What is the darkest arc in the original run?

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Paulo Gabriel
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What is the darkest arc in the original run?

Post by Paulo Gabriel » Fri Apr 05, 2019 3:50 pm

I haven't watch much of Super. So, in the original run (1986-1995), what do you think is the darkest arc in the series?

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Re: What is the darkest arc in the original run?

Post by DragonBallKing » Fri Apr 05, 2019 3:55 pm

Probably Freeza, Wanting to rule over all life and attempting to eradicate an entire race is pretty hardcore. I think it may have the highest on screen death count as well.
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Re: What is the darkest arc in the original run?

Post by KBABZ » Fri Apr 05, 2019 4:09 pm

I would say Daimao, most of which can be attributed to sheer contrast to the earlier arcs. It opens with Krillin being killed off-panel/screen (which is even worse in the anime), Goku becoming irreconsolably enraged for the first time, he fights Krillin's killer and loses BADLY, the entire cast thinks he's dead, Daimao goes on practically a world destruction spree in the anime lore filler, he kills Chiaotzu and is indirectly responsible for killing Roshi, HE KILLS SHENRON, he overthrows King Furry and literally takes over the world, blows up a huge chunk of the capital, blows up the ENTIRE CITY with imagery that is undeniably drawing upon Hiroshima, AND bloodily breaks three of Goku's limbs whilst crushing his friend's skull in. And Goku is TWELVE at the time!

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Re: What is the darkest arc in the original run?

Post by MyVisionity » Fri Apr 05, 2019 4:56 pm

For me it's probably Daimao, and then maybe Majin Boo.

Daimao not so much because of all the death, destruction, and brutality, but because of Piccolo himself being a demon who's looking to wipe out humanity and let evil flourish. It's the supernatural aspect of the arc that makes it so dark. The idea that he is evil incarnate and the way he conveys his hatred of human life really shapes the tone of the arc. And all of his demonic underlings are unsettling also, plus the way he gives birth to them. The character designs, music, and acting all contribute as well.

The Boo arc is pretty dark to me for similar reasons. The sinister foreboding surrounding Bobbidi's minions, and the sort of supernatural deadliness that they represent is disturbing. Plus the bleakness and hopelessness in the later half of the arc.

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Re: What is the darkest arc in the original run?

Post by 90sDBZ » Fri Apr 05, 2019 5:33 pm

King Piccolo then a tossup between Saiyan and Frieza. All 3 had multiple deaths of major characters, and actual doubt that they could be revived.

I give it to King Piccolo because a lot of the deaths were shocking and brutal in a realistic way, and it was the 1st to have huge masses of death. Krillin dying had the perfect buildup and was sad, shocking, and unsettling. It's one of the only moments that had me feeling misty.

And the stuff were Piccolo takes over, releases convicts, and introduces "Piccolo day" to cause mass panic. Crazy times.

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Re: What is the darkest arc in the original run?

Post by SuperSaiyaManZ94 » Fri Apr 05, 2019 5:44 pm

I'd say a toss up between the Piccolo Daimao and Freeza arcs.
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Re: What is the darkest arc in the original run?

Post by Gligarman » Fri Apr 05, 2019 8:27 pm

I would definitely go with the Piccolo Daimao arc. Toriyama said he wanted to try his hands at a really threatening villain. Hell, that could have been the end of the entire series if he wanted.

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Re: What is the darkest arc in the original run?

Post by Paulo Gabriel » Fri Apr 05, 2019 8:39 pm

I -- the OP -- would choose the Cell arc. It has definitely the most dark music and tone.

I will readily admit I havent watched the OG Dragon Ball in its entirety, however.

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Re: What is the darkest arc in the original run?

Post by KBABZ » Fri Apr 05, 2019 10:07 pm

MyVisionity wrote: Fri Apr 05, 2019 4:56 pm The Boo arc is pretty dark to me for similar reasons. The sinister foreboding surrounding Bobbidi's minions, and the sort of supernatural deadliness that they represent is disturbing. Plus the bleakness and hopelessness in the later half of the arc.
Buu arc is definitely up there thanks to the mood whiplash that makes it feel truly unsettling at times. For example, there's the moment where Buu helps restore the eyesight of a blind boy through the kindness of his heart... and then blows up an entire city for laughs, killing millions. Or when he turns Chi-Chi into an egg and then steps on her, or turns 18 and her infant daughter into chocolate and eats them comedically. The Buu arc is FULL of that twisted stuff.

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Re: What is the darkest arc in the original run?

Post by MasenkoHA » Sat Apr 06, 2019 12:25 am

Dunno, which arc took place at night the most often?

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Re: What is the darkest arc in the original run?

Post by Dbzfan94 » Sat Apr 06, 2019 1:02 am

KBABZ wrote: Fri Apr 05, 2019 4:09 pm I would say Daimao, most of which can be attributed to sheer contrast to the earlier arcs. It opens with Krillin being killed off-panel/screen (which is even worse in the anime), Goku becoming irreconsolably enraged for the first time, he fights Krillin's killer and loses BADLY, the entire cast thinks he's dead, Daimao goes on practically a world destruction spree in the anime lore filler, he kills Chiaotzu and is indirectly responsible for killing Roshi, HE KILLS SHENRON, he overthrows King Furry and literally takes over the world, blows up a huge chunk of the capital, blows up the ENTIRE CITY with imagery that is undeniably drawing upon Hiroshima, AND bloodily breaks three of Goku's limbs whilst crushing his friend's skull in. And Goku is TWELVE at the time!
Goku was 15 in the King Piccolo arc.

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Re: What is the darkest arc in the original run?

Post by KBABZ » Sat Apr 06, 2019 1:45 am

Dbzfan94 wrote: Sat Apr 06, 2019 1:02 am
KBABZ wrote: Fri Apr 05, 2019 4:09 pm I would say Daimao, most of which can be attributed to sheer contrast to the earlier arcs. It opens with Krillin being killed off-panel/screen (which is even worse in the anime), Goku becoming irreconsolably enraged for the first time, he fights Krillin's killer and loses BADLY, the entire cast thinks he's dead, Daimao goes on practically a world destruction spree in the anime lore filler, he kills Chiaotzu and is indirectly responsible for killing Roshi, HE KILLS SHENRON, he overthrows King Furry and literally takes over the world, blows up a huge chunk of the capital, blows up the ENTIRE CITY with imagery that is undeniably drawing upon Hiroshima, AND bloodily breaks three of Goku's limbs whilst crushing his friend's skull in. And Goku is TWELVE at the time!
Goku was 15 in the King Piccolo arc.
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FIFTEEN at the time!

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Re: What is the darkest arc in the original run?

Post by Paulo Gabriel » Sat Apr 06, 2019 3:07 am

MasenkoHA wrote: Sat Apr 06, 2019 12:25 am Dunno, which arc took place at night the most often?
:problem:

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Re: What is the darkest arc in the original run?

Post by KBABZ » Sat Apr 06, 2019 4:03 am

MasenkoHA wrote: Sat Apr 06, 2019 12:25 am Dunno, which arc took place at night the most often?
Well that'd be the Namek arc, obviously.

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Re: What is the darkest arc in the original run?

Post by sunsetshimmer » Sat Apr 06, 2019 6:00 am

Paulo Gabriel wrote: Fri Apr 05, 2019 3:50 pm I haven't watch much of Super. So, in the original run (1986-1995), what do you think is the darkest arc in the series?
*1986-1997

It's either Frieza or King Piccolo saga. Can't see other possibilites.
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Re: What is the darkest arc in the original run?

Post by Cursed Lemon » Sat Apr 06, 2019 10:36 am

I think a distinction ought to be drawn between "dark" and "dramatic". For instance, the saiyan arc was a fairly brutal adjustment against DB for the number of character deaths, but would I call it "dark"? I don't think so. It still maintains many notes of heroic optimism. The Frieza arc, meanwhile, has a very oppressive mood to it, especially once Frieza himself gets involved.
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Re: What is the darkest arc in the original run?

Post by RandomGuy96 » Sat Apr 06, 2019 5:37 pm

The Saiyan arc, by far. There's no comedy at all (bar maybe Kaio's antics), the main character has to face the awful truth of his heritage, the cast is slaughtered one by one, moments of heroism are constantly subverted and turned into pointless wastes of life, and for most of the arc the heroes are powerless against the sadistic and brutal villains who are essentially torturing them to death in front of their friends who are helpless to do anything about it. By the time the arc ends half of the cast is dead and the main villain is still at large, swearing to come back stronger and more determined. It's particularly effective paired with the fairly light-hearted arc that preceded it. It's telling that rather than ending in triumph, the last shot of the final battle is the four remaining heroes lying on the floor in a pool of their own blood, unable to move under their own power, having just survived the onslaught.
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Re: What is the darkest arc in the original run?

Post by The gr » Sat Apr 06, 2019 6:22 pm

Definitely the Daimao arc like compared to the previous arc, it got really dark.
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Re: What is the darkest arc in the original run?

Post by KBABZ » Sat Apr 06, 2019 8:58 pm

RandomGuy96 wrote: Sat Apr 06, 2019 5:37 pmIt's particularly effective paired with the fairly light-hearted arc that preceded it.
Excuse me?? You mean the 23rd TB arc??

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Re: What is the darkest arc in the original run?

Post by ABED » Sat Apr 06, 2019 9:13 pm

RandomGuy96 wrote: Sat Apr 06, 2019 5:37 pm The Saiyan arc, by far. There's no comedy at all (bar maybe Kaio's antics), the main character has to face the awful truth of his heritage, the cast is slaughtered one by one, moments of heroism are constantly subverted and turned into pointless wastes of life, and for most of the arc the heroes are powerless against the sadistic and brutal villains who are essentially torturing them to death in front of their friends who are helpless to do anything about it. By the time the arc ends half of the cast is dead and the main villain is still at large, swearing to come back stronger and more determined. It's particularly effective paired with the fairly light-hearted arc that preceded it. It's telling that rather than ending in triumph, the last shot of the final battle is the four remaining heroes lying on the floor in a pool of their own blood, unable to move under their own power, having just survived the onslaught.
The four heroes aren't lying on the floor in their own blood. They are triumphant. Vegeta didn't get away. The heroes let him leave. It's certainly one of the darkest arcs, but it's not nearly as bad as you're making it out to be. Gohan isn't unable to move because he's battered. Gohan is tired after having transformed and changed back. The only one who can't move of his own volition is Goku.
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