The Golden Frieza Arc is the second saga in the Dragon Ball Super anime, depicting the events that unfold from the Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' anime film. The 93-minute feature was released in 2015, followed by a Future Trunks special edition version one year later. The Dragon Ball Super anime featured the events from the film in the same year as the film's release, covering the story from episodes 16 to 27.

The Golden Frieza Arc sees the return of the franchise's most popular villain, Frieza, and his aspirations to rule Earth. His revival poses a new threat to Goku, Vegeta, and the rest of Earth's inhabitants, but the stakes are raised exponentially with the re-introduction of Frieza's army, which has grown in numbers.

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Training with the Gods

A sedentary life is not suitable for Goku and his need to become stronger. On one hand, a life without danger is one that many would see as the perfect result, but driving a tractor and selling vegetables isn't something Goku gets excited over. When Krillin offers to train with Goku and spar, his excitement gets the best of him, and one punch sends his best friend flying through houses, landing him a black eye for his efforts. This sparring session ignites Goku's thirst for training and to become stronger, even if it's to push past his limits.

Fortunately, Whis is on Earth and testing out delicious treats made by Bulma. This is where the comedic factor of Dragon Ball takes center stage, as Vegeta arrives on the scene and discovers the one treat his wife has not yet made Whis taste: instant ramen. Though the inexpensive food item is easy to make, it surprises Whis so much that he agrees to take Vegeta on as a training student. The moment manages to sneak in one more comedic moment as Bulma gives Vegeta a new battle armor suit, refusing to let her husband look like a fool.

Once Goku catches up to Vegeta during his training with Whis, the two Saiyans embark on a journey to become stronger together. Dragon Ball has a history of training montages, from Krillin and Goku learning the ways of the Kamehameha with Master Roshi to the Z Fighters and Goku training for the upcoming threat of the androids. As Goku and Vegeta continue their efforts to surpass their limits, a looming threat is heading toward Earth.

The One Thousand Soldier Battle

Resurrection 'F' wouldn't be the monumental story it was without the arrival of Frieza, who is indeed the one receiving resurrection. The return of the Emperor shouldn't surprise most Dragon Ball fans, as Frieza is the most notorious and evil of all the antagonists introduced in the series. The similarities between Frieza's aspirations and those of Goku and Vegeta are evident, as he wishes to become stronger, revealing it will take just a few months before he can reach a new form. His plot to overrule Earth comes to full fruition as he comes up with 1,000 soldiers to raid the planet and defeat anyone in their way.

The returns don't stop with Frieza, as the leader of the 1,000-soldier army gets duped into changing forms with Captain Ginyu, who was still in the body of a frog from the last time he made an appearance in Dragon Ball Z. Posing with the unmistakable Ginyu pose, his return sparks new fear into the hearts of Gohan, Piccolo, and the Z fighters, as his strength is unmatched compared to the rest of Frieza's army. The battle between Gohan and Captain Ginyu pushes the narrative well between an unbelievably strong fighter in Ginyu matching up against a Saiyan who has neglected his training regimen. Despite being in the body of a frog for years, Captain Ginyu hasn't lost his fighting abilities.

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Though the fight breaks down into Piccolo and the Z Fighters taking on hoards of villains and Gohan failing to keep up with Captain Ginyu, fans get some nostalgic, though forced, moments throughout. In an instance where Frieza joins the battle and has Gohan pushed to his limits, Piccolo steps in to defend Gohan, taking a ki blast directly to the chest. This action pays tribute to Piccolo's untimely demise at the hands of Nappa, who sent a blast meant to kill Gohan, but this time around, it feels less impactful. Gohan isn't a child anymore, and his inability to keep up in battle is a testament to his neglectfulness towards remaining a capable fighter.

Unfortunately, there is a lack of build-up toward this encounter, and many of the previously mentioned moments feel rushed, taking away from the fight against Frieza's army. Though it is nice to see some moments of nostalgia spread across individual battles and see the likes of Tien and Master Roshi getting their fair share of hits, the battle eventually becomes one-sided and focuses more towards re-introducing Goku and Vegeta, who have been training with an angel for months.

Rematch With The Emperor

As of this moment, Resurrection 'F' and its Dragon Ball Super counterpart become must-watch television. It had been a while since Goku and Vegeta had last been with the rest of the crew, and their confidence was only second to the strength built up for months. Allowing Gohan, Piccolo, and the rest of the Z Fighters to tag out of the fight and take a much-needed rest, it becomes clear how much stronger they've become when Vegeta intercepts a boastful Captain Ginyu, destroying him with one blast. The one defeat convinces Frieza to join the fray, and the transformation into Golden Frieza not only intimidates Goku and Vegeta but eviscerates his entire army in the blast.

One thing Dragon Ball is known for is its captivating fights and beautiful shots with each blow, and Ressurection 'F' captures this essence tenfold. The battle between Goku and Frieza sees the Saiyan and Emperor exchanging blows in a tilted battle as each gains the upper hand in moments. Unfortunately, Frieza's dirty ways lead to Goku's defeat, as Sorbet uses the Bad Ring Laser to fire a beam of energy directly at Goku. While the dirty tactics result in Goku's defeat, Vegeta's save and declaration of war against Frieza may be one of the best moments of the Prince of all Saiyans.

During the battle between Vegeta and Frieza, the match is lopsided compared to the prior fight. Vegeta reveals he can achieve the Super Saiyan Blue form, which is brought to epic levels with a royal soundtrack playing, and the fear struck in Frieza's eyes is something Vegeta fans have been waiting for. With each strike, each kick, Vegeta's pent-up rage towards the Emperor who enslaved his people can be felt throughout. It's a moment that was decades in the making and one that is satisfying for those who have cheered on Vegeta since the days of Dragon Ball Z and his rise as a protagonist. As thrilling as the fight was, it unfortunately fell into some familiar trends.

Why Vegeta Should Have Had The Last Laugh

The one major knock against Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super has been the emphasis on Goku stealing the show. The fight is not over until Goku gets the final say, except for a few cases, such as Gohan defeating Cell (with the help of his father's spirit). As Vegeta is about to destroy Frieza once and for all, his confidence and arrogance lead to Frieza taking the opportunity to send a beam directly into the center of the Earth, destroying the planet in the process. Had it not been for Whis and his ability to reverse time, every inhabitant of Earth would have been wiped away by the blast.

The deus ex machina in Whis' ability leads to Goku rushing back into the fight, preventing Frieza from destroying the Earth and saving the day. While Vegeta did all the handy work and was on the cusp of the ultimate victory, his opportunity was taken away once more by his rival Saiyan. Perhaps one day fans will finally get their wish of seeing Vegeta prevail and earn his victory on the greatest stage, but for now, Resurrection 'F' concludes with Goku and friends escaping another threat and living on to see another day and an eventual new threat to their well-being.

The Dragon Ball manga is available to read on Viz and the Dragon Ball anime is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

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Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball is a franchise by Akira Toriyama which follows the adventures of Goku, a powerful warrior who protects the earth with his group of friends. A recent title from the series is Dragon Ball: The Breakers, an action style game where 7 players have to survive being hunted by the Raider.