This entire debate about feats and plotting ahead seems like ideal proof to me of Elizabeth Sandifer of Tardis Eruditorum's belief that viewing a work of fiction as like a documentary about imaginary people with suspension of disbelief and constant looking for internal consistency is a bad mode of media engagement.
Personally I always thought Toriyama's complete and and uttering winging it of his story without thinking much ahead and just doing what seems fun to him and what would be cool to his readers (and editors) is one of Dragon Ball's primary charms.
He more or less made it work.
Though I still think a little planning ahead would have made said fun story even better.
One Strip! One Strip!I think there's a big difference between wanting broad internal consistency and wanting feats to be more accurate (either with scale or real math). And neither are conceptually a problem.
Given that it's possible to enjoy something despite its flaws, it's fine to have a high standard for things like consistency because that doesn't mean you're calling something trash for not measuring to that standard 100% of the time.
Edited by Saiga on Sep 16th 2018 at 12:21:49 AM
I just honestly think it's a bit of a fool's errand to want Dragon Ball to behave in an believable manner when even in it's very earliest days you had stuff like Goku dropping people off on the Moon with his Power Power without worrying about the vacuum of space is all.
Edited by Xeino on Sep 15th 2018 at 7:30:34 AM
But the series started taking itself seriously around Z & kinda got rid of all that comedy stuff.
There wasn’t much nonsensical shit till the Buu Saga.
Even the King Piccolo Saga was entering the stages of seriousness.
Example being only Frieza being able to breath in space is used as an important plot point compared to Goku going to the moon by power pole once.
Edited by slimcoder on Sep 15th 2018 at 7:39:05 AM
"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."There was a missed opportunity to, ya know, have an actual joke where Gohan tells Goku that it's no good and he only has one good arm left to fight Cell with.
"Son, I beat Piccolo's dad with one working limb. And then I beat Piccolo with no limbs. So sack it up!"
My various fanfics.The scene was trying to build more of a rapport between Goku and Gohan. I'd assume Goku making light of Gohan's injury would've sort of not meshed with the tone they were going for.
There wasn’t much nonsensical shit till the Buu Saga.
Even the King Piccolo Saga was entering the stages of seriousness.
Example being only Frieza being able to breath in space is used as an important plot point compared to Goku going to the moon by power pole once.
I've said it when they had the DB Cember on best villains, but the real shift is Mercenary Tao. He's the first enemy to soundly beat Goku who is then vanquished by Goku becoming stronger - not by strategizing or some fancy move. The series would have still some of its old moments during the subsequent tournament, but Tao Pai Pai is where Dragonball Z's style was born.
Edited by Ghilz on Sep 15th 2018 at 10:44:36 AM
Sack it up...I'm not sure he could do that with just one arm.
Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice."Son, I beat Piccolo's dad with one working limb. And then I beat Piccolo with no limbs. So sack it up!"
Or Goku could say that Gohan can totally do it, because he's better than him...which I think he kinda did.
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I admit, I'm kinda glad they don't come up with bullshit reasons...you barring when they do come up with bullshit reasons.
Edited by HandsomeRob on Sep 15th 2018 at 8:59:12 AM
One Strip! One Strip!I'll just point out that there's a place for all the jokes that were "missed": it's called Dragon Ball Z Kai Abridged Episode 3.
(I'm sort of curious how they'll handle the "I am hilarious and you'll quote everything I have to say" line in that. Android 16 and Mr. Satan are possibilities, but I sort of hope they'll tweak it so Cell says "I am terrifying and you'll quote everything I have to say.")
The quote is always said by a Taka character, so i definitely think Cell will have the honor of saying it.
Now who would be the Taka Breakout Character for Season 4 i wonder.
Uni catThe problem with the Buu Saga is that, after a certain point, there's only one main antagonist. Unlike with Freeza and Cell, that point comes relatively early in the arc, and there aren't too many new characters aside from the main antagonist. Like, there's:
Shin: not someone you'd write as comedy gold
Videl: possible, though her screentime is limited
Goten and Trunks (who are basically one character, even before they literally become one character): an obvious choice, but also limited by screentime when he's not the center of attention
Kibito: I mean, maybe? Seems more appropriate to use as the straight man, though
Like, Babidi and his goons could be written really funnily, but the last of the goons dies when Buu comes into the picture, and Babidi is dispatched by Buu soon enough.
Edited by PushoverMediaCritic on Sep 15th 2018 at 10:21:33 AM
To be fair, Nappa and Guru were so far removed from their canon incarnation, it's not like TFS is bound by canon.
One thing I do wonder is how they'll abridge Kid Buu. He doesn't talk. And there's not a lot of room to re-invent his actions without new animation. They could give him lip flaps and make him talk I suppose.
He laughs a lot...so that's a place.
Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.I could kind of see Babidi as an overly sarcastic, pedantic and fake-cultured type. Everyone knows he's a sadistic, unlikable little prick except for him.
He's the type that would go "Oh yes, it's so sad your avenue of employment has run short. Now, as The Donald says, you're fired." (engages gruesome internal explosion technique)

Wasn't there only one Zeno at first?