Dragon Ball Daima Went Through With a Lot of Retcons But Honestly? They All Make Perfect Sense
Dragon Ball Daima has gotten a lot of criticism for its retcons, which have caused continuity issues with Dragon Ball Super. However, most of the retcons made for the series make perfect sense for the story Daima was trying to tell.
Dragon Ball Daima is set in the narrow period between the end of the Buu Saga of Dragon Ball Z and the beginning of the Beerus Saga of Dragon Ball Super. As a result, Daima is itself a retcon, taking a period where previously nothing was believed to have happened and showing that there was, in fact, an adventure in there. Anything it changed would have an impact on Super, and it would be difficult to tell a satisfying Dragon Ball story without upsetting the status quo in some way.
Dragon Ball Daima Had No Choice But to Retcon Super
Daima’s Story Needed a Climactic Transformation
Pretty much every Dragon Ball story that exists ends with Goku attaining a new transformation which helps him to win the day. New forms are one of the most exciting elements of Dragon Ball, as the characters push themselves to the limits to defeat evil. While Daima’s inclusion of Super Saiyan 4 may have been met with some groans due to the continuity issues it created, the actual use in the story of introducing the new form is extremely effective. It fulfilled that exciting moment, and disrupted things quite a bit less than pretty much any alternative would have.
Imagine, for a moment, if Goku’s fight against Gomah didn’t involve a new transformation. Many fans would’ve been quite disappointed, and it would’ve made the fight seem too easy. After all, if Goku’s existing power was enough to defeat the villain, then was there ever really a threat? By forcing Goku to reach a new level, it emphasizes the power of the villain.
Dragon Ball Has Always Been Full of Retcons
Dragon Ball’s Story Has Been Retconned Many Times
Many of the fans who are upset about Daima seem to be upset because Toriyama didn’t pay enough attention to canon to avoid these retcons. However, Toriyama has always been prone to using retcons in his storytelling. Goku’s origin, for example, was a complete retcon; he wasn’t intended to be a space alien from the beginning, and the same is true for Piccolo. Vegeta’s initial characterization was radically changed to fit with the fact that he was actually working for Frieza, and that was arguably the best change the manga ever made.
While retcons can be irritating to fans, it’s clear that they aren’t always a bad thing. Akira Toriyama wasn’t the type of writer to let continuity tie his hands with the writing of a story, and that’s a big part of what makes him such a great entertainer. Getting upset over retcons won’t change their existence, but it can affect one’s enjoyment of the material. It’s easier as a fan to just relax and not worry so much about retcons, and just enjoy Dragon Ball Daima for what it is: a fun adventure with Goku and friends.
