Dragon Ball: Which Bardock Was Better?

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Dragon Ball: Which Bardock Was Better?

Highlights

  • Original Bardock was brutal and Saiyan-like, while the New Bardock is more family-oriented and empathetic.
  • Fans connect to Original Bardock’s simple warrior backstory, while some find New Bardock’s story lacking uniqueness.
  • Both versions of Bardock have their advantages, with Original Bardock being more iconic and New Bardock having a canon backstory.

As a long-time Dragon Ball fan, I’ve been through the transformation of Bardock from a brutal Saiyan warrior to a family-oriented character, and let me tell you, it’s been quite a ride! The original Bardock was a no-nonsense, take-no-prisoners kind of guy. His ruthless brutality and unwavering loyalty to his race made him an iconic figure for many fans like myself. But the new Bardock? He’s got a softer side, a more empathetic character who values family above all else.

In Dragon Ball, a popular series, we encounter Bardock at a time when the identity of Son Goku’s Saiyan father was unclear to many viewers. To clarify this mystery, we meet a more Saiyan-like version of Bardock – rough, merciless, yet fiercely loyal and ready to fight for his allies and race. This Bardock from Dragon Ball Z exhibited immense willpower, unfortunately meeting an untimely death. Interestingly, Dragon Ball introduced a new special manga one-shot featuring a different Bardock. The Bardock in this recent material is distinctly unique compared to the previous version.

That being said, there is a clear question about which of these two is the better version of Bardock, despite what canon may say. Is the original Bardock more interesting because of his Saiyan-like behavior, or was the change necessary for his character later in the series?

Early Bardock

And His Loyal Brutality

One major difference to highlight between the Early Bardock and the New Bardock, is that the early Bardock had a lot more brutality and Saiyan-like behavior going for him. We first see him working alongside other Saiyans while they destroy another innocent planet and conquer it, much like how Freeza sends the Saiyans to do, although Bardock simply talks about it as if it was just another job. This serves to highlight the fact that while Bardock is loyal to his Saiyan Squad, Bardock also doesn’t have the same moral sensibilities as that of his son Goku, making him incredibly brutal in his actions. This shows especially during the final few moments against Bardock in his fight against the Freeza soldiers, where he brutalizes them on his way to confront the Tyrant Freeza.

This is for all the people that we’ve killed in your name! – Bardock

Despite his violent nature, what truly resonated with numerous Dragon Ball fans about Bardock was his departure from the typical archetype prevalent at the time. Unlike a genius scientist, Bardock was simply a warrior, experiencing premonitions and fighting for his race when he understood they were about to be destroyed without warning. Yet, there was a profound sense of pride that Bardock felt towards his son Kakarot, evident when the final vision revealed Goku battling Freeza, causing Bardock to smile even as he breathed his last. The straightforwardness in Bardock’s backstory and character struck a chord with a significant portion of the fanbase, enabling them to empathize with him as they discovered he was not the virtuous paragon that Goku was, instead reinforcing the idea that sons can be remarkably different from their fathers. This relatable portrayal is well-received and popular among many Dragon Ball fans.

New Bardock

The Appeal Of Change

However, there is a good point to be made as well when considering the Bardock we have now in Super, who was first introduced in Dragon Ball Minus. This Bardock may still be a lower-class warrior, as well as have a different design and perspective, although he seems to be much more of a family-man to his wife Gine, and especially his son Kakarot. In fact, the major difference between this Bardock and the other one, is that New Bardock sent his son away personally to Earth, watching him and wishing him to be in good health and safe from Freeza’s clutches. This is highly reminiscent to Super Man’s origin story, and a lot of people seemed to take issue with that approach. However, at the same time, many people enjoyed this version of Bardock due to his empathy and remaining rebellious and attempting to fight Freeza all the same.

Perhaps it’s due to my endless battles and destruction that I find myself desiring a change, wanting to protect something instead, for once. – Bardock

There are a lot of people who sometimes think that the parallels with Super Man’s backstory make Bardock a bit less interesting, as well as too typical and not as unique. While that may not be wrong, New Bardock has a lot of advantages that the old Bardock doesn’t have. For one, a canon backstory, as well as a more family presence considering his care for his son and wife Gine. However, at the same time, Old Bardock has his own advantages in this case. He is more memorable, has had the longest exposure to the fanbase, and is generally in a lot more fights and had a close dynamic with his allies that we don’t see often in Dragon Ball. It’s possible that the New Bardock may be a better change in the long run, and considering he is canon at the moment, Dragon Ball might be better off for it as a result of the story. After all, New Bardock is also the only Bardock where Goku has a reference and learns his heritage even more.

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2024-08-14 20:03