For a series featuring some of the greatest feats of strength anime has ever seen, some of the most heated discussions surroundingDragon Ballhave to do with Goku’s questionable parenting skills. Fans aren’t wrong in deliberating on the matter, as Goku has proven time and again to be wildly unreliable as a father. Some fans are adamant that he’sthe worst dad in anime, while others believe his reputation is unwarranted. Unfortunately for the latter, however, Goku admits to his incompetence inDragon Ball Daima’s seventh episode, titled, “Collar”.
The truth of the matter is that the Saiyan likely resides somewhere in-between ‘worst dad in anime’ and ‘misunderstood parent’, but nevertheless,he admits to his own shortcomingswhen Panzy questions how he could ever raise a child.Goku has always been a flawed protagonist, and as it turns out, being the Earth’s savior does not equate to being a good dad.
Goku Has Always Been an Unreliable Parent
Panzy’s admiration of Goku has fluctuated throughout her time inDragon Ball Daima. In one moment, she will be absolutely captivated by his fighting abilities, and in the next, thoroughly annoyed by his behavior. That seems to be a common theme for Goku, asa large portion of the fanbase tends to feel similarlyregarding his abilities as a parent. Gohan was kidnapped in his very first appearance in the series, while Goten was forced to wait several years before meeting his father, and only did so because Goku wanted to fight in a tournament.
Dragon Ball Daima Reveals the Supreme Kai’s Origins (and It Is Seriously Strange)
Dragon Ball Daima delved into just how the Supreme Kai and his species came to be, and the answer is truly bizarre, even for Dragon Ball.
Much like Panzy, however, it is easy to become captivated whenDragon Ball’s protagonist inevitably saves the day, and ultimatelyforgive some of his bad qualities. It certainly helps that Goku is an inherently kind character that would never purposefully harm his loved ones, and will often go out of his way to fight on their behalf.Dragon Ballalso goes out of its way to show that Gohan and Goten love their father. It just happens that a member of the fiercest warrior race in the universe has a different method of parenting.
Parenting Is a Bit Different In the Strongest Family on Earth
While it may be easy to criticizeGoku’s rather unconventional parenting methods, it cannot be ignored that he’s been tasked withraising the strongest family on the planet, who are consistently called upon to protect the Earth from various terrifying threats. That may not excuse what Goku himself describes as a lack of involvement inDaima’s latest episode, but it does offer some leeway in situations like Gohan’s fight with Cell.
Though some fans may be unhappy with Goku’s latest commentary on his own parenting skills,at least some may be satisfied with his own self-awareness, and see it as a step in the right direction as the series' protagonist becomes a grandparent in future arcs.Dragon Ball Daimaseems set for its first major showdown with the mysterious Tamigamis, and fans should expect some high-intensity action in upcoming episodes. There may not be much quality parenting, though.
Dragon Ball DAIMA
Cast
Dragon Ball Daima sees Goku and his allies inexplicably shrunk into miniature forms, prompting a journey to the Demon Realm. This animated adventure, part of the Dragon Ball franchise, explores their mission to solve the mystery and restore their original statures. Released in October 2024.
