Okay.
I knew about the news of Freeza's return being initial being a rumor. But when it officially it was confirmed last night to be legit, I was caught
so off-guard by that bombshell that I literally had no idea how to respond to it. I initially didn't want to believe it but now that it has been verified as 100% true that is indeed comin back to take part in the Tournament Of Power, I decided to take some time to mull over this huge news before I give my official stance on this and other circumstances of Team Universe 7, instead of giving an inappropriate knee jerk reaction.
*breathes in deeply* *breathes out deeply*
First off, Majin Boo being sidelined,
again, because he deiced sleep at the most inconvenient time,
again, is the most bullshit excuse to bench him I've ever come across. It's so fucking dumb. And it's the worst kind of recurring gag that they've given to any character in the cast. This is the
third fucking time it's happened to him. And it annoys the hell out of me that Toriyama/Toei/Toyotaro would take this route to exclude from another major story in modern Dragon Ball. I was looking forward to Majin Boo competing in the Tournament of Power so damn much, and know he not going to be taking part in it disappoints and angers me a lot. Like why even
advertise him? It's the Champa arc all over again. And if the Zen Exhibition Matches aren't in the manga, then that really show how much Toriyama doesn't really care for the character. Because even if doesn't compete, at least Toei were willing to throw him a bone and reminds the fans just what he's truly capable of in combat. Just terrible treatment of the character all-around. He deserves better that this.
Now... Freeza returning. Hmm. This is the double edged sword to end all double edged swords.
On one hand, seeing Freeza team up with the heroes in an effort to save his universe is the most brilliantly ironic narrative decisions that Dragon Ball has ever done. The pure idea of Freeza having to work together with people he killed (Krillin, Vegeta) and people that he horribly maimed in combat (Goku and Piccolo) provides so many maddeningly creative and unorthodox avenues for not only how the Tournament of Power pans out, but also how the perspective of future plots and arcs of Super will develop. I can already picture how phenomenal the character interaction will be between Freeza and the rest of the cast. Plus, we get to see Toriyama wonderful version of Hell again. So that's a bonus. I was one of the people who, while I loved Resurrection F, ultimately thought that the wasted Freeza coming back. So him being brought back in the fold as a possible solution to what is currently the universe's darkest hour? It's the most wonderfully subversive and dramatically ironic plot point that Dragon Ball has ever done. It's the perfect way to rectify Freeza's wasted re-appearance in Resurrection F, and also work really damn well as a pay-off to that movie.
But of course they-in lies that problem that
FREZA IS BEING BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE AGAIN. Why would Goku's first response to Majin Boo being out of the tournament be to bring in
Freeza?! I know that Goku may be desperate for a teammate to fill in the gap in short space of time, but I can't help but fell that was a very uncharacteristic decision on Goku's part. This was the guy that three arcs ago literally blew up the Earth in a kamikaze attempt to kill everyone after being defeated by Goku and Vegeta and made everyone lives on Namek a living hell. Could he have seriously not though of
anyone else? At this stage, I really would have preferred Yamcha to be brought into the fold or even
Cell to be brought back. And while we're on the subject of Yamcha, it just makes everything that Super is doing with Yamcha seem more unnecessary cruel and spiteful towards the characters and his fans. Because Toei know full well that Yamcha won't take part in the Tournament of Power, but they are giving across this message that he could a possible joke dark-horse last minute entry in the team. But they know that's not the case at all. It's just another "YAMCHA SUX LOL" gag. Ugh.
But you know what, I was very dismissive about "Evil Goku" when Goku Black was first announced and... well... we all know awesome he turned out to be. What fear the most is that Freeza will brought back to life then just go straight back to hell. I want the character to actually stick around this time. Have his character develop. I'm not asking him to become a hero in an sense of the word. But I think him being the foil to Goku and working as an anti-villian would be a great way to take his character now that he is being brought back to life...
again.
Despite all that's been said, I have to admit, I even
more hyped for the Tournament of Power that I was before. Majin Boo getting the boot sucks really hard. And the excuse given for his absence aggravates the hell out of me. But if they manage to utilize Freeza coming back (again) and make the dynamic of the tournament, and the teamwork and relationships between the members of team Universe 7 all the more unusually intriguing and unpredictable, I will forgive that. For what it's worth though, we
were warned a scenario like this would happen.
Phew.
Glad I got
that out of my system.
Note 1: I want Freeza to return wearing a suit
Note 2: I want the current opening of Super to be edited with Freeza in it and have everybody to have a bemused look on their face at Freeza being in their team
Note 3: If Freeza and Frost don't confront each-other, I will be
massively disappointed.