The Screen Scribe

Vegeta fans rejoice. The Prince of All Saiyans has finally been given his due. This has easily been the best episode of the series so far. I’ll admit I was particularly worried early on in Daima as it seemed to almost exclusively focus on Goku and the effect his incredible strength had upon the residents of the Demon Realm, but this episode has put my fears to rest. Dragon Ball Daima episode 12, “True Strength”, delivers the most epic Vegeta fight we have seen in a long time, while finally equipping the Prince with the one transformation that he had yet to unlock. Granted, it opens certain plot holes that fans will undoubtedly pick apart but can easily be explained away by previous exposition. I’ll get back to this later.

“True Strength” was a spectacular display of everything Daima has accomplished so far. Inventive and creative action choreography. Stunning, colourful and crisp animation. Well-earned character development, and a fast-paced narrative that keeps the viewer engaged. While I loved the visual feast that was Goku’s battle against the Tamagami #3, in my opinion this episode overtakes it not only because of Vegeta’s battle, but also Majin Duu’s fight against Tamagami #1. Duu showcased abilities akin to his predecessor Fat Buu, using his malleable form, bulky build and wacky moves to overpower the strongest Tamagami. Though, it wasn’t without its silly shenanigans, as Duu quit the fight halfway through, demanding to be fed chocolate. It’s also quite funny how when he finally got his treat, his power skyrocketed. Should this odd little quirk be a worry for our heroes?

But without a doubt the highlight of the episode was Vegeta’s transformation into Super Saiyan 3. Fans have waited decades to witness this, and genuinely never thought it would happen. I could not believe my eyes when I witnessed the Princes hair elongate, and having the design be so different from both Goku and Gotenks’ forms was genius. It perfectly fits with his character and looks badass. It should be noted that when Vegeta finally powered up to Super Saiyan 2 he began to gain the upper hand on the Tamagami, until Neva boosted his creations power. This has interesting implications going forward as to how the ancient Namek may factor into the final battles of the series. This pushes Vegeta to unleash the pinnacle of Super Saiyan power, much to the shock and awe of his onlooking friends, in particular Goku. Bulma’s proud reaction was also very sweet and she very likely already knew about Vegeta’s achievement. The fight itself afterwards was nothing short of tremendous. Vegeta gained not only a boost in power, but a complete shift in confidence. He just knew this fight was in his pocket once he transformed, and he showcased such a degree of control over the form, it begs the questions, is Vegeta now stronger than Goku?

Now, to revisit my earlier point. Yes, Vegeta obtaining Super Saiyan 3 now creates obvious plot holes for Dragon Ball Super. Why did he not whip out this form against Beerus? Or in the Tournament of Destroyers? It’s quite simple really. Goku had already stated, several times, throughout the Majin Buu arc that the Super Saiyan 3 form is a huge drain on energy and stamina and is simply not sustainable for long fights. It was useful only in short bursts for a significant power boost. And once the pair had unlocked their divine forms i.e Super Saiyan God and Super Saiyan Blue, Super Saiyan 3 became a completely irrelevant form. Prior to the battle with Beerus, Vegeta would likely have already figured this out and realised that mastering Super Saiyan 2 was the best method of progressing his power. Therefore, he never used Super Saiyan 3 from there on. Case closed.

“True Strength” will go down as a classic Dragon Ball episode and a momentous character moment for Vegeta. And now that all three Tamagami’s are out of the way, it begs the question, where does the series go now?

4 / 5 from the Screen Scribe.

Dragon Ball Daima airs every Friday on Netflix and Crunchyroll.