Thoughts on the final 5-ep filler arc of Dragonball?

[precita]

What were your thoughts on the final 5-ep arc where Goku and Chi Chi have to find the bansho fan and travel to the magical furnace to put out the fire and save the Ox King?

I actually liked this arc a bit more than I expected, although the first two episodes (especially the boring fire-eater bird episode) were very slow. But it picked up afterward. One thing I really like aside from getting to see Goku/Chi-Chi on an adventure is they actually find the bansho fan for the first time, Goku sees his grandfather Gohan again, and we get to see Emperor Pilaf one last time. Keep in mind that before Super, this was the last appearance of Emperor Pilaf, Shoe and Mai all the way till GT's first episode. It always surprises me how quickly Pilaf disappeared from the series.

Of course the filler sorta creates a plothole given Grandpa Gohan says the place is a nexus between the living world and the otherworld, but oh well, it doesn't matter much. Thoughts?

[MajinMan]

I thought it was an OK filler arc, but nothing too great. The Chi Chi/Goku bonding was pretty cool to see and the highlight of the arc to me was when they were dancing together. The rest was kinda boring, especially the fire bird like you mentioned.

[Chuquita]

It's been a while since I've seen it, but I remember enjoying seeing Chi-Chi utilized as an active main character instead of the active supporting character she is in Z. She doesn't bounce off Gokû with the same zest that Bulma, Kaio-sama, and Vegeta all do, making me wonder if that's part of the reason she didn't have any larger roles in filler; maybe she didn't make the bar. Also of note: this filler arc gave us some Gokû dancing (I've head-canoned that he knows how to waltz because of this filler arc) and showed what Chi-Chi's mom looked like.

[Polyphase Avatron]

I also liked the introduction of a formidable female fighter.

[dbzfan7]

I thought it wasn't half bad. It's also the last time I think Goku and Chi Chi have much chemistry. Then it's pretty much gone. The filler for me kinda shows the two as a couple better than anything else has.

[precita]

I thought it wasn't half bad. It's also the last time I think Goku and Chi Chi have much chemistry. Then it's pretty much gone. The filler for me kinda shows the two as a couple better than anything else has.

Its probably because Gohan isn't born yet. Before Chi-Chi was a mother she just loved Goku and wasn't constantly talking about parenting and Gohan studying.

Chi-Chi being a fun loving bride is more entertaining than her being a tiger mom.

[DBZASHKACHU]

I thought it was overall fun to watch. Especially after the whole fight with King Piccolo and the 23rd Tenkaichi Budoukai stuff. Most of that arc was pretty heavy so once Goku defeated Piccolo it was a nice change of pace. Plus this was the first time Goku and Chi-Chi had more time to interact and play off each other. Most of their encounters always felt sorta brief to me before this. Well not too brief, they still had nice encounters but I guess here Chi-Chi was more active. Plus we get to see Grandpa Gohan, Pilaf and company, a little action and a wedding, I'd watch it again

[ABED]

While it's a sweet arc and short, ending at the 23rd Budokai was the perfect ending.

[Man-Child]

It was one of the few times where the filler was really noticeable. The story had a firm conclusion already and the plot of what came afterward seemed needless. To extend an already long series for the end goal of a wedding dress? Meh. Not to mention, Goku was kind of a dick to Gohan in those filler eps, which soured their only other reunion for me. Not bad, but not much of anything, really.

[ABED]

It was one of the few times where the filler was really noticeable. The story had a firm conclusion already, and the plot of what came afterward seemed needless. To extend an already long series for the end goal of a wedding dress? Bleh. Not to mention, Goku was kind of a dick to Gohan in those filler eps, which soured their only other reunion for me. Not bad, but not much of anything, really.

How was he a dick?

[Man-Child]

It was one of the few times where the filler was really noticeable. The story had a firm conclusion already, and the plot of what came afterward seemed needless. To extend an already long series for the end goal of a wedding dress? Bleh. Not to mention, Goku was kind of a dick to Gohan in those filler eps, which soured their only other reunion for me. Not bad, but not much of anything, really.

How was he a dick?

Admittedly, Annin's ego and pigheadedness were also at play at the time, but Goku not listening to her or Gohan about the effects of putting out the eightfold furnace fire, then shoving GG off him when trying to turn the crank to do so.

[ABED]

I put the blame more on Annin's arogance than Goku's resolve to save his future father in law. And I don't think this spoiled the previous reunion between Goku and Gohan. The real problem with the arc is that it's anti-climactic. All of the storylines were wrapped up a few episodes ago. Also, it bugs me that Goku's closest friends aren't there with him.

[irreality]

It is actually one of my favorite filler plots in all of DB/DBZ. But it has been years since I've watched it.

[MCDaveG]

I do like that filler a lot!
Also, there is more of the mysticism, we see another deity besides of Namekian God and meet Grandpa Gohan again
Also, last time before Chi-Chi becomes ''soccer mom''.

[SpiritBombTriumphant]

I hated it a lot. I wanted the series to end with Piccolo's defeat like in the manga, and then move on to Z. Although I must say that Dragon Ball's filler is much better than Z's ever was. At least we didn't have to watch men scream for an hour, stare at each other for a few episodes, or talk about how powerful they are. The action just happened and we got story in the filler episodes, such as Tien and Chiaotzu's introduction.

But this was horrible in my opinion.

[Man-Child]

I put the blame more on Annin's arogance than Goku's resolve to save his future father in law. And I don't think this spoiled the previous reunion between Goku and Gohan. The real problem with the arc is that it's anti-climactic. All of the storylines were wrapped up a few episodes ago. Also, it bugs me that Goku's closest friends aren't there with him.

True, I'd also put more of the blame on Annin. Had she merely pointed out the requirements to fix the furnace ahead of time, a few fights could've been avoided. Still, I find it a bit off that Goku would so unhesitantly doom two planes of existance. For understandable reasons, and not really out of character, but still.

As for the second reunion, I was referring to this filler, though rewatching it in the past hour, perhaps my statement of the reunion being ruined was exaggerated. Not my favorite of moments for Goku, but the rest of their interaction played out fine.

And yeah, I'd have to also agree that the rest of the cast not being in the arc or the actual wedding was a let down. Would've been nice, though contradictory.

[ABED]

Would've been nice, though contradictory.

Would it have? I know they don't know about Gohan, but i don't recall anything where they said they weren't at the wedding.

At least we didn't have to watch men scream for an hour, stare at each other for a few episodes, or talk about how powerful they are.

That's not the bulk of the filler and it's an over exaggeration. The bulk of the filler in Z is cutaways to Muten Roshi, Chichi, or Bulma. Still I get your point. You could actually just not watch the last five episodes of DB and boom, no filler.

[Man-Child]

I'm not sure if any references, either in the show or manga were made as to when exactly was the last time the others had seen Goku, so you might be right. It would've been a slightly awkward transition to have Goku return to them, given his departure a few episodes before, but I'm sure there could've been a good enough way to connect the two.

[FortuneSSJ]

The worst filler arc that this series ever had.

[B]

I literally kept falling asleep through it; granted, I was doing a marathon and they are the very last episodes. I was pretty much burned out by the 23rd Budokai. I'm thinking of doing another rewatch soon with proper spacing apart. Maybe Dragon Ball Z's infamous pacing issues aren't as sudden as I thought.

I do like that Uranai Baba gets the final shot of the series, with that big grin on her face, all while Yanami narrates that "a new adventure is approaching."