Shin-Credible Feats

In our review of Dragon Ball DAIMA – Episode 6: Lightning,” it was clear that I was worried the limited series is moving too slow for something with an episode count of 20. I enjoy a slow pace, but not when it results in a rushed ending, and that is the destiny that DAIMA felt like it was heading towards. Too little was happening per episode for how few episodes there were.

I should have given it one more episode. Things are better, for now.

When we started episode 7, Goku was far from the Tamagami, Bulma’s fixed spaceship immediately crashed and seemingly jeopardized the chances of the background cast making it to the Demon Realm, and we were nearly a third of the way through the entire show.

By the end of this episode, Goku is moments away from his fight with the first Tamagami, Bulma and the background cast are in the Demon Realm, and the show is only a third over. 

All this in addition to Supreme Kai Shin finally being given things to do, and moments to show off his relevancy.

I’d call that improvement.

The following review contains spoilers for Episode 7 of Dragon Ball DAIMA.

Plot Summary

The ship that failed on Vegeta and Piccolo last episode is no better off now, as Bulma explains that it utilizes extraterrestrial minerals. As the group begins to catastrophize, Hybis shows up.

Meanwhile, Goku and friends are flying towards the first Tamagami, as Goku explains his absentee fatherism to a skeptical Panzy. (“How did you raise a kid?” “I wasn’t really involved.” “Figures.”) Vegeta, Piccolo, and Bulma depart with Hybis.

While Glorio pilots towards the village where the Tamagami protects his Dragon Ball, they run into yet another Gendarmerie patrol. As they land, Shin comes up with a plan to hide Goku. The Saiyan hides in the luggage, and as the Gendarmerie board the ship, he uses Instant Transmission to teleport out of the ship. Very clever.

While the Gendarmerie come up emptyhanded in their search for Goku, they have a suspicion that Panzy knows more than she lets on, and declare her arrest. As they grab her, Panzy uses a Taser-like device to incapacitate one of them, and a fight breaks out. Shin and Glorio work together to effortlessly dispatch the rest of the officers, and Goku deals with the fleeing survivors. 

Panzy deduces the Gendermarie used her collar to track the party. She reveals that the devices were developed by Dr. Arinsu, and all demons in the Third Demon World have collars affixed at birth. In a show of maturity, she suggests staying behind, allowing herself to be pursued so Goku and friends can travel unimpeded. Shin explains the collar is made up of material from his home planet, and uses magic to break it off Panzy, who eagerly requests that Shin teach her the ability, so she can free other demons too. Is a Third Demon World uprising on the horizon?

Pansy asks Shin for his “real, demon name,” and he reveals it as Nahare. Much like Goku’s real name is Kakarot. 

The ship the gang had been piloting was destroyed in the fighting, so they take a Gendarmerie ship. We meet another new character as Panzy calls her friend Peral to get a new PIN number for Warp-Sama, for the new ship. He tells them that Hybis is nearby with their friends, who they plan to meet after dealing with the Tamagami.

They finally arrive at the small town where the Tamagami can be found, where a restaurant owner informs them that the Tamagami hasn’t been challenged in twenty years, and the last challenger was killed. Not even Dabura could defeat him. Goku is not deterred though, he simply needs a meal and a bathroom break.

The episode ends as Goku squares up with the loud and boisterous Tamagami of the Third Demon World, who springs to life the moment he is challenged.  The episode ends as the fight begins.

Analysis

As I mentioned, this episode did a lot to balance out the slow pacing of the previous episode, that I had felt was putting the show in a tight spot. I like slow pacing, but not with a limited episode count. The increased pace in this episode is exactly what the show needed, and it covered so much ground that I think it bought the right for future episodes to continue slowing it down. As long as we get a well-done episode like this every five or so, where the plot is jolted forward without feeling rushed, the rest of the episodes can meander a bit more. After all, I enjoy all the little moments that come with the nearly slice-of-life pace.

We got some interesting foreshadowing, particularly in regards to the slave collars, and Shin’s ability to destroy them. Will we get a rebellion side-plot as Panzy hinted at, or is this just character motivation for Panzy? Either way, it gives Panzy a genuine reason to stick with the party aside from a vague desire to see King Gomah removed from power, as Shin holds the keys to the salvation of her people.

Also of interest was the comment about the last person to challenge, and die to, the Tamagami. I found the fact his weapon was specified as “a big gun” to be interesting. Maybe I am reading too much into it, but it seems like an odd detail to add. Will he have a role to play?

I enjoyed the small moments of character development this episode. Pansy showed a great deal of maturity when she suggested remaining behind, knowing she’d almost certainly be caught and taken prisoner. She was willing to put her own desires and wellbeing aside to ensure Goku could continue forward without issue, and that speaks testaments to her character.

She may have elements of that hotheaded brazen attitude that female characters are stricken with in Dragon Ball, but she has an evenheadedness to her that is really enjoyable. It was a smaller moment, almost blink-and-miss-it, but I also really appreciated Glorio defensively stepping in front of Panzy when the Gendarmerie were apprehending her. This is the same guy who wanted nothing to do with her when she first appeared.

Above everything, my favourite aspect about this show is Shin finally getting the spotlight, after feeling like an empty character up til now. I have a soft spot for the Supreme Kai, and I was pleased when key art for DAIMA suggested he would be a main character, but he’s felt like an aside up to now. Just kinda there.

But this episode, he really stole the show. I appreciated seeing him get his hands dirty and fight, as well as show off his wisdom as a Kai, and free Panzy from her collar. It seems like Shin and Panzy might have their own dynamic now, and I am excited to see it develop. Shin is a cool character, and I hope this isn’t the only episode to give him time to shine. 

Final Score (3.5 out of 5)

This was a solid episode that relieved a lot of my concerns about the direction of DAIMA. A lot was accomplished in 23 minutes. 

Goku is about to fight the first Tamagami, the supporting cast will likely arrive afterward, and then onto the Second Demon World. This is the kind of pace the show occasionally needs, to buy the right to have slower episodes as well.

Episode 7 set the story in some interesting directions, and I am excited to see if anything comes of Shin’s ability to destroy the collar, Panzy’s suggestion of a demon rebellion, or the references towards the fighter with the big gun. 

This was a solid episode, doing the unglamorous heavy lifting to hopefully make way for some truly spectacular episodes in the weeks to come.

How did you feel about episode 7 of Dragon Ball: DAIMA? Let us know in the comments below.

Featured Image Credit: Toei Animation

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