Dragon Ball: 7 Characters Toriyama Should Have Focused on Instead of Vegeta

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It’s common for a long-running series like Dragon Ball to add and develop many characters over time. Dragon Ball features a huge roster of both central and supporting figures. However, a frequent criticism from fans is that many established characters are sidelined as the story goes on, becoming less important and losing their role, while new characters are constantly brought in.

Vegeta is a standout character in the series, breaking the typical mold. Initially presented as a villain during the Saiyan Saga, he transitioned into a key supporting character after his defeat on Earth, ultimately becoming the second main hero. Many fans consider his development to be the best in the entire series. However, considering how much potential other characters possess, it makes you wonder if the author, Toriyama, could have explored their stories more deeply.

Android 17 & 18

Even though the editor Kazuhiko Torishima, famous for working on Dragon Ball, originally wasn’t thrilled with the Androids as villains—which ultimately led to the creation of Cell—they’ve always seemed a bit underdeveloped. In the timeline featuring Future Trunks, the Androids are much more menacing, but ultimately feel rather simple. The versions of Android 17 and 18 in the main timeline share the same confident and arrogant personalities, but they aren’t depicted as being nearly as brutal or relentlessly destructive.

Android 18’s role in the Buu Saga was much smaller than when she was first introduced, both as a character and in terms of fighting. Her brother, Android 17, wasn’t featured much at all until he reappeared in Super. They had a really enjoyable relationship, and it was disappointing that the series didn’t show them interacting more often.

Like many characters who didn’t get much focus before, the Tournament of Power gave Android 17 and 18 a chance to be more involved in the story. While Android 18 had some good scenes, her brother, Android 17, really stood out and made a bigger impact on fans. 17 has always been a likable character, and the tournament proved he could continue to be an important part of the series in the future.

Trunks/Goten

Many fans feel that Trunks and Goten didn’t receive enough development as characters, and it’s easy to see why. Throughout the series, we watched Goku grow and change as he faced challenges, which helped us connect with him. Vegeta and Gohan also received similar, though smaller, amounts of character development. Unfortunately, Trunks and Goten weren’t given the same opportunity to grow and weren’t explored in much depth.

The Saiyans are powerful due to their ancestry, but that’s pretty much where their characterization ends. A lot of fans feel their Super Saiyan transformations weren’t properly developed or felt unearned, and that’s a valid point. The Buu Saga could have been a great chance to flesh out their personalities, but they weren’t given much meaningful development and were quickly sidelined.

Trunks has faced a tough challenge living up to the legacy of his future self, who remains a popular character and was central to what many consider the best era of Dragon Ball. So far, Trunks hasn’t connected with fans quite as strongly. Goten, as Goku’s son, shows some promise, but both characters need more development. Super gave us a better look at the pair, and hopefully, they’ll continue to be featured prominently in the future.

Piccolo

It’s interesting how Vegeta and Piccolo had parallel paths throughout the series, both undergoing similar transformations. They both began as powerful enemies defeated by Goku, but were allowed to live. Eventually, they both teamed up with Goku to face even bigger dangers and became strong allies. While Vegeta’s story remained closely linked to Goku, Piccolo’s evolved to include a crucial role in Gohan’s development. Through training Gohan, Piccolo not only helped him become a stronger fighter but also discovered the meaning of compassion and friendship.

It appears the Super series is making a strong effort to re-establish Piccolo as an important character. While he likely won’t reach the power levels of Goku and Vegeta, he’s poised to play a more significant role than he has recently. If the story starts to focus on characters beyond just Goku and Vegeta, Piccolo could be a really interesting character to follow.

Tien

Tien is another character who started as a villain but became an ally. While he hasn’t been a major player recently, he’s had some important moments. He used to be Goku’s fierce rival, even matching him in strength. Early in the series, Tien was considered one of the strongest fighters, and it was compelling to see him and Chiaotzu break away from their master’s evil ways and strive for a better life.

It’s a familiar story: as Dragon Ball Z progressed and villains got more powerful, characters like Tien simply couldn’t compete. While he helped in the battles against Vegeta and Nappa, and his attack on Semi-Perfect Cell could have been crucial if not for the actions of Krillin and Vegeta, Tien largely faded into the background. He ended up feeling like a character who wasn’t really utilized after a promising start.

Gohan

Gohan is a fan-favorite character, but many viewers have been disappointed with how his story has unfolded. He’s often presented as having the greatest potential of anyone in Dragon Ball, and he’s shown glimpses of that power. However, because he’s been written as more laid-back and less eager to fight, his importance in the series has varied – sometimes he’s a key member of the Z Fighters, and other times he feels like a side character who struggles to succeed.

A lot of fans want to see Gohan take a more central role in the story and fight alongside Goku and Vegeta. His recent power boost suggests he’ll finally get that chance. While some wish it had happened sooner, it looks like we might finally see Gohan become the powerful character fans have been hoping for since his fight with Cell.

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2026-01-26 23:39