Warning: Spoilers for Dragon Ball Daima, episode #10
The latest episode of Dragon Ball Daima has unveiled poignant insights into the Namekian race, emphasizing their tragic history which arguably surpasses that of the Saiyans within the franchise. The Namekians have been grappling with hardship long before the notorious Frieza’s reign, and their suffering is deeply rooted in their rich but sorrowful lineage.
While the destruction of the Saiyan homeworld is undeniably tragic, it comes with a layer of karmic justice given the Saiyans’ malevolent actions under Frieza’s command. This complicates the emotional response to their demise, as their villainous acts echo the idea of “what goes around, comes around.”In contrast, the Namekians’ plight has persisted since before Universe 7 was even conceived, and this unbroken cycle of misfortune continues to unfold. Recent revelations by the Supreme Kai have shed light on their origins rooted in the Demon Realm, illustrating a grim history of oppression.
The Namekians’ Plight in the Demon Realm
Namekian Life on Their Homeworld: A Struggle
In episode #10 of Dragon Ball Daima, the Supreme Kai highlights the Namekians’ existence in the Demon Realm, where they were largely treated as slaves, exploited for their unique abilities that are unmatched by other races. Rather than seeking refuge, they were compelled to abandon their ancestral home due to the harsh treatment by the Demon Realm’s rulers. Notably, only one Namekian, Neva, remains in that realm as he chose to stay behind and guard the Dragon Balls while the others escaped.
This context explains the rigorous safeguarding surrounding the Demon Realm’s Dragon Balls. The Namekians’ mistrust of others in that domain compelled them to create the Tamagami, ensuring that only the most powerful beings could access these Dragon Balls, albeit with the inherent risk of wicked individuals exploiting them. The fewer times these Dragon Balls were utilized, the better for their continued safety.
While the exact timeline of the Demon Realm’s existence relative to the other universes is unclear, it is evident that the Namekians welcomed any opportunity to escape to the larger universe, eventually arriving on Planet Namek. Here, they endeavored to reconstruct a semblance of the Demon Realm, terraforming the landscape to feel familiar until they could reclaim a sense of peace. This tranquility, however, was shattered with Frieza’s devastating arrival into their lives.
The Innate Tragedy of the Namekians
A History of Suffering Embedded in Their DNA
Throughout the Frieza saga, the Namekians appear to be mere bystanders caught in a conflict that bears no relevance to them. Frieza’s relentless quest for the Dragon Balls leads to widespread slaughter of the Namekian people, who were merely striving to live peacefully. At that time, the Namekian population was tragically low, with only a few hundred surviving on Namek—indicative of the brutal losses they had already endured. This further implies that a significantly reduced number escaped the horrors of the Demon Realm.
The Namekians face a dire fate, as they are annihilated in a struggle that is not of their making, reinforcing their status as a sorrowful race. The history reveals that Planet Namek was established by a handful of escaped slaves, remnants of their once-thriving society, yet they continuously sought solitude and harmony, refraining from interference in the evolution of other civilizations. Tragically, their unique abilities—in particular, the power to forge Dragon Balls—have consistently attracted tyrants like Frieza.
This relentless cycle of abuse seems to preclude any genuine hope for the Namekians, as their exceptional powers render them desirable targets for those in search of domination. This sets them apart from the Saiyans, whose decline was partly attributed to their own malevolent actions. Ultimately, the Namekians are portrayed as deserving of tranquility, and they find a measure of safety through the vigilant presence of heroes like Goku, who aims to protect them and their coveted Dragon Balls from malevolent misuse. Dragon Ball Daima enhances the tragic narrative surrounding the Namekians, solidifying their place as the most unfortunate race in the entire Dragon Ball saga.
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