Watching DB series Japanese (1st time) COMPLETE

[DarkPrince_92]

SO! I finished Dragon Box Vol. 1. The show still feels like a fresh experience. The cast is still awesome for the most part. I even find filler episodes more enjoyable subbed, like the fake Namek adventures. It has a wackiness to it, something I'd expect more in Dragon Ball, but that's why I liked Dragon Ball in the first place. Even though I'm more than familiar with the series, I still get a feel of suspense with each episode (aside from episode titles that pretty much spoil things), and I can't wait for more. Unto Volume 2.

[Ajay]

Awesome stuff! Any favourites from the Japanese cast in particular?

[DBZGTKOSDH]

But that moment has no bearing since Bardock's death has nothing to do with Goku. It makes far more sense to flashback to that moment around the Freeza fight.

But it doesn't only show Bardock, it also shows Goku after he was born, and when he left to Earth. Bardock is there to show us who Goku's father was, and link Goku with Freeza.

[ABED]

But the placement makes no sense there. I get the chronology but dramatically, it doesn't work.

[DBZGTKOSDH]

But the placement makes no sense there. I get the chronology but dramatically, it doesn't work.

Why?

[TheGmGoken]

DarkPrince I'm curious. Are you going to review some voices?

[Tatakae!!Ramenman]

I like to switch off between the japanese and english versions. I'm going through the show in english now because I saw it too much in japanese, and after I finish going through it in english, I'm going back to watching it in japanese. It makes the japanese version feel more special that way.

[Valerius Dover]

SO! I finished Dragon Box Vol. 1. The show still feels like a fresh experience. The cast is still awesome for the most part. I even find filler episodes more enjoyable subbed, like the fake Namek adventures. It has a wackiness to it, something I'd expect more in Dragon Ball, but that's why I liked Dragon Ball in the first place. Even though I'm more than familiar with the series, I still get a feel of suspense with each episode (aside from episode titles that pretty much spoil things), and I can't wait for more. Unto Volume 2.

Finally, someone who actually likes the Fake Namek thing. Honestly, filler isn't so bad when you binge watch something.

[ABED]

But the placement makes no sense there. I get the chronology but dramatically, it doesn't work.

Why?

The payoff isn't until the next arc. I know they show Goku as a baby, but Bardock's last stand has nothing to do with Goku growing up.

[DBZGTKOSDH]

The payoff isn't until the next arc. I know they show Goku as a baby, but Bardock's last stand has nothing to do with Goku growing up.

Not only the Saiyan arc is connected with the Freeza arc, but Freeza appears in less than 20 episodes after the 1st episode (remember, this is Kai). So, I fail to see the issue here.

[DarkPrince_92]

Someone asked for a voice review. I've gotta say, and I'm sure it's because of the time of release, I like Japanese Z, way more than Japanese Kai. It's much more natural sounding. Goku sounds more or less the same to me. I can now differentiate Goku from Gohan thanks to Nozawa's awesome performace. However, other characters I can tell it was easier for them voicing the first time, instead of in Kai where it seems like they were trying to hit the same sounds again. Also the "KKkkkkKKKK..." when people power up still takes some getting used to.

I'm on volume 2 of DBox now, and hearing Freeza's first appearance was stunning. He sounds a lot cooler than I expected him to sound, very calm. Only voices I'd say bothers me still are (1) Mr. Popo along with the subtitles, it's taking some getting used to. Apparently he's supposed have a "simple" sound, had no idea. And (2) Kami's. He doesn't really give of a "god of Earth" vibe when he speaks, he just sounds old, maybe it's just me.

For the most part no complaints here, I'm still getting through it. Oh yeah, favorite voice is Vegeta's. ALWAYS.

P.S: Bulma's the biggest bitch... I always forget how terrible she is on Namek.

[ABED]

The payoff isn't until the next arc. I know they show Goku as a baby, but Bardock's last stand has nothing to do with Goku growing up.

Not only the Saiyan arc is connected with the Freeza arc, but Freeza appears in less than 20 episodes after the 1st episode (remember, this is Kai). So, I fail to see the issue here.

It's connected in a weak sense. Yes, they share characters, but they aren't anymore connected than the 22nd Budokai is to the Piccolo Daimao arc. Both have independent climaxes. Vegeta is no longer working for Freeza at that point. I'm not saying it's a big deal to have Bardock in the beginning, but it's a weird choice that makes little sense. Think about it this way, if your introduction to Dragon Ball is through Kai, why give away that Goku's an alien upfront?

He doesn't really give of a "god of Earth" vibe when he speaks

what does a god sound like in your mind?

[DarkPrince_92]

He doesn't really give of a "god of Earth" vibe when he speaks

what does a god sound like in your mind?

I'm not sure how to describe it, but it's not that. God's are supposedly all powerful beings but from Kami, or Kaio, I don't get that vibe. However, Enma sounds the way I'd expect him to strangely enough.

[ABED]

Kami and Kaio aren't all powerful beings.

It's interesting that you think a god should have a booming voice.

[Kamiccolo9]

He doesn't really give of a "god of Earth" vibe when he speaks

what does a god sound like in your mind?

I'm not sure how to describe it, but it's not that. God's are supposedly all powerful beings but from Kami, or Kaio, I don't get that vibe. However, Enma sounds the way I'd expect him to strangely enough.

Most gods in real-life pantheons are not all powerful.

[DarkPrince_92]

Kami and Kaio aren't all powerful beings.

It's interesting that you think a god should have a booming voice.

I know they aren't. I guess watching the dub first is also why I have this weird thing with Kami. In the Funimation dub he sounds wise like a sage, but I don't really get "sage" from the Japanese version. And Kaio's a goofball so I already know why he wouldn't have a "god-like" voice. That's just me, don't have to make sense of it.

[Gaffer Tape]

To bounce off of what ABED is saying, this is why I don't like opening the series with Bardock.

It makes no sense thematically. Let's compare this to Superman: The Movie, since, thanks to DB Minus, Goku's and Superman's origins are pretty much the same. In the former's case, Clark Kent has a strong tie to Jor-El aside from just backstory. Even though they never meet beyond Clark's infancy, Jor-El plays a huge role in his son's development. His crystal teaches him about where he came from. He basically nurtures his son from beyond the grave and supplements the moral code he had grown up learning. And for all the crap I give the ending of that movie for not making any sense, the climax thematically comes down to whether or not Superman is going to obey his father's teachings. If you take it further to the 2nd film, the villains there are tied directly to Superman's father, so his connection to the story still continues.

Goku is not connected to Bardock. At all. Ever. Not for a single, solitary moment. Bardock's last stand against Freeza contributes absolutely nothing to the plot at any time. Goku's not fighting to avenge Bardock. Yes, it's brought up for an instant when Goku and Freeza first meet each other, but it's so unimportant a cameo that neither one of them ever realizes who Bardock even is. Hell, even Raditz's potential genealogy was more of a blip on Freeza's radar than Bardock was.

Also, Dragon Ball Kai overall is not the story of getting revenge against Freeza, so even if Bardock actually mattered, opening the entire series with that scene just doesn't make sense. It gives Bardock an expectation of importance that is never fulfilled. If the series had ended after the battle with Freeza, I might have been able to understand it a bit more, although I still don't think it would work due to the above issue of Bardock not mattering at all.

EDIT: Haha, now that I think about it, as much as I hate Dragon Ball Minus, it would have fit Kai's attempt to open with Bardock just slightly better. At least Minus's Bardock had some direct impact on his son. He's the reason Goku is on earth at all. The Bardock Special version of Bardock has absolutely no impact on his son aside from contributing sperm.

[DBZGTKOSDH]

Think about it this way, if your introduction to Dragon Ball is through Kai, why give away that Goku's an alien upfront?

You will learn about it in the same episode, so it's not a big secret.

[ABED]

Think about it this way, if your introduction to Dragon Ball is through Kai, why give away that Goku's an alien upfront?

You will learn about it in the same episode, so it's not a big secret.

But apparently Anakin going darkside was?
And Yes, you do learn about it in the same episode, so why give it away upfront. And again, the emotional payoff isn't until a different arc.

In the Funimation dub he sounds wise like a sage, but I don't really get "sage" from the Japanese version.

While I don't have an issue with Sabat's portrayal, Takeshi Aono definitely has a weathered voice that conveys wise sage.

Gaffer Tape once again explains things better than I can, damn you, sir.

[DBZGTKOSDH]

According to the Home Releases, the Saiyan & Freeza arcs are Part 1 of Kai. So, in this part of the story, it starts with Bardock fighting & dying against Freeza, and hoping that his son will avenge the Saiyan's death, and it ends with Goku taking pride for being a Saiyan raised on Earth, becoming a Super Saiyan, and avenging the Saiyans by defeating Freeza. It's not about Goku avenging Bardock, it never was, it's about Goku avenging the Saiyans. With Bardock in the beginning, they show us that Goku's destiny was to defeat Freeza, and by the end of that part of the story, Goku fulfills his destiny.

The whole scene isn't there just to show us Bardock, it shows Goku's birth, Planet Vegeta's destruction, and Goku's destiny.