Something Dende tells Goku in chapter 31 of Dragon Ball Super completely undermines how DBZ originally concluded the franchise so many years ago.

Dragon Ball Super has already set the stage to adapt Dragon Ball Z‘s iconic ending with an exclusive conversation that explains why Goku will eventually compete against and train Buu’s reincarnation Uub. Unfortunately, how Super actually went about it ruins what made the franchise’s original finale so special, partly because it robs Goku of expressing one of his greatest qualities. The scene is also riddled with unnecessary retcons.

In Super, Dende volunteers to help Goku find Android 17 for the Tournament of Power, and along the way, decides to show the Saiyan a boy named Uub in chapter 31 of Dragon Ball Super by story writer Akira Toriyama and artist Toyotarou. Dende reveals that Uub is Buu’s human reincarnation and that because he’s a prodigy, Goku should train him.

Goku Can No Longer Rely On His Best Quality

This setup contrasts with what Goku says in Dragon Ball Z‘s finale. Goku only assumed that Uub was Buu’s reincarnation. He was partly convinced by the fact that Uub was Buu’s name backward. More importantly, Goku could just sense it. The fact that he wished this would happen helped convince Goku that someone must have pulled some strings for him. If true, it would mean he would have someone strong to fight, and the best way to test his theory was to compete against him during the next Strongest Under the Heavens Tournament. With Super‘s retcon, Goku can no longer make these assumptions, nor rely on his “sense” because Dende has actually told him who Uub is, that he’s a prodigy, and that Goku should train him.

Apart from the obvious retcon, Super‘s change is frustrating because it doesn’t allow Goku to exercise one of his greatest characteristics – his naive trust in the strength and abilities of others. Goku has always had this innate ability of being able to sense a fighter’s capabilities when others have been oblivious to them. Truth be told, this skill almost feels mystical because he’s always right. Undoubtedly, one of the most infamous instances of this occurred in DBZ when he put all his faith in Gohan’s latent powers to take down Cell. Although Piccolo later convinced Goku that his theory was deeply flawed, it turned out to be true when Gohan reached Super Saiyan 2 before anyone else and destroyed Cell. Apart from this moment, there are a plethora of scenes where characters, especially Vegeta, mock Goku for having a feeling about somebody.

Goku Can No Longer Fulfill Master Roshi’s Most Important Lesson

This particular retcon is especially upsetting since it tampers with how the franchise originally ended before Super rebooted the series. Having Goku rely on his ubiquitous “sense” and faith in others was a perfect way to conclude Dragon Ball, especially since it was Master Roshi who taught a young Goku to always push himself based on the fact that there will always be someone stronger out there.

Now, Goku is just going to do what Dende told him. Of course, Dragon Ball Super may one day go beyond that scene in DBZ and end differently, but, right now, all it’s done is ruin one ending without giving fans any hope of a better one.

Dragon Ball Super is available on Viz.com.

Source: Screenrant.com