Could Zamasu’s Fall Have Been Avoided?

Why the Gods’ Distance From Mortal Struggles Fueled His Corruption

The Question That Keeps Me Thinking

Out of all the villains in Dragon Ball Super, Zamasu has always fascinated me the most — not just because of his power or his Zero Mortals Plan, but because his descent into moral corruption feels so… human. And that irony hits hard: a god who, instead of embodying justice and wisdom, became consumed by hatred and hubris.

I often ask myself: could Zamasu’s fall into darkness have been avoided if the gods had a deeper understanding of mortal struggles? If they walked even a little in our shoes, would they still look down on us so easily? This question matters to me because it highlights a flaw not just in Zamasu, but in the entire hierarchy of divine beings in the series — and, in some ways, it mirrors how leaders in the real world can lose their way when they’re too far removed from those they lead.

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A God Detached From Reality

From the very start, Zamasu saw mortals as chaotic, violent, and unworthy of existence. Watching his disgust as he observed a primitive species destroy itself over trivial things, I couldn’t help but think: he’s not entirely wrong… but he’s missing context. He saw the end result of suffering — war, greed, destruction — but never the reasons behind it: survival instincts, love, fear, pain.

The gods in Dragon Ball Super seem to monitor the universe from a safe distance, judging mortals based on surface-level actions. None of them (except maybe Beerus, occasionally) ever try to understand the desperation or resilience that drives mortals to act the way they do. I believe this disconnect laid the perfect foundation for Zamasu’s arrogance. If the gods taught empathy alongside law and order, perhaps he would have learned to see mortals not as failures, but as flawed beings striving to improve.

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What the Gods Could Have Done

What if Zamasu had been sent to live among mortals before becoming an apprentice? Imagine him experiencing hunger, fear, friendship, and loss firsthand. Would he still see mortals as hopeless? I doubt it. The very struggles he hated are what make mortals grow.

There’s a scene where Gowasu tries to lecture Zamasu about patience and faith in mortals, but it comes off more like a scolding than guidance. It’s no wonder Zamasu tuned him out because Gowasu himself lacked any genuine insight into mortal life. I think the gods failed not just Zamasu but the mortals, too, by creating a system where judgment was passed from afar, without context.

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Why This Resonates With Me

Watching Zamasu’s story unfold always makes me reflect on how easily people — especially those in power — can lose sight of humanity when they’re disconnected from it. I’ve seen managers, politicians, and even community leaders make similar mistakes: judging harshly because they’ve forgotten what it feels like to be vulnerable or powerless.

Zamasu is a cautionary tale. His disdain didn’t sprout from nowhere; it grew from ignorance, unchecked authority, and a lack of emotional education. And honestly? That’s not just on him — that’s on the gods who raised him without teaching him what truly matters.

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A Lesson in Humility

In the end, I do believe Zamasu’s moral corruption could have been avoided — but only if the gods themselves were willing to humble themselves, to get their hands dirty in the messiness of mortal life. If they taught their apprentices not just to observe, but to understand, perhaps Zamasu’s divine sense of justice wouldn’t have twisted into hatred.

For me, this is one of the most meaningful stories in Dragon Ball Super — because it challenges us all to remember that empathy comes from connection, and true judgment requires understanding. Maybe that’s the kind of god the universe really needs.