Jun 23, 2016 07:34 AM EDT By Vinay Patel, UniversityHerald Reporter

The fan-favorite Japanese anime TV series, "Dragon Ball Super" has officially begun the Future Trunks arc, and if the initial reactions of fans are anything to go by, this might just turn out to be the best "DBS" story so far.

Judging by the opening reception of fans, the Future Trunks arc in "Dragon Ball Super" seems to be the franchise's best arc so far.

Meeting the expectations of Dragon Ball's huge fanbase, the franchise encompasses everything "Dragon Ball" fans always wanted it to - from initial destruction scenes, to audacious and crude murder of Mai and Bulma at the hands of Black Goku, it has it all, Enstarz reported.

Episode 48 garnered an impressive 8.4 rating from its viewers, setting a record for the popular anime tv series for far. Taking into consideration, the events that took place, it is not at all surprising that the episode was such a huge hit among the viewers.

Episode 48 presented a comparatively mature and tenacious story, going a bit darker in the past, but avoiding this current arc's level. The demise of two women who were very close to Trunk's heart is enough to cement the fact that the current arc is in a different league altogether from those before it.

Fans know "Dragon Ball" as light and fun where characters come back to life after dying and foes gradually turn into friends. However, with the Future Trunks arc all this might just change as this seems to be a story where the losses are not temporary and the stakes are lot higher than they ever were.

The man behind this drastic and sudden change in Dragon Ball Super's theme and approach is a dangerous heel named Black Goku, who sports the same cosmetic appearance of the franchise's most adored character. To sum it up, Black Goku is downright evil and what makes him even more dangerous is the fact that he is extremely powerful as well.

Takeshi Kusao, who lends his voice for Trunks went as far as dubbing Black Goku one villain that is worthy of notice, TheBitBag reported.

In the midst of the body count in the arc skyrocketing, and series creator Akira Toriyama giving the nod to a brawl between Zeno and the Gods of Destruction, "Dragon Ball Super" is turning out to be exactly what the fans wanted from the hit franchise.

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