Embracing change can be a real challenge, especially when long-held sentiments clash with present realities. That’s precisely what I experienced, and perhaps many of you did too, when news broke in October 2023 about the upcoming release of Dragon Ball Daima. It was daunting to hear that after a long wait of over five years since Dragon Ball Super wrapped up its exhilarating Tournament of Power arc, our return to weekly Dragon Ball episodes would feature Goku and his pals as kids once more. Yet, after reluctantly tuning into those first few episodes, it became clear to me how wrong I was—and perhaps some of you might think so too.
Fast forward to 2025, and it seems like poking fun at the Dragon Ball series has become somewhat fashionable, and frankly, there’s a reason. Unlike the neatly executed fight sequences in shows like Attack on Titan or Jujutsu Kaisen, Dragon Ball often masks its combat shortcomings with frenetic action that feels almost too fast to follow. Dragon Ball Super, for instance, seemed to obsess over constant power shifts among transformations, diluting the tension with sudden transformations like Super Saiyan Blue Evolved—what was that all about? Goku continues to be clueless, Gohan is frustratingly underutilized, and Vegeta seems destined to lose time and again. Yet, Daima stands out by cutting through this noise.
In just 15 beautifully animated episodes, this new series brings Dragon Ball back to its core essence. Remember when Goku’s transformation to Super Saiyan was a spine-tingling rarity, signifying immense power? It’s only in the fifth episode of Daima that Goku morphs into that golden form to deal with King Kadan’s troops, and he’s only reentered that state a couple of times in the ensuing episodes. Instead, the series places emphasis on hand-to-hand combat, with the occasional use of his trusty Power Pole, bringing a sense of reality to the fantastical exploits. A jaw-dropping moment comes in episode 12 when Vegeta unveils his Super Saiyan 3 form to snatch a Dragon Ball from Tamagami Number Two. In one fell swoop, it rectifies a long-standing oversight in the series—how could Kakarot and Gotenks go SSJ3, but not him? It signals that Daima is willing to revise the Dragon Ball canon.
The fight choreography here ranks among the best in franchise history, rivaling the stunning brawl between Broly, Goku, and Vegeta in the 2018 movie Dragon Ball Super: Broly. Watching Goku deftly evade Tamagami Number Three’s energy attacks, then striking swift kicks to its legs, and masterfully dodging a hammer swing to break its handle with his Power Pole was an emotionally stirring experience. The battles in Daima aren’t just flashy filler—they carry genuine weight and purpose.
Narratively, Daima skillfully expands on beloved Dragon Ball Z arcs without treading into the often polarizing territory of Dragon Ball Super. Let’s clear the air here: Dragon Ball Super is often underrated, and its Tournament of Power arc is arguably one of Dragon Ball’s most impressive. However, the series sometimes ventured too far into divine interventions. The epic clash between Fused Zamasu and Vegito Blue felt anticlimactic with Zeno, the ultimate god, wiping out the villain. Daima’s decision to pick up after the fan-favorite Buu saga, enhancing rather than rewriting its events, is masterfully done.
Sure, Goku might still be as bumbling as ever, lacking that resolute presence we saw when he faced Cell or Frieza. Also, many episodes lean more toward exploration than combat. Yet, with intriguing new characters like Glorio, Dr. Arinsu, and Panzy, these journeys into the newly unearthed Demon Worlds are less of a slog and more of an adventurous delve into forgotten Dragon Ball lore. With just about a month remaining until the season finale of Daima, I urge both fans and skeptics to watch this remarkable series with an open mind. Afterward, take a candid look in the mirror—it’s time to acknowledge that Daima is the fresh breath the Dragon Ball legacy both needed and thoroughly earned.
