Like, there's a reason they said Goku going Super Saiyan for the first time was the most iconic moment in Dragon Ball, and that reason is because it is. Like, it just fucking is, there's no argument to be had, that is far and away the most iconic moment in Dragon Ball. Best fights is more subjective, but there's still some obvious choices that kind of have to go in the top slots.
What, do you want them to say that Krillin vs Chiaotzu is the best fight in the franchise? Because it's not. It's not a bad fight, but it probably won't even get an honorable mention. What's your favorite fights? What are the "niche" picks you think deserve to be on this list over TFS's "plebian" picks?
I remember when they were doing their most iconic moments list people were suggesting things like Gohan vs. Cell because it would be more unexpected or people personally liked that moment more, but that wasn't what the list was about.
If everyone thinks of a certain moment first when you say "most iconic" then it seems pretty fair to call that moment "most iconic".
All of this is subjective of course, personal preference and all, but there's a reason stuff like this usually goes a certain way, even if you can't guess the exact order or anything like that.
My top two favorite fights in the series are still Goku vs Majunior (manga version) and Kid Goku vs Kid Krillin (anime version), neither of which are liable to make many other top ten lists - least of all more Z centric groups like TFS - so I don’t really have a cart in their ranking race.
I would agree that, in terms of best/favorite fights, it’s more subjective than not unless you have a very specific criteria (and people often gravitate to newer things: I remember one of the Budokai games came with a “top ten best fights” DVD or something that was literally just the Big Bad fights all going backwards in a line from GT - which was current at the time - with Freeza not even included) but the issue of whether something is iconic is less cut and dry: presence outside the source and identification in the same range have a lot more of an objective effect on that.
Edited by KnownUnknown on Dec 13th 2018 at 3:31:19 AM
The fact that "pacing matters"
makes me think Freeza is out of the running, honestly.
...Jiren too, really.
My personal top fights would definitely include the three Dragon Ball Tenkaichi Budokai finales, as well as Goku vs King Piccolo. I'd also include Goku vs Kale, Caulifla, and Kafla, and everyone vs Jiren. Gohan and Piccolo vs Saonel and Pirina is also a really great fight that might get a spot.
As much as I like the Future Trunks arc, none of the fights in it really have a big satisfying conclusion, they just kind of blur into the next fight or stop. I like the writing and action, but there's isn't one "fight" that I would pick out as one of the greats. I really loved both instances of Goku vs Hit, and I have a soft spot for Vegeta vs Magetta.
I don't tend to find one-sided fights very entertaining, so there's actually not too many Z fights I would put in my Top 10. Maybe Goku vs Freeza, because while it's mostly one-sided, at least it switches which side is dominating and the losing side always gets a few good hits in. Not to mention how much of a narrative and emotional powerhouse of a fight it is.
The old movies are on average pretty good about that. Animation, choreography and brevity all in one.
Kind of repeating myself here but I think most of the manga fights are well paced, except for some fights that are too short relative to how important they are (I'm not going to complain about Panput Vs Goku being short, but many of the later battles feel too brief for what they are).
Some of Super's shorter fights have good pacing to them.
Toriyama moved quickly.
Which makes Toei's filler kinda funny...
I have to ask, we've always talked about bad filler, but does anyone have an example of good filler that actually improved then story?
Even a stopped clock can be right twice a day and all right?
One Strip! One Strip!If I had to chose a best fight, it would be the Vegeta fight (since Goku technically never dropped fully it is still a single fight, right?). It has a nice sense of progression, stakes and, most rare of all, teamwork. Though the other fights in the Sayan arc are good too, as are the Budoukais.
Overall, though, nowadays, when looking back, I simply don't care for most of the fights, specially the big ones. If they are short they work as nice character moment but otherwise it is just boring to me. Post Sayan arc, the only fight I kinda enjoy, I think, is Buu vs Gotenks, but even then it is for the silliness, not the fight itself.
I feel like an assumption has been made that these decisions will be 100% based on the anime versions, with no consideration for how a fight played out in the manga.
Considering that Kaiser is a manga purist, that seems like a strange assumption to make.
My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.Most of the time, they based themselves in the anime rather than the manga, even with Kaiser there, so I say that's a fair assumption to make
EDIT:ok rereading your post I realized I was kinda wrong, still I feel they base themselves mostly on the anime while not much in the manga
Edited by Fedetropes on Dec 13th 2018 at 10:22:01 AM
¡PONLE QUE DIGA!:"¡HUMONGOSAURIO HASTA LA MUERTE!"Anyone remember that dinosaur Gohan befriended that got eaten by a T. rex at the end of the episode? That builds character. But then I was confused later on when Gohan was running away from that same T. rex and acting like it was all a big joke. Like, if this guy ate your best friend I don't think you'd be giggling constantly in his presence.
You would if you were enjoying your sweet sweet vengeance.
And Gohan was having a fun time fucking that dude up.

Or not-so-good reasons