RJ Writing Ink

A Fond Farewell to Dragon Ball Z Abridged

As I type this, I’m listening to Takahata101’s rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” as Cell and remembering the good times. For you see, Dragon Ball Z Abridged, the web-based parody that helped to revitalize the Dragon Ball Franchise, has come to its end. A few days ago, Team Four Star announced they had made the difficult decision to end their famous series. After hearing them promise to make a Season 4, this news came as a shock to many fans, myself included.

In a post on Patreon and a recently uploaded YouTube video, Lanipator and KaiserNeko explained their reasons for ending the series. First, they’re feeling the burn out after Season Three, and they refuse to Simpsons their beloved creation. Second, they felt they reached the ending they wanted with the Cell Saga. Finally, they still have to deal with those pesky copyright rules, and getting their channel taken down several times in the past interferes with their ability to make money off of it.

I, like many fans of the series, am so unbelievably bummed out by this news. However, I will respect their decision to end it on a high note. After all, this is the series that helped breathe new life into Dragon Ball.

The Impact of DBZ Abridged

In 2008, Dragon Ball had been off the air for several years. Kept alive only by the memories of the fans and video games, the franchise was in danger of being forgotten. Then a group of fans in Texas and Canada got together to join the abridged series craze that was going on. Thus, Dragon Ball Z Abridged was born.

From the outset, the series set itself apart from other abridged series. It didn’t just parody the show; it celebrated everything about the beloved anime, faults and all. In some ways, I think it improved on the base that the anime set up. As a result, the series became a hit in the fledgling YouTube community, and propelled Team Four Star to success.

The series success did not go unnoticed, either. Cast members from the original series admitted they loved DBZ Abridged. Some of the voice actors got to do lines in the Xenoverse games. Then we got this on Toonami:

Toei wouldn’t let it air again due to copyrights.

The point is, Dragon Ball Z Abridged helped rekindle interest in the popular franchise. As a result, the series got a second wind with Battle of Gods, Ressurection F, and Dragon Ball Super. As for DBZ Abridged, it kept getting better and better.

By the time the Season Three Finale aired in 2018, I think it’s safe to say that Dragon Ball Z Abridged was no longer a mere parody. It had risen above to become a dub in its own right. Which makes it all the more depressing to know that the series is now finished.

The Future

Do I think that Dragon Ball Z Abridged is gone for good? Maybe, maybe not. I wouldn’t be surprised if, a few years from now, Team Four Star decided to pick the series back up. I know many fans would be very happy to hear that. However, if they decide to end it here, then I’ll understand. Ironically, the Cell Saga was where Toriyama wanted to end Dragon Ball. Thus, in a way, Team Four Star is fulfilling Toriyama’s original intentions.

So, farewell for now, Dragon Ball Z Abridged. It’s been a long road, and I’m glad I got to get on the ride before the end. I’ll drink a Hetap in your honor. You did it your way.

Click here to read my FANDOM article on which characters DBZ Abridged did better.

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My Hero Academia, Season 4, Episode 17 Review/Recap

Well, I think this may be my least favorite episode of the entire season of My Hero Academia. When we left off, Bakugo, Shoto, Camie, and Inasa had to rein in a bunch of problem elementary school students. When words failed to reach them, they resort to humanity’s other, time-honored solution: violence. Or so it looks like: in truth, they’re just trying to reach those kids hearts.

Recap

So, the quartet of heroes-in-training let the kids unleash their Quirks on them while the adults watch in shock. It’s then that the “Quirk Singularity Theory” gets brought up: it’s the idea that Quirks are growing stronger with each generation. In time, they’ll become so powerful, and people won’t be able to control them, hence why these grade-schoolers are so strong.

Fortunately, the young heroes prove that raw power isn’t enough; there’s also imagination. By combining their skills, the quartet’s able to put on a fantastic display of their abilities that wins the kids over. As for their leader, Bakugo lectures him on not acting like he’s better than everyone or else he’ll never learn. With their task complete, everyone returns to school.

Back at school, Midoriya ends up bonding with Aoyama over the fact that both have Quirks that can be harmful to their bodies. That’s about it.

Review

I am not sorry when I say this: I slept through the second half of the episode. I understand what the anime’s trying to do with Aoyama: like Midoriya, his Quirk can be a hindrance more than it can help. Thus, it’s natural for the two to bond over that. That said, I couldn’t get myself invested in that. On top of that, going from one story to the next in the middle of the episode felt a little sloppy, and even jarring. The fact that Sir Nighteye’s funeral is only shown onscreen for a few moments also felt like a disappointment. We saw that guy die and got broken up about it!

What I did enjoy, however, was the character development we see in our resident anti-heroes, Bakugo and Endeavor. Bakugo was an arrogant jerk when we first met him, but his time at U.A. gave him a lesson in humility. To hear him pass on what he’s learned shows how far he’s come in those past few months. Then, we see Endeavor own up to the fact that he’s been a bad dad to Shoto. Shoto doesn’t buy it, but I can tell that deep down, he’s happy to hear his dad say that.

There’s also the “Quirk Singularity” theory that got brought up, and I was intrigued. In Marvel and DC comics, I’ve seen beings with superpowers have children with powers of their own. Some of them, like Franklin Richards or Rachel Summers, can end up having god-like power. It’s a nice callback to Horikoshi’s inspiration, I think.

Beyond that, though, this episode was a snooze fest. Speaking of festivals, though, that’s going to be the focus of the next arc. From what I remember reading in the manga, it’s going to be a good one, too! Go Beyond, Plus Ultra!

I Give “Relief For License Trainees” a 2/5. Also did this kid copy the Destructo-Disc?

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The Owl House Episode 5 Review

I love conventions. A gathering of like-minded people to share knowledge, products, and revel in what they enjoy; it’s all so amazing! As it turns out, Luz thinks the same thing. When Gus and Willow tell her of Bonesborough’s annual Covention, where students can learn all about the Covens they can join, she begs Eda to go. Eda, on the other hand, wants nothing to do with the Covention since she hates authority. Nonetheless, they end up going, and we get another piece to the puzzles of Eda’s past and the world of the Boiling Isles.

Enjoy the Covention (I love puns)

This episode managed to pique two different aspects regarding conventions; or coventions, in this case. On the one hand, I can’t help but geek out like Luz at all the cool stuff she sees. On the other, I remember how all the job fairs I’ve attended have been useless, so I get what Eda’s saying. It’s the classic “wide-eyed idealist vs. cynical realist” conflict. 

It’s no surprise, though, that Eda’s concern may be justified. This episode reveals three big pieces of information. Firstly, when a witch joins a coven, they lose the ability to perform any other form of magic. Secondly, the only ones who can use all kinds of magic are the Emperor’s Coven. Enforcers for the Emperor of the Boiling Isles, the fact that they’re said to enforce an order of “controlled magic,” makes me wary. Groups like that have a history of being jerks.

Finally, the leader of Emperor’s Coven turns out to be Eda’s sister, Lilith! I think this reveal was even more significant than Eda’s curse in the previous episode. Two sisters, both having powerful magic, on opposite sides. It reminds me of the relationship between Stan and Ford Pines in Gravity Fall, and that’s a good thing!

Though they never planned to do so, Eda and Lilith come to blows due to Luz. When Amity insults King, Luz rashly challenges her to a Witch’s duel, with the condition that she has to stop training as a witch if she loses. The fight between two students devolves into a contest between Eda and Lilith when both teachers are revealed to have helped their students cheat. 

Can Amity Be Nice?

Despite establishing her as an arrogant ice queen in her last appearance, I was delighted to see this episode deconstruct that notion about Amity. She’s not bad. She pushes herself too hard to be the best but is so insecure when she’s one-upped that she lashes out. She’s like Vegeta, Sasuke, or Bakugo. Fortunately, Luz manages to get through to connect with Amity, and even impress her a little bit when she shows off how she can use magic. Seeing how their relationship develops will be interesting.

Eda and Lilith’s relationship, on the other hand, seems to have gotten more strained. Lilith wants to help her sister, but as she says, Eda “makes it so hard to want to help you.”

Regardless, I think this episode gave us a lot of significant payoffs. We got to learn more about Eda, who’s by far my favorite character on the show. On top of that, we got to see some character development for Amity and Luz. In addition, we learn about Emperor Bellos (I hope that’s spelled right), who may or may not become the main antagonist down the road. Covention maybe my second favorite episode of the show!

I Give “Covention” a 4.5

Stray Observations

• We got a cameo from the prisoners that Luz, Eda and King freed. It’s the Eye-eating Monster and Dana’s author avatar
• I will now refer to Dana’s Author Avatar as Little Monster Dana, or LMD. I also realize that shares an acronym with Life Model Decoy.
• KAIO-KEN!

• King channels the spirit of people who go to conventions for free swag.
• Does it really matter that people know Luz is a human? Everyone pretty much knows by now.

Favorite Quotes

• “Cupcakes in my tummy-tum makes the King say yummy-yum!”

• “Eda, I need your help, I accidentally challenged Amity to a witch’s duel and I think she’s going to kill me all the way dead!”
• “You were defeated, don’t get heated, get your stank face treated… because my rhymes are depleted!”

check out this awesome video I found on Twitter! It’s a video created by the director for this episode!

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