Limitations on Shenlong's power plothole/retcon/whatever?

[Piccolo Daimao]

Do you think that the limitations placed on Shenlong's wish-granting are a plothole/retcon/whatever? Because, before Z, it was previously said that Shenlong can grant anything and he himself claimed that there was no wish that he couldn't grant. However, the first limitation placed on his power was in the early Saiyan arc, when Kuririn said that, if they died against Raditz, Bulma would wish them back, to which Goku cut in and said that he learnt from God that Shenlong can't grant the same wish twice.

[Gaffer Tape]

Well, specifically, he said that Shen Long can't grant the same wish twice. It just happens to only have any practical effect in the story on bringing people back to life multiple times.

But, yes, it's obviously a retcon. If everyone, including Shen Long, says that there is no wish he cannot grant... and then suddenly there are many wishes he cannot grant, it's obviously something Toriyama just made up at that point. So, yeah, retcon.

[Piccolo Daimao]

Well, specifically, he said that Shen Long can't grant the same wish twice. It just happens to only have any practical effect in the story on bringing people back to life multiple times.

Yeah, I know, that's what I meant. I couldn't remember exactly what he said, so I just said that.

[Malek86]

Out of universe, it's obviously a retcon to add some actual danger to the story.

But if we want to find some in-universe explanation, maybe Shenlong (or Kami) never thought somebody would be able to find the spheres more than once in a lifetime, making a repeat wish extremely difficult to happen. So, Shenlong might as well say that he can grant any wish.

The one year limit on resurrections would be a bit harder to justify, though.

[Gaffer Tape]

Is it that hard to justify? Doesn't Kami-sama suggest that stipulation only in regards to the sheer number of people who would have to be revived? It doesn't seem like he implies that that rule would apply to any resurrection.

[Herms]

Well, specifically, he said that Shen Long can't grant the same wish twice. It just happens to only have any practical effect in the story on bringing people back to life multiple times.

I guess anyone wanting more panties is out of luck.

Is it that hard to justify? Doesn't Kami-sama suggest that stipulation only in regards to the sheer number of people who would have to be revived? It doesn't seem like he implies that that rule would apply to any resurrection.

Yeah, immediately after hearing this explanation about how they can only revive those Freeza/the Saiyans killed in the last year, Kaio asks Tenshinhan and co. to wait another year before being wished back to life. If the 1-year limit applied to individual resurrections, this would be the same thing as asking them to stay dead forever.

[Piccolo Daimao]

Well, specifically, he said that Shen Long can't grant the same wish twice. It just happens to only have any practical effect in the story on bringing people back to life multiple times.

I guess anyone wanting more panties is out of luck.

Oolong, you bastard.

[Gaffer Tape]

Heh, I think I made a thread over a year ago posing that theory, and I was soundly shot down, with the vast majority of the opinion saying that anyone who wasn't Oolong could assuredly have their panties.

Yeah, immediately after hearing this explanation about how they can only revive those Freeza/the Saiyans killed in the last year, Kaio asks Tenshinhan and co. to wait another year before being wished back to life. If the 1-year limit applied to individual resurrections, this would be the same thing as asking them to stay dead forever.

Yeah, and if that was the case it also would have screwed over Kuririn if the heroes' plan had come to fruition. They were going to wait a year to bring him back after they'd wished for Piccolo Daimao to be destroyed.

[Piccolo Daimao]

Heh, I think I made a thread over a year ago posing that theory, and I was soundly shot down, with the vast majority of the opinion saying that anyone who wasn't Oolong could assuredly have their panties.

I think this happened to me too, a thread a while ago about Tao Pai Pai vs. Tsuru-sennin. The majority of people thought that Tao Pai Pai would win, whereas I thought Tsuru-sennin would win. Then, later, there was another thread, and the majority of people believed that Tsuru-sennin would win, but by that time, I had changed my opinion and now believed that Tao Pai Pai would win.

Yeah, immediately after hearing this explanation about how they can only revive those Freeza/the Saiyans killed in the last year, Kaio asks Tenshinhan and co. to wait another year before being wished back to life. If the 1-year limit applied to individual resurrections, this would be the same thing as asking them to stay dead forever.

Yeah, and if that was the case it also would have screwed over Kuririn if the heroes' plan had come to fruition. They were going to wait a year to bring him back after they'd wished for Piccolo Daimao to be destroyed.

But even so, they wouldn't know about it anyway.

[Bussani]

The fact that the "one year rule" only applies to wishing back a huge amount of people makes me wonder if it's always a set, one year limit. What if one guy only killed five people throughout his 100 years of life? Could you wish that everyone he ever killed returns to life, since it's only five measly people, or wouldn't that work? There's no answer, obviously, but it's something I wonder about.

[Piccolo Daimao]

The fact that the "one year rule" only applies to wishing back a huge amount of people makes me wonder if it's always a set, one year limit. What if one guy only killed five people throughout his 100 years of life? Could you wish that everyone he ever killed returns to life, since it's only five measly people, or wouldn't that work? There's no answer, obviously, but it's something I wonder about.

I think it would work. I mean, it's only five people. The Saiyans, however, probably killed countless amounts of people in their years working under Freeza, which is why Shenlong could only revive those that they'd killed in the past year.