Would you have ended the franchise ?

[TheGreatness25]

But if it's a side story and has no consequence on the real story, then if that whole planet gets destroyed and every character died, it really doesn't make any sort of difference because the characters that you've followed since the very beginning aren't even the ones represented in GT. It's the small things, but even in Xenoverse it bothers me when you get that crappy GT DLC and Trunks goes, "That's me, but not me-me, like another me!" It's like, really? Hey, they wanted me to "support the official merchandise" and accept GT as this awkward little cousin of Dragon Ball and after years of doing that, they kind of shoved him into a closet and locked the door. That's why I would've ended the series after Z. But no, we had GT. It was already there. We all came to terms with how we want to live with it and I chose to kind of just accept it and shut my eyes to a lot of things that happened in that series to support the franchise. Now, years later, they want to "rectify" it? And what they're rectifying it with can have the exact same criticisms as GT? What were GT's big criticisms? That Goku has the spotlight, that it has many plot holes, and that everyone is way overpowered (aside from pacing issues of the show). So Super's way of rectifying it is to have a show where Goku has the spotlight, it goes back and starts mucking up the story, and everyone is way, way, way, way, WAY overpowered? If GT was Dragon Ball's awkward little cousin, you don't one day wake up 20 years alter, shoot him, and replace him with another awkward little cousin.

[Kamiccolo9]

And if you like GT, Super saying GT didn't happen shouldn't hurt them.

Lots of people say this, but Super really does hurt GT. It's nice for people who hate GT to say, "Well GT was a side story and didn't really happen!" Then turn around and patronize the GT fans by patting them on the head and saying, "But if you liked it, then it's okay because it's still a side story." It does hurt GT. If you're a fan of comics and know that there are parallel Earths, you care about what happens on the Earth that's the center of the story; you couldn't give a donkey's ding dong about what happens in one of the parallel Earth. So in that regard, yeah, it does kind of hurt GT.

The Dark Knight Returns, which is one of THE defining Batman stories, is set on a parallel Earth. Same with "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow," for Superman.

Just because GT being "non-canon" or whatever is so detrimental to you, don't assume that applies to everyone else.

[Grand Elder Togu]

Love is the root of both joy and suffering.

Dragon Ball is bigger than Akira Toriyama and his vision. It has attained a life of it's own through the laws of capitalism. It feeds on intangibles like the fondness in peoples hearts and the memories they share, that are made material by the money in their wallets going to the rights holders. It's staying alive not because some Shueisha executive refuses to hit the off switch, but because of the enduring love it has inspired in generations of people(and the fact that this love must be capitalized on). To me, this question is tantamount to asking, "Would you erase the love of this franchise from every heart it's ever touched?" or perhaps more aptly "Would you end all Capitalism?" Love can hurt sometimes, but it I don't know if it's worth doing that.

...No? Not buying that? Okay, slightly less ridiculous answer here: I like a lot of the video games and Battle of Gods and the cute Android 18 figures so no, I would not end the franchise.

Spoiler:

Not until we get Bootykai Tenga-itchy 4

[ABED]

It has no impact on the main story but if the story is good, that's what matters. One of my favorite episodes of Friends is The One That Could Have Been. It's an alternate universe where the each of the group are slightly different (Monica is fat and a virgin, Chandler is a writer, Joey is still a soap star, Phoebe is a stock broker, Ross is still married to Carol, and Rachel married Barry). What happens in the story doesn't have any impact on the main story but it is still great because it's full of heart and humor. It's a solid story on its own. If the writers are good , you will care about it whether it's a side story or not. Who cares if it's not canon?

[RedRibbonSoldier#42]

I think so, and I'd probably end it at the Freeza arc with a few minor adjustments.

Do you not like a single thing after Freeza? Why just end something that's going strong?

Personally, I'd prefer something end while it's going strong than have it end it when it's gotten to the point that it's run its course, it's out of ideas, the quality's dropped, nobody cares, and people are longing for the good old days when their favorite franchise was still good and wishing it had been put of its misery long before. I'm not necessarily saying Dragon Ball is at that point, but I am saying that if you refuse to end something when it's going strong, your alternative is to end it only when it stops making money, and that usually indicates it's no longer well.

I'd rather stop after its already bad than while it's still good. And that's only for plotless series like Dragonball. Plot type series should end when they get there no matter how bad, if the've already come a long way.

[ABED]

I'd rather stop after its already bad than while it's still good. And that's only for plotless series like Dragonball. Plot type series should end when they get there no matter how bad, if the've already come a long way.

It's not a plotless show. It's not plot heavy, but it has a story. But why would you want something to get bad before you end it? Wouldn't you rather it be good all the way through? Even if it's not as strong as it once was, wouldn't you rather it cross the finish long strong?

[RedRibbonSoldier#42]

I'd rather stop after its already bad than while it's still good. And that's only for plotless series like Dragonball. Plot type series should end when they get there no matter how bad, if the've already come a long way.

It's not a plotless show. It's not plot heavy, but it has a story. But why would you want something to get bad before you end it? Wouldn't you rather it be good all the way through? Even if it's not as strong as it once was, wouldn't you rather it cross the finish long strong?

It's plotless because it has no goal to go to. Individual arc plots and characters pop up as it goes on, but there is no overarching direction or finale.
Shows like Dragonball, Yu Yu Hakusho, JoJo, and Fist of the North Star are plotless in that way.
Gintama, Inuyasha, One Piece and Naruto are plot shows.

[ABED]

It's plotless because it has no goal to go to. Individual arc plots and characters pop up as it goes on, but there is no overarching direction or finale.
Shows like Dragonball, Yu Yu Hakusho, JoJo, and Fist of the North Star are plotless in that way.

I see what you're saying, though I don't know if I would consider that the defining quality of a plot show. Law and Order has no overarching plot, but it is a plot heavy show. I would consider Seinfeld and The Simpsons to be plotless shows.

My rule of thumb is that if the show is what I call a comfort show, where what keeps you coming back to it is primarily the world and the characters like they were friends, then go as long as it's enjoyable and good even if the show isn't at its peak creatively speaking. However, shows like Breaking Bad where it's about the tension and you tune in not to see the characters like they're your friends (e.g. Breaking Bad), then it's best to have an endpoint and move towards that and end when the story needs to end.

With Dragon Ball, there are arcs and moments that I love, but from the beginning, to the end of the Freeza arc is over 200 episodes. I would in no way feel short changed. My biggest issue with where the series went afterwards is that after Freeza, it's pretty much impossible to demonstrate a characters power. Freeza can destroy a planet with his finger. The only thing to convey the scale of powers after him is by saying, "That's the greatest power I've ever sensed!" That's not what I could consider dramatic.

[RedRibbonSoldier#42]

With Dragon Ball, there are arcs and moments that I love, but from the beginning, to the end of the Freeza arc is over 200 episodes. I would in no way feel short changed. .

Sure, we could live without the post-Freeza stuff. But we could also live without the post Piccolo stuff, or post Hunt for Dragonballs. Or post Dr. Slump.

[ABED]

With Dragon Ball, there are arcs and moments that I love, but from the beginning, to the end of the Freeza arc is over 200 episodes. I would in no way feel short changed. .

Sure, we could live without the post-Freeza stuff. But we could also live without the post Piccolo stuff, or post Hunt for Dragonballs. Or post Dr. Slump.

Fair enough, but not my point. Once it was created I like for series to not end before I'm ready to let go.

[RandomGuy96]

I really do think the end of the Buu arc is probably the best ending for the series, from a narrative point of view. Or, at least, that it's better than any other point where the series could be ended even if the actual climax of the Buu arc was pretty shit. I like how it ends on the note of "and the adventure goes on...!"; a small, subdued, open-ended conclusion where everything's wrapped up but a small window is still open as a distant finale to the final epic struggle where the universe-threatening, god-eating, ultimate monster was defeated in a long running battle that involved every hero and lasted most of an arc.

Super and GT both shit on this nigh-perfect ending in their own ways.

[ABED]

"and the adventure goes on...!"; a small, subdued, open-ended conclusion where everything's wrapped up but a small window is still open as a distant finale to the final epic struggle where the universe-threatening, god-eating, ultimate monster was defeated in a long running battle that involved every hero and lasted most of an arc.

Super and GT both shit on this nigh-perfect ending in their own ways.

It's not remotely close to perfect. Goku leaves his family with some stupid kid. That's not a note of adventure, it feels like a giant slap in the face. Even the Freeza arc as is ends on a better note. Even if we don't see Goku, we know he's alive. Goku winning the 23rd Budokai also ends with "and the adventure goes on..." and leaves it open for more adventures while giving the series a proper conclusion for its characters. I'd take GT's ending over Z's 10 out of 10 times.

[Doctor.]

Once upon a time, I would have said yes. Preferably in the Freeza arc, but the Cell and Boo arcs would have been fine too. But now, I don't really care if the franchise ended or continued. I see the franchise as a way of entertainment that puts fun and enjoyment above everything else. The quality of the series is kind of irrelevant, it's not meant to be seen as some grand work of literature.

[ABED]

I see the franchise as a way of entertainment that puts fun and enjoyment above everything else. The quality of the series is kind of irrelevant, it's not meant to be seen as some grand work of literature.

The quality of the work does affect its entertainment value. Conversely, grand works of literature have to be entertaining.

[Doctor.]

I see the franchise as a way of entertainment that puts fun and enjoyment above everything else. The quality of the series is kind of irrelevant, it's not meant to be seen as some grand work of literature.

The quality of the work does affect its entertainment value. Conversely, grand works of literature have to be entertaining.

It's a factor, sure. Usually works of fiction you hold in high regard in terms of quality you enjoy as well, but you don't need to find something "good" to enjoy it, there's a difference here and Dragon Ball, modem Dragon Ball especially, fits in the latter of groups.

[ABED]

I see the franchise as a way of entertainment that puts fun and enjoyment above everything else. The quality of the series is kind of irrelevant, it's not meant to be seen as some grand work of literature.

The quality of the work does affect its entertainment value. Conversely, grand works of literature have to be entertaining.

It's a factor, sure. Usually works of fiction you hold in high regard in terms of quality you enjoy as well, but you don't need to find something "good" to enjoy it, there's a difference here and Dragon Ball, modem Dragon Ball especially, fits in the latter of groups.

Sure, but there have to be things of quality within the work even if overall it's not great. For instance, while pacing is often an issue with the anime, the characters are interesting, the fights are good, the motives of the characters are simple and understandable, there are stakes, the artwork is good, and it's funny. That goes a long way in making up for a lack of some of the finer details.

[Doctor.]

Sure, I didn't say that specific aspects of a work can't be good or even great regardless of the grand scheme of things. I'm just saying that you don't need to find an overall product good to find it enjoyable and SOME works of fiction can carry on going, ignoring writing quality, with the sole intent of producing entertaining and enjoyable content (and money of course, but let's imagine it's a bit more innocent than that). Dragon Ball function well as a work like that.

If something like, say, One Piece continues after the work is done, I'd be pretty upset. Because it's a story that was planned from the beginning, with multiple hints and build-up to lead up to one conclusion. If it continues going on forever, it's throwing all of that way. Dragon Ball never had a cohesive narrative, from the start it was a story that went wherever the author felt like it could go.

[ABED]

My point in case it wasn't clear is that to be entertaining, it has to have aspects that are good and make up for the lack of other aspects. The things that Dragon Ball are known for (e.g. characters, action, humor) if those elements don't have a certain level of quality, people won't find it entertaining, and it seems like the pacing hasn't been good for a while and the action hasn't been great either. I like Battle of Gods because it was short, very funny, and good characters including new ones, which made up a lot for the other elements that were lacking. If too many elements aren't there, people won't find it entertaining, much like they didn't find GT entertaining.

If it continues going on forever, it's throwing all of that way.

Forget forever, but if it goes on after Luffy has obtained the goal he set out for, that doesn't throw it all away, it's just becomes about finding a new goal. Supernatural is a great example. The first five years form a single narrative that the series creator was always heading towards, but the show went on without him, and then it was simply about the characters reevaluating and figuring out new goals and facing new obstacles.

[ekrolo2]

A series can go on indefinitely as long as it keeps putting out quality content. Whether it should go on indefinitely is a matter worth debating on but I think if the material we get is good well there's little room in complaining about getting more of a good thing. It's only when a rut has been hit when you need to either late it end already or find someone to give it a good boot in the ass.

[ABED]

A series can go on indefinitely as long as it keeps putting out quality content. Whether it should go on indefinitely is a matter worth debating on but I think if the material we get is good well there's little room in complaining about getting more of a good thing. It's only when a rut has been hit when you need to either late it end already or find someone to give it a good boot in the ass.

Agreed which is why I have no issue with more Supernatural even after they stopped the Apcalypse or in DB because there were plenty of great moments after the Freeza arc.