Dragon Ball is one of the most popular anime of this generation and the ongoing success of Dragon Ball Super is proof that 70-seventy-m7w328nn” title=”70“>706z87″ title=”akira”>Akira Toriyama’s trademark shonen series still has a lot to say. Dragon Ball Super is ultimately an optimistic anime, but it’s not afraid to tease some darker ideas as new characters and iconic protagonists like Goku and Vegeta confront their fears.
Dragon Ball Super continues to tell its story through its manga and theatrical feature films, which go beyond the exciting events of the anime’s 131 episodes. However, certain Dragon Ball Super episodes stand out from the rest due to their heavier, unflinching, darker energies.
10 “The Universes Go Into Action – Each With Their Own Motives”
Episode 85
Dragon Ball Super’s Tournament of Power is the most important competition that Goku or anyone else has ever been involved in and it’s paramount that Universe 7 assembles the strongest members for their team. “The Universes Go Into Action – Each With Their Own Motives” features the final stages of Goku and Gohan’s recruitment process, none of which is particularly dark material.
However, the same installment includes a powerful sequence where the other universes’ Gods of Destruction resent Goku and how it’s his fault that this multiversal competition is even happening. The episode teases the troubles that Universe 7 is set to have as everyone’s targets in the Tournament of Power.
9 “A Decision At Last! Is The Winner Beerus? Or Is It Champa?”
Episode 40
Beerus, to better prepare Universe 7 for their upcoming battle against Champa’s Universe 6, lies to Goku about a stronger fighter named Monaka. Beerus turns Monaka into a prolific fighting legend to push Goku to fight harder. “A Decision At Last! Is The Winner Beerus? Or Is It Champa?” forces Monaka to step outside of his comfort zone when he faces Hit during the Tournament of Destroyers.
Hit throws this fight to repay Universe 7’s earlier favor. Monaka has no guarantee that Hit will behave and it’s rather bleak to think about Monaka being forced to fight one of Universe 6’s strongest when he can’t defend himself.
8 “How Dare You Do That To My Bulma! Vegeta’s Metamorphosis Of Fury?”
Episode 7
Dragon Ball Super begins with an extended retelling of the anime’s latest two movies, beginning with the introduction of God of Destruction, Beerus. The heroes require a Super Saiyan God to take on this new celestial power, which Goku achieves. Before Goku’s transformation there’s plenty of time when Beerus just beats up Earth’s strongest.
The anime’s seventh episode contains a surprising act of violence against Bulma, where the God of Destruction slaps the ordinary human in the face. This episode concludes with unbridled rage coming out of Vegeta, but it’s still quite dark to see Bulma get abused like this.
7 “A Mysterious Beauty Appears! The Enigma Of The Tien Shin-Style Dojo?”
Episode 89
Preparation for the Tournament of Power in Dragon Ball Super pushes many classic characters to look deep inward and see if they’re capable of genuine growth. Master Roshi has been around since the original Dragon Ball and the renowned martial artist is just as notorious for his lecherous thoughts and interest in women.
“A Mysterious Beauty Appears! The Enigma Of The Tien Shin-Style Dojo?” is a bizarre episode where a former Crane School student named Yurin brainwashes Roshi along with some other martial artists. Roshi’s hypnosis is unnerving and represents him at his worst. Roshi enlists Puar’s help to train him to overcome these very shortcomings only two episodes later.
6 “Master & Pupil Reunited! Gohan & Future Trunks”
Episode 52
“Master & Pupil Reunited! Gohan & Future Trunks” is a relatively low-key episode of Dragon Ball Super that’s more focused on character development and muted moments instead of grandiose action spectacles. The recently returned Future Trunks experiences a bit of a culture shock when he meets this timeline’s adult Gohan, who is quite different from the Future Gohan who trained him.
This cathartic episode has some emotional conversations between Future Trunks and Gohan about expectations, reality, and what drives them in life. It’s more somber and melancholy than directly dark, but the episode hangs heavy.
5 “The Earth Explodes?! A Decisive Kamehameha”
Episode 27
“The Earth Explodes?! A Decisive Kamehameha” is the culmination of Dragon Ball Super’s big battle against Golden Frieza. Frieza proves that he’s stronger than ever and breaks his way out of Hell, but he’s still no match for Super Saiyan Blue. Golden Frieza recognizes that he’s overpowered and attempts to get revenge by blowing up the Earth.
Such destructive measures are typically prevented in Dragon Ball, but Frieza accomplishes his mission. Admittedly, Whis reverses this process with his Temporal Do-Over. Beforehand, the episode highlights many peaceful moments between innocent characters that get interrupted by the Earth’s explosion.
4 “For My Beloved Ones! The Indomitable Great Saiyaman!”
Episode 74
One of the stranger adventures that occurs in Dragon Ball Super involves the theatrical adaptation of Great Saiyaman’s heroic antics. Gohan is surprised to learn that his superhero alter ego is the subject of his own movie, but his cinematic counterpart is portrayed by a chauvinistic and rude actor named Barry Kahn.
Barry Kahn is so jealous and disgraced by Gohan’s apathy that he orchestrates an elaborate blackmail scheme to steal Videl away from him. Videl knows better than to ever doubt her husband’s love, but it’s an odd detour for Dragon Ball Super that puts Gohan’s character under interrogation.
3 “Goku Dies! An Assassination That Must Be Executed!”
Episode 71
Goku is such a committed fighter that it’s almost comical that he’s the one who’s hired legendary Universe 6 assassin, Hit, to execute himself. Goku puts himself in the worst situation possible in order to learn how to beat Hit’s sterling skills.
This doesn’t change the fact that the episode “Goku Dies! An Assassination That Must Be Executed!” concludes with Goku’s death while his friends and family surround his cold body. This Dragon Ball Super episode goes out on one of the darkest notes imaginable, only for this depressing damage to quickly be reversed during the start of the next episode when Goku’s own energy blast resuscitates him.
2 “The Approaching Wall! A Hopeful Final Barrier!”
Episode 127
The Tournament of Power is a martial arts competition unlike any other. The strongest from across the multiverse engage in battle royale combat where the losers will be erased from existence. Universe 11’s Jiren, a Pride Trooper, quickly emerges as Universe 7’s greatest competition. Jiren is a powerful juggernaut, but he’s a stoic soul who the audience doesn’t know much about.
“The Approaching Wall! A Hopeful Final Barrier!” provides some vital context on Jiren’s painful past. The episode chronicles a demonic force who kills Jiren’s parents and leaves him in the care of a tough trainer, Gicchin. This solitary flashback does effective work to highlight the darkness that Jiren fights against.
1 “Zamasu’s Ambition – The Awful Zero Mortal Plan Is Revealed”
Episode 61
There’s a lot of mystery that surrounds Goku Black’s true identity, an evil Saiyan double who has plans to wipe all mortals out of existence. It’s not easy for the heroes to crack this puzzle, but they learn Future Zamasu is responsible for commandeering this version of Goku’s body.
Many didn’t believe that Goku Black was a corrupt version of Goku, or even an evil adult Goten. However, it’s arguably even darker that Goku is helpless to a Supreme Kai who steals his body and then immediately kills his loved ones with it. The flashback to Zamasu’s acquisition of Goku’s body is brief, but genuinely dark material.
Leave a Reply