The series aren't in a death spiral.
What Makes An Inoffensive Asspull?
Brandon Russell
Joshua Barnes
Yusuke and Dai were likeable beyond being "literally me/hardworking nobody" and their stories never really preached about free will and freedom.
Gabriel Fisher
People don't care about asspulls unless they're particularly egregious.
The main reason for Hisoka's revival creating such a shitstorm is because of niggastreams' translation, had they gone with the same wording that VIZ did it wouldn't even be talked about anymore.
O MY "X" is just too citable, and as a result of this phrase becoming a meme people try to apply it to anything they can possibly think of in order to acquire (You)'s.
Juan Smith
I see. So to summarize your post, without taking anything away from it via reduction, you think "so long as asspulls don't damage the integrity of the series' central themes or established character arcs, they will not ruin anything", yes? If so, I can agree with that. Thinking of
>O MY DEMON ANCESTOR
and
>O MY DOUBLE DRAGON CRESTS
It's true, neither of them actually clash with either series' themes, or the characters of Yusuke and Dai. I guess that's why people are willing to live with them and continue loving these stories anyway.
That's a very good answer, user.
Landon Fisher
Super Saiyan was built up throughout the entire saga and considered the peak of DBZ
Pulling the Exodia is also amazing because it was built up as an impossible card and Yugi waas right on the edge at that moment
Difference between Asspull and actual power ups are the built up leading to it - including training and tests of strenght/faith in your friends. The character has to pay for it
James Rivera
LMAO no
It was shatted on because the HxHfags DEFENDED it, claiming it isn't an asspull and HxH is not like other Shounen
Streisand Effect happened shortly after
Robert Perez
I think that pretty much summarizes it. Another example in shonen as of late is Dr. Stone, which just ended a few days ago. The last arc is basically a Cliffsnotes speedrun of civilizational development and building a rocket to go to space. It really wasn't an interesting read, and was pretty disappointing how much was skimmed over through timeskips. They went from barely any infrastructure to the moon in like 7 years, it's pretty bullshit, but it doesn't necessarily invalidate the previous work because the characters are still shown as working hard through problems to correct their mistakes. The end result felt cheap, but did not invalidate the themes that came before it in regards to science being about diligence and trial&error. An even more retarded asspull in the last chapter has the MC attempting to build a time machine to fix the cataclysm that happens in chapter 1. It's stupid, but it doesn't invalidate the MC's characterization presented throughout the story. He always says "I want to save every last person on earth" and while that's basically impossible in the context of the story, he continues down that path because his ideals remain consistent. Even if in-universe a time machine is maybe feasible due to the sci-fi tech explained in prior chapters, it feels stupid, but it doesn't make reading the earlier chapters any less enjoyable. I think that's the key.
Matthew Stewart
Then you have the Golden Book from Konjiki no Gash/Zatch Bell. It's not foreshadowed at all but it's the thematic payoff for an entire story of MC doing his damndest to befriend everyone and being a king that inspires loyalty through kindness, and having that returned with literally everyone coming back to help bail him out. It's about the least egregious asspull you can have in a series since it complements the story themes and the strength of the characters.
Adrian Cox
If there is no setup then it's an asspull period
Jace Walker
YYH was good in the sense that there was a thematic reason for it.
Sensui was a human fighting to end humans and Yusuke became a demon fighting to save humans.