Ever since the first episode, I’ve had a problem with almost everything thatDragon Ball Daimahas done. However, I’ve finally come to the realization that its best qualityis its record number of red herringsthat the creators constantly employ to mislead viewers. Of course, this is great for fans who don’t like clichés or enjoy getting fooled by their favorite series. In fact, this latter part of the fandom also perplexingly believes that this is a legitimate form of measurement to gauge the effectiveness of storytelling.
Regardless of my opinion,Daimahas been tricking viewers for months. In fact,Daimahas been misleading fans ever sincethe first trailer debuted. As soon as it begins, we hear the voice of a character whom we would later learn to be Neva the Namekian chanting. The fact that the trailer soon reveals that Goku and his friends turn into kids made viewers at the time come to the understandable conclusion thatthe chant was somehow the cause.
However, that would prove to be the first of many red herrings. It would turn out to be a wish Gomah that makes to Shenron. In fact,Neva’s chant wasn’t even a very relevant part of the story. If fans ended up enjoying how episode #1 completely disproved that theory, then they were going to be very happy with the coming months ofDragon Ball Daima.
Dragon Ball Daima’s First Random Red Herring Is Now a Major Theme
Daima Began Fooling Fans by Setting up a Well-Known Trope, Only to Randomly Discard It
A more innocent, early moment from the actual story that was used to consciously mislead viewers may have felt random at the time, but it would later foreshadow what was to come. Before Vegeta, Piccolo, and Bulma deployed to the Demon Realm,Daimahad set up certain events to create the impression thatit was going to pander to the “we just missed you” trope.Unbeknownst to them, a demon named Hybis was on his way to Earth to pick them up, and Bulma was fixing up a spaceship so they could go there on their own.
Fans felt convinced that Bulma would fix the ship and leave right when Hybis arrived. In fact, that did happen, which would have fulfilled the expected aforementioned trope in question. But then there was a malfunction, which canceled everything. On top of this, Hybis landed soon afterwards, allowing them tocircumvent the entire heavily implied situationas though nothing to the contrary had ever been suggested.
Ironically, a major hint involving Hybis that could have easily been a red herring much later on would surprisingly culminate in not only a normal foreshadowing, but one of the greatest developments in the story.
Dragon Ball Daima Has No Shortage of Fake Big Bads
Dr. Arinsu, then Majin Kuu, then Majin Duu, and now Gomah
Coincidentally, one of the more consequential types of red herrings occurs numerous times and revolves around the many moments in whichDaimagreatly alludes to the series' true villainbefore ditching them for someone else. Almost from the very beginning, fans were rightly suspicious of Dr. Arinsu and believed that she would betray and overthrow Gomah. While she would attempt this, Arinsu would be perpetually relegated to the sidelines, as made apparent in the final battles.
But before her eventual failure, Arinsu’s many attempts to reach the top all involved other villains who we obviously thought would be a big deal in the end.The first was obviously Majin Kuu. He was not only the franchise’s first successor of Buu, but the series itself was a direct sequel toDBZ’s Majin Buu Saga, so it made sense. However, once Kuu proved to be worthless, Arinsu surprisingly switched gears by creating another Majin, Duu.
After such a turn, everyone, myself included, was convinced thatDuu had to becomeDaima’s Buuno matter what, except he would soon be completely overshadowed by Gomah’s sudden rise to power. There’s also the Gendarmerie Force to consider, who may have always seemed like a joke, but the group did suddenly become relevant after regular Gendarmerie almostdefeated Goku and friends with guns. However, the Gendarmerie Force soon lost all significance again, just like everyone else.
Dragon Ball Daima Has Made the Join Bugs into a Huge Red Herring
Is There Even Going to Be a fusion?
The biggest red herring, however,is clearly the Join Bugs. The fact thatDaimahad conspicuously paired together the unlikeliest of duos in Goku and Shin convinced fans at the time that they would use the bugs to fuse together. However, as time passed,Daimaclearly wasn’t putting enough of a focus on Goku and Shin’s relationship, which, in itself, was a wasted opportunity, but simultaneously made such a fusion also feel less likely.
The prospect was then dashed altogether with the subsequent arrival of Vegeta, putting all the focus rightly on Goku and Vegeta likely fusing together. During the final battle, events would soon introduce a twist to potentially save such a fusion for later on in the fight when Goku randomly dropped the Join Bugs. At the time, we believed it was just to allow developments to naturally push the likelihood of a fusion later, effectively saving the best for last.
While that’s still very much the case, Goku would laterstun everyone by unlocking Super Saiyan 4. Now, our attention is on a Goku and Vegeta fusion even more, but because it could lead to a Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta or Vegito. Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised and would actually find it humorousif no fusions actually took place.
Based on all the red herrings throughout the series, I wouldn’t put it pastDaimaif the Join Bugs remained lost throughout the entire battle. It would be so much like Goku if he suddenly remembered them after the battle on his way home, laughing innocently like he always does, with one hand behind his head. Whatever happens,Dragon Ball Daimais sure to surprise everyone in the end.
