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Beyond just their interpersonal relationships, one of the main ways characters display growth in Dragon Ball is through the fights. Actions have always spoken louder than words in shonen’s greatest battle manga series, and that doesn’t change in Super. One of the biggest ways Vegeta and Goku grow in Super is through their new transformations. Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego are excellent new additions to the series that emphasize the strengths and weaknesses of the characters well. In fact, these new forms seem to focus in on Goku and Vegeta’s character flaws, showing how their mastery can lead to even greater strength.

With Ultra Instinct, Goku has to fight without thinking, allowing his body to move at will. This should actually be a fairly natural progression for Goku, because thinking was never his strong suit anyway. However, it’s more than just freeing the mind, but gaining mastery over the mind’s connection to the body that’s important. Goku has to let go of all emotion, which requires a state similar to meditation during battle. While Goku always fought with emotion, calming his emotions was actually somewhat harmful to his growth. This was shown when he eventually reached the stage of Mastered Ultra Instinct, in which he could utilize his emotions while still gaining the benefits of the Ultra Instinct technique. Whereas Vegeta utilizes his greatest weakness to make him stronger, Goku seems unable to hone his own weakness in the same way.

For Vegeta, Ultra Ego lets him tap into a part of himself that he pushed to the wayside in becoming a family-man and protector of Earth. There was always a deep sense of pride and egoism in Vegeta’s fighting style, and that was always part of what made him unique from Goku as a fighter. That mercilessness was something he had to bury within himself to grow as a person, but it inadvertently stunted his growth as a warrior. By accepting who he is, Ultra Ego allows Vegeta to let loose because he knows in his heart that he can never go back to who he was before. No matter how much he gives in to the powers of destruction, Vegeta doesn’t just embrace destruction wantonly. He does so through careful introspection and with a heavy heart that takes into account the pain he and his saiyan people had caused through that very same destructive power.

Vegeta’s growth throughout DBZ and Super has been about him accepting his faults, acknowledging his mistakes, and finally letting go of his foolish pride. In the Ultra Ego transformation, Vegeta lets loose with his characteristic pride like never before, making it a full circle moment for him. It’s only because Vegeta’s ego no longer defines him that he can fully utilize it to its full potential. Vegeta has steadily continued to improve and learn valuable lessons in Super that he actively applies to change as a person. In contrast, Goku is still the same character fans know and love in Super, though there are aspects of his growth that seem to have taken steps backwards in ways. Like any real person, Vegeta is constantly learning and growing, making him feel like a much more relatable and realistic character than Goku could ever be.

Vegeta has still yet to definitively surpass Goku in terms of pure strength, as the two are still pretty much completely equal. However, in becoming Goku’s equal, Vegeta shows how he has grown even more than Goku has. Vegeta’s character flaws held him back from surpassing Goku in the past, so the fact that he is finally on par with Goku in Super shows how much he has changed from who he was in DBZ. Ultimately, Vegeta only became the person he is due to the lessons he learned from hanging around Goku. It may be time for Goku to learn a thing or two from Vegeta.

While Vegeta has shown incredible growth throughout his life, Super seems to indicate something of the opposite for his rival. At least at first. Goku’s character throughout Super has been infamously inconsistent with his own growth as it was shown in Dragon Ball. Goku started out as a naive and innocent child who knew nothing of the world outside the forrest where he grew up.

Over time, Goku was exposed to more and more of the world through his adventures, and he grew and matured because of that. While Goku always remained a hopeless idealist who always saw the good in others, he did learn and grow from his mistakes. Goku may have been ditsy and airheaded, but he was never stupid. Goku showed numerous times throughout Dragon Ball that he was the smartest person on the battlefield, even if that intelligence didn’t translate into book smarts.

All the growth and development Goku underwent as a character prior to Super was vital to Dragon Ball’s narrative, because it’s literally the story of his life. Goku grows from an immature child in early DB to an intelligent man who can use his lifetime of experience to guide his children by the end of DBZ. Goku still makes mistakes, but he’s always someone Gohan and Goten can look up to and aspire to be like.

Infamously, Goku’s development as a character takes a strange turn in Dragon Ball Super. It became a meme among the fandom that Super’s Goku had lost a great deal of his growth from throughout early Dragon Ball, and that’s understandable. In Super, Goku does act ditsier and just flat-out dumber than he did by the end of the DBZ anime. While much of the hate towards Goku’s character in Super is ultimately overblown, there’s definitely merit to the concern. There are times when he seems to have forgotten important lessons from his past, and there are moments when he seems to make mistakes he would have learned from in DBZ.

For example, during Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, Goku sees Vegeta meditating and asks him what he’s doing. Goku seems confused as to why Vegeta would just be sitting in one spot instead of working out and training. This is an extremely strange moment for his character because Goku had meditated multiple times in the past. This scene was altered in the manga to avoid this continuity issue, but it’s ultimately just the most prominent example of how Goku has lost some of his development from DBZ.

This wasn’t just a mistake on Akira Toriyama’s part, either. During an interview with Wired, Toriyama stated that he was dissatisfied with how heroic Goku became in the original DBZ anime. That being the case, it’s likely that he purposely made Goku a bit more bubbly and silly in Super because he didn’t like how heroic he became in the original DBZ anime. This was a conscious attempt on Toriyama’s part to retcon an aspect of Goku’s personality he didn’t like, but it came at the consequence of making noticeable changes to a beloved character.

Ultimately, Goku is a character whose growth has always been subtle, because even as he has learned throughout his life, his personality hardly changes. He’ll always be a carefree and gentle heart who will get serious when it comes to a fight, and that should never change. Even so, Goku’s penchant for forgetting the lessons of his past has deservedly earned his characterization in Super criticism. In comparison to Vegeta, Goku never really had to grow much in Super anyway – he just had to remain the same Goku fans have always known and loved. In a way, he does that, but it’s unfortunate that he often forgets where he came from.

Vegeta has been chasing Goku since their rivalry first began early in Dragon Ball Z. No matter how much Vegeta grew as a fighter, he could never seem to catch up to Kakarot for reasons he couldn’t quite understand. At a certain point, it became clear that Goku’s strength didn’t just come from his sheer potential for power, but rather from who he was as a person. It wasn’t until Vegeta grew as an individual that he could finally approach Goku’s level of power, and that wouldn’t finally come to fruition until Dragon Ball Super.

By the end of DBZ, Vegeta finally lets go of his pride, realizing it was the thing holding him back. Vegeta accepted that Goku was the best, because Goku was more than just a powerful fighter – his life experiences led him to become a truly great person. Vegeta’s path of self discovery was one of the highlights of DBZ’s storytelling, and it carried over to become a major part of Dragon Ball Super as well. Vegeta’s growth arc is arguably the greatest redemption story in anime history, and that’s a legacy even Goku can’t surpass.

Vegeta’s Character in Super is Consistent With His Growth From DBZ

Vegeta’s story in Dragon Ball Super picks up exactly where it left off following the Buu Saga. Vegeta has gone through all the stages of becoming a better person two times over, and after relapsing as a Majin and making the ultimate sacrifice, there’s no way he could ever go back to becoming the villain again. That being the case, Vegeta settled into life as an earthling, accepting his place as one of the Z Fighters, and embracing his family as a father and husband.

Vegeta’s growth is immediately apparent in Super, when he stands up for Bulma against Beerus. While “my Bulma” has become a huge meme in the anime fandom, it’s actually so much more than that for Vegeta as a character. This is a big moment that shows how far Vegeta has come as a person. During the Android Saga in DBZ, Bulma and her newborn son fly in a helicopter near the battlefield as Android 20 attempts to make his escape from Vegeta. In an attempt to distract the Saiyan, 20 shot down the aircraft, sending Bulma and baby Trunks to their impending doom. They would have died if Future Trunks hadn’t rescued them – no thanks to Vegeta. Vegeta had no care for Bulma or his newborn son at the time. All he cared about was testing out his new Super Saiyan power against the Androids.

This attitude is in stark contrast to Vegeta’s “my Bulma” moment, displaying how he truly had changed. Unlike in the earlier arcs of DBZ, Vegeta has people he cares for who he is willing to lay his life on the line to protect. It’s not just all about power anymore to him. In fact, when Bulma was about to give birth to she and Vegeta’s second child, Bra, Vegeta even chose to stay behind and look after her rather than going to Beerus’ planet to train. This would have been an unprecedented decision in DBZ, but it makes sense by the time of DBS given how far he’s come. Vegeta’s standoffish personality and grumpy attitude never change, even in Super. However, his actions and his values have clearly changed in a way that is consistent with who he became at the end of DBZ’s Buu Saga.

Goku more or less abandoning a baby to his captors (albeit temporarily) is callous even for him, but Goku’s almost always had a good reason for his more controversial decisions. Why give Cell a Senzu Bean without telling Gohan? Because he knows his son needed that push and he was right. That same logic applies in wanting to go after the Tamagami before Dende. Goku may be in it for the thrill of the fight, but he also understands how much weaker he’s gotten in the Demon Realm. It’s not a coincidence that every episode since Episode 2 has featured at least one major scene where Goku comments on how much weaker he is now.

This is important, as it establishes that Goku knows he’s fighting at a major disadvantage now. This goes double with Goku pointing out how dangerous the Demon Realm is in Episode 4. Not just that, Goku suggests that Glorio could actually be stronger than the Supreme Kai early on in the episode. Shin is said to be strong enough to kill Frieza in one shot in Dragon Ball Z, which would mean Demon Realm monsters could have a Power Level ranging anywhere from 530,000 to over 1,000,000. All this to say, Dende is going to stay in danger until Goku can master his abilities and grow stronger in his mini body.

Keep in mind that Goku is a veteran martial artist by Dragon Ball DAIMA. He’s been doing this for decades and is hot off the Majin Buu saga where he acted as a master to both Goten and Trunks. He knows his limits, he knows his potential, and he knows what he’s capable of. After a lifetime of training his body, Goku understands he has to go through the process again in such a weakened state. By focusing on the Tamagami first, Goku will grow stronger and unlock his old skills by pushing himself – he might even qualify for Zenkai boosts again. We know he will turn Super Saiyan as seen in the opening credits, but it’s unclear if he currently can.

It’s possible Goku needs to be pushed to his limits again before being able to trigger SSJ again. Couple all this with the mention of stamina throughout the episode and it seems clear that Goku is using the Dragon Ball hunt as a means of growing more powerful. If they head to Dende too early, there’s a real chance they’d die trying to save him. Instead, facing the Tamagami gives Goku an opportunity to get used to his body and the Demon Realm’s bad air. Goku obviously shouldn’t be so excited at the prospect of going on an adventure over saving a baby in active danger, but his logic is sound and it was honestly sounder when his original plan was using the Dragon Balls to regain their bodies.

Goku’s made a lot of controversial decisions throughout Dragon Ball history. From the many times he’s given enemies who just tried to murder him and his friends Senzu Beans to permanently reviving Frieza of all people in Dragon Ball Super, Goku’s judgement isn’t always ideal, to say the least – but it does always save the day. Goku gives Piccolo a Senzu Bean and gets a lifelong ally out of it. Goku gives Cell a Senzu Bean and Gohan becomes the strongest person alive. Frieza may be revived in Super, but Universe 7 couldn’t have won the Tournament of Power without him.

The recurring thread in all of Goku’s most controversial moments is that he knows what he’s doing, even if no one else can see it. Dragon Ball DAIMA has continuted this trend as of Episode 4, “Chatty.” While he can’t hide his excitement over the idea of going on another Dragon Ball hunt, Goku’s decision to prioritze the Dragon Balls over rescuing Dende is actually genius and might very well be the difference between life & death the deeper the main cast get into the Demon Realm. Dende is in danger, but there’s nothing Dragon Balls can’t fix and Goku’s not wrong to put the baby on the back-burner.

Goku Just Can’t Pass Up a Challenge

Son Goku is an inherently selfish character. This does not mean he’s a bad person or has ill intentions, but he is primarily motivated by his own desires – whether that be getting stronger or seeing the world. Goku will help people in need, especially those he cares about most, but he doesn’t go out of his way to play the superhero like Gohan literally does as Great Saiyaman. For Goku, the most important thing is challenging himself. So much so, that a lack of challenge is eventually what kicks off Dragon Ball Super‘s story.

The moment Glorio tells Goku that the Dragon Balls are located across the three Demon Realms – each guarded by a Tamagami – Goku can’t help getting visibly excited at seeing each one, even if it means they don’t go after Dende right away. Goku’s excitement doubles when Glorio tells him just how powerful the Tamagami are and the fact he’ll need to fight them to steal each Dragon Ball. Goku obviously cares about Dende’s safety as evidenced by the previous episodes, but it’s painfully clear his main motivation is making the most of the Demon Realm in typical Goku fashion.

The Supreme Kai understandably tries to tell Goku that they cannot leave a baby for death, so Goku suggests they use the Dragon Balls to regain their bodies. Interestingly, Glorio suggests that they use the Dragon Balls to save Dende instead and then use the Earth’s Dragon Balls to wish themselves back to normal. While Goku gleefully accepts this plan, it’s odd Glorio would make this suggestion at all – until you remember that Glorio knows Earth’s Dragon Balls grant multiple wishes and that Shenron still has two more in stock: one to turn the kids back into adults and one Glorio can take for himself.

Dragon Ball Daima has delivered two devastating blows to the significance of Dragon Ball Super, a divisive entry in the franchise that Toriyama himself was displeased with during its initial airing. However, that doesn’t mean Dragon Ball Super is now non-canon (unlike Dragon Ball GT). The concept of 12 universes established in Dragon Ball Super still exists in Dragon Ball Daima. It’s also possible that Glorio, whom viewers still know so little about, could be clueless about the existence of the Super Dragon Balls. After all, he was blindsided by Goku’s ability to detect the Ki energy of others.

New episodes of Dragon Ball Daima air every Friday on Crunchyroll. The series description officially reads: “Goku and company were living peaceful lives when they suddenly turned small due to a conspiracy! When they discover that the reason for this may lie in a world known as the ‘Demon Realm,’ a mysterious young Majin named Glorio appears before them.”

Dragon Ball Daima Episode 4 might have made a divisive entry in the franchise non-canonical after its latest revelation. This news comes right after Dragon Ball Daima retconned a major detail from 2015’s Dragon Ball Super.

In the latest episode of Dragon Ball Daima, new friends, foes and revelations about the Demon Realm are revealed. Glorio talked about the Demon Realm Dragon Balls and how they significantly differ from the ones back on Earth. Instead of seven, only three giant Dragon Balls are required to summon the Eternal Dragon. These wish-granting orbs are protected by a trio of fierce warriors known as the Tamagami, created by the elder Namekian Neva to protect the Demon Realm Dragon Balls at all costs. However, Glorio’s description of the Demon Realm Dragon Balls as the original set goes against what was stated about the Super Dragon Balls in Dragon Ball Super, suggesting a significant retcon in the franchise.

Dragon Ball Daima’s Newest Episode Just Retconned the Super Dragon Balls

In the Dragon Ball Super TV anime series, the Super Dragon Balls were described as the first set of Dragon Balls created by the all-powerful Dragon God, Zalama, who also goes by the name of Ryujin. These Dragon Balls are the size of planets and can be found across two universes: Universe 7, where Goku and his friends live under the rule of Beerus, and its counterpart, Universe 6, ruled by Champa, Beerus’ twin brother. Android 17 used the Super Dragon Balls to bring back “all universes that have been erased” after Universe 7 won the Tournament of Power in the final storyline of Dragon Ball Super.

However, after Dragon Ball Daima Episode 4 established the Demon Realm Dragon Balls as the first of its kind, the canonical status of the Super Dragon Balls now comes into question. This follows the surprising retcon in Dragon Ball Daima Episode 1, which stated that Shin and Kibito defused from their Kibito Kai form seen in Dragon Ball Z by using the “mysterious gas” inside Majin Buu’s body (this is an Akira Toriyama series, after all) to undo what was thought to be permanent. This retcons not one but two explanations of defusions in Dragon Ball Super. The first explanation was that Shin and Kibito used the Namekian Dragon Balls to defuse themselves. The second explanation attempts to explain how Goku and Vegeta were able to defuse their Vegito form despite being told it would be impossible to do so through the use of the Potara Earrings. It was said that Goku and Vegeta’s status as mortals prevented them from fusing indefinitely like the god-like Kais.

Dragon Ball DAIMA has effortlessly recaptured the original Dragon Ball’s magic through various storytelling details, character development, and tonal decisions. The best example of this yet is “Lightning’s” execution of a seemingly intimidating minotaur enemy. This minotaur is one of the greatest bait-and-switches in Dragon Ball history and easily DAIMA ’s funniest gag yet. This creature enters with grandiose framing that positions him to be a challenging opponent, so it’s particularly humorous that he doesn’t even end up fighting anyone.

In fact, he cowers away in fear. It’s funny what a difference lighting and facial expressions make. This character begins as DAIMA’s most terrifying creature, but is quickly reduced to a bumbling gag character who is reminiscent of Dragon Ball’s infamous Bear Thief. Not enough can be said about how perfect the work is on his dopey, heightened facial expressions. There’s a glorious moment when he just stands around, dumbfounded, while the heroes squabble. The whole sequence achieves that classic Dragon Ball energy that adeptly mixes action with comedy. “Lightning” plays with the audience’s expectations and instead features kinetic combat between Goku and Glorio, rather than this marauding monster.

In fact, Glorio and Goku’s sparring match stems from an argument over who gets the privilege to take on the minotaur, which is such a beautifully Dragon Ball concept. None of DAIMA’s battles have lacked style and substance so far, even when they’re just against ancillary guards or bar patrons. A big show is made out of Glorio’s electric-based lightning powers and his whip-like attack is a really excellent weapon that’s something that’s never really been explored in the series beyond the forgettable Mutchy from Dragon Ball GT. Dragon Ball DAIMA once again seems to conveniently pick and choose when Goku’s child-sized disadvantages and his vulnerability to the Demon Realm are actual hindrances. That being said, it’s hard to begrudge this when such a satisfying fight follows.

There’s really excellent suspense and theatrics throughout this well-paced fight. It continually increases the stakes as these two competent warriors attempt to suss out their opponent. The battle choreography and dynamic visuals are immaculate, but it’s the polished energy physics that leaves the greatest impression. Glorio’s attacks and Goku’s ability to defend against them and neutralize the blasts are visually on par with some of Dragon Ball Z’s biggest battles. This makes it even more exciting to consider how polished Dragon Ball DAIMA’s Tamagami battles and final fight will look.

Goku and Glorio’s battle is also a beautiful celebration of Goku’s character. He exhibits a steely calm in the face of Glorio’s strongest attack and he innocently “tags” him to prove his dominance, rather than actually hurt Glorio or express any malice. Like always, Goku just wants a worthy challenge and lacks any desire to hurt his opponent. This is why he’s become such a beloved shonen protagonist. Audiences have literally watched Goku become a Super Saiyan hundreds of times, but DAIMA exhibits genuine reverence during this spectacle in a manner that makes this tired trope feel brand-new again. There’s such care put into this sequence and it’s really quite special how DAIMA is able to celebrate and amplify the mundane so that it hits harder.

Dragon Ball DAIMA Episode 6, “Lightning,” doesn’t feature any Dragon Balls, Tamagami, or an appearance from Supreme Demon King Gomah, but it’s easily DAIMA ’s best episode yet. Episode 6 is a testament to how small-scale storytelling, compelling character dynamics, and a celebration of the series’ staples is still enough to succeed. “Lightning” delivers on all fronts, whether it’s character development, Demon Realm lore, action, and comedy. It perfectly exemplifies everything that Dragon Ball is supposed to be in a manner that’s fresh and exciting. The best is yet to come in Dragon Ball DAIMA, but it’s comforting that even a dinky detour that boils down to glorified bragging rights can still be electric television.

Dragon Ball DAIMA has been a genuine delight as each new episode confidently builds upon its predecessors, adding more fuel to this demonic fire. DAIMA’s first five episodes all featured contrasting degrees of setup, the likes of which felt like an extended prologue. Make no mistake, these first five episodes are great, but Episode 6 suddenly feels like DAIMA is ready to take off the training wheels – or weighted clothing – and get into the real meat of this story.

Dragon Ball DAIMA Episode 6, “Lightning,” is the anime’s biggest and best episode yet. Goku, Shin, Glorio, and Panzy don’t make that much progress, but there’s such a greater sense of camaraderie and development that points to a very promising future for Dragon Ball DAIMA. The Tamagami and Supreme Demon King Gomah have no idea what they’re up against.

Dragon Ball DAIMA Episode 6, “Lightning,” begins in freefall as the team’s newly-acquired ship immediately experiences engine trouble from Panzy’s overstocked supplies. DAIMA understands that an entire episode of ship failure and finding yet another means of transportation would be a false step in the narrative. Thankfully, this problem amounts to a minor hiccup that’s really just an excuse to show off character skills and throw in some greater Gendarmerie lore. The heroes are back in the air after only a few minutes, which creates a creative opportunity for exposition and character development. This complication may have felt frustrating in the previous episode’s finale, but it’s turned into a smart asset in Episode 6.

Panzy’s enthusiasm is so much fun and she really brings a lot to DAIMA. Goku’s oblivious actions often defuse Glorio and Shin’s more reserved demeanors, yet Panzy is even more valuable in this regard. It also doesn’t hurt that Fairouz Ai is absolutely killing it in the role and her playful performance adds so much to Panzy. There’s also a little more context provided on the Magic Collars, which are an oppressive custom of the Third Demon World. Panzy may be King Kadan’s daughter and part of Demon Realm royalty, but even she isn’t immune to such treatment.

On the topic of ship trouble, “Lightning” finally catches up with Vegeta, Piccolo, and the rest of Earth’s heroes as they prepare for their Demon Realm adventure. This really doesn’t amount to much and leaves the heroes back where they started. That being said, it’s pretty funny that this episode goes out on the same cliffhanger as the previous episode. Apparently, engine trouble is the greatest evil of all in Dragon Ball DAIMA. Nevertheless, it’s nice to get any material with the Earth crew, even if it’s just a reminder that they still exist. This obstacle will likely be solved by Hybis’ arrival, which hopefully won’t take another six episodes to happen.