Post
by Amerigo » Sun Jul 23, 2017 12:41 pm
In a series where power is everything, power-scaling should matter.
Chi-Chi married Goku because of his power.
Bulma married Vegeta because of his power.
Goku and Vegeta are friends because they respect the others power.
Power-Scaling matters because it affects the presence that each character possesses.
Zeno is the best example of power-scaling done correctly. We are told that he is the god of gods, we are told that he possesses power that is unfathomable - but more importantly, we are shown it. Every time Zeno comes on screen, terror fills the hearts of the characters in the story but also the viewers. He is not all bark, he is also bite, and will crush you like a bug at the merest hint of annoyance. Zeno possesses presence.
However, if Zeno allowed people to disrespect him, to insult, and to push him around - we as the viewers, as well as the characters, would lose respect for him and his power. He would no longer have presence, he would no longer be intimidating.
Goku and Vegeta are supposed to be the two strongest Saiyans in history, capable of destroying galaxies with a flick of their finger, and anniliate universes with a single punch. It is the job of the writers to convince us of this; it is the job of the writers to give Goku and Vegeta a powerful and dominating presence.
But when all Goku and Vegeta do is lose, job and get humiliated - when everyone and their grandma is as strong, if not stronger, than them... When all it takes to surpass them is getting angry, doing two push ups, or a little dance...
Goku and Vegeta no longer possesses that powerful, dominating presence they had in DBZ. Goku is dumber than ever, Vegeta is Bulma's fuckboy and Beerus' lapdog. They always lose, job, get trashed, etc.
That is why power-scaling matters.