The Epic Dragon Ball Super Moment That Redefined Goku's Legacy

Goku, well-known for his incredible power and strength achieved through rigorous training and countless battles, encounters a significant blow to his character and history with a single line in the controversial Dragon Ball Super anime.

Even before the original Dragon Ball series, Goku dedicated himself to becoming the ultimate martial artist under the guidance of his adoptive grandfather, Gohan, who served as both a parent and mentor. Following Gohan's demise, Goku continued his training alongside the world's greatest human fighter, Master Roshi. As his journey progressed, Goku sought out the most formidable beings in the universe, including divine figures like Kami, King Kai, and ultimately Lord Beerus and Whis. Through these experiences, Goku's strength has reached unprecedented levels, solidifying him as a symbol of inspiration and a firm believer in the value of hard work to attain true power.

However, in Dragon Ball Super, Goku veers dangerously close to taking a shortcut in his pursuit of quick advancement.

Dragon Ball Super Shows Goku Excited About Old Kai's Upgrade, Betraying His Character

In Dragon Ball Super episode #91, Goku has finished gathering all the warriors for the multiversal Tournament of Power. At the beginning of the episode, while Goku ponders how to spend his free time before the tournament, Old Kai suggests unlocking Goku’s latent potential through a ritual, similar to what was done for Gohan. This state, called ‘Potential Unleashed’, is incredibly powerful. However, due to the time constraint, the twenty-five-hour ritual cannot be completed before the tournament. Goku is disappointed when Old Kai recants the offer, as he had been excited about unlocking his full power without any training required.

Goku, being the archetype of every Shonen hero, has relied on hard work to gain his strength and power. Until this point in Dragon Ball Super, Goku has always preferred the challenging path. Accepting a quick upgrade would undermine his growth and make him no different from characters like Zamasu or Gas, who took shortcuts. Therefore, Goku's initial excitement and subsequent disappointment at not being able to unlock his latent power without training goes against his established character and history in the Dragon Ball lore.

Accepting Old Kai's Offer Goes Against Everything Goku Stands For

Goku's acceptance of a power boost through the consumption of the Super Holy Water is a known fact from the past. However, it is important to note that during this time, Goku was still young and his identity as a martial artist was not fully developed. Additionally, his anger and vulnerability were heightened due to the recent loss of many friends at the hands of King Piccolo.

Dragon Ball Super has often been a topic of controversy as fans have differing opinions on the portrayal of certain characters compared to their original counterparts in Dragon Ball Z. Fortunately, the Dragon Ball Super manga, authored by Toriyama, has chosen to omit this particular scene, allowing fans to potentially overlook this occurrence. Nevertheless, the existence of this scene in the anime remains a point of criticism for those fans who are disappointed with the sequel, as it seemingly tarnishes Goku's character and his established history with a single, fleeting moment.