Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball is a signature shonen series that's entertained audiences for over three decades, yet it's still one of this generation's most popular anime. Dragon Ball Z picks up from the events of the original Dragon Ball, with Goku now a father ready to take on unprecedented evil from across the galaxy.
Dragon Ball Z ran for 291 episodes, and it's widely considered the standout installment of Toriyama's ongoing shonen series. Many of the franchise's biggest moments come from Dragon Ball Z, but it's far from a perfect series, and some of its writing and plotting decisions are downright dismal.
Updated by Sage Ashford on June 27, 2023: Despite Dragon Ball Z's massive influence on shonen today, there's no question the series had its share of flaws. This list has been updated to detail a few more subpar writing choices throughout the series.
15 Not Introducing More Film Villains To Canon
Like many anime that came out during its era, Dragon Ball Z didn't hesitate to rely on techniques to avoid catching up to the manga. The show's reputation for drawn-out power-up scenes, along with the long, panning shots between characters exchanging blows, was all to extend the series' run time.
Seemingly, this could've been avoided by making more than simply the first Dragon Ball Z movie, Dead Zone, canon to the anime. Rather than waste time on things like Fake Namek, more stories could've been used to introduce villains like Cooler or even Turles to the universe. Even if the stories had to be changed, they would've been more interesting than what viewers got.
14 Introducing Power Levels
In Dragon Ball Z, Toriyama introduced a new element to stories to decide how fights would go. The first opponent in the series, Raditz, was capable of calculating people's strength through a numeric fashion known as power levels. A novel concept, power levels played a major role in the first half of Dragon Ball Z until Goku finally finished Frieza off on Namek. Toriyama didn't care to stick with them, though, and abandoned them for the second half of the series.
However, power levels never made much sense to begin with. Characters could hide or increase their power levels at will or even increase them when they were using signature attacks like the Kamehameha. By the time Goku could turn Super Saiyan, they went entirely out the window, with power levels going from the hundred thousands into the hundred millions in a matter of a few episodes. There was no consistency to them, meaning they never had any place there to begin with.
13 Goku Attempting To Spare Frieza
Dating back to Piccolo Jr, Goku has often attempted to spare his enemies. Few have ever been nearly as evil as Frieza, though. He was an intergalactic criminal who traded in planets and destroyed the ones he couldn't use. He was personally responsible for destroying Goku's home world and his birth parents. By the end, he'd even killed Goku's oldest friend, Krillin.
There's something to be said for Goku's choosing to forgive Frieza despite all he did. However, considering he was far more ruthless with Cell or even Raditz, it's ridiculous he couldn't keep the same energy for Frieza — especially since Frieza immediately went back to his old business the second he got the chance.
12 Vegeta Letting Cell Achieve His Final Form
There was never any explanation for Vegeta's behavior during his fight against Cell. The Androids embarrassed Vegata mere moments after he revealed his Super Saiyan form, leaving him forced to find another level. Once he reached Super Saiyan Second Stage after a year in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, though, he believed he had once again taken his rightful place as the strongest warrior.
With his Semi-Perfect form, Cell wasn't strong enough to beat Vegeta. Easily the strongest person on Earth, Vegeta could've finished Cell off, and the story could have been done. Or Cell could have escaped as he had proven capable before and reached his Perfect form. Instead, Toriyama went the route of having Vegeta simply "let" it happen, weakening everything that came later.
11 Goku Forgetting To Take His Medicine
Discovering a pair of Androids had destroyed the future was one thing, but learning Goku wasn't there to fight them because of a disease was another. Trunks traveling back in time gave the heroes a chance to avoid both things. However, instead of Goku taking the medicine in advance, he forgets completely, leading to his defeat by Android 19.
This almost trivialized Trunks going back in time in the first place. On top of refusing to try and track down Dr. Gero ahead of time, Goku forgetting to take the medicine Trunks brought back made it seem like the group wasn't taking the Androids seriously.
10 The Powers Of Earth's Dragon Balls Receive Upgrades
The wish-granting powers of the titular Dragon Balls kickstart Goku's magical adventure in the first place. The collection of the Dragon Balls has grown into a perfunctory nuisance instead of the near-impossible task it used to be. Dragon Ball Z's stakes grow more intense, which means Dragon Ball wishes become more essential when it comes to the resurrection of fallen heroes.
Earth's Dragon Balls can originally grant a single wish, which is subjected to its own limitations. Dende takes over as Earth's guardian, and his improved Dragon Balls weaken suspense since it feels like revivals are now a foregone conclusion.
9 Saiyans Lose Their Tails
One of Goku's primary characteristics — long before the idea of Saiyans was even on Akira Toriyama's mind — used to be his distinct tail. This is the catalyst to turn into a destructive Great Ape and a vital weakness for the Saiyan. Goku and Gohan both get their tails severed early on in Dragon Ball Z, and the series just moves past this idea.
New Saiyans that are born, like Goten and Trunks, are without the appendage. The tail's removal is likely a result of Dragon Ball Z embracing Super Saiyan transformations over the Great Ape, but there's a way that the series could have retained this element in a supporting capacity.
8 Goku Comes Back To Life To Beat Buu
The early episodes of the Buu Saga are an exciting time for Dragon Ball Z because they put Gohan in the spotlight and minimize Goku's importance. Later on, Goku is given a temporary furlough where he returns to Earth for a day to watch Gohan and his friends compete, but this gradually becomes Goku's official return as Earth's hero.
It'd be one thing to have Goku come back and play a supporting role in Buu's defeat, but Goku becomes solely responsible for the victory. It's a moment when Dragon Ball Z fearfully turns to what's worked in the past instead of confidently trying something different.
7 The Reliance On Senzu Beans To Extend Battles
Battle damage and healing factors are tricky territories in any medium, anime or otherwise. Dragon Ball introduces Senzu Beans, which are tiny forms of sustenance that can completely restore an individual's health and vitality. Senzu Beans are fun at first, but they soon turn into artificial ways to extend an extra act to a battle.
Senzu Beans can feel cheap and unnecessary when they're consumed by the heroes, but they're an even greater frustration whenever Goku decides to exhibit some humility and gift villains like Cell or Moro a Senzu Bean to help them heal.
6 Gohan, Krillin, & Bulma's Detour To Fake Namek
Anime-exclusive filler designed to pad time is often the scourge of shonen series. Dragon Ball Z is subjected to dozens of extraneous filler episodes that get excised in the more economical Dragon Ball Z Kai. Not all of Dragon Ball Z's filler is a lost cause. Some of these shorter arcs introduce fan-favorite characters.
Unfortunately, Gohan, Krillin, and Bulma's preliminary trip to Planet Namek is met with a pit stop on a decoy planet. Raiti and Zaacro are two evil aliens who trick the heroes into believing that they're collecting Dragon Balls on Namek. It's an insulting detour that derails the anime's momentum toward reaching the actual Planet Namek.
5 Goku Leaves His Family & Friends Behind To Train Uub
Dragon Ball Z knows how to create thrilling suspense with its storytelling and showdowns, but the franchise frequently struggles with the endings to its powerful stories. An abrupt conclusion can taint the entire series, and the final moments of Dragon Ball Z are still polarizing among the fandom.
Goku becomes impressed with the natural power displayed by Uub, the human reincarnation of Kid Buu. So Goku decides to bid his friends and family farewell in order to dedicate his life to intensely training Uub to be Earth's strongest hero. It's a touching gesture, but there's a way that Goku could accomplish the same thing without having to ignore everyone else.
4 Temporary Fusion Gets Introduced Into Combat
Fusion is a popular procedure in Dragon Ball, and it's an upgrade that needs to be used in moderation. An easy way for characters to grow stronger is by combining their strength and abilities into one fused fighter. Dragon Ball Z introduces multiple forms of fusion, which become crucial to defend against Majin Buu.
Fusion becomes too convenient of a power boost when there aren't permanent consequences to consider. Fusion through the Potara Earrings is supposed to be an eternal process, but Goku and Vegeta's Potara fusion, Vegito, conveniently separates. Fusion would have a more significant impact if it comes at the price of two characters permanently becoming one.
3 Videl & Chi-Chi Exit The Battlefield
Powerful female characters, let alone those that are human, are few and far between in Dragon Ball Z. This is a disappointing realization, especially since there are several strong female fighters in Dragon Ball Z that could have continued to do damage on the battlefield.
Videl and Chi-Chi appeal to Gohan and Goku because they're feminine figures who also exhibit a flair for martial arts. Gohan's efforts to help Videl manipulate her ki and learn how to fly are some of their sweetest moments together. It's quite bittersweet that Videl and Chi-Chi more or less give up on combat after they get married and begin families.
2 The Reveal Of Super Saiyan 3
Goku's transformation into a Super Saiyan is one of Dragon Ball Z's greatest moments, and just as much excitement is generated around Gohan's Super Saiyan 2 ascension. However, Dragon Ball Z heads down a dangerous path with these transformations once Super Saiyan 3 gets added to the equation.
Super Saiyan 3 basically sets up subsequent Super Saiyan transformations to follow this cumbersome direction. The exaggerated hair for Super Saiyan 3 initially almost looks like a joke. Super Saiyan 3 becomes an easy solution that ultimately does more harm than good due to the precedent it sets.
1 Gohan Doesn't Become DBZ's Main Character
Dragon Ball Z begins as Goku's adult journey, but Gohan's potential is teased right from the anime's start. Gohan slowly hones his skills, and it's extremely cathartic when he finally surpasses his father against Cell and becomes the first Super Saiyan 2.
From this point forward, Dragon Ball Z acts like a grown-up Gohan is supposed to become Dragon Ball Z's protagonist. The anime sets Gohan up for success with his Ultimate upgrade from the Kais, but Toriyama gets cold feet and can't help but once again make Goku the lead.