[ Warning : Spoilers Included ]
cDragon Ball Super concludes its 131 episode run with a marvelous finale. Every scene received world-class treatment in care and the final battle hit all the right notes to add unexpected tension along with a satisfying conclusion. The story hit all the major beats as well, with the Frieza plot-line culminating in an epic team-up between Goku and Frieza, while the overarching theme of trust brought to a head just how important Goku’s allies were, as well as bringing to light a new friendship between Toppo and Jiren.
The
Tournament of Power marked a massive increase in Super’s
animation quality, and it’s clear that everything Toei Animation
learned along the way was applied during Episode 131. Frantic and
subtle character movements, the coloring on their bodies, and of
course, the explosions of Ki energy were all so well done that it
seems, like this last battle, Super reached an incredible new form.
No moment highlights this more than the final combined attack of Goku
and Frieza as their contrasting colors merge into one giant blast
that ultimately wins them the battle. Along with the visuals, the
musical score was perfectly matched, hyping up the fight to such a
degree I found myself leaning closer to the screen with excitement.
The
story didn’t take a back seat to the incredible action, though and
it was great to see how things were wrapped up while also
foreshadowing potential events for the future. It’s almost
unbelievable that Android 17 and Frieza could somehow have stayed
hidden for so long, but their use in the final episode makes up for
it as they each play an important role that I frankly couldn’t have
seen any other character filling. Frieza in particular was a
highlight. His ruthless style and boisterous attitude make him such a
thrill to watch, particularly when he thinks he has the upper hand.
Having him work with Goku during the final battle and how their
teamwork complimented the overall theme of friendship and trust made
those last moments even better. And, of course, it made the future of
Frieza’s character a little more interesting too.
While
I expected Frieza would get his life back, it was surprising to see
them already tease his return as Emperor of the Universe. Frieza is
still on the back foot in terms of strength, so it does leave me
wondering how he will compete with Goku in that regard, even with
Ultra Instinct inaccessible at the moment. His time spent with Goku
surely left a mark as well, so how will that play into their
relationship going forward.
Android
17 ended up being the hero of the day. With the overarching theme of
trust, it’s fitting that the once brutal villain now becomes the
savior of all the erased universes. The Tournament of Power brought a
lot of characters back into the fold, but none benefited from it as
much as Android 17. He was essentially forgotten, but thanks to the
Tournament of Power and the amazing arc he had throughout it, they’ve
brought him back and in wonderfully interesting ways. The revelation
that Zen-Oh would have erased everyone had 17 not wished for everyone
to be saved only makes his wish better as it truly highlights how far
Android 17 has come in such a short time.
Super
defies the idea that the Saiyans can only save the day. The end of
Super won’t mean that the race for greater power is over, but no
longer I fear characters becoming irrelevant just because they can’t
ascend to greater forms, and it’s this sentiment that I am left
with that has me most excited for the future of Dragon Ball. As great
as Goku is as the hero, allowing other characters to share the
spotlight makes for more interesting stories.
Dragon
Ball has never been shy about featuring Goku’s allies but never
before has the trust between them been so important, so integral to
his success, than during this finale. It’s made for several
touching scenes recently, but it was even more fully realized when it
came down to Goku and Frieza’s reliance on each other. These two
are polar opposites in terms of character, but both with a desire to
live to fight another day and uphold the promises they made to each
other. It also carries through tactfully to Android 17, a former
villain, making the prized wish, too. Toppo and Jiren also saw their
own growth from this as is seen when Toppo stands up and cheers for
his near-death comrade. While their friendship isn’t nearly as
developed as others, it made for a touching moment as we saw the
initial sparks forming.
The
epilogue scene was a delightful sendoff for Dragon Ball Super. The
Goku and Vegeta battle was a nice call-back to days gone by, and the
presence of Frieza and his army makes an easy setup for future
conflict. The fan in me would have liked to see anything else teased
to let the series simmer on until the inevitable next series arrives,
like potential consequences for reviving all the universes, but I
still came out incredibly happy with the end.
THE VERDICT
The last episode of Dragon Ball Super 131 is easily one of the best episodes in Dragon Ball Super. From
beginning to end it’s at another level in quality. The audio and
animation design work perfectly together, making the final battle amazing
to behold. The story nails overarching themes of trust and friendship
for all sides of the Tournament of Power then wraps up loose ends
while leaving just enough open for future. Most of all, Episode 131
makes it clear that while Goku may be the hero, his friends are
equally as important, not to be forgotten as relics stuck on the
sidelines. While the ending may have kept things open-ended, it
doesn’t change the fact that Dragon Ball Super ended on a truly
special episode, not soon to be forgotten.
( Source : IGN )
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