Dragon Ball Z: 7 Things the Buu Saga Did Better Than Fans Remember

When it comes to Dragon Ball Z, while it’s tough to choose a favorite, one of the series’ arcs is loved most by at least one segment of the fandom. While they all tell similar stories and have recognizable beats within their runtimes, each of them brings something new to the table that has shaped the franchise in ways that are irreplaceable.

Among them, the Buu Saga exists as the closing chapter of Dragon Ball Z. Often mired by some fair criticisms, this arc is still one of the best in the story and includes many moments and aspects that are far better than what many fans might remember.

It Gave Gohan a Life Outside of Fighting

At the end of the Cell Saga, Gohan stood alone as the most powerful hero on Earth and the only Saiyan with the ability to utilize Super Saiyan 2, which is why many were upset with his character arc once the Buu Saga rolled around. Seeing how he had largely given up his life as a warrior, fans were quite angry and saw his initial appearance in this arc as a character assassination.

However, this is a very shallow reading of the anime. Fans often conflate Goku’s personality with Gohan’s, but this has never really been the case. Despite being a Saiyan, Gohan hated the traditional pursuits of strength and fighting, and he always wanted to pursue his own goals and dreams aside from that life. Of course, some criticism is warranted, but Gohan’s initial arc during the Buu Saga was a natural progression of his character.

It Introduced the Most Terrifying Villain in the Series

Majin Buu still exists within the modern era of Dragon Ball, but he is now considered to be a hero. However, in the arc where he was initially introduced, Buu was a destructive demon who was quite an unconventional villain at first, but eventually underwent many terrifying new transformations before the arc closed off with his original state, which was Kid Buu.

Of course, this wasn’t the strongest version of the character, as that form came upon Super Buu absorbing Ultimate Gohan to transform into Ultimate Buu, or Buuhan. However, Kid Buu was far more dangerous, as he was nothing more than a raging monster whose mind was on nothing besides destruction. While Frieza and Cell were both incredibly evil, they could always be spoken to in an attempt to reason with them. With Kid Buu, however, destroying him was the only option.

The Buu Saga Gave Fusion a Place in the Story

According to many fans, the concept of fusion is one of the best that has been introduced to Dragon Ball as a whole, as it combines two powerful warriors into a singularly powerful entity whose strength is often the greatest in the setting. Although it has been a part of the franchise for years, the Buu Saga eventually brought methods of fusion for the Saiyans to use.

Through the Potara Earrings, Goku and Vegeta fused into Vegito, who is still one of the most beloved characters in all of Dragon Ball, as well as one of the strongest, as he was able to deal with Buuhan as if he were nothing. Similarly, Metamoran Fusion was also introduced and utilized by Goten and Trunks to form Gotenks, who was an exceptionally powerful Saiyan in his own right.

Gohan Reached Heights Greater Than Super Saiyan 3

As stated previously, Gohan isn’t the kind of character who loves fighting and shattering his limits, as his character arc is noticeably different in those regards. However, later on in the Buu Saga, Gohan figures out that with his incredible potential and strength, he has the responsibility to protect others, regardless of whether he likes fighting or not.

This is perfectly showcased when Elder Kai unlocks his latent potential, bringing forth his legendary Ultimate Gohan state. This was a breath of fresh air since it gave Gohan amazing new strength without necessarily giving him a brand-new Saiyan form, the result of which was the strongest non-fused hero in all of Dragon Ball Z who was the only one capable of taking on Super Buu.

The Spectacle Was Truly Sensational

One thing that even the biggest detractors of the Buu Saga have to concede is the jaw-dropping spectacle of the entire arc. Although it does take a while to get going, owing to the short Gohan-centered story at the beginning, the scale and spectacle of the arc grow to insane proportions upon Goku’s return to Earth and Babidi’s emergence.

From some of the best fighting choreography in anime history to large-scale battles that threaten the very fabric of the universe, this arc has some of the most incredible moments that have fans sitting on the edge of their seats from start to finish. All of this is bolstered by the incredible leaps in power scaling through new transformations and techniques that truly sell the scale of this arc.

The Moments of Levity Are Genuinely Hilarious

In the current day, a common criticism of Dragon Ball Super seems to be the fact that the tone is far too childish and silly. Critics say that more heavy moments from the series’ past hit even harder due to the fact that things were genuinely more serious, which is why the funny and lighthearted moments of Dragon Ball Z, particularly in the Buu Saga, are so hilarious.

Oddly, it just seems like the storytelling back in the day balanced the light and heavy aspects of the story more evenly, which ended up making both hit even harder. Ultimately, moments such as Gotenks fighting or Majin Buu’s antics go down as some of the funniest in the franchise.

Vegeta’s Redemption Arc Was Completed in the Buu Saga

The Buu Saga, in terms of individual characters, was exceptional, and Vegeta’s part of the story was a major highlight. The Saiyan Prince initially made an appearance in the series as a ruthless tyrant who wanted to conquer everything in front of him. However, as the series progressed, he changed through the influence of his family and, most importantly, Goku.

However, he would naively think that this led to his strength being limited, forcing him to allow Babidi to awaken the evil in his heart to become Majin Vegeta. Ultimately, upon recognizing the error of his ways, Vegeta atoned for his sins by sacrificing his life in an attempt to kill Buu, and once he was brought back, he finally let go of his pride to admit that Goku was the best of them all. All in all, many believe that Vegeta’s redemption arc is one of the best in anime as a whole, and the Buu Saga is where this belief was fully realized.