vDragon Ball Daima May Have Reintroduced Super Saiyan 4, But It Got One Thing Wrong
Those who actually enjoyed Dragon Ball GT can easily find numerous faults with Dragon Ball Daima's reinterpretation of Super Saiyan 4, from failing to properly foreshadow the transformation in the actual story and choosing to have a less established character like Neva contribute to Goku's ascension, to not immediately incorporating more aspects of Saiyan lore. At least later episodes can address or maybe even justify some of these issues. However, there's one thing that Daima can't fix, which was arguably one of the more mysterious aspects of GT's Super Saiyan 4.
When the basic premise of Daima was announced, fans gleefully began pointing out the many parallels of this new series to GT. The main correlation was the fact that Goku had been turned into a kid, since the entirety of GT revolved around that same problem. Even though Daima also introduced some divergences, fans dared to hope that this could mean that it would actually adapt GT's most iconic achievement — Super Saiyan 4. Despite the naysayers, Daima delivered the impossible and canonized Super Saiyan 4, but the reception wasn't wholly warm.
Dragon Ball Daima's Super Saiyan 4 Doesn't Turn Goku Back into An Adult
GT and Daima Are Both About Kid Forms, So Having Super Saiyan 4 Alter Them Makes Sense
GT was the perfect time to debut Super Saiyan 4 because the story was based upon how Goku was a kid again, and the transformation just so happened to alter that unique state. Upon his ascension, Goku would revert to his original adult form. Then every time he powered down, he would become a kid again. Even though GT's Super Saiyan 4 was at the time and arguably still is the most involved level of Super Saiyan, the fact that Goku also couldn't remain a kid in that form just added even more appeal.
I Really Wanted to See Super Saiyan 4 Become Canon, But Dragon Ball Did It Wrong
Dragon Ball Daima may have finally canonized Super Saiyan 4, but its delivery was all wrong, especially when compared to Dragon Ball GT.
Of course, the franchise could have introduced Super Saiyan 4 earlier when Goku had never been turned into a kid and then built upon it once he did get forced into his kid form, but making Super Saiyan 4 a GT-exclusive transformation helped strengthen the overall theme of the series. Perplexingly, Daima retconned this entire dynamic by having Goku remain in his kid form even after transforming into Super Saiyan 4.
Dragon Ball Daima Eliminated Its One True Purpose
Super Saiyan 4 Didn't Need To Happen in Daima
Other than needlessly eliminating a fun aspect of the transformation, Daima's retcon creates the impression that Super Saiyan 4 didn't even need to happen during its own series because it isn't connected to the main driving force of the story in a meaningful way. Goku and his friends are searching for the Demon Realm's Dragon Balls to transform everybody back into their adult bodies. So having Super Saiyan 4 affect Goku in that form would have been just as satisfying as when GT did it.
Goku vs Guns: Dragon Ball Daima Finally Settles a Popular (and Surprising) Debate
Dragon Ball Daima episode #15 just broke with a tradition that has been prominent in Dragon Ball by having guns play a major role.
In other words, Daima's entire story up to this point would have had the same effect even if Goku never transformed into a kid, or the transformation could have easily happened in a later saga of Dragon Ball Super when Goku was still in his adult body. The only catalyzing force for Super Saiyan 4 as of Daima episode #18is Neva, and that isn't even enough of a justification. Even though Neva has exhibited some incredible powers, none of them can be easily attributed to Goku or the Saiyan anatomy.
GT's version of events made much more sense, not just because it involved Elder Kai, who was a more established character than Neva, but since Elder Kai used a similarly ridiculous method to help Goku transform into Super Saiyan 4 as to when he unlocked Gohan's latent powers in DBZ. Even if later episodes somehow justify Neva's involvement in Goku's transformation, there will still be the problem of Goku not becoming an adult again upon ascending to Super Saiyan 4.
Dragon Ball Daima Eliminates The Mysteriousness of Super Saiyan 4
There's Nothing Worthwhile Left to Discuss
In addition to not complementing the overall theme of Daima's unique story, Daima's Super Saiyan 4 also eliminates a more mythical aspect of the transformation that GT had created. To this day, there is still no explanation as to why Goku can't remain a kid when he's in his Super Saiyan 4 form. Fans have some theories, like the power is so immense for a child that Goku automatically becomes an adult to accommodate the power, but the fact that this question hasn't been answered is compelling.
Despite a Super Saiyan 3 Surprise, Dragon Ball Still Can't Help But Disrespect Vegeta
Dragon Ball Daima episode #15 did Vegeta dirty for no reason especially after he finally caught up with Goku by achieving Super Saiyan 3.
Unfortunately, since Goku can be a kid when he transforms into Super Saiyan 4, Daima has removed that air of mystery and awe. No change means there's nothing to discuss, except the fact that Dragon Ball Daima has canonized Super Saiyan 4, and as episode #18 has proven, this isn't a good thing.
