Summary
- Dragon Ball features emotionally charged fights with deep storytelling elements.
- Vegeta's sacrifice in Final Atonement is a pivotal moment of selflessness in the series.
- Piccolo's sacrifice for Gohan showcases a tender side to his character and a powerful moment of redemption.
Most people assume that Dragon Ball is a series full of massive fights and power fantasies that doesn't leave any room for complex emotions to enter the fray. This couldn't be further from the truth. Some of the best fights in the series are the ones where every Z Fighter is invested emotionally in the battle and wants to surpass their limits at all costs.
The anguish of failing to save a friend, the need to sacrifice oneself to save the world, the oppressive feeling of facing off against a threat that can flatten people in no time — Dragon Ball is rife with these moments that elevate the storytelling of certain conflicts. Some of the saddest quotes in the series build on the viewer's attachment to their favorite characters, making them hit harder.
Dragon Ball: 13 Characters Goku Has Never Beaten
Goku is arguably the most powerful character in the Dragon Ball universe, but there are several characters that he has never defeated.
5 "Trunks...Bulma...I Do This For You. And Yes...Even For You, Kakarot..."
Vegeta
- Episode 237 of Dragon Ball Z: Final Atonement
There's no denying that Vegeta was heinous for letting Babadi control him to enhance his power, letting him fight his nemesis once again. The way he goaded Goku into attacking him by blasting a bunch of innocents was hard to witness. Babidi played him like a fiddle, using the energy expended during their fight to facilitate the release of Majin Buu.
After realizing his costly mistake, Vegeta had only one option left in order to save his family from the threat of this monstrous foe. He knocked out Goku, Goten, and Trunks, instructing Piccolo and Krillin to take them away. What followed was one of the most selfless things the Saiyan Price has ever done: blowing himself up in a last-ditch effort to defeat Majin Buu. The manner in which he commemorated this sacrifice to his family and his greatest rival was the cherry on top of this incredible moment.
4 "Gohan...Why'd You Have To Do It? Why'd You Have To Leave Me? It's Not Fair!"
Future Trunks
- Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks
The History of Trunks is one of the greatest OVAs of all time. It shows the power death can have if it means something in the world of Dragon Ball, with the Z Warriors falling at the hands of the mighty Androids who laid waste to the entire world. The only people who could realistically put up a fight were Gohan and Trunks. However, the latter still had a long way to go before he could take on the Androids without being annihilated.
This is why Gohan knocked Trunks out to try and stop the Androids on his own. However, this ended in a cataclysmic failure as Goku's son was mercilessly murdered by the Androids. By the time Trunks woke up and reached the scene of the battle, it was too late, and Gohan was dead. The loss of his mentor and friend drove Trunks over the edge and finally helped him achieve the Super Saiyan transformation in one of the most emotional moments in the series.
3 "Kakarot, Please Destroy Frieza. He Made Me What I Am. Don't Let Him Do It To Anyone Else."
Vegeta
- Episode 86 of Dragon Ball Z: The End of Vegeta
The Prince of All Saiyans is one of the greatest characters in Dragon Ball Z, with his ego being one of the biggest aspects of his character. After Frieza shows the sheer gulf in their strength, Vegeta's pride is shattered, and he does something that fans could never expect. As Goku arrives on the battlefield, Vegeta begs his rival to take out the tyrant who had destroyed his home planet.
Watching Vegeta shed tears is a humanizing moment for this character. Frieza unceremoniously ends his final moments with a beam through his chest, making viewers hate this character even more. This motivates Goku to take on this foe with all his might after giving this Saiyan a worthy burial.
2 "Gohan, You're The Only Real Friend That I've Ever Had. I Wanna Thank You."
Piccolo
- Episode 21 of Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Goku
For the longest time, Piccolo was treated like a demon who just wanted to lay waste to the world. Dragon Ball fans hated this villain with gusto, so it was odd to see him team up with Goku to fight Raditz. After seeing Gohan's potential, he put him through the wringer with some brutal training, only for this innocent child to treat Piccolo like a friend.
This tender nature warms Piccolo's heart, and he sacrifices himself to save Gohan in one of the most iconic moments in the Saiyan Saga. For the first time, Piccolo shows a tender side and speaks warmly to Gohan, apologizing for being too hard on him when they trained before breathing his last.
1 "Krillin! H-He's Gone...He's Gone! It Should've Been Me...Please Don't Go!"
Goku
- Episode 101 of Dragon Ball: The Fallen
There's something eerie about the moments preceding Krillin's first death in Dragon Ball. As the heroes enjoy a feast, Goku can't help but feel a tense sensation, as if he shouldn't be celebrating at that moment. Suddenly, something snaps, and he races out of the room and heads toward Krillin, only to find him dead.
The stadium announcer tells him that a mysterious monster knocked him out and killed Krillin with a kick to the neck. Goku's anguish is palpable here, wishing that he'd been the one to take this blow instead of his dear friend. Death may not matter all that much in Dragon Ball anymore, but it was a huge deal back in the day, making Krillin's death one of the most emotional moments in the series.
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Dragon Ball
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widgetDisplay card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end- Release Date
- 1986 - 1989
- Studio
- Toei Animation
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Dragon Ball Z
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widgetDisplay card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end- Release Date
- 1989 - 1996
- Studio
- Toei Animation
- Creator
- Akira Toriyama
