Bardock attacks
Goku's father, an unexpected ally in defeating Dragon Ball Super's greatest villain
Bardock stars in the latest episode of Dragon Ball Super, demonstrating how his son will be able to beat Gas, the strongest rival in the universe.
Unless there are unexpected twists and turns, everything seems to be pointing towards the end of the current Dragon Ball Super arc. After a plot based mostly on fighting and a non-stop escalation of powers, Goku finds himself buying time as he tries to guess how he can beat Gas, a monster that has become the strongest in the universe and whom, in the past, Goku's father Bardock managed to defeat. This is the main theme of chapter 83 of the Dragon Ball Super manga. Is it worth the path the plot takes?
It is a question that is generating a lot of debate on social media. On one hand, it seems obvious that seeing Bardock fight to the death is something that's enjoyable, especially since Toyotaro's improvement in fighting pace has been enormous since the Moro saga. But the events of 40 years ago and their connection to the present seem increasingly tangential. You can watch the fight on this link officially and for free in MangaPlus.
The fight between Bardock and a young Gas, the greatest talent Elec has in his ranks, is uneven with respect to the former. But there comes a moment when Goku's father makes it clear that he is not going away - he does not want to be taken away from the planet by wishing the dragon of the two spheres - and that a Saiyan never gives up. Gas loses control, something that already happened against Goku, but Bardock resists and ends up winning thanks to his determination. That is the key to Goku's victory.
It is worth remembering that the current situation is that of a Granolah that has also acquired powers to be one of the most powerful in the universe and that Vegeta has evolved to a new transformation with the Mega Instinct, so we will see if they will have a relevant role beyond the discovery that Goku has made with Bardock.
Bardock's wish for Raditz and Goku
The outcome of the fight 40 years ago, therefore, does not lie in Bardock's secret technique or in Gas' weakness that was discovered at the time, but in the Saiyan's determination to win. To suggest that Goku has lacked determination throughout his life is still rather debatable. In any case, we'll see next May how this match affects what Goku and Vegeta can do with an opponent who is far more powerful today than he was four decades ago.
What do you think of Granolah's arc and how Bardock is fitting into the saga? Do you like it? We'll see where things go next month.