Future Trunks is one character that quickly became a fan favorite inDragon Ball Z. He was introduced as a warrior from a doomed timeline, making his story all the more intriguing. Unlike Goku or Vegeta, who fought to grow stronger, Future Trunks fought to save what little remained of his world.His character arc throughoutDragon Ball Zwas easily one of the most compellingin the franchise, and his conclusion felt both satisfying and well-earned.
That is why his return inDragon Ball Supersparked excitement among fans. However, while bringing Future Trunks back was a fun throwback and seemed like an excellent opportunity for the series,it quickly took a much darker turn than fans were expecting. The stakes were higher than ever, but the way his arc unfolded may have done more harm than good.
Future Trunks’ Arc Was Satisfying From the Beginning to the Conclusion
Future Trunks’ character arc wasone of the series’ most emotionally impactful storylines and wrapped up with a satisfying conclusion. Trunks entered the series as a warrior who fights for survival and carries the weight of a dying world on his shoulders. His first appearance in the series was already fascinating as he wielded a sword,effortlessly cut down Frieza, and was the second Super Saiyan in the series, establishing himself as a mysterious and powerful force. However, it was his motivation that cemented him as a memorable character as he fought to ensure history wouldn’t repeat itself.
Future Trunks started out as a powerful yet inexperienced fighter whoconstantly measured himself against Vegeta. At first, his father was cold and indifferent, yet as time went on, Trunks managed to surpass expectations and unlocked his own version of Super Saiyan Third Grade. After witnessing the horrors of his world and training alongside the Z-Fighters, he grew more confident and no longer feared the Android or Cell when he returned to the future. With his newfound strength,Trunks effortlessly defeated the enemies in his timeline, avenging his world and offering the perfect resolution to his story.
Dragon Ball Daima Features a Very Different Super Saiyan 4 From GT and Here’s How
Dragon Ball Daima reintroduces Super Saiyan 4 with Goku, featuring significant changes that better portray the transformation.
What made Trunks’ arc so satisfying was that it felt complete and well-rounded. His return to the future was more than a personal victory. It was anarrative payoff that reinforced the themes of perseverance and hope. While nothing could undo the devastation his world experienced, Trunks’ story still ended on a high note, making his struggles and sacrifices worth it as he became the hero his timeline needed and ushered in a new era of peace.
Trunks' Return in Super Made Everything He Accomplished Before Useless
Dragon Ball Super Turned Future Trunks’ Arc Into One of Endless Tragedies
Future Trunks’ return inDragon Ball Superinitiallyseemed like a great chance to expand on his story, but instead, it undermined everything he fought for. After defeating Cell and the Androids, his future was supposed to finally be safe. However, with the introduction of Zamasu and Goku Black, his timeline experienced yet another era of hardships and darkness, forcing Trunks to seek help once again from the main timeline. This not only erased his hard-won victory but alsomade it feel like his efforts were never enough, as he was seemingly trapped in a cycle of loss and devastation.
What made this even worse was thatSuperended the saga with Zeno erasing everything. Trunks didn’t get the chance to reclaim his world or save whoever was left. Instead, he was forced to abandon nearly everything, whichcompletely negated his arc inDragon Ball Zand made his original victory ultimately meaningless. The entire point of his character was to save both the main timeline and his own. Despite the overwhelming odds, Trunks managed to change fate through strength and determination, butSuperreduced him to a victim of fate beyond his control.
Future Trunks’ Farewell in Dragon Ball Super Was an Awful Ending
The Resolution Created More Questions Than It Answered
The resolution to Future Trunks’ story inDragon Ball Superwasboth unsatisfying and completely illogical. After all that he had endured, rather than saving his timeline, he was sent to an alternative timeline where another version of himself and Future Mai already existed. While this was supposed to provide a happy ending for the two, it instead raised more questions. How would Future Trunks coexist with another version of him? How would that timeline’s version of Trunks and Bulma react? Rather than finding closure, the series essentially threw Future Trunks into someone else’s life with little consideration.
Sending Future Trunks to another timeline was even more illogical when considering he could have remained in the main one, where he already had meaningful connections. At this point,no matter where Future Trunks returned, he would have been an anomaly, negating any concerns about disrupting any timeline. While the manga briefly covers the fact that Trunks wanted to make his future a world that Gohan would want to visit, it holds less weight after Zeno completely erases his timeline. That being said, ifanother Zeno could stay in the main timeline, there’s no reason Trunks couldn’t either.
Dragon Ball Super Could Have Handled Future Trunks’ Story Much Differently
Erasing His Timeline Was the Worst Way Dragon Ball Could Have Handled His Arc
Dragon Ball Superhadcountless ways to handle Future Trunks’ return without erasing everything he fought for. Instead of destroying his timeline, the series could have allowed him to rebuild, reinforcing the themes of resilience and hope that defined his arc inDragon Ball Z. Even ifthe writers and editorswanted a tragic ending, there could have been a more meaningful resolution that didn’t unravel everything he worked for inDragon Ball Z.
By the end ofSuper, Future Trunks felt like a shell of the hero he once was. His struggles, sacrifices, victories, and development inDragon Ball Zwere discarded in favor of an ending that failed to do his character justice. Instead of being remembered as a warrior who saved his world, hebecame a tragic afterthought who became trapped within a cycle of loss. His return to the series should have reinforced his legacy rather than erasing it. By mishandling Future Trunks’ fate,Dragon Ball Supercompletely ruined one of the best character arcs in the franchise.
