was, it was not done well at all and was just Toriyama blatantly forcing Goku back into the leading role.

[up] You mean the way it was from chapter 1?

edited 28th Jan '13 10:22:12 PM by Saiga

Anomalocaris20 from Sagittarius A* Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: Love blinded me (with science!)
#2785: Jan 28th 2013 at 10:23:24 PM

Yeah, my main complaint is that only the saiyans got to do anything, and within that that Goku was sort of forced. I don't really mind him getting the kill on Buu at the end, but it disappoints me that Gohan literally did nothing for the rest of the series after losing to Super Buu (Gotenks Absorbed).

You cannot firmly grasp the true form of Squidward's technique!
Saiga Since: Feb, 2011 Relationship Status: Getting away with murder
#2786: Jan 28th 2013 at 10:24:41 PM

I do mind xD The Pure Boo battle was really cool but I hate that Gohan had to be shafted for it. It was also stupid to go with the Spirit Bomb that might not work instead of just bringing Gohan to the planet to fight.

Anomalocaris20 from Sagittarius A* Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: Love blinded me (with science!)
#2787: Jan 28th 2013 at 10:25:44 PM

Buu getting obliterated by the Spirit Bomb was pretty cool though. Also nice to see it work for once.

You cannot firmly grasp the true form of Squidward's technique!
Deadpoolrocks Since: Sep, 2010
#2788: Jan 28th 2013 at 10:28:23 PM

[up][up]To be fair Spirit Bomb was only after they realized they had forgotten to grab Gohan. They didnt say well just do this and forget him. It was more shit we forgot our only hope for Hercule. Welp might as well give this a shot.

Saiga Since: Feb, 2011 Relationship Status: Getting away with murder
#2789: Jan 28th 2013 at 10:33:46 PM

No, but they had to resurrect everyone to fuel the Spirit Bomb. Gohan was brought back with everyone else, they should have just thought "Hey, let's resurrect the Earth and Gohan so he can come here and kick Boo's ass"

Yes, the Spirit Bomb was an awesome finale, but it is also an Idiot Plot, because it requires them overlooking a simpler solution.

Anomalocaris20 from Sagittarius A* Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: Love blinded me (with science!)
#2790: Jan 28th 2013 at 10:37:52 PM

Yeah, that's the problem.

I guess they sort of had to do that though. At that point Gohan's power exceeded that of Buu's to such a degree that it would be utterly anticlimactic if he showed up.

You cannot firmly grasp the true form of Squidward's technique!
AndroidChaos The Trope Seeker from Mexico Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: Baby don't hurt me!
The Trope Seeker
#2791: Jan 28th 2013 at 10:44:27 PM

If I may offer an opinion, it wasn't just to highlight the threat of the Androids. You have to remember that Future Trunks went through a lot of hell to get as tough and good at fighting as he was at that time and he even managed to become a Super Saiyan at the cost of Gohan's life. And considering that Future 17 & 18 were more powerful than Frieza and his dad (Albeit less powerful than the present counterparts), it was nothing more than a cakewalk to him compared to what happened to him.

Either way and time, Frieza and Lord Cold were screwed.

Saiga Since: Feb, 2011 Relationship Status: Getting away with murder
#2792: Jan 28th 2013 at 10:45:33 PM

Well, AT didn't have to do that. He wanted Goku in the spotlight, which is why he nerfed Boo in the first place.

If Gohan was going to be the hero having him defeat Gotenks-Boo by stalling out the fusion would've been a good, climatic end.

[up] Just like to clear up that manga Trunks didn't go Super Saiyan over Trunks' death, he already was at a young age like Present Trunks. It's a minor thing but it really foreshadowed Goten and Trunks' transformations.

edited 28th Jan '13 10:46:32 PM by Saiga

Anomalocaris20 from Sagittarius A* Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: Love blinded me (with science!)
#2793: Jan 28th 2013 at 10:48:35 PM

I like how Super Buu gets a nose after absorbing Gotenks and Piccolo.

You cannot firmly grasp the true form of Squidward's technique!
Scardoll Burn Since: Nov, 2010
Burn
#2794: Jan 28th 2013 at 10:48:35 PM

I think the real problem with the Trunks scene is that it kinda undermines the entire previous arc.

"Frieza is back! OH GOD SHIT JUST GOT REAL!" And then he just got one-shotted by a character we've never met before. That's part of the issue with Dragonball's absurd power creep; it makes the previous battles feel kinda cheapened.

(Also, Trunks is Kyle Reese.)

edited 28th Jan '13 10:49:08 PM by Scardoll

Fight. Struggle. Endure. Suffer. LIVE.
wanderlustwarrior Role Model from Where Gods Belong Since: Jun, 2009 Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
Role Model
#2795: Jan 28th 2013 at 10:50:04 PM

Wait, what's this about forgeting to bring Gohan?

Saiga Since: Feb, 2011 Relationship Status: Getting away with murder
#2796: Jan 28th 2013 at 11:00:38 PM

I'm not really sure how it undermines the previous arc. It's not like because the villains aren't a threat now that they weren't ever a threat at all.

Spirit Pretty flower from America Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Hooked on a feeling
Pretty flower
#2797: Jan 28th 2013 at 11:04:59 PM

I just remembered that Raditz is still running around free in the afterlife. Wonder if that will come up again.

#IceBearForPresident
hass Since: Nov, 2013
#2798: Jan 29th 2013 at 1:11:28 AM

[up][up][up]In the Buu Saga, Buu's about to destroy the Earth. Goku instant transmissions himself, Vegeta, and Hercule, but... he sorta leaves Gohan/Goten/Trunks/Piccolo/Tien unconscious on the ground.

Only Yamcha was a total joke in the original series.
The movies seem to make up for that in spades. Heck, he's pretty much aware how useless he is in those (for amusing scenes try World's Strongest and the second Broly movie).

Also, the Buu saga honestly felt like some sort of self-parody. Compared to all the previous arcs, there's a ton more silliness and comedy scenes. I'm sure some people were annoyed by that but it's not too terrible. Toriyama was probably getting burnt out by that point anyway. Heck, if you read it, this part is probably the one with the most deformed or off-model characters (Videl is crosseyed in almost half her panels).

EDIT: Figured I might mention this as well, they're rereleasing the Saiyan Saga books in colour in February.

edited 29th Jan '13 1:18:58 AM by hass

Saiga Since: Feb, 2011 Relationship Status: Getting away with murder
#2799: Jan 29th 2013 at 1:20:16 AM

Nah, you can tell when Toriyama's doing self parody. Like in Neko Majin Z. The Boo saga is a result of Toriyama having a lenient editor and borrowing from the earlier parts of the manga (the general silliness).

Grahf Since: Jan, 2001
#2800: Jan 29th 2013 at 1:50:06 AM

Truth be told it wasn't all that strong in his initial appearance either. Effeminate, but not overbearingly so like with Chilled.

Whoops. Should have been clearer. I meant within the context of this series, the Abridged one. Going back to Cold's only spoken line in 30 though, there actually isn't that much difference. I could have sworn that he was a lot higher pitch than that, almost to the level of sounding feminine. Don't get me wrong, he still comes off as dandy, but now at least I can't confuse his voice for a woman's.


Total posts: 40,340
Top