When did the series drag for you?

[ABED]

The fight in the saiiyan saga was slow. So was Frieza.

It's only about 10 episodes from the time the Saibaimen begin their attack to the the point where Ape_Gohan falls on Vegeta. Not very slow.

How slow or how fast a story feels isn't dependent on the number of episodes as much as the quality of the stories. I've seen 22 episode seasons that felt quicker than 10 episode seasons because I was so enthralled by the former's story than the latter.

[precita]

The Saiyan saga fights were some of the best paced of the series. I also think people forget how many different things happen.

Goku and Vegeta only actually fight for what...2-3 episodes from what I remember? After that it's essentially all Gohan/Krillin/Yajirobe versus Vegeta and all the giant ape transformations.

[ABED]

The fake Namek and Garlic Jr. episodes are few, but man are they a slog to get through. I don't even hate the Garlic Jr. arc, but even that feels slow and stretched out.

[8000 Saiyan]

Some parts of the Red Ribbon Arc, the fake Namek arc and the Buu arc.

[Jinzoningen MULE]

The fight in the saiiyan saga was slow. So was Frieza.

It's only about 10 episodes from the time the Saibaimen begin their attack to the the point where Ape_Gohan falls on Vegeta. Not very slow.

How slow or how fast a story feels isn't dependent on the number of episodes as much as the quality of the stories. I've seen 22 episode seasons that felt quicker than 10 episode seasons because I was so enthralled by the former's story than the latter.

Maybe I didn't get my point across well, but I mentioned how the fight began and ended for a reason. Tons of stuff happened, I'd be surprised if there's even one episode of the lot that isn't noteworthy in some way.

[precita]

The fake Namek and Garlic Jr. episodes are few, but man are they a slog to get through. I don't even hate the Garlic Jr. arc, but even that feels slow and stretched out.

Garlic Jr. arc itself is actually only 8 episodes for the story, the 9th episode is just a filler to get rid of Marron.

[ABED]

I agree, though in the broader sense, it depends on what one considers "something big happens". Plenty of big things happen in the Freeza fight before Goku arrives but it can still feel like a bit of a drag because we know the fight isn't going to end before Goku arrives. Freeza transforms three times but that's not enough to not feel like the episodes are treading water for a bit.

Garlic Jr. arc itself is actually only 8 episodes for the story, the 9th episode is just a filler to get rid of Marron.

Not to be that guy, but it's 9 episodes and the 10th for the getting rid of Marron. That 10th episode is probably my favorite of the bunch.

[VDenter]

Two major instances come to mind. Not counting filler

1.The Cell arc. Which sucks because the arc starts off with so much potential then the series drops the ball in almost every single possible way once plot holes crop up and the fights become bland.

2. The entire Freeza fight until Goku goes SS. Everything else feels like filler with the exception of Vegetas death.

[GreatSaiyaJeff]

The only thing that truly dragged for me in the original series, was the first half of the red ribbon army arc. From silver to muscle tower, it felt a bit boring. However, when general blue got involved, that's when I started to enjoy it. He was fun and also it helped having the others characters having a role in helping Goku even though he didn't need it.

[precita]

1.The Cell arc. Which sucks because the arc starts off with so much potential then the series drops the ball in almost every single possible way once plot holes crop up and the fights become bland.

Even with some weird things happening, the Cell arc always had the air of mystery going for it and different things happening.

The entire Freeza fight until Goku goes SS. Everything else feels like filler with the exception of Vegetas death.

It was very important to show Vegeta, Gohan, Krillin and Piccolo struggle against Freeza till Goku arrived. It really made their desperation even more obvious, and we got to see the main characters get some nice moments along the way. Love see Gohan go rage on Freeza's second form, Krillin come back after Freeza stabbed him and cut off his tail, Piccolo go toe to toe with him, etc.

[ABED]

It was very important to show Vegeta, Gohan, Krillin and Piccolo struggle against Freeza till Goku arrived. It really made their desperation even more obvious, and we got to see the main characters get some nice moments along the way. Love see Gohan go rage on Freeza's second form, Krillin come back after Freeza stabbed him and cut off his tail, Piccolo go toe to toe with him, etc.

Understood but there's a point of diminishing marginal returns when the story amounts to "Man we're screwed. Okay, we might live through this. Shit, we're in over our heads. Yes, we're going to survive! We're fucked!" I get the necessity for reversals, but it feels like it's treading water for too long.

[GreatSaiyaJeff]

Also Gohan snapping twice felt a bit redundent. He did it once when he thought Krillin died and another when Piccolo was in danger. The second time felt like it had some impact because it forced Freeza transform into his final form.

[Eternal Super Saiyan]

After I began watching episodes of Z Kai years ago, the original release of DBZ felt really draggy. It's a bit more difficult to go through 291 episodes of Z now a days. Beforehand it was tolerable.

[Kanassa]

Mid-way through Namek and when Cell finally reached perfection. By those points I was groaning because each episode seemed like more and more entertaining padding, even the episodes that weren`t padding. Surprisingly, I never had this problem with the Buu saga.

[Vijay]

GT dragged....dragged the franchise all da way to HFIL

The Black Star DB Arc especially. 1st 2 episodes were rock solid.

From then on, EXCEPT Ep 6: Goku the Dentist & Ep: General Rildo vs Goku bit, rest of it dragged like shit

But nothing compares to DRAG----ON SUPA

Right frm its Ep 1 till now, its da man!!! The legend!!! The DRAG----ON

[NintendoBlaze53]

As a child, Buu Arc was the only one I found interesting. While Buu Arc is the longest, I feel the arcs tables being flipped every half a dozen episodes was what made it so endearing to me. But after Vegetto shows up is where the Arc started to DRAG, and I blame that entirely to Toei not wanting their cash cow to end.

For me personally, RRA in the anime, which is a shame cause it's my 2nd favorite arc in the manga. The Saiyan Arc filler, I still hate all of it and just watch Kai so I can forget about any of it ever happening. Pre-Freeza Arc filler and the 19 episodes, The main reasons why I will never bother going and watching Freeza arc in Z ever again, Kai all the way. Toriyama's Editors make the plot was longer then it should be AKA Cell Arc after 19 and 20 show up, this is entirely Shueisha's fault, but I can't stand this part of the story, THIS is the biggest drag in the show. It is enjoyable up until 16, 17 and 18 leave, then it's boring. It sucks too cause there is some great stuff here, 17 vs Piccolo is a great fight, Cell's introduction is neat, KIKOHO of course, and Final Flash is so iconic. The anime even put some other memorable scenes in here such as Trunks's flashback with Mind Power Ki playing. But this whole leg of the story is just padding till we get to Perfect Cell, then the story starts to pick up and finally gets interesting again with Trunks transforming.

TL;DR, Cell Saga is more boring and lasts longer then I remember it being.

[Vijay]

@NintendoBlaze

Mutual thoughts mate. Those were my 1st impressions as well

Android/Cell Arc was a mixed bag. One hand, its loaded with iconic moments: 19 & 20 leading to 17 & 18's emergence, Cell popping outta nowhere, Final Flash, USSJ Trunks vs Perfect Cell etc

On the other hand, the "empty" moments were simply.....like the Androids trio whooping street racers asses, Imperfect Cell hiding himself frm Piccolo & Co, Perfect Cell waiting for 10 GODDAMN days for Cell Games. Like seriously?

Dats not to say Buu Arc is god-like. To think how 70+ episodes are "supposed" to have happened within 2 days is berserk!!!!

[ABED]

@NintendoBlaze

Mutual thoughts mate. Those were my 1st impressions as well

Android/Cell Arc was a mixed bag. One hand, its loaded with iconic moments: 19 & 20 leading to 17 & 18's emergence, Cell popping outta nowhere, Final Flash, USSJ Trunks vs Perfect Cell etc

On the other hand, the "empty" moments were simply.....like the Androids trio whooping street racers asses, Imperfect Cell hiding himself frm Piccolo & Co, Perfect Cell waiting for 10 GODDAMN days for Cell Games. Like seriously?

Dats not to say Buu Arc is god-like. To think how 70+ episodes are "supposed" to have happened within 2 days is berserk!!!!

Cell hiding from the Z Team was one of the more unique aspects of his character and was refreshingly different and intelligent.

What's odd about 70 episodes taking place over two days? My issue is that it's 70 episodes where very little that's interesting actually happens.

[Super Saiyan Swagger]

Good god, the whole archipelago part of the Android arc. I never want to sit through that again. So much seems to happen but it somehow manages to drag. At least have a change in scenery.

The Tournament of Power is beginning to drag for me with the whole recruitment episodes, but I feel like the only reason it's dragging for me is because I'm watching the show weekly. If I had the luxury to binge this arc then I probably wouldn't be complaining.

[Desassina]

I felt that the series dragged on with the Ginyu Force, specially because they were recycling a bit of the Saiyan saga with new contestants, only for Goku to arrive and be put in his place until Freeza. I wouldn't have minded a stronger participation of Nail against Vegeta, and Freeza to know their whereabouts due to battle, but he could transform to match Goku's Kaioken instead.