Top 10 Wasted Potential Characters in Dragon Ball Who Deserved Better
Well, from its varied run events, the Dragon Ball franchise brings unforgettable characters over the decades. Yet, not all were given time or the right narrative arcs. Ranging from early fan favorites to the intriguing newcomers, many get sidelined, leaving the fans wondering what could have been. Let’s take a look at the top 10 Dragon Ball characters whose potential left unrealized.
Table of Contents
1. Raditz
The Forgotten Brother
The grand potential surrounding Raditz was as he was the long-lost Saiyan brother to Goku. Being the first true villain of Dragon Ball Z, he brought that much deeper revelation of Goku’s alien origin and his Saiyan heritage. However, after being defeated by Piccolo and then at the hands of Goku as well, Raditz was never mentioned again, even when even more powerful villains, particularly the Saiyans, took center stage in the show. A redemption story or further elaboration into his interaction with Goku and Vegeta could have changed the game for the series.
2. Launch
Split Personality, Lost Potential
Launch is one of the recurring funny character voices from Dragon Ball, a split personality triggered by sneezing. All in all, despite her niceness and quirks, she was completely forgotten by the series as it shifted its focus towards much more action-packed storylines on Dragon Ball Z. With her fiery personality and gun-wielding skills, Launch could have been a great supporting character, especially light moments. Maybe she could have been part of training or played a major role in the earlier battles.
3. Zarbon
Beauty and Power
Zarbon was one of Frieza’s most prime soldiers and had an interesting dynamic: the handsome appearance with his full mutation into a monster. He was also rather overshadowed by other villains in a short amount of time. More depth could be extended concerning Zarbon’s loyalty to Frieza or perhaps even an additional backstory where he had certain ambitions or maybe even had some connection to the Namekians.
4. Goten
Goku’s Forgotten Son
Although Goten is the second son of Goku, his part in the anime became less with the Buu Saga. He was initially introduced as a boy who could transform into Super Saiyan at a very young age, but such potential was never developed. Being not there in crucial arcs like Dragon Ball Super created a feeling of waste for his development. He could have had some really good storyline related to growth or rivalry with Trunks that would have helped in his participation in the continuous change of the show.
5. Android 16
The Gentle Giant
Android 16, during the Cell Saga, is one of those characters who performed outstandingly in terms of his extraordinary strength, deep compassion for nature, and sympathetic bonding with Gohan, leading to an ultimate sacrifice. His capabilities as a fighter and as a voice for the plight of the androids were utterly wasted. If he had been repaired or reprogrammed, 16 could have turned out to be a mentor or ally in battles against newer threats from Moro or Granolah.
6. Supreme Kai
God of No Game
As the god of the universe, Supreme Kai had to be some tough character. But it is in his incapability and ignorance that he appeared to look weak and pathetic. He was easily replaced by Beerus and Whis with such ease in Dragon Ball Super. He could have been given a deeper connection to the lore with being a creator of Dragon Balls or participating in battles against ancient evils to make him hold importance within the series.
7. King Cold
Frieza’s Father
King Cold was the long-maintained father of Frieza and Cooler, yet his screen time was surprisingly short. One who supposedly shared the task of ruling the universe with Frieza, a lot of his power and history were ignored. How did he get to a position that he was at? Did he have any hand in the Saiyans’ slavery? A history or an untimely return for him would have fleshed out the storyline.
8. Tien Shinhan
The Forgotten Warrior
Tien Shinhan, one of the greatest human fighters in the early stages, disappeared into oblivion as the Saiyans and Aliens started taking the limelight. Even though he is fully committed and comes up with techniques like the Tri-Beam, little is seen of Tien in Dragon Ball Super. If they had developed a sequence in which Tien was to train for new powers or established himself as a champion-defender of Earth, this could have restored his place in the anime.
9. Pan
The Next Saiyan Prodigy
As Gohan’s daughter, Pan had great potential to be the future of the Saiyan lineage. Unfortunately, in Dragon Ball Super, this little child was often an endearing yet only peripheral character. Pan could have been a mighty warrior, training with her father and becoming a key protagonist in the battles against the universal threats.
10. Pikkon
The Forgotten Rival
This mighty warrior has been introduced in the Other World Tournament arc as one of the rivals of Goku, but after showing incredible strength and fighting skills, he is completely forgotten. Bringing back Pikkon in Dragon Ball Super as a representative of Universe 7 or as a participant in the Tournament of Power would have been an excellent way to expand his character and deepen inter-universe dynamics.
Conclusion
Overall, Dragon Ball is adored for its larger-than-life characters, but some of them seem impossible not to notice for wasted potential. From the sidelined warriors to the forgotten allies, these characters could add even much more depth and excitement to the franchise. Hopefully, future arcs will revisit some of these figures and finally give them some justice!
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