Post
by emperior » Thu Jul 12, 2018 1:04 pm
This is probably the first time I seriously make a "Favorite arcs" list on this forum, so I will comment why my list goes this way.
1 - Saiyan arc The atmosphere of this arc alone puts it on top. I have always loved the darkness and sense of urgency the arc has. The crazy battles are among the best of the series in my opinion, as I am a big fan of bloody battles which end up with the fighters either dead or severely injured - which is the best way to describe every battle of the arc. It also changes the series completely, by immensely increasing its scale by introducing aliens, giving Goku a neat backstory and introducing the Otherworld too. The themes of the arc and the character help elevate this arc even more.
It's safe to say that this is the most important arc in the whole franchise, and if it never happened Dragon Ball would be completely different.
2 - Namek arc This arc is just as good as the Saiyan arc. The use of the cast is great, and it further builds upon the foundation set by the Saiyan arc. The suspense and tension felt on Namek when our heroes Krillin and Gohan are among the weakest fighters on the planet is always incredible, and their hit and run tactics only help elevate the tension furthermore. Vegeta is at the top of his game, and every fight of this arc is also perfectly crafted. The culmination with Goku finally turning into a Super Saiyan is the highest point of the franchise, to me. It also helps that Freeza is a very interesting villain whose fate is connected to Goku.
3 - Future Trunks arc I am a big fan of dark and gritty settings, and this arc perfectly captures that atmosphere. Goku Black and Zamasu are probably the best villains of the franchise. The mystery of Goku Black's identity had me completely immersed on this arc's story, and the story twists definitely helped for that. Future Trunks is also among my favorite characters so I was very happy to have him back, and I absolutely adore how they treated him and how, in the end, he got the final kill on Zamasu. The bittersweet ending was also very touching, and a reminder of how unpredictable Dragon Ball is, and how things do not always end well. I really feel the thematics of this arc. If it had a few more episodes of fighting and overall more consistent art and animation, this may very well be on the number 1 spot of my list. I could write so many more words about why I just love this arc.
It is the first suspensful Dragon Ball arc I ever experienced weekly, and it is probably why I have such a sweet spot for it, but I definitely love this arc's story.
4 - 23rd Budokai Tenkaichi Awesome battles. Awesome choreography. Goku is finally an adult! This arc is the perfect example of a tournament done well. Each fight is awesome, and there is also a main villain as the rival - one who promises to take over the world.
Goku vs Piccolo is definitely in the Top 3 of my favorite battles of this franchise, if not my personal favorite. Them being perfectly equals, with the outcome being uncertain is what makes this battle so damn good. The amount of blood shed and the tactics they constantly use to one up eachothers are just incredible. And that ending with Goku unveiling his Bukujutsu right at the last moment... it is so good! It's also the first time Goku decides to spare his enemy at the end of a battle, setting up a trend and a personality trait for Goku I personally like a lot.
5 - Universal Survival arc Action. In its purest form. The craziness of this tournament makes it very entertaining to watch, and Ultra Instinct alone puts this arc on the Top 5. Bringing Freeza and 17 back for this tournament were two incredibly good choices, and they were definitely the highlights of this arc with Ultra Instinct, which is the most amazing martial arts power-up concept I have ever seen, and I am so glad Toriyama came up with it. Jiren may not be the best rival ever, but I also liked his character and he was definitely different from everything we ever got. Such an awesome arc, which has further solidified Super as being a great product, with more than a reason to exist.
6 - Androids arc From Future Trunks' badass introduction to Gohan's badass fight with Cell. I have always loved this arc. The TV special, History of Trunks, remains as one of the best pieces of Dragon Ball media I have ever seen, paired up with the other TV special, and it further makes me love the whole Androids arc even more. I am also a sucker for time travelling stories, which is why I like this and the Future Trunks arc so much.
7 - Majin Buu arc A funny and over the top arc, yet there are still some dark scenes. The ending is the most iconic thing of it, but Super Saiyan 3 and the two fusions also help making this arc memorable.
I won't comment my choice, as I am quite burned out, but here's how my list goes on. I like these last three arc almost equally, but I like the 21st Tournament more because of how much I love the training of Goku and Krillin in preparation for the tournament.
8 - 21st Budokai Tenkaichi
9 - 22nd Budokai Tenkaichi
10 - Piccolo Daimao arc
悟 “Vincit qui se vincit”
What I consider canonical