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Dragon Ball is infamous for its poor treatment of its supporting cast. Akira Toriyama made up the story of the original manga as he wrote it, and characters initially introduced as important didn’t always stay that way because of this. Even in modern times, with Dragon Ball Super, the trend has continued.
Many of Dragon Ball’s side characters should never have been discarded, and better writers than Toriyama would have found new ways to use them. Within the original manga, there were obvious ways to keep the human Z-Fighters, as well as the women in the cast, relevant to the story. And, with Dragon Ball Super, keeping characters like Future Trunks around could have fixed problems with the series as a whole.
1 Yamcha Was One of Dragon Ball's Original Main Characters
There Was an Obvious Storyline For Yamcha in the Cell Saga
As Dragon Ball evolved, it’s unfortunate but understandable why characters like Oolong and Puar were dropped. By contrast, there’s no reason Toriyama should have abandoned Yamcha. He was the third-most important character in the first arc, Goku’s third-closest friend up until the Cell Saga, and there was clear potential for him to develop within the Cell Saga. But, instead, the Cell Saga randomly depicted Yamcha as a cheater, and cast him aside.
If Vegeta and Bulma just had to become a couple, Yamcha shouldn’t have been rendered an afterthought. Actual meaning should have been given to his and Bulma’s break-up, and the Cell Saga should have allowed Yamcha to emotionally process the end of his long-term relationship, and eventually achieve acceptance. It certainly would have been better than Yamcha’s biggest contribution to the arc being his impalement by Dr. Gero.
2 Tien Shinhan Didn't Need to Be Overshadowed by Piccolo and Vegeta
Tien Could Have Continued to Develop Through a Relationship with Launch
Tien Shinhan was Goku’s first true rival, and the first Dragon Ball character to undergo meaningful development. He’s a major highlight of the three pre-DBZ arcs he stars in, but many have noted the cause for his eventual downfall being the way he completes his character arc during his fight against Cyborg Tao. With him having seemingly nowhere else left to go as a character, it could be argued that it only made sense for Toriyama to give his role in the story to Piccolo.
In truth, there was still one angle to Tien’s character that was still screaming to be fleshed out: his relationship with Launch. Rather than abandoning Tien, and forgetting about Launch entirely, a better writer than Toriyama could have gotten some great comedy out of this mismatched odd couple. The romance would let Tien be so much more than the largely useless, stoic block of wood that he is in DBZ, and this tether to the Dragon Team would keep him from randomly saying goodbye forever at the end of the Cell Saga.
3 Chiaotzu Would Be a Completely Different Character Under a Better Writer's Pen
Anyone Other Than Toriyama Would Have Given Chiaotzu a Reason to Be in the Series
Chiaotzu has no personality, and at no point does his existence matter to the plot. He only exists because Toriyama enjoyed creating duos consisting of a big character and a small character, and because he needed a rival for Krillin during the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament. Any writer better than Toriyama would either have fleshed Chiaotzu out more, or refrained from including him in the series at all.
While somewhat controversial, Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure presented a far superior version of Chiaotzu to the canon one. He may not be a fighter, and he may randomly be an emperor, but he’s far better written than Toriyama’s Chaiotzu, and the film successfully makes viewers emotionally invested in his story. As derivative as Dragon Ball’s movies can be, this is one case where the main canon could have learned from them.
4 Raditz's Status as Goku's Brother Doesn't Do Him Any Favors
Countless Fans Wish Raditz Could Have Received a Redemption Arc
Raditz may have only been a minor villain in Toriyama’s eyes, but that’s not how most fans view him. To the fandom, Raditz is a prime example of missed potential, and the idea that his status as Goku’s brother should have warranted him receiving a redemption arc is widespread. If not that, most can agree he at least deserved more than showing up for five episodes, before rarely ever being referenced again.
Multiple writers have proven how much Raditz’s presence as a good guy could have enhanced Dragon Ball Z. There exist entire high-quality fan-series dedicated to the subject that really make viewers long for so many things that could have been. These series even show how he could have co-existed as a hero alongside Vegeta, who some fans argue was given the role in canon that Raditz should have had.
5 Chi-Chi Could Have Definitely Had a Bigger Role in DBZ
Chi-Chi's Role in DBZ is Expanded From the Manga, But in the Wrong Ways
Chi-Chi’s reintroduction during the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament Saga is a delight, and it shouldn’t have been the last arc to prominently feature her. The wife of the most important character in the series, and the mother of the second-most important character in the series — a better writer than Toriyama wouldn’t have treated her as an afterthought. Likewise, they also wouldn’t have misunderstood Chi-Chi’s character, and depicted her as a sexist stereotype like Toei Animation did with its original filler material.
Dragon Ball Z is structured, so there’s little room to give Chi-Chi more to do with regard to the plot. However, Toriyama could have done more to explore her on a personal level, and to flesh out the Son family’s dynamic. Chi-Chi also could have potentially bonded with her fellow civilian, Bulma, something that’s weirdly never happened.
6 Android 17 Could Have Been a Fun Addition to the Buu Saga
Dragon Ball Super Has Shown 17's Potential as a Fan-Favorite
Android 17 was a character Toriyama clearly had no idea what to do with after the Cell Saga. He was never the most important character, so his exclusion from the majority of the Buu Saga isn’t too much of an issue. However, time has proven just how incredible a character 17 can be, and it’s possible his presence could have elevated the Buu Saga.
Structurally, the Buu Saga is messy and malleable, much like Buu himself. Adding Android 17 to it would have definitely changed things, but it isn’t as if the arc is well-constructed to begin with, meaning change might not be a bad thing. Just like in Dragon Ball Super, 17 could be an awesome aura farmer with great lines, and fun dynamics with Android 18 and Krillin.
7 Android 18 Should Have Gone with Goten and Trunks to Fight Buu
Toriyama Had No Reason to Exclude 18 From the Buu Saga's Main Action
Android 18’s role in the Buu Saga is among Dragon Ball’s biggest missed opportunities. Toriyama’s choice to keep her around after the Cell Saga was an excellent one but, rather than the woman who proved Super Saiyans were beatable being integrated into the main Z-Fighters, she’s instead used as a comic relief character. Because of this, once the 28th World Martial Arts Tournament ends, so too does 18’s role in the series.
18’s presence in the main portion of the Buu Saga could have helped solve multiple problems with the arc, and with her own writing. Her personality could have been fleshed out beyond her being cold, sarcastic, and greedy, she could have enjoyed at least one serious fight as a hero, her relationship with Krillin could have been given time to be rendered as believable and sweet as it is in Dragon Ball Super and, if teamed with his wife, there might have been an actual point to Krillin coming with the Z-Fighters to stop Buu’s awakening. This way, the saga also wouldn’t rapidly run out of characters to be invested in after Goku, Gohan, and Vegeta’s respective failures against Buu, and 18 could continue to play off Goten and Trunks comedically during their training with Piccolo.
8 Videl's Mistreatment is One of the Buu Saga's Worst Aspects
Videl Begins the Buu Saga as a Lead Character, Only to Not Matter at All
Videl embodies the poor treatment female Dragon Ball characters frequently receive. At the beginning of the Buu Saga, she’s set up as one of the arc’s two leads, alongside Gohan, and she’s written in such a way that she’s one of the most instantly endearing characters in the series. But, because she’s too weak to help in the fight against Majin Buu, Videl is dropped completely after her fight against Spopovich.
A better writer than Toriyama wouldn’t have given up on the status quo introduced at the start of an arc, in favor of something completely different. The «Buu Saga» wouldn’t exist, and a small-scale, comedic story about Videl and the Great Saiyaman would. Even if another writer did pursue the Buu Saga’s canon plot, they would have contrived a way for Videl to be relevant in the main conflict.
9 Future Trunks Should Have Remained a Z-Fighter in Dragon Ball Super
Future Trunks Remaining in the Main Timeline Would Have Made His Saga's Ending Easier to Swallow
The ending of Dragon Ball Super’s Future Trunks Saga is an unmitigated disaster, but it didn’t need to be quite so bad. At the very least, having Future Trunks remain in the main timeline after his timeline was erased would have given the arc a point. Future Trunks is a fan-favorite, and him joining the main cast would have been uplifting for viewers, in the face of the Z-Fighters’ greatest defeat.
Future Trunks could have added a great deal to Dragon Ball Super as a whole. He could have shaken up the stale status quo, his relationships with Gohan, Trunks, and Vegeta could have been explored more than they were during the Future Trunks Saga, and he could have brought more to the Tournament of Power than Tien Shinhan or Master Roshi. The anime also would have been given a chance to explain where Super Saiyan Rage comes from, and to explore what’s next for Future Trunks after he’s lost everything.
10 The Universe 6 Saiyans Are All Better Characters Than Most of the Main Cast
Cabba, Caulifla, and Kale Haven't Been Seen in Many Years
The Univere 6 Saiyans, Cabba, Caulifla, and Kale, have been some of Dragon Ball Super’s greatest additions to the franchise. Cabba has been a star since his first appearance in the Universe 6 Saga. He’s continued to shine since, and he’s helped add more layers to Vegeta’s character. Caulifla and Kale, meanwhile, steal every scene they’re in during the Universe Survival Saga, and they broke ground as the first female Super Saiyans. Despite all of this, none of these characters have been seen in years.
The Universe 6 Saiyans should have been added to Dragon Ball’s main cast. They’re lovable, they’re still fresh and have plenty of room to grow, and Kefla is at least powerful enough to keep up with Goku and Vegeta. Dragon Ball Super has felt hollow since it stopped focusing on the multiverse, and the series even had a reason to not do so, given Vegeta’s unfulfilled desire to visit the Universe 6 Saiyans’ home, Planet Sadala.
Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball tells the tale of a young warrior by the name of Son Goku, a young peculiar boy with a tail who embarks on a quest to become stronger and learns of the Dragon Balls, when, once all 7 are gathered, grant any wish of choice.
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Dragon Ball Z
TV-14 Action Adventure Fantasy Animation 8 10 145
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Masako Nozawa Son Goku / Son Gohan / Son Goten (voice)
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Ryo Horikawa Vegeta (voice)
With the help of the powerful Dragonballs, a team of fighters led by the saiyan warrior Goku defend the planet earth from extraterrestrial enemies.
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Dragon Ball Super
TV-PG Animation Action Adventure Anime Fantasy 186
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Masakazu Morita Whis (voice)
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Masako Nozawa Son Goku/Goku Black/Son Gohan/Son Goten (voices)
With Majin Buu defeated half-a-year prior, peace returns to Earth, where Son Goku (now a radish farmer) and his friends now live peaceful lives.
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